Getting to know you........

xmadmammax

Hello
Am very new to the whole forum thing, so please bear with me as I'm bound to get it wrong a few times, so I shall apologize in advance lol
Wish I'd known about this site a few years ago, but I'm here now so better late than never!

43 year old divorcee with 2 little monsters (14 and 11)
Have been through a rough 6/7 years:
lost pretty much everything thanks to the ex hubby, business, home, and marriage, and had to totally start again at a time in my life I thought I could start enjoying the benefits of my labours, but I'm still here, not quite sure how, but I am and having pretty much paid off the debt that the marriage and resulting divorce left me with, lost my job but am now starting to claw my way back again.

I'm about to embark on a new journey, working from home, so as funds are still going to be tight for a while, have been looking at ways of managing my money and time better.
Being on benefits has been horrendous, and I take my hat off to them that are able to manage, because I've really, really struggled to keep our heads above water and the wolves from the door this last couple of years.

I was sorting out my 'knickers' draw the other week - a chore I used to find very therapeutic for some strange reason haha, and I realised I don't have one pair that doesn't date back to at least the year 2001! My target before December is to go and buy some new decent draws! (knickers, not storage!) ;-0

I'm hoping, now I've found you, I'll be able to organise my funds and time better than I have previously, and maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to take the kids on holiday next year.
I've read the weekly flylady thread - what a brilliant post, and I shall spend till the end of this week playing catch up and making my own to do list ('Frog' and maybe even 'Toot's' too), with a view to joining you all at the start of next week.

Thanks for reading so far, hope I've not bored you all too much

XMMX

cyclamen_2

Can I join in too? I've been reading the boards for a while - I'm a lurker by nature but thought I should make an effort and participate properly!

I've just turned 30 and live by myself in London. I've been pretty much out of work for the last few months so money is tighter than before, but I have three days' work a week starting on Monday so that will be a great improvement. I love cooking (and eating!) but spend too much on food so want to get that under control. I'm learning to sew (have only made a pair of curtains and some cushion covers so far, but aspire to be like my mum who is an excellent seamstress) and knit, and last week I made my first batch of jam. I boiled it for too long so it's a bit on the chewy side, but not too bad for a first attempt! So I guess I have old-style leanings but lots to learn... oh, and I am a pretty lousy housekeeper so definitely need to improve that side of things.

Anyway, that's me. Hello!

Jacky_J

I am struggling to use this site, as I do not do this sort of thing.... How do I start a new thread? Can anyone help me ?

Jacky J

notjustlaura

Hello

I've been dipping in and out of these forums for a couple of years and, having dipped in again yesterday, I thought I should put my head above the parapet and say 'Hello.'

I'm really fortunate in having no debt (apart from a mortgage which will be paid of in about 8 years) although I have carried credit card debt in the past (up to about £2k). Now I'm debt-free my financial aim is to fill my cash ISA to its limit. That's not going to happen this year as there's been money coming and going from it and I'm fine with that - this is an over-arching aim to keep in mind, not a requirement.

My incomings are a company pension and some welfare benefits as I'm currently unable to work due to a chronic illness. Again, I count myself fortunate - the pension is the difference between scraping along from one giro to the next and living comfortably. I also have a tiny income from selling books on Amazon and I put everything I can through Quidco to get cashback.

Outgoings are my problem. I seem to oscillate between two extremes - I either go without or spend, spend, spend. And that's why I'm here. I'm trying to find a way to stay in the middle, to have a more healthy relationship with money and spending.

Let moneysaving commence!

