I think I could have lived in the 1940's

Sazdaz

Well after finally getting back on the DFW wagon after splitting from my partner of ten years I am actually really enjoying it.
I was telling someone on Saturday how I don't mind not having alot of money at the moment as I know it means I am working towards my goal, how much I am enjoying finding ways of saving and making money and how I could have lived during the 40's as I am loving the make do and mend etc.

I have managed to find some extra work at several different places and so am aiming to make an extra £120 this month from extra work, selling things etc.

I am managing to do really well with swagbucks and will use the vouchers towards buying xmas presents. I am also going to try to free some time up in the evenings to make some presents for family members who will appreciate them. I am making Sock Monkeys for family kids as I made one before and it was loved.

I am trying to live on a budget of £50 a month for Grocery and have tonight made a massive batch of SW Chilli Con Carne. Working it out there is enough for 4 meals which means that in total it has cost me £3 for 4 x Chilli and the rice is 10p a meal. Plus great for my diet.

I have taken to mending things rather than throwing them away, and this week when I needed a new lightweight long coat as last years too big where I have been dieting, I went around the Charity shops and found an amazing one for £3. When I was out the other day I realised that my whole outfit had cost me £6 ( £3 for blazer - charity shop, Jeans - given to me, top £1 - Bootfair, Vest top £2, Boots present.)

The thing is that I am not missing my old life at all, and in actual fact am happier and enjoying it much more than before. I am so proud of how hard I am working to get myself through this.

Rationing_Revisited

Definately, I think youre awesome! We've been trying to live of 1940's food rations since dec/ jan and its cut our grocery bill down by over £100 a week. We're actually in a position now to save 40% of our little income. We are also blissfully debt free after a 2 year trial run of this lifestyle we managed to clear our 7.5K debt (cleared it within the 2 years).
We now plan meals weekly and feed the 5 of us (2 adults 3 children) for under£30 a week 1940's style.
We're dying to apply this to other areas of our lifestyle aswell.

WELL DONE

Rainbow_Bridge

Hi there,

I too am beginning to love this make do and mend mentality. Welcome to the diaries x

What a wonderful idea Rationing Revisited, I will maybe try that for a week and see how we get on.

SailorSam

Could you really have lived in the 40s.
For all we complain these days not many of us have to share a tin bath in front of the fire, or have to scrape ice off the inside of the windows when we get up of a morning.

missrlr

Oh ice on the inside of the windows what *fond* memories (ahem), no central heating in family home until I was 16! This was a regular occurrence, once the under curtains ( we had 2 pairs at each window) froze to the glass! No opening curtains that day!
I think the reason I fight about heating now is the seemingly months of shivering and frozeness.

Sazdaz

Ok maybe not quite all the things from the 1940's but not having internet for the last week has made it feel like the 1940's.

Well all is going well this week, and I am still enjoying the money saving. So far this month I have spent under £8 on food and that included treating myself to chips the other night when I was shattered.

I have managed to find some extra work this week which will give me approx £150 this week, and they may have a few more hours over the next month. Will put this money towards paying my accounts bill.

Had a look through my wardrobe yesterday and seeing what I really want to keep etc. What I dont want is going to be sold etc.

I have taken to writing down my spending everyday in my little book in my bag to try and make A) myself realise what I waste money on and try to stop myself spending.

Have written a time management diary for the week so that I can free up some time to spend on Money saving jobs and write a list of things that I can craft for xmas, birthday etc from now on.

Swagbucks is up to a £5 voucher so waiting for that to come through.

Now going to look at old style saving - woohooo.

NewLeaf_2

I love the idea of this thread. Keep up the good work

Sazdaz

Ok well today had been manic with work and trying to fit in extra work
Left at 7am this morning and now on lunchbreak so thought would update.
So today done:
1hour of cleaning to earn extra hour money
been tempted to buy something to eat when i stopped as short of time but found a few mins to race home to make pasta and pesto, so much better financially and better for diet. all ready had all the ingredients.
as its sunny put a load of washing and put out to dry in sun.

Off back to work now but going to use time in car to plan rest of day and coffee break (free coffee) to write out the plan.

Sazdaz

Well the week continued to be manic last week especially as i am trying to do several extra jobs to increase income. I did have a little chuckle to myself on Friday whdn someone mentioned that my outfit looked really nice. The reason I chuckled was that it dawned on me the outfit cost less than £20. Jacket £3 from charity shop, top free from relative who buys expensive clothes and hands down when not wanted, trousers £2 from bootfair and boots £12 from ebay. as it is all labels worked out it wud have cost bout £150 for whole outfit new. This lead me to think bout what I used to spend on clothes and so wobdered if in 2013 if I could keep to budget of £200 for year on clothes.
Managed to make an extra £214 this week and so shocked. Now only spent £12.90 on food shopping etc. Was given £30worth of supermarket vouchers today by great friend who knows i am cutting back. going to write shopping list of meals and what i need to buy to use up what in cupboards.
Got told as well today by my physio i need to make moretime for me so off for that now.

NewLeaf_2

214 is a great result!

Sazdaz

Well earnt an extra £40 last so now need to update that on my signature along with all the others. Got another extra days work this week and so that will be about an extra £50. Also got my first swagbucks £5 voucher clear, my mum needs some stuff off the website I chose so I am going to order it and she is going to give me the money.

Work still completely manic so along with other jobs not really getting much time on here to gain more MS tips. However I have my first weekend off in months so going to chill out this week, that will make the Physio happy.

Decided I need to make a blackboard in the Kitchen so I can list all my new year challenges as well as the current ones, so everytime I am in there I will see it and hope it will encourage me.

Back to work in a mo, then home by 8pm for a bit of sorting and hopefully find some bits to sell then chill out at 9pm.