2014 Frugal Living Challenge

DawnW

lynnejk wrote: »

Welcome to this thread :hello:

There are lots of long-time frugalities that will probably be better than me at explaining and answering some of your questions.
I would just like to say that what others have/do is really beside the point. If you can manage your money wisely and show him how to do the same he will thank you for teaching him how to live within his means and not get into the frightening levels of debt :eek: that some have these days. Good luck
Lx

A really important point Lynne

And going_nowhere_fast (welcome ) in the past, I have fallen into the trap of thinking that others were living 'better' than us, and over time, this has often been shown to be a front - they don't want to 'appear poor' so overspend, and often get themselves into problems with debt, especially when misfortune such as illness, job loss or relationship breakdown happens, as, face it, any of us might come up against

Finally, thanks for your tips Cheryl Having recently left a well paid job myself I will use your post as a checklist for the financial overhaul I need to do pretty soon :eek: Not sure about the loo thing though but others I am sure would be equally queasy about my habit of ignoring most sell by/ use by dates :rotfl:

Lots of food for thought.....

Anyway, for today:

Have breakfast (in a minute) I seem to have got out of the habit of rushing out of the house by 7.15 very quickly :rotfl:though I do still get up quite early.

Water things that need it in the garden before it gets too hot.

Check and feed chickens

Make a batch of scones to use up some elderly creme fraiche languishing in the fridge. A pal is visiting this morning so this will do the double duty of providing a nice snack to offer my visitor, and using up something to avoid waste

Do some work for my small business later

Have the rest of the bolognese I made yesterday for supper

Better get a move on!

cw18

DawnW wrote: »

but others I am sure would be equally queasy about my habit of ignoring most sell by/ use by dates :rotfl:

sell by/use by dates? what are those then? :rotfl:

my "kids" don't particularly like the way I use them 'for reference only', but it clearly helps building up digestive powers as in the past I've been the only person in a group who ate catered food and didn't feel ill afterwards !!!

DD once cleared out my kitchen cupboards while I was at work, bagging up everything that was out of date for putting in the bin. The shelves were more than half empty when I got home (I'd developed a habit of new buys went at the front and got used first, meaning old supplies lingered - something I'm getting better at not doing), and she wasn't impressed at being made to spend hours putting everything back

mrsinvisible

Just dropping in to say hello, and claim 3 NSD s for this week, and that I have an empty freezer shelf now wooo hoooo it may get defrosted soon. I need an amnesty tho, as my trip to china to see my grandchildren (and their parents) is necessitating some big spends, visa is £100 and travel to and from airport is expensive, but 3 weeks when I am away there will be no spends needed on food utilities or such. Oh, and car needs 2 new tyres, grr.

macwah97

Welcome going_nowhere_fast!! This is a great site with loads of help.

Trying to book a weekend in Edinburgh /Galashiels as our family holiday and any recommendations for accommodation in Edinburgh. I have provisionally booked a hotel beside the zoo but the breakfast price ranges from £10.95-£14.95 each!!! :eek::eek: This is despite being a member of their points scheme. Breakfast for four of us when eating out is about £20 at home!!!

Back to drawing board as we need air-conditioned and preferably ground floor.

Getting tight on cash here for this week but at least I now have most of the family on board so we'll muddle through.

Have a wonderful weekend whatever you may be doing

xx

Frugalsod

cw18 wrote: »

sell by/use by dates? what are those then? :rotfl:

my "kids" don't particularly like the way I use them 'for reference only', but it clearly helps building up digestive powers as in the past I've been the only person in a group who ate catered food and didn't feel ill afterwards !!!

I am pretty immune to most things nowadays. Even when I would eat 95% of something my partner could be ill from a single spoonful for days or a week whereas I would have either no effect or being ill for less than 24 hours. I think most people take medication far too readily for conditions that will not be improved by antibiotics. They weaken their immune system unnecessarily. Though should there ever be a pandemic they will at least die off quickly. The fact that so many can be laid low by simple food poisoning can demonstrate how vulnerable we are as a society.

Frugalsod

DawnW wrote: »

A really important point Lynne

And going_nowhere_fast (welcome ) in the past, I have fallen into the trap of thinking that others were living 'better' than us, and over time, this has often been shown to be a front - they don't want to 'appear poor' so overspend, and often get themselves into problems with debt, especially when misfortune such as illness, job loss or relationship breakdown happens, as, face it, any of us might come up against

I think that keeping up with the Joneses is responsible for many peoples financial problems. While I like many of life's little luxuries I am more than happy to make big cut backs in some areas to be able to afford them.

pm2326

I was foolish when I was younger and spent money like it was going out of fashion...I have nothing to show for it though.

These days my outlook has completely changed and I no longer try to keep up with everyone else, I have a plan in my head which involves paying off my debts, carrying out some work on the house and then building my savings.

