outgoings & budgeting

[daisy69]

Hi all,
Only in my second month of my IVA but I'm already starting to panic about budgeting so that what I have left after all my rent and bills are paid, will last the month! I guess it will take time to get used to it, but today im having to go the the dentist as an emergency, and a couple of other things that are one-off's (I hope)to pay so I know this month i'm not going to have alot left after my food shopping and any other sundries that might crop up. Just wondering how much people usually have left after rent/mortgage and bills have been paid (not including food etc). Hope this makes sense because I have just finished a night shift but had to ask now otherwise wont sleep!

[Broke of London]

It is difficult to compare as our circumstances are all so different but on my experience: As a single person I have £201 for food (to be precise) LOL! I also use my contingency every month which I wouldn't recommend if you can avoid it! But for example, I have to buy birthday presents for two siblings (next month is my step mum and Mothers Day and last month was my boyfriend) so some gift always crops up in a large family! Some people also get a hobbies allowance which can be around £15 per month. I don't have this tho. You can ask for a payment break for big expenses. xx

[leaKybrain]

It is difficult to budget and it makes you realise just how much you relied on cards to get througha month.

i find that if I make a menu for the month and stick to it when shopping for stuff it works. I buy things like a portion of mince from asda, tin of tomatoes, add lots of herbs and garlic, bump it up with mushrooms and onions and this is my spag bols, i don't by packets, although you could always get cheap smart price/value bols sauce. Make it spread to two meals, freeze one. When you do your menu, factor this in to a day later in month when money a bit tighter.

I do a lot of my own foods like chicken nuggets etc., cos it is healthier but not necessarily cheaper...but I only factor them in a couple of times a month

try to make sure you have a good store cupboard of essentials like herbs, garlic powder, beans, pasta, even value mash as this can help spread the cost. just add flavourings to it to make it taste the way you want it.

I draw out all the money I need for the month, so fuel, housekeeping and the park hampers thing I do for xmas.

i then split the housekeeping into the weeks of the month, and only take that amount out of the safe the day before I normally go shopping. I always add up as I go round the shop, keep a note on the pad of your shopping list, that way I know if I have got enough money.

I buy veg, singly, so 2-3 carrots, i then use scales provided in veg section and weigh them so I have rough idea of how much they will cost. It generally means I'm not wasting food and therefore money at the end of the month

I used to get embarrassed at all these little things, but its amazing how many people you see with shopping lists, or checking out the cheaper stuff.

i buy my milk, bread, marge, potatoes, eggs from farm foods as they are far cheaper and the petrol cost getting there isn't higher than the savings. Milk for instance, I save £2 a week buying it from farm foods, thats a heck of a saving when added up.

When it comes to birthdays etc., I check the list at the begining of the month to see who I need to buy for, I then have a look in asda first to see if I can get it from there. Some people haven't had gifts and I've just said 'money is tight' everyone understands and its only worrying for us, usually the recipient isn't too worried so long as they get a card and its acknowledged.

[kallis3]

It's interesting how we all deal with this differently.

We never plan a menu, it is whatever hubby decides to cook on the day. All foods are replaced as we use them, be they tinned or fresh. I used to add up as I went around but pretty much know what my staples cost. I do buy BOFOF if it is something I normally use or, like hubby's coffee (he likes Nescafe Espresso) if it is reduced in price - I stock up on it.

I buy bread from a local baker (more expensive but a lot tastier), meat from a local butcher and veg from a farm shop. I refuse to compromise on some things such as eggs - they have to be free range or barn reared at a push. I will go without rather than have battery eggs.

Birthdays and Christmas are funded by my online surveys - it's amazing how many vouchers you can get by doing those.

[relieved33]

We have a spreadsheet showing income and outgoings but wit MOT / car tax / house problems and a trip to the vets, we had £20.60 to our names until I got paid today - but I have got mothers day cards and gifts, family birthday gifts and Easter eggs! Petrol is crippling us at the moment. Food we can compromise on but the journey to work we can't! Contingency is gone and no matter how hard we try to catch up, something always seems to come along. On a positive note, an IVA is not forever!

[luluj]

It does get easier - you do get used to knowing what you can and can't have. We used to calculate our weekly food,petrol allowances and then remove them in cash along with an element of clothing and personal hygiene amount - normally totalled £150 per week for two vehicles petrol and food for two people - whatever money was left at the end of the week would be added to a money tin and then in November we would open the money tin and use that to purchase xmas presents/food etc.

[Skippy]

I don't plan meals either - I buy enough food for a couple of weeks and then it's up to OH what he cooks!

It's true what the others say, you do get used to living on a budget - even though my IPA is now finished I've only increased the housekeeping a bit. I decided I was going to start shopping at Sainsburys (I hate Tesco with a passion!) but when I realised it was more expensive I went back to Tesco. I don't mind paying extra for fruit and veg and meat etc as I think it's better quality, but I'm not paying more for branded items!

[chegs]

since being in an IVA i do tend to shop around, am quite lucky as Iceland and Aldi are in close proximity to B&M and home bargains.So Iget the goodies from the latter two and fresh fruit/veg from Aldi and other stuff from Iceland ...its been hit and miss with stuff we dont like/dont like ... and we havent got the temptation of all the aisles at Asda. I do one monthly shop at Asda on payday and its the highlight of the month for us as its a we go a bit over the top (dependant on overtime etc )
It does get easier tho over time, Ive beeen in an IVA for 29 months and you do learn to adjust, it may take a few months (in our case approx 8 ) but you soon learn how to adapt and really appreciate things you have bought with your own money. Good luck on your IVA journey

[Shining]

I have a menu and shop weekly with cash, I do find cash easier to budget with as paying by card I tend to just spend. x

[Skippy]

I'm the opposite Lesley! Since I got a debit card with my Nationwide account I find I spend less! I think it's because if my shopping comes to £45 I only spend £45, I don't have the change in my purse!

[Shining]

It does work different for us all, I just know if the cash isn't there I can't have it, it's like I've gone back to the old days of house keeping money....if there is any left no matter how small an amount it goes in a tin and it does soon mount up over the weeks x

[Skippy]

I found I was carrying 2 purses around and I was getting confused - not difficult! I make a note of everything I spend with the card on my spreadsheet, and because it's a basic account I can't go overdrawn!

When I use the debit card I then transfer any odd pennies into a savings account and if there's anything left at the end of the month that goes across as well.

[kallis3]

We use cash mostly - I'm like you Lesley, if I use a card I tend to spend more.

[daisy69]

Thanks for the tips. I have found that I have approximately £350 left after rent and bills per month to pay for food and any daily/weekly living costs for me and my daughter and wondered if this was a usual figure? Im so used to buying food etc on credit so I guess taking me a bit of time to get used to it. I do buy my food shopping on line so I can keep a good eye on the cost and change things if the amount comes to more than I want, and paying for the delivery is about the same as it would be for a taxi from the supermarket because I don't drive.

[luluj]

That equates to £80 per week for you and your daughter ! I get ours delivered some weeks and when I do I spend far less as you don't "browse" as you walk the shop !