Get rid of you're CC.,.....horrible thigns they are....i do have one but i dont use it...unless there is a need.
Groceries: hmmm tough one...start with the basics's i think and bulk buy thigns such as means loo roll etc. i have to as we get paid monthly so buying in bulk is a must. but i say do it on line less likely to buy thigns you dont need.
As for emergencies...hmmm tough on. car services have to budgeted in along time in advance in my house and kids clothing lay bys....
for bills i know are the same each month direct debt.....with water,gas and electricity.....do a payment system were you put so much on a fortnight/month that helps.
I have to agree on getting rid of the credit card. We used to be fine till we got one and then it seemed we never had enough to put away for savings. I recently cut mine up. DH still has his as we are going to build our house and he needs it for that. But we can't use it for anything else. We do have a debit card for online things etc but we can't over spend from that as it is our own money.
Oh, I meant to say, that when you put your bills money into a seperate account, you may need to top it up for a couple of months, but generally within about 3-4 months it gets in front and provides a buffer for big expenses / emergencies if needed. It's also worth chasing up your banks to ensure you have the best low-fee accounts possible - even if this means changing banks.
Our gas and electricity companies over here do 'bill smoothing' - they take your average 12 month usage and split it up over 12 monthly equal payments and DD it from your account. You pay the difference at each meter reading if there is one, or you can end up in credit
Also helps you to keep an eye on how much your usage is fluctuating.
Emergencies - well this is what your savings a for We are like Kathryn, there is a minimum balance kept in the account, so I can whinge I have no money, but there is $1500 in the bank for those emergencies - next week for example, there is an $1200 car repair and service.
Oh, we don't have a CC at all either, so there is never "a need" to use it. Get rid of it, you do not need it, and you will not need it if you don't have it.
We have a visa debit that I use for online etc.
We have a bills account and all the money for the mortgage etc gets transferred into it on DHs pay day as per the budget.
Also now doing the shopping online, avoiding impulse spending, avoiding issues with the 3 year old and also the heat, crowds and hassle of being 9 months preg and trekking to the supermarket. Plus it is much easier to keep track of spending and add/remove items as necessary if I go over the budget.
The slow cooker is your friend, as are farmers markets etc - I NEVER buy fruit and veg from the supermarket, it is never as fresh and always 5 times the price. There is a co-op thing over here that deliver a box of organic veg to your door every weeks etc, cheap as. But your local markets should do nicely.
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