It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

angelavdavis

Thanks for starting this "let's remember to count our blessings thread".

When you first started the other thread, I had just met my OH, was neck deep in MBA studies and almost as deep in debt!

I guess I started really tuning into MSE about this time, when I realised that there had to be another way!

So, I have now used MSE (DFW) tips to save money where possible and went freelance which has allowed me to make the most of the boom time for the last couple of years and pay off my MBA debt. We also had a MSE Wedding which we and our guests all loved!!

OH luckily sold his house before the property market crashed and we are now mortgage free too.
OH's job seems safe for the moment, he was spared in the last tranch of redundancies. The current situation for me is that the contract market is slowing, but we are able to easily live on OH's money and have stockpiled enough savings to see us through at least 12 months without too much worry. I am quite happy being a kept woman for the first time in my life!!!

We can live on £600 per month if really necessary - bit of a change from £2500 which was our original outgoings when we were first together!

My most useful tips:

Groceries:

• Meal plan,
• Participate in OS grocery challenge,
• Use up the storecupboard,
• Stop habitually shopping,
• List the food you throw out for a couple of weeks,
• Make a shopping list and stick to it,
• Grow your own veg/fruit and swap with neighbours.
• Use online shopping if you are vulnerable to the shopping psychology tricks.
• Ditch the ready meals.

Home:

• Ditch the numerous cleaning materials and go OS! Less chemicals without the compromising cleanliness!
• Review your bank statements regularly and check for errors,
• Keep your meter readings up to date so you don't get nasty surprises,
• Review your utility providers regularly and switch if cheaper elsewhere,
• Use voucher sites, price comparisons and cashback sites to purchase anything you need. Freecycle items to save disposal costs and reduce landfill.
• eBay any items to raise extra funds.
• Don't be afraid to make things - you can surprise yourself!
• Put on socks and an extra layer if you are chilly, rather than turning up the heat.

Money:

• Check out DFW for tips, I recommend keeping a spending diary to anybody!
• Don't use credit if you can't afford to pay it off at the end of the month.
• Use a cashback card and pay off as soon as the bill comes in.
• Limit how much you use the car at weekends.
• Treat yourself now and again and don't beat yourself up if you have a lapse!

Please please learn to enjoy the simple things in life!

Oh, I'm going on again! :rotfl:

Barneysmom

abaxas wrote: »

I think you might be right. Possession and consumption doesn't appear to make me happy. I thrive on value, fit for purpose and home cooked food!

However, I do like my toys. Question is, sausage making attachment for the kenwood or not. Maybe I should ask SWIMBO for one for xmas. :T

I'm thinking the very same thing!! :cool: :rotfl:
I remember when we were little, having bread in hot milk on Easter Friday, then we were tucked up in bed for the next 2 days, just eating bread and milk and keeping warm with mom's coat over us. She did so well, she'd buy a Mars bar and cut it into four slices so we'd have a slice each and boy what a treat that was!

Things aren't that bad now thankfully!
We have the heating on for an hour each morning and evening, we eat meat now and again, and we're chipping away at the mortgage.
I consider myself to be one of the ultimate lucky people as I have a company car that costs me nothing (except the 2k a year in income tax!)
We buy beans and tinned toms when they're bogoff.
Use Quidco
Make curtains
Make sarnies for work.

Since discovering MSE we've got a breadmaker, a slowcooker, I've made jam!
I've tried soapnuts, and made scones, cakes - every Sunday I try and bake something different to take to work.
It's such fun, I love it!

I haven't got a Remoska, is it worth buying one as I have the slowcooker? Maybe next year?

