What else to save the pennies?

rigsby1967

Spendless wrote: »

You can speak to your mortgage provider about taking a reduced payment for so long. That's what I did, when the amount of money that was paid towards my mortgage by benefits was less than the monthly payment required. I know you said you don't want to take a holiday, well this isn't a holiday as such, just reducing the payment for a short time. You would have to pay back any short-fall, but you've said the payments are due to reduce in September. It seems a shame for you to struggle so much for the sake of 1 month.

I did breifly think about it but i really didn't want to go into debt with my mortgage.
19 years ago i nearly lost my house as i was in debt with the mortgage and 5 years ago i had to re-morgage for the whole 25 years again due to the endowment shortfall and i was 6 years of supposedly finishing the mortgage, so i just have tomorrows mortgage payment then next months then i go onto the variable base rate (i think it's called).

I meant to say in my first post that i also keep chickens so they keep me in eggs, i also give some to friends and family BUT the best is to a lady i have got to know through fr*ec*cle (not sure if we are allowed to say) who i give eggs to and she gives me scraps for the chickens twice a week. :T:j

[Deleted User]

To save even more have to tried the Seven Day Fiscal Fast on here, its really good and will keep you focussed.I have got my shopping down to three times a month now, and by only buying what's needed and not wanted, its made quite a difference as well
I use lentils and grated carrots to streeetch out meals These freebie eggs your giving away to family and friends can't you intrduce a 'swop' system whereby for half a dozen eggs, you maybe get a jar of jam, or some veg in exchange Even a packet of loo rolls or toothpaste will save you pennies in your shopping I would happily swop something I have in excess, for free range eggs Your not selling them, only going back to the old system of bartering . Friends and family know you need a bit of help and if they're too tight to help you out then their not much good as friends.

Soon the blackberries will be ready for picking and freezing If you know anyone with an apple tree offer eggs in exchange for apples. I had some apples left by my eldest DD when she went away on holiday last week and I peeled and stewed gently in a drop of honey and lemon juice and when cold packed into rectangular plastic 'chinese ' boxes and put into the bottom of my freezer for use in pies and crumbles later on this year when the weather turns cold.
She also left 4 peppers in her fridge which I have chopped and frozen for later as well in boxes I never throw anything away if its at all edible if I can freeze it I will, and if not then I'll adjust my menus to eat it up before it goes off.

This morning I have some potatos to peel boil and mash then when cold will use an ice cream scoop to get portions in round ball shapes these will also be frozen for use later I am going away on holiday shortly to from now until I go I am running down my fresh food so when I go I will leave no food to be thrown away.Check your nectar card if you have one sometimes a few pounds on there comes in handy for groceries in Sainsbobs
Only use the iron for things that really need ironing the rest if your the only one looking at uit then don't bother
Boiling up a kettle of water ,put the remainder into a flask for later saves the electic.There are lots of small ways you can eke out you money a bit I know its boring and not much fun but I do all these things as second nature and just don't think about it .By doing this I have a week in the spring on holiday and a fortnight in the summer.I am a pensioner and live on a fixed income but can live quite well on the cash I have by thinking about what I need and not want before I go to the shops .
I have PMd you re ; 'My Online Misers Cookbook'

best wishes
JackieO

rubytuesday

Excuse me.

JackieO

My pm box is full and it's not allowing me to delete my messages at the moment!!!

[Deleted User]

oh dear have PMd you as well

adelight

I recently had a gas and electric bill for 2.5 months that was £98 with little effort to keep it down, so I think you could get it lower. Are you on the best tariff possible?
Do you have a gas or electric stove? If electric, after cooking put a pan of water on the stove to warm up off the residual heat and use this water as the warm water for washing up. If you don't already could you put your water heater on only every 2-3 days and have quick showers and some washes with a flannel.
More electricity free entertainment, library books, long walks etc

dandy-candy

Remember to have the heating off in any unnecessary rooms such as spare bedroom or dining room (eat in the lounge) if you have any.
It is possible to ditch the mobile and internet but that might be going TOO far!!!

PhGage

adelight wrote: »

I recently had a gas and electric bill for 2.5 months that was £98

Applause and how on earth do you do that? Is that with a fridge, freezer, extractor fan, washing machine, PC/laptop, TV etc.?

Our electricity is currently £29 per 4 weeks (about 200 KWh and that's the best tariff for our area which is approx. 17p per KWh before the DD discounts etc. although a friend in Dundee has 11.5p per KWh): gas is £23. (It's a 3 bedroom house, no heating on.)

I do bake quite a lot, both for us and some neighbouring households but I always do my best to batch bake. And I know that some of the money from what we use in fuel would otherwise go on the food bill if we bought bread or tinned beans rather than baking our own.

We have the hot water on for the minimum period every day (gas boiler). We tried turning it off and using it on alternate days but that just didn't work for us at all (various reasons).

rigsby1967

What an excellent idea about the eggs JackieO :T , i will have to mention that. I have Pm you too . What is the Seven Day Fiscal Fast? Mind you i haven't done a search yet so will do that next

Dandy-Candy I definately can't ditch the internet as it is a small source of money for me by selling my things on various website so without the interent = even less money . I am actually thinking about getting rid of the landline phone but keeping the mobile as i have 250 minutes in with my £7.50 bundle.

Thanks :A

darkrev

i empathise with your post, i have added a link to a food bank locator, maybe you will be lucky and find one near you, there isn't near me. best wishes and hang in there x
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/datablog/2012/jul/12/food-banks-uk-directory-guardian-readers
and have you thought about growing your own food in containers ? and shopping with another person so you can buy bigger for cheaper and split the cost and the travel cost

Soworried

Hi
Would someone be kind enough to PM me the misers cook book as well. x