Need budgeting tips before the mortgage starts

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Thanks, have started buying her nappies for day time from Aldi but i find they don't quite meet the cut at night so 1 box of huggies for over a month will be ok.

Unfortunately DP is a tradie and needs his UTE so we will be getting a wagon or something, but once i sell and pay out my beloved car that will save a chunk.

Am typing a budget at the moment, based on ROUGH estimates and see where we go, looks like we SHOULD have $2000 a month that isn't spent but god know where that goes as we have been living week to week.
This is factoring in what we WILL be paying for the house... hmmmmmmm something isn't adding up. back to the drawing board... lol

[briggsy's girl]

have you factored in the expenses for trips down here? fuel meals etc

rego?
insurance?
health expenses?
tax?
gst?
credit cards?
clothes and entertainment for you and DP?
outgoings for his gokarts?
clothes for the girls?
water rates and usage?
land rates?
license renewals (both private and business)?

it's great you have surplus in theory but you need to find where it;s going now!



ok, now onto tips

vegie patch if you can - tastes better and heaps cheaper if you can do it (once established)
buy in bulk (non-perishables that can't be frozen)
cook in bulk (slow cooker, then freeze in meal size portions) - we tend to get a heap done in a weekend and then freeze - means, if we have to buy veg, we buy it and there is no waste
use what is in season.
buy from green grocer rather than supermarket
buy from a decent butcher not the super market and buy in bulk - if you get a side of lamb it's cheaper - and then you can use any bits that aren't for you guys (the flap etc) as animal food for your dogs.
most places have discounts for buying more meat - cheaper if you buy 1.5kg or more.
meal plan
make meals at home for work lunches for DP. can't remember what his job is, but can he heat things onsite or in his ute (DH has a great little cooker in his truck)
cap plan for your mobile (or if you're still a text maniac, a plan that gives them cheaper)
can you get naked adsl where you're building? cut out home phone altogether? (i only hve phone line due to incoming and adsl - only use it four times a month for outgoing faxes)
talk to your builder about making sure your house is as energy efficient as you can - solar power, gdouble glazed windows, insulation etc - it might cost a little more now, but will save you money in the long run
take meals with you when you go out shopping and things - yeah, it's not as much fun as eating out - but if you and Ava are out, and you buy a meal for the two of you, you're looking at over $10 each time - if you bring your own, it's heaps cheaper (even a bottle of water - pump water is around the $3 mark in the shops, give or take - i take one with me filled at home - heaps cheaper and that's even AFTER i buy water cos boo town water tastes yukko!)

use cloth nappies for number 2!! exxy outlay but you can use them over and over and over - and they're so easy

[~Kim~]

pay a preset amount each week into you bill accounts. That way there's no horrible surprise.

[misty]

all this advice is good, definitely do up a budget now - but also keep track of where your money is actually going for the next month or so. There may be some expences that you have forgotten.

there is a thread here somewhere about budgeting and saving money because someone was having a baby (there is probably alot of them I know I am not really descriptive am I) Anyway this one had some really good tips in it.

I apolgise for spelling etc, I am doing this all left handed at the moment because I am b/f(it has taken nearly 15mins to type tis post).

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Thanks everyone for your comments and effort (while BFing).

ok so these are some of the things i am going to do:

* pay a weekly amount by b-pay onto our regular bills (phone, internet, water, citylink etc)
* buy DD's formula in lots of 3 when on special at the chemist
* working on cutting back on my mobile (BG don't say a word... )
* Have lowered my internet plan to save $30 mth
* buy Aldi nappies for day use and 1 box of huggies for HOWEVER long they last
* get DP to start packing his lunch
* have factored in payments for the house

I haven't factored in MAJOR things like rego etc as we pay them as they come along and we are not 100% on what we are doing with the car situation as yet, also not factoring in clothes etc for the kids as these are very rare expenses and i couldn't put a price on it say weekly etc.
We are not 100% on the rates as yet but once we have more of an idea will update the budget so i can put money aside in an account for that.

basically i am just working off what we have as regular payments for now and then will go from there once i can get that under control.

Just wondering what you would normally allow for a weekly shop, not including nappies and formula?
There are 2 adults and Dd (11mths) who at this stage eats for tea what we eat and is almost the same for lunch!

[briggsy's girl]

set up a seperate account for things like rates and rego/insurance. you'd be surprised at how much they can cripple you when they come.doesn't really make any difference what you do in the future, budget for how things are now (so car loan and rego on existing cars - better to budget for it and not need it then vice verse kwim)
set up an play fund for things for the girls - outings, clothes etc - and don't blow that amount. if you can't afford to go to a play centre out of that amount then change MG to someone's house.
if you're planning on buying bulk formula, still put that amount away each week (or however often you need it) so it's there waiting for you, not money you have to come up with

[sas85]

Try banning EFTPOS use for any non-budgeted purchase. Now that you have your essential's budget (groceries / bills) Draw out the set amount of cash you have decided for you and DH's miscellaneous funds for the week and only use it like an 'allowance'. Have to implement this with my DH as I went through our bank statement and it is amazing how much those little things like a takeout lunch, a cd, alcohol & dvd hire cost!

EDIT: I budget $200 for our weekly groceries, bathroom accessories and includes formula etc but not nappies as I'm a clothie - I find I can always meet that budget I shop at ALDI, the chicken shop and grocer. If I shop at our local COLES I have to be super selective as it can blow out by $50. HTH