Top tips for family budgeting
2 comments
Q: My problem is my hubby, who seems to think we are spending too much money. We have a budget of £150 per month and this is to feed two adults and a toddler as well as buy nappies and wipes for her.
I try and plan our meals out in two-week segments and to cook as much as possible from fresh but my husband seems to think I am spending too much. He wants us to eat healthily but doesn't want me to spend too much money. Also, whenever I go to the supermarket and he comes with us, he is always chucking stuff in the trolley which means that I then have to pay by card as I have gone over my cash budget.
I guess what I'm asking is, what tips could you give me to help my husband see that I'm not always spending money and to get him to stop chucking things in the trolley when we do not need them?
A: Well my first tip is for me to give him a piece of my mind!
Honestly, there you are managing on £150 a month for a family (it's do-able but not easy) and he's complaining! Cheek!
I think you're doing very well. Just a few thoughts:
Don't take your husband shopping with you. If he begs, just say no. Do a shopping list and stick to it. If you have to take hubby shopping with you then get him to compile the list with you beforehand so that he has a stake in it. Get him to agree to stick to it while you are shopping. Do your shopping at the market if you have one nearby, rather than the supermarket. On average markets are 30 per cent cheaper than supermarkets so you can get more for your money. Consider cooking more vegetarian dishes. They are generally cheaper than meat-based ones and will allow the housekeeping to go further. Tell hubby that if he wants the extra goodies in the trolley he should go out and earn more to pay for them. Suggest removing certain domestic privileges for every item he chucks in the trolley that is not on the shopping list. Leave the credit card at home when you go shopping. Tell hubby how much you have in cash and that you can't buy any more than that.
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Comments
I think this lady is a saint! £150 a month, I need her to show me how she does it! There is me, my husband and my 11mth old in our family and this is a general break down of our shopping.
I do our fruit and veg shop atthe market weekly and it costs approx £20 a time so approx £80
3 x packs of nappies per month x £30 approx
Chicken, mince etc £40 per month
Then all other sundries, I normally buy shop own brand products.
All in I reckon we spend at least £300 a month. I like to buy fresh as our baby is leanring the joys of eating and my husband likes a healthy diet. My husband thought I was spending too much, that was until I challenged him to do it!!
Well done you, you are doing a great job! Tell him to do it if he thinks he can do it better, besides im sure you have enough on your plate with a toddler to look after! xxx