Countdown to Freedom

SJ1

Hi Tilly

Thanks for your lovely response. I am going to give it a go I think. I did start one ages ago but did fear putting people off with the massive amount we owed and like you was a bit worried about being judged. I do find this site really inspirational and it's lovely to read about other people's issues and problems.

Did you have a massive clear out? I am planning one for the New Year, I think! I need to clear the loft of lots of random stuff that we don't use anymore and go through the house clearing as I go. We tend to get quite a lot of gadgets (husband is a gadget freak) but not always clear the old ones so I am going to try to address that.

We don't have much debt so although I am not in a position to repay the mortgage yet this is kind of where I feel most at home as that is the ultimate aim. I think that the plan this year is to try to save as much as possible for a new car and then to start the repayment of the mortgage in earnest. I think that the saving for the new car should really help me see what we can do in terms of savings.

A couple of questions for you, if you don't mind , one of my problem areas is food and I spend about £120 on food a week. I do a menu plan every week and we don't waste much at all but I struggle to get it really low so how are you managing to get a shop on £30~?!! Strangely enough I did do a shop for £40 this week and it could have been lower if I hadn't bought lots of juice but this is partly because of lots of christmas leftovers:rotfl:

Next question is was there anything that you didn't give up or have you completely trimmed everything down to the completely bare essentials. We have a cleaner which I know is a real luxury but with me working almost full time and two kiddiwinkles this is such a lifesaver for me. I can, and have done it myself but life is so much simpler and easier with this. Was there anything that you decided that you just couldn't do without or it wasn't worth the saving that you would make?

Ah sorry, there is one more! Do you have 'virtual' pots or do you just lump transfer the money? I do a sort of lump to cover yearly expense like car insurance, tax, Christmas, birthdays etc which works well but if the car taxes are the first to come out in Jan then it all goes on that - not quite sure how to address this...

All advice welcome and now I have to try to think of a name for my new diary!

Thanks again

SJ

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi SJ, lovely to hear your enthusiasm. Definitely start a diary ASAP, I promise you it will focus your mind. I have actual savings pots with IF. Car maintenance, holidays, activities etc and I have deposits set up to each, on th day I am paid. That way I never worry.

I am a spreadsheet addict, I have one for my freezer and larder cupboard and then in the same file, I do my menu plans. They differ each week (I love cooking...) and are tailored to difficult days, ie when kids are rushing out the door to stuff after school or in evenings. I will come back to this one.

On the work front, I have a global role and work ridiculous hours at times,but, I also work from home on occasions and use con call time to iron, chuck stuff in the slow cooker etc. It is amazing what can be achieved in a 30 minute slot. I wouldnt recommend my way of life but it works OK for me and the rest of the Tilly clan.

Grocery budget is normally about £60/70 per week for 2 adults, two teenagera, cats, dog, lodger. This is achieved purely by menu planning, and shopping only for needs not wants.

I am going to post this up now and start again as I am having a connectivity problem tonight,

Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Part 2 SJ.

In terms of what we gave up - to be honest, just rubbish really. We did have a cleaner but when we bought a house aboard, we stopped that spending as the mortgage was so big. However, as we know we want to retire there, it seemed logical to take some pain now, and really benefit from the rewards later. I don't buy many sweets/crisps etc (apart from Xmas), all cakes are home cooked, along with biscuits etc. We tend to have a day a month and have a HUGE cooking day. Freezer is well stocked with basic recipes which can then be tarted up. I find this a big help as life is never quiet and I rarely have to think "what can I cook quickly". Kids also love checking the board to see what's on the menu.

I also feed our lodger included in the same budget. It can be done and many people on this site do it much better than I do, but I feel quite proud of what we achieve.

I buy gifts throughout the year, but only what I know people will really like. I don't buy anything, just to give something, if that makes sense. It's been a real eye opener this Christmas as I genuinely have not felt the need to buy buy buy. It has made for a very relaxing affair.

I will stop and recheck your post then see if there's anything else I can add.

Tilly

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

:eek::eek:Just lost my last response so I will save it for tomorrow but good luck with your journey and definitely start a diary.

I find this site hugely helpful and also non judgemental. We are all different, all have differing income, but what is important is how you treat your money. It's easy to spend, but being wiser with your spending brings many benefits. From the kids to the relationship between DH and Mrs Tilly. It has been a very positive journey so far and we still have loads to learn it people really share on the site and want people to be successful.

My very best wishes Tilly

originalmiscellany

Tell you what Tilly, sounds like I'd like to be your lodger Where do I apply?
Really enjoy reading your posts, and wish you a happy new year.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

SJ, last thought and sorry my response have been in bits - I tend to meal plan for 4-8 weeks at a time now and that really helps reduce waste/cost.

That's it, night, Tilly

sweetdaisy

I would love to spend £60-70 a week on food. At the moment I budget for £85 and have been spending a little less than this and in our household there are two adults, a 3 year old and a baby.

I have started meal planning too and really sticking to my shopping list. I shop online as it saves me money, because if I go into store I easily spend an extra £20 on food/rubbish that I didn't need.

I quite like the idea of starting a Spending Diary, but a little daunted as I am sure there are things that I don't need need to buy, those little impulse buys. I am definitely going to set one up for the amount of money DH spends on Mountain/Downhill Biking as it is an expensive hobby to have. Obvioulsy he enjoys it and am no way going to stop him from doing this, but am just interested how much it costs and have a sneaky feeling it costs a lot more than I think it does, but I now use Topcashback when he needs to buy new parts for the bike/clothing so I can earn cashback .

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hiya OM, I am laughing now. I love having a lodger and truly find it makes the family pull together brilliantly. If you ever need a bed, just shout, I can always put a tent in the garden for the lodger :rotfl::rotfl:

Happy new year to you and I will be back helping with the challenge tomorrow night.

Best wishes Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi SweetDaisy, what about trying meal planning for a longer period? I am now finding that this keeps the weekly spends lower. I only buy what is really needed and seriously, nothing extra. The biggest thing was stopping DH popping into the local shops. Thats the money that leaks out of the bank. I tend to have £10 in the household pot, and that covers any bits the kids need for activities and that's it.

Please don't think we live an austere life though. We both love cooking and have fab meals. Much laughter, more foraging at different times of the year and I grow loads of fruit and veg. I have raised beds, not a huge space but very prolific and believe me, if I can do it, anyone can.

Good luck on your TCB bike purchases, sounds like a fab hobby to have - now how do I get DH out on his bike again.......

Best wishes Tilly x

sweetdaisy

Thanks Tilly. You've always got lots of good advice and tips to give . I will definitely look at food budgeting for a longer period, at the moment I budget a week at a time. I really should start making more use of the offers available on the things that I buy regularly i.e. 3 for 2, 4 for £10 etc. Maybe then I won't need to do a big shop every week and can do a big shop once a fortnight and a fresh produce shop in between.

Hope you have a good New Year