Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

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  • System
    System Posts: 178,090 Community Admin
    Photogenic Name Dropper First Post
    I am in a similar position to you with regards to retirement, saving up after paying off debt and see where I am when I am 60.

    Have subscribed and will follow your progress .
  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 90,158 Ambassador
    Academoney Grad I'm a Volunteer Ambassador Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    Small savings are good.
    They all add up.
    I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.

    Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
    "A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
    ***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb.     ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
    One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.
  • mummytogirls
    mummytogirls Posts: 6,578 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
    Well done on kicking the diet coke and saving £6 a week. I was going to suggest having a treat on a weekend but if you're an all or nothing girl this isn't going to work!!!

    xx
    Mummytogirls x

  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Anniversary First Post
    beanielou wrote: »
    I so like your positivity.

    Thanks Beanie :D.

    We've had some tough times over the past six years but we try not to let it get us down, we try to roll with the punches and keep going.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Anniversary First Post
    Cumbria_lass wrote: »
    I am in a similar position to you with regards to retirement, saving up after paying off debt and see where I am when I am 60.

    Have subscribed and will follow your progress .

    Hi Cumbria, we can take take this journey together :).
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Anniversary First Post
    mummytogirls wrote: »
    Well done on kicking the diet coke and saving £6 a week. I was going to suggest having a treat on a weekend but if you're an all or nothing girl this isn't going to work!!!

    xx

    I'm very all or nothing mummytogirls. My coke habit is a relatively new one so I should be able to kick it in theory. I feel like I'd rather have the money at the moment.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Anniversary First Post
    edited 1 October 2017 at 4:44PM
    I've just found some old lists which I compiled a few years ago of little and big ways to save money.

    It all helps to show how far I've come and that a money saving attitude evolves over the years.

    1 Cancel Virgin tv in the kitchen (it's cancelled completely now)
    2 Cancel my phone contract (done two years ago).
    3 Only spend £100 a week on food (My goal is £80 now!)
    4 Don't buy a real Christmas tree, instead buy cheap artificial tree to reuse (doing this for 4 years now).
    5 Only buy Christmas gifts for our parents and children (done for past 3 years).
    6 Post all cards second class (do).
    7 Buy kids clothes from Tesco & Primark instead of Next and Debenhams (kids grown up now).
    8 Combine trips to save petrol (do).
    9 Change house insurance so pay less ( done).
    10 Buy presents from charity shops (do sometimes).
    11 Don't eat out or get takeaways (hardly ever eat out)
    12 Stop going to places that charge entry (done).
    13 Find a cheaper hairdresser (I pay £5 at the hairdressing college now)
    14 Tumble less (done).
    15 Downgrade Virgin tv channels (cancelled years ago).
    16 Persuade DH to go SIM only on phone (done about 18 months ago).
    17 Buy a cheaper wall calendar (spend £3 now instead of £8).

    We've been doing all these money saving things for years now and it's saved us a lot of dosh :).
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Anniversary First Post
    edited 1 October 2017 at 4:47PM
    This is an old list I've found of ideas to reduce my food bill, can't believe I used to spend £120 a week :eek:.

    1 Stop buying Actimel for me (DH needs it for ibs, I don't).
    2 Buy vegetable oil instead of olive oil.
    3 Buy value margarine.
    4 Buy value ketchup.
    5 Buy frozen vegetables.
    6 Buy apples, satsumas, bananas instead of grapes and berries.
    7 Stop buying coke.
    8 Stop buying juice or squash (drink milk or water).
    9 Buy frozen chicken instead of fresh.
    10 Eat porridge instead of muesli.
    11 Stop buying houmous
    12 Drink tap water instead of buying mineral water.
    13 Buy value cling film.
    14 Stop buying vitamins.
    15 Buy value tea bags.
    16 Buy frozen burgers instead of fresh.

    All of these things I've been doing for years and they have helped to reduce our food bill :).
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • parsniphead
    parsniphead Posts: 2,897 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post
    I love finding old lists. A real look into the mind.
    1 debt v's 100 days chapter 34: T3sco bank CC £250/£525.24 47.59%

    [STRIKE]MBNA - [/STRIKE]GONE, [STRIKE]CAP ONE[/STRIKE] GONE, [STRIKE]YORKS BANK [/STRIKE]GONE, [STRIKE]VANQUIS[/STRIKE] GONE [STRIKE] TESCO - [/STRIKE], GONE
    TSB CARD, TSB LOAN, LLOYDS. FIVE DOWN, THREE TO GO.
  • redofromstart
    redofromstart Posts: 4,150 Forumite
    First Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper First Post
    I read mine and think <insert rude word> never did that :o so I am impressed with yours.
    My mortgage free diary: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6498069/whoops-here-comes-the-cheese

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