Pensions Planning: The NUMBER

LHW99

With the availability of so many free "catch up" services, I am surprised they still sell tv recorders.

We have Freeview and a TV recorder. We don't watch a great deal anyway, but use the recorder to record when there are two things we want to watch on at the same time, or if something is on (day time / late evening) when we don't want to watch. It means we can catch up on a day / time when we DO want to watch but there's nothing we enjoy.

Bravepants

Also, with the catchup services, you can't just fast forward through the commercials!

Ganga

eastcorkram said:

westv said:

With the availability of so many free "catch up" services, I am surprised they still sell tv recorders.

I know what you mean. We've had the virgin V6 box for years, and the old TiVo one before , probably going back over ten years. Neither of them have ever been used to record anything.
But back in the 1980s, when working nights, I used to set the old VHS to record loads of stuff.

And if like us ,never get the time to watch them 

Gcb1981

Sea_Shell said:

jimi_man said:

savingmore said:

This is one f my favourite threads.  I am quite surprised at the amount some are spending in supermarkets, wouldn’t know what to spend to get near £1000 a month.  Dh and i have had a budget of £250 a month for supermarket shopping, that includes toiletries, cleaning supplies, occasional cards, tv paper, flowers, alcohol.  we just reduced this to £150 this month, eating really well.  i meal plan and buy what i need, but we are not deprived.  my husband likes a beer every night and whiskey (not every night).  i drink wine, usually at weekends. would really be interested to know what others are spending money on!

I think we’d be more interested in your breakdown. £150 a month for two is astonishing. That’s £2.50 a day per person, for breakfast, lunch dinner, any snacks, alcohol and cleaning products. Maybe there is something we are missing out on? 

Well that is exactly what we spent in February, a straight 4 week month.     All from Aldi, no branded products.

A typical day would be, for us 2, breakfast (equiv. Weetabix or Bran flakes with milk)   Porridge if its cold!!
mid-morning snack - Yogurt or cereal bar or fruit or brioche or toast and jam 
Lunch (main meals) - Chilli Con Carne,  20% mince (drained), packet mix, plus tinned tomato and kidney beans, with brown rice (makes 4 portions to 2 go in the freezer)
or Salmon fillet with Pasta and Tomato pesto.   We also had 32 day matured sirloin steak and chips too!
Afternoon snack - Fruit or popcorn or crisps  (or all 3 on a running day....munchies)
Tea - sandwiches (seeded batch) or wraps, with either ham, chicken or cheese etc
During the day we drink tea or instant coffee, sometimes hot chocolate, or herbal tea or diet lemonade.
A "biscuit barrel" pack for with a cup of tea. (nice, custard creams bourbons and shortcake)
One bottle of wine a week, shared.  or maybe a couple of beers or cider.

Household wise, we usually put on about 4-5 washes a week (light, dark, bedding, towels), and clean every room at least once a week.    So Kitchen cleaner, bathroom cleaner, toilet gel, bleach and polish.

Toiletries are just the usual's, but again all Aldi (other than my toothpaste, as I do like OralB pro-expert)

So, there you have it...that's us, typically.     


However, although this has been a cheap month, we're nearer £210 a month usually.  Some meals would already be in the freezer etc.  Toiletries not bought every week etc.

You’re not going to have a long retirement if you eat like this!  Absolutely no fresh vegetables at all and minimal fruit. 

Sea_Shell

Gcb1981 said:

Sea_Shell said:

jimi_man said:

savingmore said:

This is one f my favourite threads.  I am quite surprised at the amount some are spending in supermarkets, wouldn’t know what to spend to get near £1000 a month.  Dh and i have had a budget of £250 a month for supermarket shopping, that includes toiletries, cleaning supplies, occasional cards, tv paper, flowers, alcohol.  we just reduced this to £150 this month, eating really well.  i meal plan and buy what i need, but we are not deprived.  my husband likes a beer every night and whiskey (not every night).  i drink wine, usually at weekends. would really be interested to know what others are spending money on!

