Newbies - spending more than we earn

highguyuk

Rache wrote:

I am very bad at remembering/being organised enough to cancel dd's etc so I'm not a very good tart <snort>. We have (last night) cancelled LoveFilm and switched to the lowest Amazon rental (£5.99 a month I think). We weren't using the LoveFilm package enough anyway.

I know films are a luxury, but <frantically justifying> we haven't been to the cinema in two years, we don't have sky, we don't ever buy DVDs, and as an ex-film addict in my youth, I would find it very hard, and depressing to do without completely.

Oh definetly don't go without completely!!! I used to work for Choices Videos - who I think are part of Lovefilm in some way or another. Films are a great way to relax and save money - cinema + petrol + parking = alot more than DVD rental!

I personally have to fancy a movie, and therefore couldnt really order in advance. But when I go now I cant bear to pay £3.75 (choices rate anyway) for a movie im going to give back. Either rent an older title or buy a very cheap previewed DVD at £4-5 and sell it back onto ebay.

There is no point stopping everything because you will resent it - and may not stick to it in a few weeks time.

lush_walrus

Rache wrote:

I know it's high and I'll tell you why:

1) We only eat organic meat (solution: instead of buying cheap and unethically farmed meat, we're going to eat much less meat - maybe once a week)
2) We love wine and get boxes delivered. (solution: drink less wine - and buy bin-ends instead of the posh stuff)
3) Both of us are big foodies - because we don't go out much we tend to "treat ourselves" a lot with posh food. We don't do fast food - we've always cooked ourselves - but we've tended to cook expensive things IYSWIM. Ice cream is "luxury" £4 a pot, beer is microbrewery bottled stuff, chocolate is Green & Blacks etc etc.
.

Rache, I can't blaime you sticking to your guns on food, I'm exactly the same and absolutely won't buy 10p a tin reconstituted ham as a substitute for what I consider to be healthy organic food.

But, as you have identified there are ways to save money from your food bill and not compromise quality. Make sure you source a good cheap supply of the supermarket things that you don't get enjoyment from as cheaply as possible, and try to use less of things ie: less shampoo per wash, scrap liquid soaps etc. It's a bit of trial and error getting there, but you will. Willingness to change is the best quality you can hold. One long option for saving money and acheiving the healthy food you enjoy may be to make one of your passtimes tending to an allotment and growing your own. I know its really time consuming, but it can also be fun and there is no feeling like knowing that you have grown what we are eating.

The good thing that will come out of this experience is that you will definately conquer your debt and you will equally learn a new way to live. It's a funny thing, but even though I am ok for money at the moment and without debts I have really learnt to enjoy finding ways around things and learning to live cheaper. I'm sure once you get into it you will too.

JAMIEDODGER

rache, although i do spend a lot less on food than £300 per month its taken me a long time to get to that point. i have me and 4 little ones to feed, i only buy my meat from the butchers, fruit and veg from the farm shop and stock up on other bits and bobs from tesco/lidl when i need to, you dont have to compromise on the quality of food you buy, its all down to savvy shopping, organisation and time thats all. hope i didnt offend x

HLK

If you are spending £109 a month on books there must be some you don't want anymore .. there'ss a fabulous thread somwhere on how to sell them on Amazon. Seeems to be easier than Ebay and some of the posters have made lots of cash this way. It's still recycling and better than giving them away! I'll see if I can find it and post back.

EDit..

part 1

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=73819

part 2

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=125534

Little_Miss_Winner

I think the books, are maybe to do with her profession?

Although I don't think she has mentioned it....,....... I reckon she is a brainsurgeon?

Any other guesses?

hehehehe.

Little_Miss_Winner

or Gp ????????

HLK

( brain surgeon.. he he .. I doubt it .. self-employed)

One other point .. I know you're out in the sticks but see if there's a Lidl or Aldi nearby. German quality goods at v good prices. the chocolate is continental - high cocoa solids at a fraction of G&B. Theres a 'What to buy, not to buy at Lidl, Aldi etc' on the shop but don't drop board which is worth a read.

I have a free range goose sitting in my freezer from Lidl.. cost 12.99! They have great marscapone ice-cream, the tomatoes are on the vine,the preserves are brilliant and even the german beer is great. I use their face cream in winter ( only clinique normally ) You'll can save a lot by shopping in these places and just back-filling at the normal outlets.

Rache_2

I'd rather not mention what I do, if that's ok. (Only because I've told my husband we're posting on here and I am worried we're too identifiable already). But yes, the book spending is partly to do with work.

But, actually, mostly it's to do with the fact that I can't walk out of Waterstones with less than £50-worth; I'm Amazon's best customer, and my husband gets through 2-3 books a week on his commute.....

It has to stop.

nearlyrich

Rache wrote:

But, actually, mostly it's to do with the fact that I can't walk out of Waterstones with less than £50-worth; I'm Amazon's best customer, and my husband gets through 2-3 books a week on his commute.....

It has to stop.

I can identify with this, I read lots of novels (Tesco & Asda do books for £3.73 or less and they are new releases) but I also read lots of business books and they are not cheap. Have you a library you can use? if you particularly want or need a book after borrowing it you can just buy that one...must take my own advice or sell some on ebay or amazon.

HLK

Rache wrote:

I'd rather not mention what I do, if that's ok. (Only because I've told my husband we're posting on here and I am worried we're too identifiable already). But yes, the book spending is partly to do with work.

But, actually, mostly it's to do with the fact that I can't walk out of Waterstones with less than £50-worth; I'm Amazon's best customer, and my husband gets through 2-3 books a week on his commute.....

It has to stop.

Quite right.. keep it to yourself.. guess what HLK has nothing to do with my name!

As for Waterstones.. I'm just the same.. I don't just spend money in there I can quite easily lose a few hours.. best trick is don't go in.. or join a library as suggested. However, if your books are to do with work, they are probably technical'ish and these can cost a lot.. check amazon out for them second hand and then if they don't fit the bill offload them quickly. Some out of print technical books can fetch a real premium on Amazon however, so it might be worth seeing how many of your old books are worth some money. One guy was getting £100 and more for specialist technical manuals on the threads I posted earlier!! Obviously I am not suggesting you sell books you need or love .. they are like children!

If your OH is reading bestsellers though.. keep an aye out for book sales or look at https://www.thebookpeople.co.uk who do bookends.

Good luck anyway, you are lucky that you have so many areas where you can tighten your belts.. some posters on here are literally down to the bone by the time the discover this site!