Unexpected benefits of a dfw lifestyle

chardonnay_2

Kaz2904 wrote: »

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!

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get him to check out the reduced flowers and you may get them more often. hubby often surprises me with a beautiful bunch and it's even better when they have only cost a quid and usually last for about a week

Shineyhappy

Wow! What a pick me up on a Monday morning to see new posts on my thread. I am so pleased to see all the positive comments

Thank you everyone for posting it really did give me a massive smile! :T

I am also really pleased that although we are in a tough place a lot of the time, that can be both frustrating and depressing it is soooo great that we can take inspiration and find good things about our new way of life :beer:

toozie_2

In April our new kitchen arrived from MFI coutesy of Tesco Deals, except for £100 extra cash. This is the first new kitchen I've had in my life, we've lived in this house for 19 years with previous kitchen!
It's taken OH from April to now to fit it himself (with help of a joiner friend on one afternoon-who came to just cut the sold wood worktops properly). So there was no fitting cost either.
Now everything is clean, sorted, and put in its place, and I'm in love with it all. As a treat I've given my 5 year old goldfish, which was in the kitchen, to my friends daughter, and treated myself to a tropical fish tank (special offer at Netto) which now has pride of place on the side of the breakfast bar. As we didn't know a thing about tropical fish, I picked the brains of the local indipendant pet shop owner, until she's probably sick of me, and we know each other on first name terms, and got loads of useful info. We've got our first 6 small fish now, more next weekend, apparently its best to stock in stages.
I can't help but smile to myself and am extreamly proud as I sit with my coffee in my new kitchen, looking at my new fish!
Am I sad..................:j :j :j :j

Tondella

I'd echo the increased appreciation of the treats you do buy yourself (plus the delight at realising you got through the weekend and only spent £2!).

I like the perks of being money savvy ... £78 cashback earned on my credit card this year and not a penny of interest paid ... paying for Christmas with money raised from ebay sales ... buying wedding gifts with sainsbury or shopandscan vouchers. Brilliant!

cat4772

Since embarking on a DFW lifestyle, I've come to appreciate so many unexpected benefits; instead of browsing supermarkets for carrots, onions etc, I'm growing my own and marvelling at the shapes and sizes they come in. Food miles has significantly reduced cos from earth to kitchen is 30feet rather than >30 miles!

Growing my own means tending my garden, so I've reduced the amount of time I have available for shopping, thus saving money!

Cooking from scratch and from my store cupboard - there's so much you can do with a tin of tomatoes, an onion and (vegie) mince!

Being online and writing emails to friends and family that ordinarily I'd have spent £20 a week phoning! So lovely to be able to sit, read and reply to them.

But best of all, to realise that I AM NOT ALONE. I am not the only person (well husband included) battling with debts, there is support out there, and when you feel you've done everything you can to save money, another wonderful suggestion is made to help you cut back - weekend it's home made pizzas!!!

fistfullofdollars

1. Checking my bank balance daily online rather worrying about the next statement. Silly old me only ever checked my balance 1 per month on payday.

2. Not burying my head in the sand re Lloyds - I was worrying about nothing! They actually offered me a gold account! lol! Account paid up and closed.

3. Telling wife the actual balance of my CC, she was under the impression it was £3k less. Not the best feeling but its better she knows. I think she was impressed that I was doing so much towards it. She understood my reasons for keeping it under my hat....

4. Saving money on interest! It's better in my bank account than helping them make billions in profit.

5. Budgeting properly and keeping a spending diary
5a: Having money throughout the month and not being broke for 2 weeks out of every 4!
5b: Collecting £2 coins! Damn those £2 coins. I have had loads recently and have had to save them rather than spending them!

6. Seeing my debts fall!!! (yay!)

7. Being in a position to buy a house. I like the thought of not paying our land lords mortgage for him.

Shineyhappy

cat4772 wrote: »

But best of all, to realise that I AM NOT ALONE. I am not the only person (well husband included) battling with debts, there is support out there, and when you feel you've done everything you can to save money, another wonderful suggestion is made to help you cut back - weekend it's home made pizzas!!!

:T No you aren't alone and neither is anyone of us as when ever we need a hug or some advice we can log on to MSE and find support and that is priceless!

esthomizzy

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

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

I like lists and spreadsheets too

Parallel_Universe

esthomizzy wrote: »

I like lists and spreadsheets too

Me too - we are not alone!

sea-horse07

I make use of the stuff I have already got rather than just buying more or realising I already had about five of something!

My maths has also really improved from shopping and working out the cheapest item to calculating my monthly payments to make my debt go quicker.