I think we’d be more interested in your breakdown. £150 a month for two is astonishing. That’s £2.50 a day per person, for breakfast, lunch dinner, any snacks, alcohol and cleaning products. Maybe there is something we are missing out on? 

Well that is exactly what we spent in February, a straight 4 week month.     All from Aldi, no branded products.

A typical day would be, for us 2, breakfast (equiv. Weetabix or Bran flakes with milk)   Porridge if its cold!!
mid-morning snack - Yogurt or cereal bar or fruit or brioche or toast and jam 
Lunch (main meals) - Chilli Con Carne,  20% mince (drained), packet mix, plus tinned tomato and kidney beans, with brown rice (makes 4 portions to 2 go in the freezer)
or Salmon fillet with Pasta and Tomato pesto.   We also had 32 day matured sirloin steak and chips too!
Afternoon snack - Fruit or popcorn or crisps  (or all 3 on a running day....munchies)
Tea - sandwiches (seeded batch) or wraps, with either ham, chicken or cheese etc
During the day we drink tea or instant coffee, sometimes hot chocolate, or herbal tea or diet lemonade.
A "biscuit barrel" pack for with a cup of tea. (nice, custard creams bourbons and shortcake)
One bottle of wine a week, shared.  or maybe a couple of beers or cider.

Household wise, we usually put on about 4-5 washes a week (light, dark, bedding, towels), and clean every room at least once a week.    So Kitchen cleaner, bathroom cleaner, toilet gel, bleach and polish.

Toiletries are just the usual's, but again all Aldi (other than my toothpaste, as I do like OralB pro-expert)

So, there you have it...that's us, typically.     


However, although this has been a cheap month, we're nearer £210 a month usually.  Some meals would already be in the freezer etc.  Toiletries not bought every week etc.

You’re not going to have a long retirement if you eat like this!  Absolutely no fresh vegetables at all and minimal fruit. 

It was just some examples.   We do eat veg too!!

We don't eat takeaways, and I'm just back from a 6 mile run.   So you worry about your health and I'll worry about mine.  Cheers.

Gcb1981

Sea_Shell said:

Gcb1981 said:

Sea_Shell said:

jimi_man said:

savingmore said:

This is one f my favourite threads.  I am quite surprised at the amount some are spending in supermarkets, wouldn’t know what to spend to get near £1000 a month.  Dh and i have had a budget of £250 a month for supermarket shopping, that includes toiletries, cleaning supplies, occasional cards, tv paper, flowers, alcohol.  we just reduced this to £150 this month, eating really well.  i meal plan and buy what i need, but we are not deprived.  my husband likes a beer every night and whiskey (not every night).  i drink wine, usually at weekends. would really be interested to know what others are spending money on!

I think we’d be more interested in your breakdown. £150 a month for two is astonishing. That’s £2.50 a day per person, for breakfast, lunch dinner, any snacks, alcohol and cleaning products. Maybe there is something we are missing out on? 

Well that is exactly what we spent in February, a straight 4 week month.     All from Aldi, no branded products.

A typical day would be, for us 2, breakfast (equiv. Weetabix or Bran flakes with milk)   Porridge if its cold!!
mid-morning snack - Yogurt or cereal bar or fruit or brioche or toast and jam 
Lunch (main meals) - Chilli Con Carne,  20% mince (drained), packet mix, plus tinned tomato and kidney beans, with brown rice (makes 4 portions to 2 go in the freezer)
or Salmon fillet with Pasta and Tomato pesto.   We also had 32 day matured sirloin steak and chips too!
Afternoon snack - Fruit or popcorn or crisps  (or all 3 on a running day....munchies)
Tea - sandwiches (seeded batch) or wraps, with either ham, chicken or cheese etc
During the day we drink tea or instant coffee, sometimes hot chocolate, or herbal tea or diet lemonade.
A "biscuit barrel" pack for with a cup of tea. (nice, custard creams bourbons and shortcake)
One bottle of wine a week, shared.  or maybe a couple of beers or cider.

Household wise, we usually put on about 4-5 washes a week (light, dark, bedding, towels), and clean every room at least once a week.    So Kitchen cleaner, bathroom cleaner, toilet gel, bleach and polish.

