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

StarMummy_2

HI
I'm 25, single mummy to a four year old girl and currently working 2 jobs, I run the accounts dept of a haulage firm in the week and work in the operations dept of Waitrose at weekends. I'm also doing my ACCA along side a degree in applied accounting. my ultimate goal is to get a MBA.
I have worked in accounts since leaving sixth form but its only very recently that I have taken my own professional knowledge into practise on my own finances. ha ha

when I'm not working, studying or being mummy I like to take part in obstacle or mud runs, my latest being a Spartan Race. running is free, helps me clear my head and means I can do my bit raising money for charities

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Hello,

I have a diary on the mfw board but now I would like to join you. We became mortgage free in October and now we want to combine having fun with working less to enjoy the fruits of our labours. However, our mfw journey has left me very unwilling to waste any money now that I know how far it will stretch. I look forward to learning a lot over here.

All the best to you all,

Squirrel:j

Lilyplonk

Just a quick 'Hello' from me - I've been missing-in-action for a few months mainly due to busy lifestyle.


Have really missed 'Old Style Board' and want to kick my own backside back into gear ..........................


Still practising most of my 'thrifty ways' but have had a few slip-ups in the build-up towards Christmas - oh dear !


Good to see that many of the posters that I remember from ages ago and still around - obviously you guys have far more determination than I can manage :whistle:.


Now off to read the rest of the threads - speak again later!

Pinot_Noir

Hi all! My name is Pinot, I am 28 and curently work as a lawyer in the United Arab Emirates. Having moved here recently from London (where I completed my training) with my husband, we have so far acquired a car, a rented flat, various new friends and a cat!

There are two main challenges to moneysaving in the Middle East that I have discovered, the first being the need to adapt our eating habits to suit the available produce. As very little grows in the desert, most food is imported which in turn can mean higher prices (think £5 for a very, very small punnet of raspberries from America :eek:). The good news is that items used in asian and middle eastern cooking (spinach, fresh herbs, lamb, locally caught fish etc) tend to be cheaper than back in the UK. Mr Pinot and I are keen cooks so I am hoping to have lots of fun trying new things, while counting the pennies to pay for occasional treats such as bacon.

The other big issue is the constant pressure to live up to other people's lifestyles. As salaries as tax free out here, most expats have far more disposable income to spend on luxuries, and spend they do! Sadly for us, Mr Pinot is currently looking for a job, and while my take home salary is as much as we both earned together back in the UK, we certainly can't afford the never ending brunches, designer clothes and holidays we see advertised! Apparently a lot of expats end up in debt or with no savings because they enjoy the lifestyle too much and it is easy to see how that could happen.

I am hoping that posting on the OS Board will not only encourage my frugal ways, but also remind me to be grateful for what we have compared to so many who live and work out here.

Gwendolyn

Hello

I am a late 30s mother of 3. I work part time but do a large amount of overtime. Family time is very precious and hence I tend to spend without thinking as I perceive that I don't want to waste time shopping around etc.
About 3 years ago I was not working and we got ourselves in a financial pickle - we ended up spending my husband's bonuses before they arrived. We managed our way out of that one but now I am earning again I've been spending for the sake of it. Sort of a reward for making me feel better after a hard month. The trouble is I tend to buy small or mid priced items that I don't really need or use. I need to save up and buy the things we really need or want such as a new sofa or redecorating or replacing our car when it expires - which will be very soon.
I hate the fact that I keep wasting money on trash and accumulating stuff. How much do we really need?

helacnau

Hello there
I'm a 50+ mum of grown up 1, married for 25 years this year, Oh is retired and not very OS - on a teeny pension. I work full time, long hours and have always been main earner. This year, things are going to be bad at work (I know this as senior manager, staff don't as yet) so I need to be doing all I can to save money for the future unknowns. Also need to declutter two rooms very badly and have found motivation on various threads on here. Long time read- alonger, used to post infrequently a few years ago but lost my log-in and my mojo.
2014 will be different.

The_Green_Lady

Hi there, I've spent an hour looking around this forum and I love it here! I can't wait to get to know you all! I am new to MSE and have dropped in to try to aid me with focussing on sorting my large debt out. I'm in debt because I love spending money basically and I think I work hard so I should have what I want. Well princess, it's time to get your head around that! I am 39, married to a great man, I work full time with little spare time. I'm not a great cook but I can follow a recipe, I love budgeting and when I focus I get such a sense of achievement out of it, I am excellent at shopping and therefore finding bargains. I love a bargain. I used to be great at competitions and I would really love to get back into that this year. I also buy vintage items to sell but they are all over my house so the hoarding thread is going to help me. I have a feeling that 2014 is going to be a great year x

Lilyplonk

Looks like we've had a few new peeps coming over to 'Old-Style' in the last couple of weeks.

:hello: and welcome to you all. I'm sure you'll find lots to interest you on this part of the forum.

It just has to be one of the friendliest boards on the whole site ..............

notjustlaura

Gwendolyn wrote: »

...
I hate the fact that I keep wasting money on trash and accumulating stuff. How much do we really need?

Oh, I hear you, Gwendolyn. I too have been busy accumulating as much stuff as possible, shuffling it from one room to another, cataloguing it, adding more to it ... And for what? I even accumulate electronics. I have hundreds of Kindle books despite the fact that I can buy the next book I want to read any time I like. This is the year I'm going to beat recreational shopping and I hope you do too

The_Green_Lady wrote: »

...I have a feeling that 2014 is going to be a great year x

I think you're right How are you going to make it happen?

superrhinos

Having spent lots of time reading through the old threads over the last few weeks I though it was about time I delurked and said hi. I am a single son to my 3 year old son and work four days a week as an administrator at the local university. I have already picked up so much useful advice and am sure I learn much more over the coming year. I am especially keen on trying to make my food budget stretch further.