Single Money Saver living on my own

ceridwen

Yep - I echo the thanks for starting this thread to O.P. It is definitely the case that us singles have a different financial setup to deal with and need tips specifically for us.

redspot24

On the plus side of being single, at least you know that you're not paying for other people's bad habits - no-one else leaving lights on, no-one else eating the food you've allocated for something in particular! And you don't have to justify what you choose to spend your money on. My ex-boyf couldn't understand why I get my shoes repaired, reheeled etc!

givememoney

With regard to holidaying alone.

If you don't mind camping why not buy a cheap tent (lots on ebay along with basic equipment) then join The Camping and Caravanning Club.

They have lots of sites all over Britain. Campers on the whole are very friendly and welcome someone new to talk to.

If you can keep it lightweight you could travel by coach or train, or bike if you are very hardy.

doinwell

for your contributions 2 the 'singletons' forum - there are some really useful tips/ideas etc on here re singles holidays etc. it's not cheap being single (contrary to what people who are in partnerships think).

my next 2 questions are:
1) I luv goin cinema by myself but even that is horrendously expensive - any suggestions 2 get that any cheaper?

2) I've got a shared ownership mortgage which I was told I cld only get from a certain building society in my area (this was about 10 years ago however). I noticed that another way of increasing savings is to move the mortgage frm the current provider 2 another depending on the deal they r offering. Have any of u singletons done this? my fixed fee ends in july this year so i'm seriously considering giving this a go. If I do make any 'substantial' savings I want to offset this against my mortgage.

anyway, gotta go now, lunchtime is over! i look forward 2 hearing from you all and i look forward to reading the 'singletons' board more and more ... bbbyyyyeeee.....

dollydumpling

Hi doinwell - if you go to lastminute.com you can you can get a cinema ticket for £4.99 but I think its only for Vue cinemas in London which might not be any good for you.

sparrer

givememoney wrote: »

With regard to holidaying alone.

If you don't mind camping why not buy a cheap tent (lots on ebay along with basic equipment) then join The Camping and Caravanning Club.

They have lots of sites all over Britain. Campers on the whole are very friendly and welcome someone new to talk to.

If you can keep it lightweight you could travel by coach or train, or bike if you are very hardy.

Thanks for that givememoney. Used to have a tourer when I was married, which I loved (the tourer not the marriage, otherwise I'd still be in that state :rotfl: ) and have lately been taking my granddaughter away with me on Sun holidays as both parents work 7 days a week. Last time was expensive as we went to the IoW so the cost of the ferry racked it up, but it was our choice, after all. I've given a thought to the suggestion of camping, I know she'd love it and there are probably places where my wee dog would be accepted. The cost of the initial set up seemed a lot when I totted it up but I'll only need to buy it all once...and I'm sure I could persuade her parents to lend a financial hand as I'm taking their daughter away . And if it's too cold/wet we could always sleep in the car!

maddriver

Another Single, with a another vote for slow cookers, start it in the morning (or even the evening before), come home from work, turn it off, eat 1 portion while letting the rest cool, dish anothe 3-4 portions into freezer bags.

1 pot and 1 plate to clean, maybe a chopping board and a knife.

Also is a good way of useing up things near to use-by that would otherwise have to be thrown out, cook em up (pleanty of recipe ideas here) and freeze them for another time. ditto supermarket reductions.

strawberryfields

can i join the singles os? i am trying to batch cook using things out of the freezer to make space for the batch cooking!!! i agree with others when they say they don't feel like a meal in the evenings but at present trying to eat 2-3 meals a day and not snack, its healthier but i am impatient and when i finally decide i am hungry i want somthing there and then-if that makes sense, at the moment getting meals out of the freezer that have been home made and eat them otherwise it seems like a waste, i share a house but cook for myself, sharing cuts bills, but then you deal with someone else's bad habits-i miss living alone!!-not been to sleep yet (so not making sense)and i realise people are starting their day though i do have potato and leek soup going in the slow cooker!!! yay!! i am rambling and i appologise

MushyPeas

hello, I love this thread I'm still getting used to single life but not sure I'd ever have the guts to go on holiday alone!

But I agree one of the benefits is definately that you can decide how you spend your money.

mmmm leek and potatoe soup . I'm going to start batch cooking one meal a week so hopefully will end up with lots of nice meals to choose from. My one downfall is work really, this weekend I'm working at home all day and night and can't be bothered to go to the supermarket as it's a 20 mile round trip. But I know I should really!

Visited friends last night and AGAIN they got round to discussing my lack of partner. Do you ever find these conversations get really boring?!

neilersmc

pendine50 wrote: »

Fabulous soup/stew/whatever you want it to be. clear up as you go...no real cooking required...cheap tasty nourishing etc.....I love it and make it regularly
2 tins tomatoes (lidl 15p per tin)
2 tins kidney beans (lidl 15 p per tin) or any other beans you like
tomato puree to thicken and taste
chilli powder to taste
chopped onion and any other left over veg plus some water half pint or so
better with a couple of red peppers but not essential (buy the wrinkled ones from greengrocer should only be pennies)
Chuck the whole lot in a big pan and simmer for 2 hours or so for the flavours to infuse add salt and pepper to taste. You can leave this chunky or bltz it with a blender
This makes a large pot enough for 3 or 4 days. Half the quantities for a smaller amount
throw tins away wipe worktop....done! I really am a lazy cook but I have had people beg for this recipe and since it is almost all from tins I do not give it to them but remain enigmatic and pretend it was hard work.
hope you try it and enjoy

Thanks for this - made this after lunch today so would have it for tea tonight - smells fantastic cant wait to have a bowl.

The rest im going to freeze for lunches etc.