Family of 4 living on £1 a day saves £43,000 after running into huge debt

A family of four have revealed how they lived on £1 a day and saved over £40,000 in the process. Ricky and Naomi Willis, from Hull, said they wanted to help others after struggling with payday loans and credit cards. The family’s troubles began when Ricky lost his job as a machine operator at a printing company and the following year Naomi lost her insurance job. With no money coming in, they quickly racked up £43,000 in payday loans, plus credit card and catalog debt.

Things came to a head when their car and refrigerator broke down in the same week, wiping out their remaining savings and increasing their debt load. The family of four hit rock bottom when Ricky realized she had to live on less than a pound a day. He said The daily express : “We made a list and feeding our two daughters Daniella and Chloe was great, then diapers because Chloe was still a baby. We eat in third place.”

Ricky, now 42, went to bed that night and cried: “I felt like I let my family down.” Ricky and Naomi, 37, began their return to solvency by ruthlessly going through their bank statements to cut back on all non-essential expenses.

New research from low-cost broadband provider Plusnet shows the average household is paying £299 a year on their mortgage rating, £222 on fuel bills, £156 on broadband and £132 on TV packages . They also spend £162 on car insurance and £84 on pet insurance when cheaper alternatives were available.

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Naomi said, “We made sure we didn’t spend a dime on products or services we didn’t absolutely need. This has saved us thousands of pounds a year. They set up individual payment plans with creditors, used money-saving apps like Freecycle, sold goods and stuck to cheap meal plans. Thanks to their frugal lifestyle, they became debt free in just four years.

Ricky and Naomi started the Skint Dad blog in 2013 to help other people get their finances back on track. Now their money-saving tips are helping hundreds of thousands of followers as the cost of living soars. Naomi said: “It will be a really difficult year for many households. It may seem impossible to weather the storm, but there are things you can do to ease the pressure.

Here are their top 12 money-saving tips.

Be energy efficient. Even simple measures can save money. Block drafts from doors, windows, and even an unused fireplace, lower thermostats on radiators in unused rooms, and turn off appliances and lights when not in use.

Choose the right broadband provider . “We pay £18.95 a month with Plusnet with no unnecessary bells and whistles,” says Ricky.

Earn cash back when shopping online. Use sites like TopCashback or Quidco. Airtime Rewards allows you to double your cashback.

Check your bank account regularly. Check direct debits and standing orders and reduce what you don’t need.

Watch out for TV subscriptions. The costs add up quickly. “Do you watch a lot of shows or movies on each service? If not, cancel and save,” says Ricky.

Save fuel. Check local gas station prices online before filling up or use loyalty programs.

Meal plan. Planning weekly meals for your family will reduce the money you spend at the supermarket and reduce food waste.

Use a slow cooker. This makes cheaper cuts of meat delicious and tender and uses less energy than an oven.

Benefit from all tax advantages. Website Turn2us.org.uk allows you to verify that you are claiming all state benefits available to you.

Select the correct mobile operator. You’ll only pay £7 a month for a SIM-only deal and often keep your old number.

Consider secondary agitation. From online tutoring to party planning to carpooling, this could be a great way to earn some extra cash.

Face all debts. Contact StepChange Debt Charity or National Debtline for free, unbiased debt advice.

Joanna Carman, Director of Plusnet, said: “Simple tips for buying sensibly and avoiding complicated deals can be a big help at times like these.”

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