turfy6

Thanks for the post, great idea to catch up. Im fairly new to the site but having been budgeting since the early 90's when things with mortgages got tough. Life has changed since then and since we moved to Ireland, my DH is self employed and so the income varies week to week. Im a SAHM so Im in control of how much or how little we have to go around. We have a small mortgage and a couple of loans which we have used to renovate and extend our current home. We are lucky as we have space to grow our own and have some plans for some raised beds for veggies for the spring. We have a polytunnel for summer growing and I do cook everything from scratch which saves loads. Got some great ideas from here and have been looking out for all the yellow stickers in Dunnes so I can get the freezer stocked up. I have a breadmaker and make all our own cakes, and biscuits so lots of HM goodies. Ive been watching the elec meter which we get half rate at night but it seems to have stuck on the Night readings:o which is great news for us. I wont be letting on about that just yet, that will save loads.
Have begun closing all curtains at dusk and putting on extra layers, the woodburner is lovely and all cosy in the lounge right now. Good luck to everyone in these challenging times, and thanks for all the brill ideas.:T

pagangirl

I only became an MSE this year but what a lot I've learnt from you all :beer:
am now energy conscious - will not put heating on before many layers go on (good job no-one sees me)! Decided to do a cupboard sort - and found out I am a squirrel -buy things, put them away, then buy more coz I've forgotten what was there in the first place NO MORE ! Have enough toiletries and household cleaning products to last the next 5 years Have also done a storecupbard & freezer list and will use all bits up before buying any more (except for fresh/milk/bread) Lucky do not have a mortgage, as living in rented accomodation, and being by self - have no arguments about buying O/L products ! Have been slowly sorting through finances, have cleared debts and although not much to spare - can pay rent/bills/shopping without worry. Thanks once again for all you hints and tips :T :T :T

ifonlyitwaseasier

thanks for starting the new thread.

OH & I are still working on becoming more frugal,
we do have sky + sports but as we've only been to the cinema once in the last 2 years (paid for by my mum!) i think we can get away with this.
we mealplan and grocery challenge, the heating and hot water are on for about 3 hours a day and i have more layers on our bed than eskimos!!
i try to buy cheaper clothing when possible, luckily OH has a uniform so doesn't need work clothes, (though with the amount of clothing i have i really shouldn't buy anything else for a while!)
He's quit smoking and thank goodness is all i have to say on that
we are looking to move in the new year to a smaller place (renting still but less for rent/council tax hopefully!) nearer to one of our works to save on petrol.
i try and shop when i finish work so i'm not making too many journeys, but my job isn't i the best place to be able to do that so if i can't do it then i do it on a friday evening and whoopsie hunt!

i think we each have different ideas on how low we can go and i like to see them here, and the discussions always make me think if there is anything else i can do.

ioiwe x

wigglebeena

i'm not, really, OP. running on fumes, here. good thing I've learned so many crafty OS tips on this forum.

homealone_2

elona wrote: »

Have been stocking up the cupboards like mad and also making sure DDs have a warm winter coat and boots, shoes etc. Also got new glasses for me and for two of my DDs recently.

Told DH yesterday that I had placed an order with appproved food as I was expecting it to be delivered on Wednesday.

Just as well I finally told him as it has just been delivered and he answered the door.:eek:

Really pleased with what has come especially Simple face wipes and face wash for £1 each!!!

We have about 30 cans of soup stowed away safely that cost about a fiver in total and some of them are brand name "big" soups.

The docking station for an ipod that is also an alarm clock should have been £25 but was £5 with a £25 order so that is a pressie for DD (14) sorted that she will not expect.

Tried to tell DH how good it was but he is unimpressed!!!!!

I mentioned the food site on an international forum I go on and a British member of a "survivalist" site (think peak oil etc) was very impressed at the low prices and has ordered stuff for people in Holland!!!! The delivery will be to the UK and then he or friends will take it abroad when they visit.

Just dashing off to the dentist ( another prep).

nver heard of approved food till i read your post and must say am very impressed but having a dim day and cant figure out where my zone would be in north london?? anyone else know??

Caterina

I also found it confusing re. delivery area, and am in SE London - would be grateful for the info, thank you!

MRSMCAWBER

abaxas

I have an electric mincer/sausage maker and it has more than paid for its self :T -not that im encouraging you to spend
It only comes out every couple of months or so as I make a couple of big batches at a time;) ..I use all meat n seasonings, no filler, rusk etc..and the last lot worked out at about 4p a sausage

www.designasausage.co.uk do the skins etc -in case you want a peek

Barneysmom.... remoskas are nothing like a slow cooker I have had mine nearly 3 months now -and not put the oven on once since :T and I cook every day -quite often more than once -It is my fave bit of kitchen kit..closely followed by my sausage machine

Barneysmom

First 2 letters of your postcode?