Write down all bills and expenses and then divide them by your pay period ie weekly or fortnightly. Then put the amount you have calculated for bills into a separate account each pay day. When the bill arrives, pay it out of this account and so at least you know they are covered. Next you need to start a small savings account, even if it is only $20 and build on this until you have an amount for something special. Don’t be tempted to touch this! It’s hard to pull yourself out of financial trouble but with a bit of discipline and starting small it is possible! Good Luck!

Also; keep an eye for freebies and vouchers.

I will be following as we will be on one income next year

love all these thanks ladies 🙂

One thing i can suggest is to do your shopping online although there is a delivery fee in some cases(but somedays there are free deliveries if you plan well ahead). It can help stop in impulse buys that happens to everyone. I find if i go into a supermarket i buy a lot of unneeded things on impulse and i have found i save at least $50 a week by having it delivered. I also google any of the gifts i buy fr the kids well in advance of needing it. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy online and have delived than it is to go into the shops and buying. By using google it can show me the same product sometimes saving heaps online or showing me which store has it on special so i can go put it on lay buy. I also find when paying bills like phone or electricty if you have any spare money over diffferent times of the year and you pay extra it come off the next bill. We have bills through some times of year which are heaps higher than others. So if you plan ahead it can reduce the pain when the big bills are due.

So many great ideas already, we have a long experience in living pay check to pay check.
There are many ways to control expenditure: buy only the food ingredients you need, no frill stores like Aldi and NQR and the local Op Shops are great place to get bargain deals. Search online for more valuable items and you will find better price – sometimes you could save postage and handling fee too on Group Buy with eBay, keep watching, and good luck.
We have all gone through that, keep asking for help and you will get your answers.

One thing I love to do when the budget gets tough is break down how much each bill will cost per fortnight and pay that amount off the bill – even if I haven’t received it yet. That way when it does come in it’s only a few dollars different. Also, by paying all the bills, my money is my own.
I also plan my meals and buy those ingredients, rather than lots of random individual ingredients which may get wasted. When you have groceries delivered you can add things in and take them out to suit budget, without embarrassment at the counter.

Planning all expenses and also writing down every purchase does help with a budget. It is a good way to track expenses and to see where the money is going.

following, good question. thanks hanny!

i think this is so tough and im glad we are not in this situation at present. i do put money away every fortnight for bills so i never suffer at the quarterly bill stage.
I buy my meat at the butchers and vegies at the markets as its way cheaper. i cook in bulk when i make big meals and freeze these for lunches,i stock up on specials and never frown at home brand goods. i get free bread and rolls at a playgroup i go to and use these for garlic bread or toasties. i dont care if i eat beans on toast etc

We budget by making slow cooked meals that last awhile and can be frozen! We stick to our meal plan and shop at places like Aldi. We also shop to specials and look around for the cheapest. It is hard but you can do it! Good luck x

Always shop to a meal plan!
Make double servings and freeze one – that way when you are too busy or tired to cook you can pull it out of the freezer rather than going for take away.

Oh! So many interesting ideas in the previous post. Fantastic!
Well, we are struggling too. I always cook. 7 days a week! We go out for dinner 2-3 times a year, that’s it. I don’t buy any frozen meal, prepared sauces, soft drinks, alcohol..
Grow at least your own herbs. They are so incredibly expensive in the supermarket but so easy to grow yourself. Mint, basil, parsley, oregano, sage, bay leaves, rosemary… Never buy them again.
Make a budget, know where your money is going and try to stick to it.
Throw away all the credit cards. You don’t need them!
Walk! I don’t drive. We just have one car. I walk and use public transport, that’s it.
Reduce at a minimum the cleaning products in your house. Use natural products like bicarbonate, vinegar and lemon.

What an interesting topic!

A lot of families live pay cheque to cheque, so you are not alone. Some tricks we have used. Some are daily, some are only when available or suitable or even yearly with planning.

Shopping is a biggie for savings. Given a choice, name brand products are out off the list.

Searching all over town wasting more petrol than actually saving money on groceries is out.

Look for (Google, family etc) bulk food recipes, and research tricks in cooking/presentation rather than expensive ingredients/garnishes.

Shop at the end of the day for specials, and use your freezer wisely, bulk up when you can on everything wisely, on special.

Never shop on empty tummy or when in a rush with screaming kids. Plan and enjoy saving $.

Never buy stuff at petrol stations or corner stores, unless on super special, you actually can use it or it is needed, and as good or better than supermarket.

Sign up to Coles, Woolies etc for online shopping and await the freebies and specials on delivery. Same price trolley, no cost to you for petrol etc. Join free rewards programmes, and use wisely. A $20 or more bonus yearly if free, is still a bonus.

Check your docket each time at home, list any mistakes, keep package and return next shop to get price fixes, refunds etc. Unhappy with a product, return for a refund at same time.

Do not buy food or drink away from home, ever, except if you are rich or want to throw away money, just like gambling. Unless you can afford to loose that money do not do it.

Set maximums for home phone and internet charges, use it wisely and when it is maxed out, that is it. OR, try a bulk or smarter plan, loose home phone, use unlimited internet for VoIP style phone, Skype etc.
Mobile phones can use Wi fi and not waste credit, and kids mobiles are for emergency only, not for fun. This is to learn to control the electronics and don’t let them control you. My kids want a mobile phone, but they can not have more credit until they are working if their pocket money credit runs out. Teaches them what is important, time/usage management and how to budget.

Have Foxtel?, Dump it. Have garage sales, learn to use Gumtree and Ebay, change banks for better interest, lower fees etc, shop around, and never turn away a freebie or a hand me down. Do not try to out do the Jones, and have the best or biggest of everything. We hardly ever get things, new thing things until they are old news, and way cheaper too.

Join sites such as Simple Savings, Freecycle and TuShare for sharing and also receiving.

Never use a car wash. Your family, your hands and a bucket on the grass are the best.

Etc, etc, etc, the list is endless, and then there is the vege garden. A small patch where we made room, and started a 2nd hand mulching box. Also, one of many many tricks, cut the roots and last 1cm off spring onion, leeks, celery and the like, and replant. Yes, they will keep regrowing.

The money saving list of ideas is endless, please keep adding and sharing.

~ use local ops shop for all clothing needs as you can always get some bargain items in good condition still!
~ do big cook up meals in a slow cooker and freeze them for other days. bulk cooking usually saves on money & waste