Lovinglife- On the Cheap! A Diary.

lovinglife_2

Hello all! :wave:

I'm Lovinglife. Well, thats my username anyway, and I chose it for a very good reason!
Lately, with times being what they are, and money being how it is for so many of us, I've not been Loving Life so much! But it's time for a change.
Just because I'm skint, do I have to be miserable too? I say no! Life is short, and it's time I start loving it.
Of course this has to be done on the cheap (hence the title), as there's no point loving life through credit and getting in a mess (as I have done before! Foolishly!) so that's what this diary is for.
I will use it as a means to record my journey, and to keep me on the straight(ish) and narrow(ish) track.
Feel free to jump on the wagon, if you too need to start loving life and making life worth loving. Saving and spending savvy is the name of the game, whilst smiling and laughing at the same time!
We can better ourselves, and our situation(s)!

lovinglife_2

Right, a little back story.

I live with my DF, who was redundant from work in Aug 2010. He worked Temp at Xmas Oct to Dec 2010, but has been out of work since, and is still looking.

We used payout to pay off debts.

Bills are covered by my wage, but not food/fuel. Currently using JSA for these. This lasts untill beginning of July.
JSA rate not being fantastic, things are always a struggle. But things could be worse. Could be better, but I'm choosing to look on the bright side (for now!).

So currently, debt free, but short. End of year expenses such as insurance (paid in lump-sum) etc are not covered either. In total we need approx £450 a month EXTRA to be scraping by almost comfortably.

dollybeads

Hi there, and welcome to diary land, and what a positive diary it is too. Well done on that positivity, its catching. I find its all too easy to focus on the negatives and forget the little things that you do that all add up to good outcome either in life, love or in saving cash.

So well done you and I look forward to hearing how you get on.

Best wishes Dolly x

lovinglife_2

Hello and thank you for the welcome! Nice to know I'm not alone!! :T

I'm certainly going to do my best to remain positive. Nothing good can come of negativity, and we always have hope.

Things may be rough and tough at the moment but things can get better, and will. Just have to have faith, and try, try again.

I'm currently pondering on some lists to make, of things I can do to avoid getting in debt again, and to get some savings behind us! Will post them up soon(ish).

lovinglife_2

NB: These lists will be edited & probably change quite frequently as I better them!

It's the little things that make the difference (To life & bank balance!):

'Home/Garden/Car'

~ Meal plan weekly & stick to it.
~ Make a shopping list & stick to it.
~ Utilise the house phone, but only when it's free! Use it to save mobile credit, but don't run up a bill.
~ Learn to cook & use the skill- cook! Don't waste money on takeaways. If buying a ready meal, shop smart.
~ Make do and mend. Fix it yourself if you can. Don't throw away and replace needlessly.
~ Use what we have, before going & buying more.
~ Make the most of SKY, before spending at Blockbuster.
~ Drive economically.
~ Budget.

'Personal':

~ Make phone credit last. Text and call less.
~ Socialise at home, or in the free fresh air!
~ Only spend on things you need or, if you must spend socially, spend wisely and appreciate the experience.
~ Make the most of your weekend.
~ Laugh often. It's the cheapest and easiest way to lift your mood.
~ Write things down to remember them.
~ Use the library - but return the items on time!
~ Treat yourself. It doesn't have to cost the earth.

'Work':

~ Make lunch. Don't buy out.

'None/All of the above':

~ Try, wherever possible, to pay less than full price.
~ Eat out at friends & family, and them at yours..NOT restaurants.
~ Utilise vouchers..Don't wait untill they expire to remember them!

LittleBoots

lovinglife wrote: »

It's the little things:

~ Make a shopping list. Stick to it.
~ Make phone credit last. Text and call less.
~ Use the house phone when it's free!
~ Make lunch. Don't buy out.
~ Learn to cook. Cook. Don't buy takeaways.
~ Make do and mend. Fix it yourself if you can..Don't throw away and replace needlessly.
~ Use what we have, before buying more.
~ Make the most of SKY, before going to Blockbuster.
~ Try, wherever possible, to pay less than full price.
~ Eat out at friends & family, and them at yours..NOT restaurants.
~ Socialise at home, or in the free fresh air!
~ Make the most of your weekend.
~ Only spend on things you need or, if you must spend socially, spend wisely and appreciate the experience.
~ DF - Drive economically.
~ Laugh often. It's the cheapest and easiest way to lift your mood.
~ Write things down to remember them.
~ Utilise vouchers..Don't wait untill they expire to remember them!
~ Use the library - but return the items on time!
~ Meal plan. Stick to it!
~ Budget.
~ Treat yourself. It doesn't have to cost the earth.

Hello welcome to diary land, great lost there. Eating at friends and having them round to yours can be great and much better than going out to eat. However there are always loads of vouchers/deals for fancy restaurants if you even want a meal out. I've used a few and found them fantastic.

Best of luck on your journey

lovinglife_2

Hiya and thanks for the welcome!

There will be many lists to come I'm sure! I'm a serial list maker.

My plan is to eat in when possible, but like you say, if I do fancy a treat out, make sure I be savvy and use vouchers/deals to do it! Try not to pay full price - one of my many new motto's (needs jazzing up a bit though!).

choogirl

Just popping in to say hello :wave:

I love the positive vibes from this diary, its something that I try to have in my own diary but sometimes, sadly its lacking.

I love lists as well, I sometimes have a list of my lists!

I'm just discovering how to go out on the cheap by using Mr T vouchers, 2 for 1 deals etc. It gets so addictive, always looking for the next deal.

Good Luck xx

lovinglife_2

Hello and thanks for the welcome!! :j

Nice to know its not just me attempting to be positive! I like the idea of lists of lists!!