Help me make the most of things

boo81

Hi guys

It looks like im going to be scrimping and saving for a good while yet due to mine and my boyfriends debt problems. I wonder if you can point me towards a better way of doing things!

Currently I dont spend a lot on shopping, I eat organic and during the week am mainly vegetarian as meat is so expensive. I dont really need any help with the recipe side of things though chickpeas and quinoa are 2 things in my cupboard that need using and im not sure what to do with them!!

I already save all my change less than 50p every week and so does the OH which does add up, ive had a clearout for ebay though some items didnt sell and im not sure what to do with them, done some bootfairs with more planned for summer. Im wondering if there are any more tips for moneysaving from you guys.

I would love to buy a laptop for my boyfriend as he wants to get some more education to change his career as it kills us being apart and I dont trust old ones being sold on ebay so any tips on this would also be good.

Its all a bit of a mess really and out of all the forums on here you guys are the most helpful. My aim is to try my best and save what I can and also persuade my bf that this way of life wont be that bad. He seems to believe he needs money to be happy and I know this isnt true!

gems2381

Hi boo,
Have you tried using any of the cashback sites to earn some spare cash? Doing daily clicks is a bit like saving up spare change really. Pigsback is an excellent site too, if you are interested in doing these send me a PM and i'll help you out with these.

taplady

Hi Boo, have you looked at the debt-free wannabee board? its got lots of help and advice for getting out of debt!:money:

boo81

I have but the people on there keep getting on my back about things, you lot are more friendly

I joined pigsback gems and love it

gems2381

Pigsback was a life-saver for me last xmas, got nearly everyone sorted for free!

Have you shown your boyfriend this site?

boo81

he is a member too but doesnt get access to the net very often. Im heping him catch up on clicks at the weekends though

Now thinking that we could go camping, we can probably borrow a lot of stuff from people we know and buy very little, it would feel like a nice holiday and be fun without splashing out. He might feel better for having some kind of holiday even if its a cheapy one!

sairy2005

Camping is a great idea. We used to own a camping business. Try to only buy the bare essentials to start with. Borrow what you can but take great care of it. You would be surpised how many people we had try to bring their tents back as faulty and then we found out that they had lent it to some one and they had wrecked it.

Your really only need a tent, something comfortable to sleep on and some thing to cook on. Campsites are cheap for tents and most have some basic facilities. Dont eat out every night. Collect a few recipes you can cook over one burner if necessary. Cooking is half the fun.

Have a great time.

dianadors

I agree that Camping is great and very very cheap for holidays and weekends away. In our local camping shop there was a 2 man tent for £19! You can cook for 2 on a 1 ring stove (about £9.00) and a double blow up matress fro Aldi or lidle can cost as little as £7. You can take your own quilt. We camp for our main holidays now and save an arm and a leg! I do prefer camping to anyother type of holiday now - its so relaxing (except if it blows a gale!!)and carefree. There are so many lovely sites .

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

chickpeas....have you tried falafel?? they are addictive and you can eat them cold with a salad for lunch to use leftovers :-)...let me know if you dont have a recipe and i will send you one !

Do you claim all the freebies??? i have become obssesed...my hubby thinks im losing the plot...but we are off to kefalonia for 2 weeks soon and i have more than enough shampoo, conditioner, shower gels etc to last and they dont take up loads of space...

i have even started paying more attention to offers on the products in shops.. Alpen are doing an offer at the moment where you send 2 tokens and £1.20 postage and they send a 150ml apricot scrub and a 200ml whipped silk moisturiser....and at the moment Morrisons are doing bogof on Alpen so you get 2 boxes for £2.29..and get your 2 tokens..so you can either treat yourself..or put them toward pressies..i got 4 boxes and have sent off for 2 sets...its amazing where you can cut back and save bits n bobs without going without ..:D

twinkle162

Re: The Ebay stuff.
If its not sold first time around, check out similar items and watch them to see if they sell and what sort of money they make. If you list the items a second time and they sell, you'll get the second selling fee refunded.

If not - just give the stuff away to a charity shop - it''s quite therapeutic.

boo81

Thanks guys!!:D

dianadors - I will be checking out my local lidl and aldi this weekend!:D

MRSMCAWBER - Unfortunately ive tried falafel and its not really my thing. I think its because I had some and it made me feel ill and now the smell makes me feel queasy. To be honest im not sure im that keen on the texture of them and my OH doesnt like them. I dont want to waste them though!

twinkle162 - ive never relisted, how does it work? I do give anything not worth selling to the charity shops, ive had a grand clear out and sorted into bootfair, ebay and charity shops. Given a few things to other places like playgroups and animal shelters too.:A