I'm so over struggling financially and over living week to week. I met my husband later in life he lost everything to a divorce I was in debt we haven't been able to get ahead. Hubby works full time I work partime school hours (if I worked full time we wouldn't be any further in front due to childcare fees) I've check and got the best deals for everything I can phone/gas electricity/ insurance. We don't drink smoke gamble. I shop at aldi and by specialist at Coles we eat very minimal junk food and like healthy foods/meals lots of lean meats fruit salads veggies but I just can't get the shopping bill down. Our medical expensive have been huge the last month or so as well . Our car is old and costing us a fortune but can't afford a new one. What can we do? How do we get ahead? How do we get out of debt. I'm Sick of stressing and struggling.... I know so many families are the same.
5 Replies
Your right so many families are the same. It's just me and my boy, I had to give up work and live off a carers pension and he's on a disability pension (child) and I care for him 24/7. I can't get ahead. I saw someone whinge the other day that medical care was more expensive for those who are middle income earners. The costs are the same, as my sons sole carer I can't afford to be stuck on waiting lists for years. My son needed tests done last year that would have meant a two year wait or $2000 up front. I found the money and so glad I did as my son needed treatment for a rare condition.
On the debt front go and see a proper financial counsellor. They are not attached to a loan company and don't sell products. They just advise you of all your options. They may suggest that you negotiate freezing interests rates or something similar.
Deff try and financial advisor have u looked at combining all debts into one big lot u may save $$ on interest. It's extremely hard out their for the average working class family to get ahead. If ur shopping at Aldi you must be in eastern states, try living in perth everything is so so expensive here :( can't wait for Aldi to come to perth
In some cases you can draw your superannuation early, for medical expenses or financial hardship. It was the only way to clear us.
Maybe grow your own veggies. Small and fun idea for the kids to get involved too.
In the last five years, my husband and I, on one income (of less than 65K), and with three kids, have got rid of all our debt (was 10K initially) and we've managed to save $38,000 and are about to purchase our first house. Here's how I we did it.
I overestimated his income about 10-15K a year with family assistance. It means I get less a week, but that bigger bulk payment at tax time, is a huge saving for us and that's exactly where it goes, too - savings.
I cook, cook, cook. Just this morning I've made all my kids school lunches and snacks. Homemade veggie brownies (100% healthy - but kids think they're chocolate cake!), sugar free anzac biscuits, mini quiches, wholemeal/coconut pancakes. Total cost of about $15. That's a week's worth. Which I'll obviously add whole fruit, cheese and sandwiches to.
I'm a keen budget meal planner for dinners too. I don't buy in bulk. A lot of people think buying in bulk is the cheapest way, but I find with us, it leads to waste. And throwing a lot out. Also big initial costs. So I only buy what I need. We eat 'meat free' dinners 2-3 times a week. For health reasons, but that alone has shaved a good $30 off our weekly grocery bill. Only buy fruit/veg that is on special. Generally that's fruit that's in season. So it's win, win. Google 'cheap' meals and bulk them up with seasonal vegetables and lentils. By doing this, I make extra for my husband's work lunch the following day. It's a big saving. He never buys lunch. Just takes fresh fruit and boiled eggs, along with the leftovers to reheat.
Don't over-insure yourself. I think that's a big one. So many people I know are insured for every thing! Yes, it's a nice safety net. But if you're driving an old shit box, don't have 'full comprehensive' insurance. Just do 3rd party, fire and theft (for example). The savings you'll end up with, you'll be able to buy a replacement car if need be. There's always public transport in desperate times.
Pay your bills first. Always. Don't even consider what is 'spending' money until everything is paid (you probably already do this one).
Think ahead for bills/events you know are coming. I have a christmas layby with about $400 worth of stuff. I pay $20 a fortnight. Over six months, that's Christmas done. I also do this for my children's birthdays. They get really good things, but it's not a big cost all at once.
THRIFT SHOP!!! I've only discovered the beauty of op-shopping in the last year myself but the savings are phenomenal. Just the other day, I bought my hubby near-new King G work shorts for $1 each. Also grabbed a bunch of gorgeous winter jackets for my girls for $2 each. We have a wedding to go to next weekend and my outfit and my kids outfits come to a total of $50 from shopping at second hand stores (took forever to find things, though!). Noone will have a clue. Everything I bought was near-new.
My kids have also done swimming, my girls do dancing. They don't miss out. I just pay it weekly.
My hubby and I are also keen exercisers. But we don't go to the gym. We train at home. Or I go to the park with my kids and train. Circuits can be done anywhere with no equipment and zero cost.
One of my hobbies is doing up old solid timber furniture. My entire house if filled with gorgeous pieces that I've bought for a steal (50-100 each) and done up myself. You would never catch me in a furniture shop paying hundreds of dollars for anything.
We have takeaway night once a week, every week. Never more than once. We budget $30 for our family of five.
Get your power bill down by monitoring the lights at night. I'm crazy about turning lights off. Turning TV off at the back of the wall when we go to bed. Not running two Tv's at once. Our power bill for one quarter is around $350. I hear some people have bills at nearly 1K a quarter.
We also had some whopping medical bills in this time. Paying private fees for my daughters tonsillectomy (totalling 3K) as we weren't willing to wait. We're up for it again with my son in just a few months time. We don't have a health care card, so pay a lot for medications etc. But you just take it on the chin.
The most important things are. Do not compare your life to anyone elses. Your running your own race. Take control of your finances and don't get down about having to cut some of the 'luxuries' out. Reasses what actually IS luxury. Take a leaf out of our grandparents era. Sew clothes with holes. don't rebuy. Polish old shoes. Cook healthy home-made dinners using cheap cuts of meat. It's honestly amazing how many hundreds of dollars a week you can save. Your hubby will have to get on board, though. Took my hubby a while... haha. But he's sooooo glad we did now... xx