Simplifying Life - Mark II

[Deleted User]

Furball, carolntia and julie 67,
Thanks so much for your posts, its great to hear from people who were in debt and have literally changed their lives and not only got out of debt but genuinely sound so much happier as a result of simplier living.

The thought of being able to work less, get out of the rat-race a bit is a real motivator. Have read a little of people who planned to live in yurts- would love to know more about that.

Now off to use a tip from carolnytia, more e-bay listing cause its free this weekend!

Thanks guys :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

nattyt

I read this with interest as I get what you are saying...the whole 'keeping up with The Joneses ' thing is hard work! Then one day you wake up and realise that everything you thought you wanted in life you actually never really did! My light bulb moment came a couple of months ago. I split up with my partner of 9 years about 8 months a go and he was 'the big i am' all the time. You get carried away by it all. However now i am who i probably always was deep down and am so happy. As long as my kids have food in their bellies and a roof over their head then not a lot else really matters. Yes i still like nice things but now i have to save or ask for them for birthdays and Christmas! Bizarrely my income has dropped significantly yet I seem to have more money if that makes sense?! My ex is still splashing the cash left right and centre. But does a £50 t-shirt make u happier than a £5 one......um no!! As with regards to your friends well you'll know if they are true friends or not. Many people get funny about things like that cos they are actually jealous. Good luck with paying off your debt. You have made the biggest step and thats admitting it. xxx

shopndrop

Wow, another inspriational thread. One of the first things I did when trying to cut down my spend was do a spreadsheet and list every item I bought, and I mean EVERY item. I made sure I got a receipt foe everything so I didn't forget anything, including car parking. I did this from 1 payday throughout the month to the next payday. Alongside the amounts, I put the shop I had bought it from and split it into food and non food. That was a real eye opener, things like coffee and cakes whilst out shopping, after all, it was only a coffee and cake but when I saw how much I had spent in a month, I was horrified. Now I have a coffee before I go out and as soon as I get home and treat myself to 1 coffee out per month and really enjoy it.
On the food side, I also put the shop e.g. Mr T or Mr S and the type of food, I split mine into store cupboard, dairy, fruit & veg, meat etc. Again, I know we eat a lot of fruit but was horrified at the amount I spent on grapes. We now have whatever fruit & veg is on offer, usually from Aldi super 6, rarely eat grapes, but still enjoy our fruit. I also put the amount per kg that I was paying for weighed goods. This made me more aware of how much things cost and where you "can choose" to cut down. I use mysupermarket before going shopping to check prices .

Oh and finally, always shop with cash. It definitely makes you more aware of what you paying and if you haven't got the cash then you can't have it.
Good luck and 1 step at a time.

ALIBOBSY

I would say most people who come to this website start with the moneysaving side, majority because of debt problems, then move across into OS. Since 2002 I have gone from mum of 2 with around 30k debt both of us working to me being at home with 4 kids and the debt paid off (not the mortgage yet).

We had a bit of a setback last year when Oh was made redundant, but we managed on benefits and he is now back in work. In a way it did us a favour as it got me really cutting back again and reassessing things (like anything you can get complacent), plus helped Oh make the jump into contracting. He works in IT and had long thought about contracting, but he was comfortable where he was and there was very little travelling (10-15 min comute) and although he knew he could get a higher salary elsewhere it gave him a chance to spend more time at home with the kids. Now he is on alot more money and relishing the challenges, but obviously its much less secure so I am falling back on my OS ways and my storecupboard.

I would agree with many of the other posters take things step by step and work out how far you want to take it.

We still have takeaways and the occasional ready meal, but actually the kids prefer the homecooked stuff. So you need to decide what lifestyle suits you and your family and as long as you can reach that or something simular you will make your life much happier.

good luck

ali x

bugslet

I mentioned this on another thread - it's well worth looking at some of the minimalist blogs out there. They are all coming from the angle of having less as a lifestyle choice, be it an environmental concern, anti consumerism, simplicity. If you can adjust your mindset you really feel rather virtuous about not buying into all the stuff we really don't need.

PM me if you are interested and have trouble finding links as I'm never sure what links I can and can't put on here.

ceridwen

bugslet wrote: »

I mentioned this on another thread - it's well worth looking at some of the minimalist blogs out there. They are all coming from the angle of having less as a lifestyle choice, be it an environmental concern, anti consumerism, simplicity. If you can adjust your mindset you really feel rather virtuous about not buying into all the stuff we really don't need.

