Unexpected benefits of a dfw lifestyle

Shineyhappy

Hi guys,

It occured to me in the shower yesterday how much I am looking forward to my birthday this year (its over 3 months away) as for the first time in ages there is loads of things I would like, just normal stuff like expensive shampoo and some new clothes.

I was wondering if other people had had unusual positive things coming from a dfw/mfw/frugal lifestyle? Obviously there are the expected things like feeling great from having less incoming going straight on debt/closing down cards etc but I was wondering more about the unusual ones.

immoral_angeluk

I get to indulge in my secret obsession for lists and excel spreadsheets...

Lucy1982_2

Will second IA.

Really enjoying saying 'I can't afford to go out so shall we have a BYO party?' then having a far better night than you would in the pub! And teach a friend to cook as I love it and we both think it's cheaper than going out.

More quality time I think its called!

Storm

Definitely agree with you about stuff that was 'normal' being special again.

I can remember as a kid how going to the cinema was a real treat, normally reserved for birthdays & once in the summer holidays - it then became the 'norm' and I'd go just for something to do & ended up seeing loads of films I really wasn't fussed about. Now... I only go to see something I REALLY want to see (and can't wait for DVD release) and only on Orange Wednesdays - and it's a real treat again.

Oh, and don't forget the inches off the waistline through not buying random packets of crisps, bars of chocolate etc!

Shineyhappy

I agree with both of your posts and I do think there are probably a lot more benefits than you would think off.

It does actually bring back that bit of specialness that I had when I was a kid. I used to get loads of takeaways/treats/new clothes and then I started living a semi dfw lifestyle since March of last year and now its a proper dfw lifestyle the treat of going out to dinner is now a proper treat and something I actually look forward too instead of thinking nothing of it.

I hope that makes sense

elantan

today i am going out to buy my double layered socks so that i can go hillwalking and do you know what i am so looking forward to it normally i would be what else can i get just a pair of socks isnt enough i want this i want that and would spend a fortune (no wonder i am in debt) and still not feel excited.. but now a pair of socks excites me ..and i love lucys idea byob and cooking two things we love and are doing more often than takeaways we were having them so often (5-6 times a week) that they wernt a treat now it's once a month and we put the candle on the table etc (ok the small table 's in the living room but you get the idea) and open a nice bottle of wine and go on a date best thing is though i can wear my pjs' (i need to get out of that habit) and no make up

Lucy1982_2

El

That's great!! Love the idea of a date in pj's not sure how OH would take it though!!

System

It has taught me that with money, patience is indeed a virtue and I have been without CCs for 18 months now and there have been times where I could have used a CC but have had to wait. It has also taught be the value of money - better late than never! Also, I've met some cracking people on here - especially the ladies!

angelavdavis

There are a couple of aspects that spring to mind:

1) Discovering my previously undiscovered talent for wall-building - thanks to the wish to landscape my sloping garden and the £20k :eek: builders quote I initially got - £5k and two years later and its finished!

2) The taking advantage of the fact I live in a great part of the world - with the sea on my doorstep and nothing can beat a walk along the seafront on a sunny Friday evening, with the prospect of the whole weekend ahead of you, and then having a bbq picnic with a nice bottle of wine on the beach. There's nothing better. Fantastic!

3) The recent discovery that in three years time, if all goes to plan with the mortgage, I will be able to live on less than £500 per month and do a job I want to do - rather than one I have to do because it brings in the salary. I would previously never have thought ahead - I was too busy trying to juggle finances to live for now!!!

Kaz2904

I love the fact that I get to have "special" treats. Friends of ours are always out and don't seem to appreciate it but when we go out we take the kids out for a meal and they love it. It's such a treat that they make sure they behave in case they don't get to do it again!

I am also enjoying the fact that I have less clutter in my house because I don't just buy stuff and DH knows that if he buys anything he'll be for the high jump.

I get bunches of flowers bought for me every couple of months because they are beautiful. DH would never buy them before "because supermarket ones are cr*p" and he didn't have enough for florist flowers. He now realises that we do have the money for supermarket flowers and they are better for us because we only have 1 vase!

I love being able to take the pressure off my family/friends. This year my sister and I and our DH's have a freebie hamper challenge for christmas. We will spend max £10 and have to get everything else for free. I have been sent bottles of wine which I wasn't charged for so one will go in, I'm ordering every freebie in site, we are using bogofs and vouchers- it's great. The other advantage of this is that it involves using consumables so avoiding the clutter problem!

Broken_hearted

You get to sell off your junk and not buy more. It makes the house look great with less effort. Spending more time just being a family at home rather than going out trying to have fun. Learning to do things yourself rather than paying others to do it.