Laura

SnowBelle_2

Hello,
As you will see from my join date I have been here a while but only recently to this board.
I used to post on lots of different forums but as this is one of the only ones you get 'Thanks' and genuine replies it inspires you to post.
I'm 43 married ..no children but with two fat 14 year old cats.
I work full time OH is self employed so work can come and go,last year was a bit hard as he had 3 months without work & cannot claim benefits.
Presently I overpay on the mortgage( he has work for the next few months)
Use an electricity monitor
Have just discovered my washing machine has a timer on it so can be set to start in the early hours
Vowed not to use the tumble dryer...just bought a big airer
Bought blinds to go with my curtains to keep the warmth in
Car boot a couple of times a year
Ebay( sometimes)
Coupon clip
Never buy if we can't afford it
& try to pass the gospel of good savings message on to friends,family & workmates!Some of whom seem to have money to burn!
Clare x

notjustlaura

Nice to meet you, snow belle. Sammy-cat and William-cat send greetings to your kits too

SnowBelle_2

Thanks notjustlaura,
Big purrs from Tibby the tabby-cat & Biscuit the persian blue cross-cat x

darkrev

FoxFace wrote: »

Hi, I just thought I'd pop my head in and post

I signed up a while back, have been getting ideas from MSE for quite a bit longer and have decided I want to contribute from now on

I am a 30yr old married mother of two, who has been through some tough times these past couple of years. We were forced to sell our house, then made homeless from private landlords (due to house sale, no fault of our own ) two years on the run, eventually ending up in our lovely little council flat where we currently reside Just as we got settled in, my employer started handing out redundancies... long story short the payoff cleared our debts, and we have been back at square one since February.

I was drawn to old style moneysaving, because that's pretty much how we have had to live for the past two/three years... It's like coming home

We are very used to living on a budget, but therein lay the rub. Our luck has started to change, my husband has been promoted and I just landed a full time job... I am hoping spending more time on MSE will help me to "keep it real" and not blow all the extra money we will be bringing in I admit I am better with money the less I have, however we would love to buy a home in future and that will take a level of saving commitment I'm not sure I've ever had before.

Anyway, I look forward to spending more time with everyone...

So glad you survived, i've been in similar circumstances and narrowly avoided the same again only this week ! Onward and upward ! so glad to meet you. I would type more but my tortie cat is cold and perched on my arm refusin to move:)

Miss_Purple_Hat

Engineering student, about to go into my third year. I post at random times because I don't understand what 'normal' hours are. And I was starting work at 5pm or later during the holidays. When term starts, I should hopefully visit at much more regular times!

Only responsible for myself, which certainly makes things easier when it comes to food!

I don't have a job, I mostly live off student loan, but like I said I had a job over summer so it should make things a little easier this year. (If I don't spend it all willy-nilly! )

But I want to try to save my money. When I eventually graduate I'm going to need a deposit for rent, and money for furniture if I get a flat. Saving for a house deposit would be amazing, but there's pretty much no chance of that without a term time job. (No success on that front so far, though not sure I have the time this year!)

Glitzer

Hello! :wave:

Whilst I joined this site a few years ago I have never really taken full advantage of it and due to badly struggling with money for what feels like forever, I have bitten the bullet and decided to take things in hand.

I work full time although since January 2010 I have actually been off work (due to maternity leave and sickness) more than I have been at work! Thank goodness I got a decent maternity and sick package.

Our home consists of myself, my DH (works 26 hours a week) and our (nearly) 17 month old DS who is mostly an absolute joy and fun but today is miserable and poorly. Very unlike him.

I've decided to start our cut-backs with looking at OS tips to save money as I am not strong enough yet to tackle the bigger things but I figure every little helps.

I've joined in with the October GC and have already been hugely inspired as I've spent most of the last few days on here hunting for ideas, having been off work, again, this time due to falling down an entire flight of stairs! :eek: DH and I are going to save every single receipt from Friday (we have zero pennies until then anyway :rotfl: !)

One more thing to add I am currently at risk of redundancy, which would be a good thing for me as I hate my job and the payout will fund a move (we rent) to Bristol to be closer to my family; we have no family here and have really struggled since having DS and my own mental issues getting worsen (though pleased to report back on the mend again).