Advice re watching their money and budgeting

[parker1313]

Im stuggling to watch my money.Its just disappearing on things and Im really not sure where.
How are people mananging?
My ds seems to have so many birthdays at school then there the car mot and the tax.
We now need a new this and new that.There is always something to be paying out for!

Car tax, but stamps weekly. You dont notice the cost.

Presents for friends: When you are in a shop and they have items reduced take them home and put them somewhere then you have a supply of cheap gifts.

Shopping: Set a weekly budget and stick to it. You would be amazed at how far your money will go when you have to think about it and shop around.

Save money by going out and about locally with the kids, i.e along to the park instead of soft play. Take your own juice instead of buying it etc.

HTH

keep a book for a month noting down everything you pay out. Every little thing even down to a chocolate bar so you can account for every last penny.

Then you get a good idea of where it is going and where to cut back.

Also using spreadsheets (money saving expert does good one) to list ingoings and outgoings gives you a good idea of what has to go out (e.g. utility bills, mortgage/rent, council tax, water, insurance - also for things like MOT etc) and then what you have left over and then budget for food/travel. After that you set some money aside to pay for birthdays/big expenses. What you do with any left after that is up to you.