I dont buy new gadgets, I dont have sky, dont have a landline, dont have broadband, I dont drive, my last holiday was 8 years ago, I pay £10 for a haircut and I cook from scratch...I too ignore use/sell/best before dates...my nose is the best judge on when somethings gone off.

The standing joke with friends and family is I wont replace anything in my home unless its broke and cant be fixed, my stuff lasts for years and years, iron was 19 year old before it went bang, my hoover went bang last year but it was the very first dyson so was well used, I've never bought a new tv as get family cast offs, my laptop is another family cast off.

My lawnmower went bang 2 year ago and I detest the one I bought to replace it, its useless, but I refuse to replace it as it still cuts the grass (although I do pray everytime I get it out the shed that its somehow broke since I last used it) :rotfl:

I sit at work and listen to the problems my colleagues face because of money or lack of.....they are all booking holidays then worrying about how they'll pay for it yet I'm the only one doing overtime, they row with partners about the money being wasted on alcohol/junk food etc but then go out and buy a new dress or bag...the holiday ends up on the credit card.

I do wish sometimes that I could go out and just book a holiday or treat myself to something expensive but I dont actually think I'd enjoy it that much knowing I could use the money elsewhere.

Frugalsod

pm2326 wrote: »

I was foolish when I was younger and spent money like it was going out of fashion...I have nothing to show for it though.

These days my outlook has completely changed and I no longer try to keep up with everyone else, I have a plan in my head which involves paying off my debts, carrying out some work on the house and then building my savings.

I was very similar but I actually accumulated a lot with my spending. Even back then I was remarkably frugal towards many types of spending.

I am currently concentrating on clearing my debts and will be close to completely debt free this time next year. As for a holiday I am planning one of those but not before I am debt free and have saved up for it all. So when I get back I will not be in any financial difficulty.

lynnejk

going_nowhere_fast wrote: »

Thanks Lynne.
i have come to believe that budgeting is a skill that some of us have to learn because it just doesn't come naturally.

WOW. Your post has really stirred people to help :j
What a lot of really fantastic posts on this page.
Think if you go through them you will certainly find you can save and see that budgeting is something we all have to learn. Just check everything you spend and see where you can save. Also remember that no-one will know if that item of clothing came from original shop or a cs. Most of the holiday camps do cheap hols throughout the year - you can be fashionable and do a stay-cation. Just don't get despondent and you will do it

macwah97 wrote: »

Edinburgh. I have provisionally booked a hotel beside the zoo but the breakfast price ranges from £10.95-£14.95 each!!! xx

Edinburgh is horrifically expensive. If you have to stay in the city have you tried Wethersp**ns. I know they have at least 2 hotels in the city and all Ws do breakfasts cheap. Good luck

Hope you all having a super weekend
Lx

Picklepot

going_nowhere_fast wrote: »

Please can I join?

I'm in debt and would like to pay it off as soon as possible but am struggling to get started. I don't understand fully what this thread is for/about but it sounds very money saving!

I don't know how to begin living frugally, any tips?

I have one child and I don't want him growing up feeling that we are poor so I want to learn to better manage my money whilst cleverly hiding my cut backs so he doesn't see us as being any different to any of his friends mums/families.

I guess the first place to start is to recognise that every penny counts because over a 12 month period they add up. I have just calculated that I spend more than £250 a year on chocolate.... that's shocking. No wonder i've been putting weight on.

Hi going_ nowhere_fast

Welcome, i lurk most of the time because i am new to this too. In fact i have only just started to be able to use the word 'debt' as opposed to 'outstanding bills'.(crazy i know but one sits more comfortably than the other with me!) I used to be very careful with money and had savings but then had a change in life circumstances and it wasnt easy to get employed in the situation i was in.

I came on this thread because i finally got a better job, better wage , increase in hours but after 6 months it didnt seem to be making a big impact on things, we dont go on holidays, have sky, go out socialising much but still it was not making any sense where was the money was going. I wasnt having daily latte stops or buying lots of magazines and spending in expensive supermarkets.It just didnt make sense. .

Eventually i bit the bullet and wrote down in a diary all my daily spends and eventually found where my problem was - im sure everybody has their own. Mine was that i have no savings for big one off events . So, when water started pouring through the ceiling and my huge water tank had to be replaced that had to go on a credit card, 3 months later my boiler went bang in the year it was minus 13 and so it went on . one unpredicted crisis after another.

I came on this forum to see if i could get my head around it all and 6 months later thanks to the lovely people on here there is light at the end of the tunnel - not only do i want to clear my debt and get some savings but then plan to start paying off the mortgage.

As for children being affected - this has actually been happening whilst i ve had teenagers so i have had to be honest with them looking back in some ways if i had the money for some of their requests i would given it to them and it probably wouldnt have helped them develop a sense of 'want and need' i simply havent been able to help them with all their money wants.

Although i lurk most of the time the support and advice on here is invaluable.