How to fall in love with saving money

Eco_Miser

cathybird wrote: »

ha ha! ... But have you seen this? ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16964783

Or indeed this, saying much the same thing: http://slumberwise.com/science/your-ancestors-didnt-sleep-like-you/

I hadn't, though I had seen something similar without the citations.
Today I had to be up earlyish, and by three in the afternoon was feeling tired, so I lay on the couch with a duvet over me, and started reading a financial report. Then I put it down and woke in near darkness - just the street lights shining through the undrawn curtains - around six. I've been a lot more alert his evening and haven't dropped off at all. I should go for second sleep soon.

cathybird wrote: »

The reason I asked to start with is I'm a bit of a night owl - left to myself I potter to bed about 1.30am or thereabouts, assuming I don't have to get up in the morning (or even if I do).

I have been known to not go to bed at all - but then fall asleep as soon as I relax.

cathybird wrote: »

But it's not as frugal as being a lark because you pay more in electricity and heating - the house is colder in the wee hours.

The computer may be on for longer, and I may have a 7W lamp on, or not - the computer monitor provides enough light to type by -, but I don't have the heating on, and right now, I'm overheating, despite the room temperature being only 13.7°C. The secret is personal insulation, in particular an old duvet. In fact, I haven't had the heating on since Easter or thereabouts (when the snow melted).

cathybird

So, Eco Miser, do you just basically live out the winter wrapped in an old duvet, then? ... or heavy woollens indoors (hat, thermals etc)? ... I wonder how many others on MSE do the same. I'm curious - one of the things I do spend money on is the heating.

Ken68

There is a market out there for portable heated clothing, I sure.
If only a hole cut into an electric blanket to pop over head (joking, don't try).I have an electric throw for the sofa, cuts out putting the heating on for a few hours per day.

YoungBusinessman

gallygirl wrote: »

What is your taxcode?

944L

Sees right code just seems a lot of tax

cathybird

Ken68 wrote: »

There is a market out there for portable heated clothing, I sure.
If only a hole cut into an electric blanket to pop over head (joking, don't try).I have an electric throw for the sofa, cuts out putting the heating on for a few hours per day.

I can do the dress head to toe in woollens and wear the fleecy boots at home thing if I have to but I must admit I like a warm, toasty home ... I leave the thermostat at a pretty low point during the day so the heating goes off but like a fire in the woodburner in the evenings in the winter.

Eco_Miser

cathybird wrote: »

So, Eco Miser, do you just basically live out the winter wrapped in an old duvet, then? ... or heavy woollens indoors (hat, thermals etc)? ... I wonder how many others on MSE do the same. I'm curious - one of the things I do spend money on is the heating.

No. just the part where I'm sitting/lying still watching TV or using the computer. Daytime I'm often out of the house altogether.

Modern synthetics are much lighter than wool for a given insulation value, so I don't wear heavy clothing.

When the daytime inside temperature is in single digits Celsius, I'll consider firing up the boiler, but there's still four degrees to drop before then. Meanwhile I'm saving money and saving the planet (slightly) :T

A woodburner is so much more romantic than gas central heating, and maybe cheaper.
Do you grow or forage your own wood?

cathybird

In fact I do have a wood just near me from which I have foraged, but then I read somewhere that it was not legal to do so, so I stopped. Don't know if that's true or not - I've been meaning to look into it further. I have an allotment with trees that require pruning so that yields a small amount of kindling. This year I have bulk-bought some briquettes to make up the rest of the fuel I need.

The woodburner doesn't quite heat the whole house but it definitely does cut down on the need for central heating. And it makes the place so cosy I love watching it.

YoungBusinessman

Iv definitely caught the bug, worked out how much I should have saved by end of year. I'm going to budget that money and use it for expenses for aslong as I can next year. I work out that gives me about £6,500 which should really last me 4 months minimum. I have high debt repayments as they are all due to finish in next 3 and half years despite being over £20k in total. Aim is to be in a position to pay it off by this time next year. Need to stay cash rich though since expenses are high day income stops or slows over winter I need that financial cushion knowing expenses will be covered as I have a mortgage to pay. Cutting out all the rubbish made my last work clothes/tools purchases for the next few months at least and on packed lunches for work which i think could save me upto £100 a month!! What a waste of cash before when I was spending all that in the shop.

Drinking is also being cut down, hopefully this sees me able to save ally more from now on so can get rid of £7-8k debt by April 2014 which would take payments down from £800ish to £450(which I don't think is a lot really considering what I am paying right now) and in April my income goes up as a result of my £29k investment so should see over £500 extra PCM net.

Expenses are still way too high to be comfortable with even after cutbacks, the debt needs paid down ASAP!! Lucky iv caught the bug!!

mgarl10024

I would recommend reading http://www.amazon.co.uk/Your-Money-Life-Transforming-Relationship/dp/0143115766

Many people don't even know where their money is going, so it encourages tracking it. Then it challenges you to look at what your 'values' are in life, and then see if your spending is in-line with those values.
I haven't done the programme as yet, but I'd certainly say that it was a thought-provoker.

cathybird

YoungBusinessman wrote: »

Iv definitely caught the bug, worked out how much I should have saved by end of year.

Drinking is also being cut down, hopefully this sees me able to save ally more from now on so can get rid of £7-8k debt by April 2014 which would take payments down from £800ish to £450(which I don't think is a lot really considering what I am paying right now) and in April my income goes up as a result of my £29k investment so should see over £500 extra PCM net.

Think I've caught the bug too, at least I hope so Re drinking, I like a glass of red at night with my dinner, but try to keep it to that and it wouldn't do me any harm to have a couple of drink-free weeks in November to save money and look after myself. I read somewhere that what's good for the wallet is also often good for the health and also the environment ... and in this case it's true, cutting back is good for the health, saves cash and also saves on waste (chucking out the tin/bottle afterwards).