Surviving the Recession

Sun_Addict

Hi everyone

I've been reading posts on the Old Style Money Saving and other boards for over a year now but never posted anything of my own. I've picked up some brilliant tips and put ideas into action and thought it was high time I started my own thread. I've also started off a diary on the DFW as I have a smallish debt I would like to get rid of. I will try not to ramble too much but here goes:

Things were going great for me and OH until the recession reared its ugly head and now things are looking very uncertain. My job is safe for now but OH is a sub contractor in the building trade and work is very erratic at the moment to say the least so we can't say for sure how much money we will have coming in from month to month. All we can do is tot up what we've earned between us at the end of each month and take it from there. OH has work for the next few days but after that who knows? My wages aren't great but would cover the bills and food - but nothing else:eek:

I've done everything I can to shave money off the bills, shopped around for cheaper quotes on the internet etc. I've halved the amount we spend on food by going to different supermarkets in my lunch break - Sainsburys on Mondays and Thursdays, Aldi on Wednesdays and Wilko on Tuesday - also good for keeping fit with all the walking! I also have a basics shop delivered from Tesco once a month usually using money off coupons found on these forums:T

I walk 3 miles to work everyday so no bus fares and free exercise again! OH picks me up as I usually can't walk back as shopping bags are too heavy with all this shopping around for bargains!! Also within two weeks of DS leaving home we turned his bedroom into a gym with treadmill, cross training, step, weights and other bits and bobs which enabled me to cancel my gym membership so this has now paid for itself. I aim to use it for 30 minutes 5 days a week - I'm starting to sound like some kind of fitness freak!:rolleyes:

Menu wise there are 3 adults in the house me, OH and DD all eating very different diets. I don't eat meat, OH won't eat fish or vegi stuff, DD works shifts and has a grab it and go type of diet. I would love to cook one thing for everyone but sadly this is not to be. I tend to cook low fat vegi or fish stuff for myself and make 4 portions and freeze the other 3 so I have plenty of home made ready meals in my freezer.

We bought a make shift greenhouse thing at the weekend to have a go at growing our own veg as we spend so much on the stuff - we're not very greenfingered so let's see how it goes!

We embarrassingly don't have much in the way of savings after many years of working so if OH is laid off it won't last long - especially at the moment everything seems to be breaking down - we have just had to replace our laptop, the TV has been in for repair (which in better times we would have just replaced) and OH's van exhaust is sounding dodgy - this is already draining our emergency fund big style.

We've stopped doing a lot of stuff we used to like going out, buying new clothes, etc. We used to waste so much money it was unreal. Funnily enough I don't miss the spending days. We now have a budget each of £50 per month to spend. I give myself £10 per week and manage to save something out of that most weeks. This is going into a treat pot so I can treat myself occasionally. A girl has needs!;)

I'm glad I've finally got around to doing this - feels good to put my thoughts into words and I hope to keep my diary up to date - we will survive this recession!

Penelope_Penguin

Sun_Addict wrote: »

I'm glad I've finally got around to doing this - feels good to put my thoughts into words and I hope to keep my diary up to date - we will survive this recession!

Well done - it's good to feel that you have some control over what life might throw at you :T

I think that this post will be better suited to the Recession Board, so I'll move it there - good luck for the future :beer:

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]!!!!!![/EMAIL].

robsmum_2

Hi Everyone,
I am new to this but have been reading the forums for a while. Having read surviving the recession I thought I'd join this.
Don't have a lot of debt compared to some people but it feels like a lot compared to my income!
I have debt of £1300 on Aqua card, £1000 on Co-op Visa card, £400 on capital 1, £600 on water.
I have done a lot of the old style tips but seem to have got a bit lost along the way and would value the support from you all to get me back to feeling in control.
My biggest worries are the Aqua card as that is such high interest, am on payment plan with them but its not making much impression on the debt. Don't seem to be able to get a Balance Transfer.
My other worry is trying to juggle all this, since Christmas I seem to be playing catch up and not catching up.

Have decided to give up smoking and start on patches on Monday! That should help my money go a bit further.
HELP PLEASE.

lynzpower

Hey robs mum- did you know that you can get free patches from the NHS? Also there are loads of stoping smoking groups etc, depending where you are in the country.

HAve you also tried doing an SOA on the Debt free wannabee board, they can offer a lot of advice on how to get your costs down to pay that debt off.

dare I say it for so many people balance transfers are not an option these days as credit has all but dried up for some of us. best thng you can do is pay as much off as you can when you can x good luck and happy moneysaving x

robsmum_2

hI,
Thanks for advice. Will do the SOA. Am giving up the dreaded weed with the help of my doctors and will be getting free patches and getting support from the nurse.
Will keep you informed of progress on both counts - saving money and giving up smoking!

HAVE DONE SOA:T DETAILS LISTED BELOW AS I CAN'T WORK OUT HOW TO GET IT HERE;

Monthly income (wages) £336.00
Working Tax

lynzpower

Ive just given up smoking as well :A

Well done.

I have taken the approach that its really not that difficult, and that the only reason why people say its difficult is to keep the weak ( like I was) addicted. IM finding it remarkably easy- and the kety is to try not to be bored- internet and cleaning is taking up my time

Im 9 days smoke free now, no patches, no help - although I have been a bit ratty - and over 50 quid better off. :beer:

Good luck, you can do it, you lived perfectly well before the fags once so you - and I- will again - incidentally there are quite a few of us on here - search for "gicving up smoking support" on this forum there are loads of us giving up the sticks of death xx

amcluesent

>Menu wise there are 3 adults in the house me, OH and DD all eating very different diets.<

TBH, that sounds like a luxury choice you can't sustain right now.

>within two weeks of DS leaving home we turned his bedroom into a gym with treadmill<

Can you convert it back, put the gym kit on Ebay and look to take in a lodger?

robsmum_2

Hi.
Have done SOA and can't find where or how to put on site. As well as broke am a technophobe so doing it here!

O.H. Pays rent,electric and half groceries.
Below is just my problems.

Income Wages ; £386.00 month
Tax Cred 50.00
Other 30.00

OUTGOINGS;
cOUNCIL tAX £115.00
wATER 30.00
cAR INS 25.00
cONTENTS 8.00
phone 20.00
Grocery 120.00

DEBTS
aQUA cARD 1300
co op vISA 1000
cAPITAL1 400

ASSETS
cAR WORTH £200 IF LUCKY!
NO OTHER ASSEST OR SAVINGS

lynzpower

I suspect its better if you cuty and copy this into the Debt free wannabee section of the forum where youll get better advice, as this section is more for the discussion of the broad3er economics and political aspects of recession.

DFW will give you the best advice

adr0ck

robs mum have you looked at starting to get all the money from cashback sites

for example quidco:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=978759