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

daisyroots_2

Hi, I'm 63 and a new MSE addict. For most of our lives DH and I have had to be very careful with money, both our mothers were widowed soon after we were born, so frugal is all we know. However, we started our own business and worked 24/7 for eight years, promising ourselves that one day we would stop, wake up and smell the flowers. That day arrived in 1996, since when we have concentrated on doing all the things we might regret not having done when lying on our deathbeds. We've done over 20 house exchanges, in Canada, Australia, Spain, France, Netherlands, USA, Portugal. We love house exchanging, it's very cost effective (no money changes hands) you get a whole house instead of a hotel room and usually we do a car swap too.

DH spends time at the LSE, where he got a 2:1 in Economic History 40 years ago (contemporary of Mick Jagger, but far better looking) he reads in the library and attends lectures there. I have written and published a book, learned Spanish (we did that together) researched my family history, been a volunteer teacher in an underprivileged community in Monterrey, Mexico and worked hard at writing poetry, have had three poems published and often perform my poems in pubs, alongside young rap and rasta men. A white middle aged woman is a novelty, I tellya, but everyone is really nice to me. Was really looking forward to the smoking ban, but rushed to hospital the day before with severe asthma. Determined to be well for 17 August when I'm reading at Poets for Peace at Houseman's Bookshop.

Soibhan from the British Lung Foundation (my new best friend) says I should consider moving to the country, the idea makes me so sad - I love London and am 3rd generation Islington. Only if I nearly die...

I'm lucky enough not to have to worry too much about money now, but I dislike ostentation and extravagance, and cooking from scratch, not wasting money and public transport (have never driven a car in my life) are so ingrained now I'd find it hard to change.

Our daughter is a nurse and aerobics instructor, mother to our 3 gorgeous grand daughters and lives in Devon. Our son works for Ken at City Hall and lives in Kent. Somehow we have ended up with happy children who love us and are gainfully employed. Suspect this had a lot to do with luck as having an old hippy for a mother can't have been easy for them.

Sometimes I have pink hair.

Nosy_Nora

Hello, I log in as Nosy Nora as I'm now retired, over 65 and ENTITLED to be nosy!

My father was a minister in the Methodist church and we were always hard up but my mother was quite a snob so, although I'd have been entitled to school dinners, free ones probably, I had to go home for dinner every day and really envied the school dinner kids. Mum's cooking was extremely frugal. We had a small leg of lamb hot on Saturday, cold on Sunday because of services, and Monday... and stewed up with spuds, carrots amd onions on Tuesday. Wednesday we had stewed beef as above, and I don't remember what on Thursday and Friday, but they used to have their day off on Friday and often were out. We never had interesting things done with minced beef, they probably had some sort of prejudice against that. When I started cookery at school and had to make a roux, there was shock and horror because it was wasteful. Strange priorities. Also we had alcohol banned from the house for reasons connected with Methodist beliefs in those days.

All this has actually stood me in good stead, so I shall be very interested to see how the rest of you do.

orchid-96

Hi all

I am 38 and mum to a 5 yr old son Samuel and twin girls who are 16 months old Charlotte and Olivia - my twins were 9 weeks premature but you wouldn't really know it now they are doing great..

Sooo glad to have found this site and am really enjoying trying to get to grips with my grocery budget - have recently given up my part time job as the childcare became a bit of a problem, so need all the help I can get with the finances - was really grateful to find quidco via this site as just by changing a few things around now have a bit of a Christmas fund building up (was thinking that Christmas might have to be canncelled)

Anyway thanks to you all for all the wonderful tips I am picking up from here and I only hope I can return the favour....

Cheers Cheryl :beer:

Never_Enough_Money

Hi

I am a 39 yr old mum, I have been married for 15 years this Sept. I have 2 daughters one 11 and one 13. I work part-time and spend the rest of my time trying to look after 2 kids, husband, house and 1 cat and 1 dog. I also spend time here! I found this site just after Christmas, what a wonderful find, I have now become totally addicted to it. Whether it is to ask advice on holidays, check what offers are on at the shops, anything financial, or even to find recipes.

roguebrogue

Hello everyone!:)
My name's Jackie and I'm 20.
I moved out of my parents house to live with my boyfriend in Cardiff last May and so far have been rubbish with money, so I use this site for inspiration (and to pass the time at work!).
We're currently renting a 1 bed flat, would love to own but can't see how that will ever happen!
I work for an insurance company, taking phone calls about life assurance...fun fun!

I'm hoping that the more I hang around here the more I will learn about money saving whilst I'm still young!

luxor4t

In no particular order:
Janet
Wife to Scottish, hypertensive diabetic civil servant.
Mother to a DS1 = 22, BSc (maths) about to do PGCE after year out in the real world.
DD = 19, musician on 4 year degree course.
DS2 = 17, about to start Upper 6th.

Full time employment as a teacher.
Extra money making:E-baying to downsize and simplify life. Green Metropolis to try and clear some book shelves. Pigsback and Quidco.
Most annoying health problem is currently rheumatoid arthritis but a recent biopsy added drama.
Finding MSE was like coming home.

blueneleh

Hi everyone,

I've been reading all your posts and posting some of my own so thought I should introduce myself!
I'm Jane - 29 years old and been married to Junior for 11 months.
I work as a psychiatric nurse in an A+E department!
No children yet but hope to change all that soon.;)

XX

mikeD

blueneleh wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I've been reading all your posts and posting some of my own so thought I should introduce myself!
I'm Jane - 29 years old and been married to Junior for 11 months.
I work as a psychiatric nurse in an A+E department!
No children yet but hope to change all that soon.;)

XX

Welcome Blueneleh. Shall I lie on the couch now?

luby-lou

Hi Guys

Found MSE a couple of months ago but not started posting until recently but think I'm becoming a bit addicted!

Here's a bit about me:

Married for 7 years, aged 30, I am a mum of two girls - ages 4 and 7 months and work part time at M & S in the evening - quite handy for money saving as get all my fruit and veg in staff shop very cheap as well as staff discount!

Working very hard on reducing our debt - its already come down substantially as used £4750 reclaimed bank charges to pay credit card - now working on reducing 2 overdrafts and one loan - picked up loads of great tips from forums - think i may try grocery challenge in september too.

Had difficult few years financially but now getting better - for the first time in 7 years actually managed to pay for car tax in full, in cash without begging borrowing or scratching around for any spare cash and got 12 months instead of the usual 6! So impressed with myself!

Find everyone on this site a great support - sometimes when you've no money you feel like its only you! Thanks everyone.:A

dbelle

Hello everyone

I've just started an OS thread which looks like a long running one so I thought I'd post here.

I'm 23, engaged to my lovely OH who I met at uni. We both work in marketing which pays really well but we are in quite a bit of debt due to student overdrafts and the lure of graduate loans. I found myself thinking how awful it was that we were in so much debt only 2 years out of university.

Things aren't brilliant right now and we are only just getting the hang of money saving, we really need to make changes in the next few months to improve how we live and start paying things off.

I am looking for work right now and I am really hoping that my next salary is nice and generous so we can breathe a bit easier!

We have a lovely cat called Tilly who is a complete bimbo but totally loveable. I make jewellery in my spare time which I sell on ebay although I need more interest! The plus side is that I always have nice jewellery which costs very little!

x