Toiletries are just the usual's, but again all Aldi (other than my toothpaste, as I do like OralB pro-expert)

So, there you have it...that's us, typically.     


However, although this has been a cheap month, we're nearer £210 a month usually.  Some meals would already be in the freezer etc.  Toiletries not bought every week etc.

You’re not going to have a long retirement if you eat like this!  Absolutely no fresh vegetables at all and minimal fruit. 

It was just some examples.   We do eat veg too!!

We don't eat takeaways, and I'm just back from a 6 mile run.   So you worry about your health and I'll worry about mine.  Cheers.

Get some veg in you after your run! 😆 

Sea_Shell

Gcb1981 said:

Sea_Shell said:

Gcb1981 said:

Sea_Shell said:

jimi_man said:

savingmore said:

This is one f my favourite threads.  I am quite surprised at the amount some are spending in supermarkets, wouldn’t know what to spend to get near £1000 a month.  Dh and i have had a budget of £250 a month for supermarket shopping, that includes toiletries, cleaning supplies, occasional cards, tv paper, flowers, alcohol.  we just reduced this to £150 this month, eating really well.  i meal plan and buy what i need, but we are not deprived.  my husband likes a beer every night and whiskey (not every night).  i drink wine, usually at weekends. would really be interested to know what others are spending money on!

I think we’d be more interested in your breakdown. £150 a month for two is astonishing. That’s £2.50 a day per person, for breakfast, lunch dinner, any snacks, alcohol and cleaning products. Maybe there is something we are missing out on? 

Well that is exactly what we spent in February, a straight 4 week month.     All from Aldi, no branded products.

A typical day would be, for us 2, breakfast (equiv. Weetabix or Bran flakes with milk)   Porridge if its cold!!
mid-morning snack - Yogurt or cereal bar or fruit or brioche or toast and jam 
Lunch (main meals) - Chilli Con Carne,  20% mince (drained), packet mix, plus tinned tomato and kidney beans, with brown rice (makes 4 portions to 2 go in the freezer)
or Salmon fillet with Pasta and Tomato pesto.   We also had 32 day matured sirloin steak and chips too!
Afternoon snack - Fruit or popcorn or crisps  (or all 3 on a running day....munchies)
Tea - sandwiches (seeded batch) or wraps, with either ham, chicken or cheese etc
During the day we drink tea or instant coffee, sometimes hot chocolate, or herbal tea or diet lemonade.
A "biscuit barrel" pack for with a cup of tea. (nice, custard creams bourbons and shortcake)
One bottle of wine a week, shared.  or maybe a couple of beers or cider.

Household wise, we usually put on about 4-5 washes a week (light, dark, bedding, towels), and clean every room at least once a week.    So Kitchen cleaner, bathroom cleaner, toilet gel, bleach and polish.

Toiletries are just the usual's, but again all Aldi (other than my toothpaste, as I do like OralB pro-expert)

So, there you have it...that's us, typically.     


However, although this has been a cheap month, we're nearer £210 a month usually.  Some meals would already be in the freezer etc.  Toiletries not bought every week etc.

You’re not going to have a long retirement if you eat like this!  Absolutely no fresh vegetables at all and minimal fruit. 

It was just some examples.   We do eat veg too!!

We don't eat takeaways, and I'm just back from a 6 mile run.   So you worry about your health and I'll worry about mine.  Cheers.

Get some veg in you after your run! 😆 

Nah...scampi and chips today!!! 😇

Gcb1981

As suspected!!

westv

Veg doesn't have to be "fresh" to be good for you. Frozen veg can be just as good.
Just because it's a takeaway doesn't automatically mean it must be bad for you. If you are able to choose right you can get quite good takeaways.

shinytop

westv said:

Veg doesn't have to be "fresh" to be good for you. Frozen veg can be just as good.
Just because it's a takeaway doesn't automatically mean it must be bad for you. If you are able to choose right you can get quite good takeaways.

Agreed, my local does a quite good fish and chips takeaway. Yum!