budget advice
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9003
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Topic: budget advice
Posted By: nuttymama
Subject: budget advice
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 9:42am
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I know we have lots of forums on the go at the moment, but is it possible to have a forum for budget advice.
I'm sure there are lots of us on one income or about to go on one income that could do with some advice and I have noticed it comes up quite a bit, but gets lost amongst everything else. I know I could sure do with a kick up the bum not to mention some advice on groceries etc. Is that possible at all. ------------- Abigail 06/01/2005 Jayden 21/11/2001 Micheal 03/04/1997 |
Replies:
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 10:18am
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Yip would love some advice on groceries as well.
tips I can give is to make certain foods a lot more off. Like lasagne. Then freeze some of it and when you dont feel like cooking you dont have to get take aways. Plus it helps with the powerbill to make more food in one go and freeze than to use the oven every night. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 10:20am
| The best thing to do with groceries is to write a list and stick to it no matter what. We have done this for 3 weeks (and this is for the 3 of us) we have only needed to spend $50-60 each week. It's brilliant! |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 10:25am
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I make a list. Mmmm now to stick to it. lol. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 10:28am
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Stacey, I remember how little we used to spend on food when Ella was young. It's amazing how much the food bill goes up once they start eating the same food as you! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 10:28am
| Yus sticking to it is hard, especially for me when I get to the chocolate and other naughty things! |
Posted By: nuttymama
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 10:31am
Lol I think I need someone with a big ruler next to me whacking me every time I stray. I'm sure DH would offer  .
No matter how good I try to be I always come home with at least 10 items not on my list  ------------- Abigail 06/01/2005 Jayden 21/11/2001 Micheal 03/04/1997 |
SMoody wrote:Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 10:32am
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Ah yes, the list. Go the list! I'm the same - do the list, check all the cupboards before you go shopping so you know what's in them and you don't think "Oh, crap, I think I've run out of onions", buy some more, and find that you thought you'd run out of onions last week as well ... ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 10:48am
You legend!!!! I thought we were doing well on $150 a week for 2 of us. Gotta have a serious look at things now |
Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 10:51am
If your anything like me and find it really hard to stick to a list then online shopping is excellent! I find I always end up spending less cause I'm not cruising the isles like I do at the actual supermarket 
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Posted By: nuttymama
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 10:53am
I'm IMPRESSED your a  !!!!!!!!!
Maybe it would be cheaper for us to fly you down to do our groceries!!! How the hell do you do it so cheaply, we spend between $250-$350 A WEEK for five of us and that's no nappies. Your my new hero ------------- Abigail 06/01/2005 Jayden 21/11/2001 Micheal 03/04/1997 |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 11:33am
Wow, our budget is $160 a week for 2 adults (plus 3 animals)...and we frequently spend OVER that!! Last week we spent $400  although hopefully that will last us until next week or the week after. That doesn't include meat either!! It's not me who spends extra though, it's DF!!!
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 12:50pm
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How about I create a "housekeeping" forum under the Fun Stuff banner by Activities for Kids and Recipes and you can use that for anything to do with housekeeping like budgeting, tips for saving $$$, cleaning tips etc.?
What do you all think? -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 12:58pm
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Yes that would be great Emma!
Vick - we spend $140-$160/week for 5 of us (3 adults, 2 preschoolers, and a little bit for Krystiana). I'm trying to keep it at $140/week atm... As for not sticking to lists, the thing that keeps me accountable is each week I note (in a spreadsheet) how much I have to spend, how much I spent, and how much is left or, er, owing. Then the following week I have a new week's budget plus/minus the difference from last time. That way stocking up on things on special (when you would ordinarily buy those things, that is) works out, as well as those weeks where you don't seem to need as much - it can just wait in the account for the following week.------------- |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 1:12pm
| you guys are soooooo organised. Must get better, must get better! |
Posted By: nuttymama
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 1:12pm
Wow!!!!!! You put me to shame .
I really like the spreadsheet idea I might get hubby to set one up for me this week. I would love to only spend that amount. HMMM might have to get tough. I can as you have proved be done. Emma - that would be great ------------- Abigail 06/01/2005 Jayden 21/11/2001 Micheal 03/04/1997 |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 1:32pm
Check out the "Paws" thread for more grocery advice  ------------- |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 1:34pm
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For the three of us we spend $400 for the month (usually less) - and thats for everything.
* Definitely write a list * put a list on the fridge and every time something runs out put it on there so you dont forget and have to make a special trip. * Keep all your grocery receipts for a month, then go over them to see what extra stuff you didnt need, and then you can compile a permanent list from it * Try and do a big shop fortnightly or monthly, then the other weeks just top up milk, bread, veges etc * Don't go to the supermarket just for one ingredient, cos you'll end up buying a basketful of stuff. You may be surprised at what you can improvise with. * Dont buy too many pre-prepared sauces/sachets etc as they are expensive! * No-name brands can be nicer, as Ginger discovered! * Only buy stuff in bulk if you are going to actually use it or it has a long shelf life. * Use less meat in your meals and buy cheaper cuts. Have one or two meatless meals a week. * Snack pack things like chippies are way more expensive than buying a standard pack and seperating yourself. Will add more when I think of them ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Lissy
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 1:40pm
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Some great advice my Aunty gave me: DO YOU NEED IT? DO YOU WANT IT? CAN YOU AFFORD IT? If you say no to any of the above, YOU DO NOT BUY IT, on the other hand, if you say YES to all three then obviously you buy it!!! (Be very careful). BUDGETS are the best - DH offen gets called the cheque book nartzi (sp?), but it is for the best. ------------- Harlan Drew DOB: 06.12.06 & Stepmum to Ethan & Christian, DOB: 25.02.99 |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 1:41pm
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Hmm maybe this is where I go wrong for a start... I have no budget whats so ever. We are paid monthly and because we have had house money while we were building if I ever needed money I just dipped into that but now we are going to have a mortgage its going to get really tight so maybe I should sit down and do some sort of budget. Plus I need to stop going to malls and spending money.
