The commonsense thread

tryingtobethrifty

LameWolf wrote: »

My commonsense things to do include keeping all the household accounts on a spreadsheet, and as soon as Mr LW has been paid (he's paid at the end of the month) earmark a month's regular direct debits - you know, stuff like the council tax, leccy/gas, water, all the ones that come out monthly. And that money is spoken for and is deducted from the "cash available" sheet.

A financial advisor told us that he has different bank accounts for everything. So, he's got a main bank account his pay goes into. From this he transfers money into a number of other accounts for different things (his wife's shoes, bills, holidays, savings, grocerys etc).

This didn't work for us as it was too many bank accounts, bank cards and pin numbers :rotfl:So we simplified it and pay all bills from our main bank account, then transfer money in to another account that everything else is paid out of (food etc) when this money is done TOUGH! And some into savings. Three accounts do us okay.

faerie~spangles

tryingtobethrifty wrote: »

A financial advisor told us that he has different bank accounts for everything. So, he's got a main bank account his pay goes into. From this he transfers money into a number of other accounts for different things (his wife's shoes, bills, holidays, savings, grocerys etc).

This didn't work for us as it was too many bank accounts, bank cards and pin numbers :rotfl:So we simplified it and pay all bills from our main bank account, then transfer money in to another account that everything else is paid out of (food etc) when this money is done TOUGH! And some into savings. Three accounts do us okay.

I was married to a financial advisor, he was the most untrustworthy person I have ever had the misfortune to know.

thriftwizard

Here's an old tip that seems to have escaped some of the younger families locally; don't skimp on curtains! I'm not advising people to rush out & spend thousands on designer stuff, but seek out sturdy, well-lined curtains that fit your windows generously & keep the draughts out. You could even consider window quilts, or using blinds as well as curtains. Some of my neighbours don't use curtains at all, or only have thin tab-top voiles, and you can literally see the heat waves coming of their windows in winter, as well as everything they're up to. Never mind climate change (and I do) & privacy, that's money that's literally flying out of their windows! Double-glazing & loft insulation can't work miracles... In the last few days I've seen many well-made lined curtains in our local charity shops, in a wide variety of colours & styles; you don't need to spend a fortune to stay warm.

Popperwell

Well said Trifles...

And your quote too...I nearly used that one;)

I think most live on a shoe string and many who look as they are doing very well are in serious debt.

Dippypud

faerie~spangles wrote: »

Popperwell, if you were hit by a bus tomorrow who would appreciate your stockpile?

That is not a very nice thing to say ...:mad:

thought we'd grown out of the playground mentality

Popperwell

faerie~spangles wrote: »

I know and I'm sooooooooooooooooo looking forward to plugging in all my sparkly lights. My one selfish indulgence :j


Popperwell, if you were hit by a bus tomorrow who would appreciate your stockpile?

If I am honest...no one...just me...:):(

Perhaps I might concede and buy some LED Christmas lights and put them around the bedroom window...it is a pity as I did like Christmas...but as a oster said even if you are alone try and enjoy the festive season and do it for yourself and in memory of your loved ones so I shall try not to be miserable and a grump!

HariboJunkie

fuddle wrote: »

There is a lot of 'stuff' buying in order to be OS. Somewhere along the lines I think maybe the OS message has been skewed a little. I can also understand why some people take exception to stockpiling, especially as they could well be struggling to live hand to mouth.

This thread this afternoon has made me feel a bit 'blergh' with all things OS if I'm honest. It's been a good thing though because I'm looking at OS with new eyes. I'm tired of reading about the 'stuff' people buy. Buying stuff isn't OS and I now understand why Old OSers are getting a bit peeved.

I like this thread. A 'stuff' free thread.

Oh don't be blergh!! :eek:

OS to my mind was always about thrift and to me thrift is about making your money go further whether that is because of need or just desire. It's about getting the best you can afford and making do if you can't afford it at all. If you want to buy a gadget go ahead but NONE of them are strictly necessary. One (wo)man's essential appliance is another's frivolous gadget but it does worry me when I see so many OS "must haves" on here bearing in mind that some of them are bought by the comfortably off who are preaching to the considerably less well off. Also remember that although I'm sure the vast majority of posters on OS are genuine, there have been in my time posting here, a fair few who have been prone to exaggeration or even completely fabricated their online personas. NOTHING they described about their lives actually existed so be wary of whose advice you are listening to and if it smells like scaremongering it's probably not entirely based in fact. :)

Am just in so going to catch up with the rest of the posts but it's great to see such a positive vibe and not an ounce of scaremongering in sight.:beer:

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

There is a lot of 'stuff' buying in order to be OS. Somewhere along the lines I think maybe the OS message has been skewed a little. I can also understand why some people take exception to stockpiling, especially as they could well be struggling to live hand to mouth.

This thread this afternoon has made me feel a bit 'blergh' with all things OS if I'm honest. It's been a good thing though because I'm looking at OS with new eyes. I'm tired of reading about the 'stuff' people buy. Buying stuff isn't OS and I now understand why Old OSers are getting a bit peeved.

I like this thread. A 'stuff' free thread.

Well, really I have nothing that I can think of that I want any more, I have clothe(even if they are years old and now mainly functional or from CS's, things to help me cook my meals(Gadgets/Kitchen Equipment)that's mainly t avoid using too much energyu and make preparation easier and my store of food to try and offer variety and avoid the price rises.

As long as I can stay warm and have my internet I am reasonably happy I guess so I won't be going on much about buying "Stuff!"

If I stay put or have to move all I have to consider is possibly repairing/replacing items that fail or decorating/repacing carpets and probably a new bed or mattress. That's really about it!

I'd maybe like some items that are more for comfort but they are not necessary or essentials just extras.

Dazi

I have really enjoyed reading this thread, I don't have either space or money to have a store cupboard to last for years, I am just happy to know that I have food if for any reason I can't get out for a couple of days.

Not sure I have any tips that haven't been already aired but can honestly say I soooo agree with the flask of coffee/tea. We now have a camper van (stealth camper - as to the outside world it just looks like a vito van) and we travel down south to my family a lot. I love that we park in the services, make a brew and have a toasted tea cake. OH worked it out and for the money we would have spent in the services we can drive another 26 miles.

We only use one of those £10 camping cookers (if we go away for more than a few days we take our bigger cooker) cans of gas are very reasonable, try B & M they are the cheapest we have found, got our toaster rack from Aldi when they had a camping special, yes it costs a bit to start up,( just add up how much a couple of teas/coffees costs) but once you get into the habit of brewing up you won't go back to paying out!.....before we had the van we used to brew up in the back of our car. OH is waggon driver so he has plenty of practice lol

fuddle

My electric whisk blew about 6 weeks ago. Being OS (newbie and still learning) I thought drat I can't afford a new one and I need that to scratch cook and bake. £1.99 bought me a balloon whisk and I adore it! Yes, it's much harder work (and I haven't done meringues) but I will never want or need an electric whisk again.

I'm not saying I haven't got gadgets, I have, but I won't be buying any more. It's a learning curve I guess and yes, I do get carried away. I bought a halogen oven not so long ago. I didn't have the full amount of money for it so used the emergency fund. How stupid eh? I do use it and it does save me electricity but I didn't need it.

We never go anywhere without a flask of tea now. Another one we do a fair bit is have scones in the freezer in case of a sudden outing. Pull them out frozen, slice 'em frozen, butter 'em frozen and eat a couple of hours later all defrosted. Ready made indulgent snack that can be grabbed and prepared in an instant.