It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

garden-lover

I love this thread. Fairly new to the site but have been through past recessions and survived them, so I am sure we will all survive this one with the right attitude. I really feel for you peeps with families during this time. Only debt I have now is the mortgage which is gradually being overpaid.

I do ALL my spending on my cash back credit card and keep a careful account of all transactions, so I know how much I am spending, and pay it off in full at the end of each month. (They pay me for using it - he he!) Very rarely use the debit card but, again, keep a record of everything. I find that if I have cash in my purse I am a lot more frivolous because I don't have to account for each transaction, so keep the bare minimum there. I know that I am different to most other people in this respect and my friends find it most unusual.

Keep the great tips rolling in!

GL

scuzz

Hello.

I'm looking for a new job so I can earn more. It may mean commuting but it would be worth it. I've also started some freelance work too to bring some extra cash in.

We've cut shopping down to once a month and have changed to a lot of cheaper of brands. I also search for vouchers whereever possible.

I use the car to get to work and have really cut back on other journeys. I've also cut back a lot on going out for lunch with friends. I only top up my phone when I have Boots vouchers earned online.

I turn everything off electrical which isn't in use and try to layer clothes rather than put the heating on. But I have my Nan here, so we have to keep her warm

I do lots of survey sites, paid to clicks etc.

Will be keeping an eye on this thread for more ideas.

rosieben

Tightwad Gazette is my favourite bedtime reading :T

what an uplifting thread this is! Its great to see how others are coping and the great thing is we are all still learning from each other (found out yesterday there's no need to peel butternut squash)

kittyscarlett

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

It is my fave bit of kitchen kit..closely followed by my sausage machine

My goodness MrsM - something outfavourited your sausage making machine ?? :eek:

Mind you, now you can combine the two... sausages cooked in the Remoska !

I keep thinking about getting one.

moanymoany

Caterina wrote: »

Hey moanymoany, great, another Amy and Tightwad Gazette fan! :T Fabulous book in case anyone has not yet read it - but some of the stuff is US related so not useful for UK OSers. However, a great read, I keep dipping into it when I need a boost.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Tightwad-Gazette-Amy-Dacyczyn/dp/0375752250


Caterina

What I find is that although the ideas are not directly applicable to us here - and probably not so much in the US now - the germ of the idea is usually transferable to life in the UK. It has really helped me to achieve heights of frugality I would not have otherwise aimed for!

I love these books - I got them after they were endorsed by thriftlady - and I think they are absolutely inspirational.

However I have also discovered the 'More With Less' books. There is the cookery book and 'Living More With Less'. I am not a religious woman and the books are from the Mennonite Community - but the 'Living More With Less' is a book of how people live. The Mennonites live very frugally through a mixture of need and desire because it reflects their religious beliefs and the book is full of stories of how they live both in the US and on their missions in the Third World. I get a good deal of spiritual inspiration from both of these books.

The cookbook is ful of excellent frugal recipes. I've made a good few of them - more than any other frugal book. I do adjust them as I find the Yanks do love their sugar!!

halight

Hi all,
Well its hard in our house a t the moment with the 5 month old twins my wife is not working as she is looking after the girls at home at the moment and is having a totle od 12 months off work. All over time at my place of work has been stoped and im about to lose the extra money i get for working a shift as the shifts are being stoped and we are all going on days. Plus 21 peopel at work has already lost there jobs and if things dont pick up in the new year there will be more lay offs. and i may be one.
But on the plus side we are doing evrything we can to save cut back but still have a good life. we have always cooked all our own meals from scrach we just now use cheeper cuts of meat eg beef skirt, briskit frozon mince and more frozon meat. we still love eating fish but we stock up on it when we see it at a good price.
Stated to use the slow cooker more. iv also started to grow my own veg this year and am hoping next year ti have a great crop.
been doing online servays and useing chash back site to to make a little extra.
I am looking towards the good times thay will be back and we will get throuth this hard time.
Yes its going to be hard but we will get to the oter side and might even be better for it.