So whats everyones opinion on buys presents in advance? I made a list the other day and between now and christmas (including christmas) I have 30 presents to buy, this is mainly for kids and its all family so I have to buy them not just feel like I should. With the warehouse sales etc... when Ive seen something cheap Ive grabbed a couple to put away for presents. For example they had big my little ponys on sale from $25 down to $15 so I got 3 as I have 3 girls to buy for and also brought an outfit for my neice that was half price. But is that a waste of money? Should I just buy as I need the presents or is it good to stock up when they are on special? |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 1:46pm
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Robyn, if you have a list for Christmas and buying those things means you are crossing them off your list and won't be buying anything else for that person until next year, then it works! We have a lot of family (22 immediate family members) so we also stick to $10 per person for Christmas.
Oh cards are a biggie too. If you can make something special out of 99c cards (because it's more about what you write than your signature) you'll save heaps - especially if you're already buying a present for that person. With little children I usually just put a sticker or tag on the present because it just needs to say to/from. Last Christmas I bought a large sheet of red card from Whitcoulls and a gold pen and did heaps of cards that way - crinkle scissors are excellent too! ------------- |
Posted By: nuttymama
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 1:49pm
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I say buy when on special providing you can leave them until needed (and not give them to them before hand like I do, only to have to replace them!!!)
But in saying that my budgets suck and I can never stick to them etc etc etc, so I'd wait and see what the other ladies say. ------------- Abigail 06/01/2005 Jayden 21/11/2001 Micheal 03/04/1997 |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 1:51pm
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Yeah we have a huge family too so it gets really expensive.
Cards is one thing Im pretty good with. When my sister moved she left me a box of just stuff and in it was a box of cards and so slowly when they are on sale I grab a couple and also the chemist down the road have beautiful cards for $1 & $2 so when i go in there I grab a couple so I always have heaps for any occasion and dont have to spend $5+ on expensive ones. |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 1:56pm
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Making cards is so easy - esp Xmas ones. Last year I had some red cards and silver cards, also some puffy green metallic paint. Just made a Xmas tree shape and they looked very cool and were really cheap to make.
This christmas I am going to try and make as much as possible, esp for adults. Will probably make some yummy biscuits or fudge and wrap them up nicely with a card. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 3:34pm
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Definately saved on presents. Last year I was like a mad thing running around getting birthday presents for this one and Christmas presents for everyone else.
All my birthday presents for kiddies have been bought for this year. Just want to get a few smaller ones for my own girl. Christmas is all sorted as well. Will order it in November after I know the name of the new baby that should be here in Oct. And I am getting something special and will be like $15 each. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 8:23pm
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I sorted through my pantry this afternoon and found 4 refills of tomato sauce, 2 big bags of cornflakes and 3 bags of raisin boxes (36 boxes to a bag!) Now I have a far better idea of what we actually have and won't need to buy so much next week LOL
But in doing that I also found some popcorn and remembered that that's a bit cost saver - popcorn instead of chips. ------------- |
Posted By: Chovynz
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 8:34pm
Amen brother...er...sister...brothersister. ------------- Defending the male species since 1980 
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 9:38pm
| I take the calculator to the supermarket you look like a nerd but I save a good $50 when I know how much I have spent. If I have extra at the end I stock up on cheap nappies or wipes or something |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 11 July 2007 at 9:51pm
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I do shop'n'go so I have a running total going. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 12 July 2007 at 10:45am
Whats that? |
Posted By: nuttymama
Date Posted: 12 July 2007 at 11:22am
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WOOHOO Went to the supermarket this morning and stuck to my list used a calculator. I got everything we need for the week and it was only $119 (spent $50 on tuesday). ------------- Abigail 06/01/2005 Jayden 21/11/2001 Micheal 03/04/1997 |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 12 July 2007 at 2:18pm
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Shop n Go is done by Pak n Save, you scan everything as you go, which can be a bit of a pain but you get used to it, and then you don't need to scan all the shopping at the end - so it saves time queuing and all that stuff with the little kiddies. You can check prices on your scanner and get a running balance. They're cool! ------------- |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 12 July 2007 at 3:18pm
| we dont have shop and go in chch |
Posted By: BellaB
Date Posted: 08 August 2007 at 7:36am
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BUMP ..
Any more suggestions?? |
Posted By: Tricia
Date Posted: 08 August 2007 at 9:59am
| they have shop n go at Wainoni Road Pak'n Save in Chch. I haven't tried it yet but it sounds like a good idea. they just need to get rid if the ribbed matting as you go in the supermarket as it wakes Rohan up and scares him when you push the trolley over it! |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 08 August 2007 at 10:52am
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Shop n go is good for keeping track of your spend as you go. However now that its got popular it is quicker to go thru the normal checkout. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |