BALANCING  ACT! 

 At the heart of householding spending is the budget.

The days of receiving a weekly pay packet with cash have disappeared into the mists of time.

Almost everyone gets paid by a bank transfer from their employer, pension  or benefit agency.

From that amount, there will be certain deductions which will be set up by direct debit and other payment transactions.

Weekly food and household shopping will usually be paid for by card. It is very easy to overspend these items and simply lose track.

Other items also get tacked on such as subscriptions to entertainment and items for family. It is easy to do and there are no consequences at the point of purchase.

The downside is when bank statements come in showing every purchase and often the amount going out exceeds the amount going in.

An increasing number of people are deciding to economize by leaving the large deductions such as rent, mortgage etc. in place,  discarding any unnecessary subscriptions, and lifting an amount of cash to cover food and household goods.

Only that money can be used. Once it runs out there is no more. 

This method shows that it eliminates unnecessary items finding their way into a supermarket basket, and sticking to essentials.

This system can be widened of course.

It can also include putting cash aside for utilities, clothing, transport and leisure.

Traditionally weekly pay packet money was divided into rent, utilities, food/household and anything left was for saving.

It is a model which would be difficult to comprehend for people brought up on paying for everything by card, but it is a system which keeps a tight reign on budget and can work well.

Apart from a shopping bag, the shopping list is probably the only accessory which accompanied your grandmother when buying  weekly food.

Of course there wasn`t the vast array of choice in supermarkets, in fact probably not very many supermarkets as many items were bought from single shops and traders.

A list made out at home which sticks to what is needed is a great guide to saving.

There will be items which are needed immediately but also items which may need replacing before the next shopping trip.

With the benefit of the internet, prices can be compared and seasonal produce and special offers can be factored into "the list" before you go shopping.

There are opportunities to test special offers and "own brands" alongside choosing loose items such as vegetables / fruit as opposed to already packaged. This is not only cheaper but also cuts down on plastic wrapping.

Ready meals are expensive and usually with a high sugar and salt content so should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

A store cupboard can be built up inexpensively by adding items such as pasta, rice,  tinned   tomatoes and special offers a bit at a time.

Bulk buying items such as teabags, coffee, toilet rolls and washing up products  where possible is also cost effective.

Vinegar and baking soda are great cleaners for many things such as cooker and  sinks and are a cheap effective way of swapping cleaning products.

 We are all familiar with the  enormous amount of food which supermarkets consider as "waste" if it is out of date or not sold within a time frame.              Much of this food finds its way to food banks and other points of need which gives an indication of how desperate many people are.

We have become a throw away society in a variety of ways.

At home food is discarded if not finished at meal times and often fruit and  vegetables are thrown out if there is the slightest mark of age.

Items around the house are also discarded for no real reason other than a fashion update.

White goods are replaced rather than repaired. Clothes are sent to charity shops without any wear or damage, only to be replaced by new ones.

This has all been able to happen as people have had more disposable income.

Due to financial current constraints, this type of waste may have to be considered.

More attention to food purchase, preparation and reuse. Often a further meal can be made from what would be termed "left overs".

Fruit and vegetables need not be discarded at the first sign of deterioration, as soups, chutneys and deserts can easily use them up.

Suggested "use by" dates are useful, but many foods can be used outwith these dates. Common sense usually indicates whether food is still useable. Care obviously has to be taken with chicken and dairy products as they don`t have a long shelf life and can be responsible for bacterial gut upsets if kept for too long, but many foods if kept cool can be safely used if cooked thoroughly.

Perhaps home furnishings can be given a new lease of life by changing accessories rather than the whole item.

White goods problems may be simple to fix without the need to purchase a new machine.

Clothes can be worn for longer and like furniture accessorised for update and originality.

*Dont take small children on a budget shop for obvious reasons. They will only want to have items they cant have.

*If older children understand the cost of living crisis, it may be useful for them to see first hand the importance of budgeting.  They are also helpful bag packers.

*Other company whilst budget shopping is divided into two.

1) Avoid anyone who is likely to encourage you to stray from your list.

2) If you find it difficult to keep to a list, having someone with you to help keep to it is helpful.

*Walking instead of driving or taking public transport  scores on three  counts.

*It cuts down on carbon emissions.

* It saves money on fuel and fares.

*It keeps you fit.

*At home, encourage everyone when leaving a room to switch off lights and close doors to conserve heat.

*Make sure everything is switched off at night at source including stand by for TVs.

*Batch cooking and baking saves energy when using hob and oven once only.

*Freeze batch cooking and baking.

*Make sure freezer is full as an empty freezer uses a great deal of energy.

*Use off peak times for washing and dishwashing machines and driers.

*Wear layers of warm clothing.

*Make sure elderly relatives or neighbours are warm, have sufficient to eat and drink and able to exercise where possible.