Good luck evryone

pagangirl

I 'm thinking of buying a remoska as well - but already have small microwave, old but good pressure cooker, and slow cooker. Will it be worth my while as single person, or should I just stick to what I've already got (try not to use oven much anyway). I know a few of you swear by them, but it's a big outlay if it won't get used much.
Heeeeelp

beemuzed

Great thread! Like the idea of now starting to look forward!
Well, I retire in just over four weeks time, but have concentrated on all the savings we'll make by not working - not the least being a huge saving in fuel as I currently spend around £64 a month.
We've been quite careful over the last couple of years, and have paid off the mortgage and the endowments have covered it, with more left over.
I'm really looking forward to doing more cooking, growing our own veg and finally beginning to use up the stash of material I've accumulated over the years. I've been time-poor for so long. We'll be OK even with much reduced money coming in as I know our outgoings have really shrunk and we now only have a very small ccdebt which is at 0% and which should be completely gone in January.
Love all the tips on here - some I've always done, but many I still need to try. Thanks for all the inspiration!

[Deleted User]

Well as a widowed,disabled, pensioner I do live fairly frugally anyway. I have more than enough for my needs, but one never knows whats around the corner .
Having gone through chemo and radio-therapy this year I only recovered my hair from around July onwards, before that I was bald as a badger for 6 months :rotfl: I used to buy Tresse'me shampoo and conditioner at about £3.00 a bottle each,having finally got something to wash I was in Sainsburys and though I'd better get some shampoo. I thought I know, I'll give the Basics' a go. I bought a big bottle of shampoo, 28p and conditioner, 28p and its fine .In fact everyone say how nice and shiny my hair is now.I can't believe how much cash I have wasted over the years on hair stuff.
I now try all the basic stuff first to see what its like .
I have been on the GC challenge since September and find that I can live quite adequately on around £50.00 per month,in fact I usually have a couple of quid left over which goes into my separate holiday fund.
I have just had my heating bill in for the last three months it was £55.00 and the electric was £61. I turn off lights that are not needed and have my home knitted 'blankey' that I made myself for my knees if its a bit chilly in the evenings. I know I will have to put the CH on more as it gets colder as my joints won't work very well if they get too stiff, but I have about £70 odd in credit in my Gas account to help with the extra costs through the cold weather.
I have a Motability car to help me get around ,but try not to use it too often. My DD and I take it in turns to go for our shopping at the big store so we save on petrol. If I go to Bluewater to meet my pal for lunch and the cinema I will get the bus as I have my 'crinckly bus pass' We even share a ticket between us as I have a cinema exhibitors card which means my 'carer' goes for free.
I go to craft class once a fortnight and it costs about 50p a class which is reasonable. My one expence is my college class, but I get that reduced as well as I am a pensioner.
I have no debts thank goodness, and few vices,I don't smoke ,although I do like my G&T now and again. Its nice to treat myself .I never go to a pub for a drink though its far too expensive.
I have more than enough clothes ,although I know I will have some expensive bras to buy as I am off to get fitted for my prosthesis on Friday,:j yipee I will not be lop-sided anymore :rotfl:
I am lucky that I have a smashing family to keep and eye on things, and they always make sure that I have everything I could need.
I don't garden anymore as I can no longer bend, but my sis-in-law comes to cut my grass for me bless her.
I love to cook and enjoy making things streeetch. I had HM veggie soup for lunch today and it was gorgeous, far better than anything from a tin and cost only pennies to make I made 5 litres last week and froze them individually in Lakeland pouches . A big bowl of soup and some HM bread today kept me nice and glowing when I went to the library to look up some stuff for my college course.
Its great to see so much positive feeling from everyone on here. I'm sure the community on here is as good, if not better than Jamies bunch .
I wonder sometimes if he doesn't have a crafty peek at what we all get up to, perhaps thats where he got his Ministry of Food idea from.;)
Keep up the good work chums we will beat this together

MRSMCAWBER

Pagangirl

Have a look on the remoska thread .... Im a self confessed "cook-aholic" and I love mine... the biggest bonus (after it being cheap to run) is that you can do everything from cake, bread, pies,jackets, roasts and much more in it... no gas guzzling gas oven in use in this house for nearly 3 months now :T ... you would also be amazed at how hard you will think to come up with "creations" that mean you can do as much as possible in the remoska.... the "negative" side for me is..that I will find myself thinking "hmm fancy something sweet" next thing you know im sat on the sofa waiting for said sweet goody to come out of the remoska -when I wouldn't have dreamt of putting the oven on just for something sweet..still it means I don't buy any sweet treats with the shopping..
ok I will go away now -I don't work for lakeland by the way