I have recently descouvered that a lot of people are going thruogh or have just been through the same situation as we are at the moment, but it is funny how money is still a toboo subject amoung friends and family.

I have found great comfort in confinding in my friends and my family, but my husband still does not want these people to know what he earns or what we owe he thinks that, well I am not sure why he thinks this exactly. But I have simply found that I can learn from my friends and family and their mistakes and triumphs. I also know that money was not something that I was taught much about as a kid and its not a tradition that I want to pass onto my children I would like to teach them how to stay in front of the budget and not always be playing catch up the way we always seem to be.



I have also decided that alot of people spend very differently at the grocery store and I have been researching this a little over the past few months as to see if what I spend on groceries is okay or extravigant.

It turns out I am about mid range I think, with a budget of $180 a week although we very rarley actually spend this much, I know thats what I can afford ( and this includes things like cleaning, tioletries, medicine and toilet paper and stuff like that.)

I am also keeping track of what I spend on groceries each week in a book and I just thought of going through and making a spread sheet or something to track the price cycle kind of like at the petrol pump where in our local area the cheap day is about thursday so we try and make that the day we fuel up so if I track the food price cycle I might be able to do the same thing.

I am still trying to cut our grocery bill down but with three kids and a husband that is an almost impossible task.

I would love to hear any tips on cutting down your grocery bill or how much you spend at the register!

thanks and I will talk yo you all soon.

Beth

No money for you !!!!

I am sorry it has taken so log between blogs! It has been a crazy few weeks and I know that is a lame excuse but that's it, that's all I can say.



Now I have been trying to get our household budget under control and get us heading towards the black again.

This has been an extremely hard task considering our out goings are more then our in comings and the fact that I am married to a man that if there is money there then it will burn a hole in his pocket ( so to speak) till he spends it.

So to over come this hurdle I am taking control of all the family money, this includes his income and all family tax benefits and every cent that comes in or out of our hands. Yes that means I am taking his key cards off him and changing all passwords to something he could never guess. I know this sounds harsh, but we had a four hour heated discussion last week about how the budget will not work and how I am living in dream land if I think for one second it will work for us. So I am getting in the trenches and hauling this family out of debt single handedly, meanwhile I will be doing my usually house work and keeping the family fed and cleaned and I will also be job hunting, to add to the funds. See whilst I am trying to achieve all this I am also trying to start a business and make new friends and catch up with the old. I guess now I know why the octopus was created.

Okay, so task one done! I have taken accsses of hubby and it now all lies with me!
(CRAP! what was I thinking?)
I know this will work eventually but somehow I need to prove this to hubby soon.
see at least once a week we have a rather heated discussion about this issue and quiet frankly I am sick of hitting my head against a brick wall all time.

My next task is to open up a bills account and a savings account so that I can put money into both all be it not allot but something so that one day when hubby goes "I would like to get a new TV or new tyres for the car"
Then I can go "well lets do it today the money is there so why not "
so that is the first task I would like to accomplish the next would have to be
find a job I guess!
While I don't particular want to go back to work I need to inject more funds into the budget so until I find a better way to do this I will have to keep searching for the right job for me and the family.
My other goal is keep working on my business.
I am a qualified pasrty chef and I love making birthday cakes and wedding cakes so if any of you out there in blog land are having either of these things or you just feel like getting your self something special then head over to my website www.asliceofindulgence.com.au

Now that I have got that plug in here I better head off and do some much dreaded house work so I shall chat to all real soon (I
promise)

Beth