A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

tiff

3v3 wrote: »

When to stock up on peanut butter today; yesterday it was 52p a jar of Tesco value pb - today? 92p!!!!! :mad: That is one big hike in price!

PB is now off the menu! I'm an "old-styler" not an old fool

It was 62p in Morrisons yesterday, I so badly want to buy a load but need to wait until pay day.

scrabbles_2

Hello everyone, I hope you don't mind if I join you all, I could do with some frugal buddies as I feel as though I'm surrounded by spendthrifts and I could do with a little sanity!

I am currently trying to sort myself out to get some savings together, as before I've just kind of coasted along - I can be fairly frugal but as long as I've had 'enough' that's been good enough for me. My health isn't great and I'd like some money to have aside as a safety net.

Unfortunately I ended up having to have surgery unexpectedly a few weeks ago and haven't gone back to work after Christmas yet and I only get SSP :mad: Oh well.

ginnyknit

welcome scrabbles, come and join in with us all pinching our pennies till they squeak - pinched that off one of the regulars. Hope you are doing ok after your op - now get yourself a pad and pen and start copying recipes as they come up on this thread, seal an empty pot up and start putting your change in and learn to knit - that should get you started.. then tomorrow.....only kidding, hope you find some things useful and get as much support as I have xxx

ps SDG1300 posted earlier this evening and there was a fab marmalade cake - take a look it sounds yummy:T

[Deleted User]

Thanks for your support Mrs Chip and Tiff - I think Tiff sums up where we are totally in the words 'We are just grateful for what we have' -we have all had to work very hard to get what we have and it is so easy to feel hard done by because we cannot afford the latest version of everything or keep up with the latest trends. What really matters to me is my family, friends, having enough - not everything that I fancy having, and always having something to aim for - a sense of purpose and a place in our community where I can be useful and help glue the place and people together - its not to be well off but to be content, and to know that if ever we need help it will be there willingly - you can't really ask for more. Cheers Lyn

prepareathome

My stock cupboard is coming in so handy just now, it has meant I could get hair done, we will go to the pictures ( on Tuesday now after SW)and I have 3 hospital appointments next week - I will have to get taxis there but hubby will pick me up but only thing I have had to buy is milk ( and technically we could have done without as I have 8pts frozen and 4 ltrs of long life. I am so grateful for all the tips on here and the preparing for winter board, being able to eat out of cupboards and freezer. Fresh veg I bought a couple of weeks ago is still ok as downstairs toilet is so cold its great for storing things like that ( they are wrapped up). It is lovely to be able to decide yes will have hair done without as done in past having to save up. We are even going out next week to a meal with hubbys bowls team and I have booked a wash and blow for the afternoon as I know we have enough to feed us for the following week as well. This with rent, gas, electric ( both prepay) and car ins due on Monday. Bread I make myself and thanks to son have still plenty in the sacks he got me from work as well as the yeast from there as well. I even have HM butter as well as bought butter in the freezer. I honestly think I can make anything we might fancy for at least the next two weeks if not longer and that includes HM cakes, biscuits and puds - plenty of tinned or frozen fruit as well as still having some fresh left.

Its just giving me such peace of mind. I know once all these extras are over I will have to replenish my stocks but I know I will manage it as making sure I get to Mr S only when they do the reducing and so not paid full price for meat, chicken, fish or sausages in weeks now and with way am doing the money can buy more than just a weeks supply usually. I even have a couple of bought quiches as at 50p each for big ones I could not pass up such bargains.

Come April when hubby goes onto monthly pay and council tax, water rates, phone line rental, tvl all become due there will be no extras for a while but at least just now I can enjoy the planning.

Although its cost me a bit I am also glad all my vegetable plants for this year are paid for, the Constant Garden from Rocket Gardens, I know even if health not the best I don't have to worry about getting out planting seeds and cossetting seedlings for a change and instead just plant the baby plants when they arrive throughout the year, might have cost me £199 but to me its worth every penny.

I used to only think in the short time, pay everything this week, have enough food for this week and worry about next week then. It really is worth all the budgeting and planning for this peace of mind.

Thank you everyone for your wonderful advice

Possession

Hello Scrabbles. I'm very new here myself and learning so much. You couldn't have come to a better place.
Have tried hard in the last few days to spend as little as possible - we have to buy food for the business but trying to live from that and our stores. Lunch was jacket potato with leftover egg mayo, tuna mayo or chicken tikka and dinner was fried rice with leftover onion, sweetcorn and chicken. We are becoming good little rubbish monsters, even the children although obviously they don't want to eat actual sandwiches. Funny how they went off sandwiches the moment we started a sandwich business.
Had a good declutter today and actually feel as if I've made a difference - although it still looks pretty much the same there's much more room in the cupboards so everything will be moving in shortly.

elizabunny

Hello everyone! Gosh its probably around a year since I logged on to a 'tougher' thread and I'm pleased to see this one. I recognise a few names but see lots of newbies as well. We had a particularly hard year last year after the very sad loss of my DM and two much loved pets. I really couldn't put my heart into anything, including money saving. Hope to try harder this year.
I'm currently looking into the benefits of Tea tree Oil as a multicleaner etc. and porridge oats......not as a cleaner:eek::rotfl:but in the hope of finding a cheap way to a healthier life. Today we have had porridge oats for breakfast, nice and cheap and oats in our homemade bread. There are 4 packets sitting in the cupboard at the moment and DH is looking a bit worried. I've already made him have his porridge this morning with salt instead of milk and sugar and told him we are going to eat healthier and cheaper.:)

Hello Mardatha I remember you:)

scrabbles_2

Thank you for the welcome My notebook is half full already Ginnyknits! And I am kind of trying to start doing everything at once, I want to build up momentum while I still have the enthusiasm! Incidentally, I can knit - well, a bit, anyway :rotfl: - but beyond knitting gifts for people I've never thought of it as moneysaving, yarn is expensive. Do you have some magical tips? Please say you do!

Elizabunny, I don't know about tea tree oil, but I use eucalyptus oil for cleaning, laundry etc. It's antibacterial and degreasing, and it kills dust mites. Also, it's very cheap from chemists and the like.

mardatha

Hiii elizabunny - I am so pleased to see you doing proper porridge

mrsspoon_2

Hi everyone,

Hope you don't mind me joining you. Could do with a bit of a friendly ear.
Have lurked on mse for a while on various threads, took a big step today and added my signature. Having it there in black and white for the world to see was a big step. I want to run from it, but seeing as my husband is taking that approach I have to be the one to try and deal with it.
I know everything we 'should' be doing, but he doesn't want to know. I think he's worried how he'll look to his friends if we suddenly lose the tv package, he stops going out, stops buying the family presents we can't afford etc. For instance tonight - he's out with his mates down the pub...I was invited out last week, said sorry can't afford it, and still won't afford it after payday so bring a bottle round to mine instead.
We have loans too which are mostly being paid off ok, the odd payment has rejected but in the whole they are being paid ok.
Am joining the grocery challenge for Feb as that's one of the few practical things I can do at the moment.
Feeling really frustrated about the situation, I am doing my best but there's only so much I can do without his support. We are in a constant vicious circle of building up overdraft & credit card, then taking out loan to clear them, then building up credit and overdraft again because we can't afford the loan repayments.
Urgh....sorry, I hope this is the right place to be offloading.
Am going to go and take my frustrations out now on making a trial loaf of 50/50 bread!