PM me if you are interested and have trouble finding links as I'm never sure what links I can and can't put on here.

My understanding of the rules (clarified after some discussion on here) is that one cant post links to the blog of "oneself or a friend" - but CAN post up other useful links.

So - I would say - post up any and all useful links you have (assuming they arent either "blog by self or friend" or a "commercial" link)....:)...and I'm hoping personally that they might be new ones to me as well:D

[Deleted User]

nattyt wrote: »

I read this with interest as I get what you are saying...the whole 'keeping up with The Joneses ' thing is hard work! Then one day you wake up and realise that everything you thought you wanted in life you actually never really did! My light bulb moment came a couple of months ago. I split up with my partner of 9 years about 8 months a go and he was 'the big i am' all the time. You get carried away by it all. However now i am who i probably always was deep down and am so happy. As long as my kids have food in their bellies and a roof over their head then not a lot else really matters. Yes i still like nice things but now i have to save or ask for them for birthdays and Christmas! Bizarrely my income has dropped significantly yet I seem to have more money if that makes sense?! My ex is still splashing the cash left right and centre. But does a £50 t-shirt make u happier than a £5 one......um no!! As with regards to your friends well you'll know if they are true friends or not. Many people get funny about things like that cos they are actually jealous. Good luck with paying off your debt. You have made the biggest step and thats admitting it. xxx

Hi Nattyt, well done you- your kids must be so proud of you, or they will be when old enough, sounds like you got it sussed now. I already feel more chilled, despite having so much debt- for the last few years I have been living on my nerves, knowing I was in mega debt but continuing to spend on cc's- I do feel that things can only get better now.
Good luck to you and your kids- your the winners :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[Deleted User]

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

I would say most people who come to this website start with the moneysaving side, majority because of debt problems, then move across into OS. Since 2002 I have gone from mum of 2 with around 30k debt both of us working to me being at home with 4 kids and the debt paid off (not the mortgage yet).

We had a bit of a setback last year when Oh was made redundant, but we managed on benefits and he is now back in work. In a way it did us a favour as it got me really cutting back again and reassessing things (like anything you can get complacent), plus helped Oh make the jump into contracting. He works in IT and had long thought about contracting, but he was comfortable where he was and there was very little travelling (10-15 min comute) and although he knew he could get a higher salary elsewhere it gave him a chance to spend more time at home with the kids. Now he is on alot more money and relishing the challenges, but obviously its much less secure so I am falling back on my OS ways and my storecupboard.

I would agree with many of the other posters take things step by step and work out how far you want to take it.

We still have takeaways and the occasional ready meal, but actually the kids prefer the homecooked stuff. So you need to decide what lifestyle suits you and your family and as long as you can reach that or something simular you will make your life much happier.

good luck

ali x

Thanks Ali,
the posts I have recieved are so inspirational, thanks for taking the time, would love to hear about your journey. Clearing all that debt and improving your lifestyle is wonderful, I would love to be writing similar things in years to come- you must be so proud.

Did you keep a diary or thread I could look at on the forum? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[Deleted User]

shopndrop wrote: »

Wow, another inspriational thread. One of the first things I did when trying to cut down my spend was do a spreadsheet and list every item I bought, and I mean EVERY item. I made sure I got a receipt foe everything so I didn't forget anything, including car parking. I did this from 1 payday throughout the month to the next payday. Alongside the amounts, I put the shop I had bought it from and split it into food and non food. That was a real eye opener, things like coffee and cakes whilst out shopping, after all, it was only a coffee and cake but when I saw how much I had spent in a month, I was horrified. Now I have a coffee before I go out and as soon as I get home and treat myself to 1 coffee out per month and really enjoy it.
On the food side, I also put the shop e.g. Mr T or Mr S and the type of food, I split mine into store cupboard, dairy, fruit & veg, meat etc. Again, I know we eat a lot of fruit but was horrified at the amount I spent on grapes. We now have whatever fruit & veg is on offer, usually from Aldi super 6, rarely eat grapes, but still enjoy our fruit. I also put the amount per kg that I was paying for weighed goods. This made me more aware of how much things cost and where you "can choose" to cut down. I use mysupermarket before going shopping to check prices .

Oh and finally, always shop with cash. It definitely makes you more aware of what you paying and if you haven't got the cash then you can't have it.
Good luck and 1 step at a time.

Thank you, I have started a spending diary but not advanced as yours, love the ideas- I need a spreadsheet!!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

tigerfeet2006

Lilykins has anyone explained how to snowball your debts?