Monthly bills

[lylabellablueyes]

Just worked them all out as we're always skint. I wish I hadn't bothered.

Comes to £1700 A MONTH!!!!!

Would you like a boring breakdown???

My partners work starts to slow down at this time of year, so now I'm starting to panic. What do your household bills equate to??

I need to get mine down :/(. Advice!?!

Thanks x

[craft1948]

£336............

[lylabellablueyes]

A month really? That's so low. How do you do that?

[redcrx]

bet youll be glad when new baby arrives and you can get your tax credits sorted.
Set meal plans, so that you dont waste food.
do your grocery shopping online for main foodstuffs. Buy fresh fruit and veg and meat at market / butchers. See if your butcher sells large prepacked meats that can be split and frozen.
Buy all your dry goods, cleaning products, etc in bulk.

[craft1948]

Well I have no mortgage...............

[lylabellablueyes]

Hi red. I was told by a friend that I wouldn't get any extra tax credits with my second, which is fine by me, but I did wonder.

Thanks for all the advice. This is just normal bills too. I'll have to cut down somehow me thinks :-)

[ethandron]

shop at aldi for basics and their super saver six fruit and veg each week. go to big supermarket once a month with a list and stick to it or do it on-line like redx says. if you're not on a water meter, consider having one fitted. switch off your telly and everything else you can when you go to bed, don't leave things on standby. look at your mobile phone contract and see if it would be worth changing it. look into any insurances you need, ring around for cheaper quotes. if you have a landline, look into what tariff you're on, see if you can swap to a cheaper one.

[didoatwork]

Save electric and gas by making sure no heat is wasted, no lights left on etc etc.

[ummmm]

I haven't got a clue. OH pays them....

[boxtops]

I did the same a few days ago, lyla - including the mortgage, it is soooo scary.... we have cut back on any direct debits we don't need, no dental insurance, no frills. Hardly any shopping except for very basic needs, eat out of the cupboard and freezer (OH pointed out last week that we have a whole drawer of frozen blackberries...)

[didoatwork]

Boxtops, where would we be without blackberries and windfall?

[Bobbisox]

about £600 this includes utilities, insurances, savings, clothing...but not food

[hc4361]

Let's have the boring breakdown then. Mine is around £300 per month too, including car insurance.

[craft1948]

My £336 doesn't include food or clothing...........just the direct debits for insurances, utilities, etc.

[lylabellablueyes]

You asked for it lol

Mortgage/rent 340
Gas 50
Elec 100
Sky 75
Car insurance 140
Petrol 80
Nursery fees 280
Council tax 150
Food 240
Other house insurances 30
Talk talk 50
Mobiles 110

I'm waiting for phone contracts to end as can't get them lower for now. ( I have tried).

I know we have sky etc as luxuries, but we don't ever go out, so we have to have some enjoyment I think :-)

[hc4361]

Get rid of Sky and the mobiles.

[boxtops]

Your electricity looks really high, mine is only £50 a month.... You pay £140 a MONTH for car insurance?

[snags]

£900 a year for Sky... eeek!

[lylabellablueyes]

I've only been driving 17 months. Even though I'm 28, this is the cheapest I could get!! Unreal I know!!

[tiggerblue10]

I worked out my monthly outgoings (including average groceries) per month and it came to £1900! And I live on my own with Little Tiggs.

[boxtops]

I'm glad it's not just me - our outgoings on very basic stuff (no Sky, no outings) are going up all the time, and I've had a pay freeze for 4 years.