It's so simple in theory!

Trishiapp

Yesterday I didn't spend any money, but I will need to get a few things today- all essentials: bread, cat-food, milk etc... I also agreed to get some crisps for my son. Now, I know crisps are not essential items, but I simply couldn't say no to him, since he's so great about the DFW way of life. I don't expect to spend more than £30( I shall shop around for cheapest prices.)

I suppose we all have different ideas of what 'essential' means to us, but for me, 'essential' means just that, essential ( stuff that keeps me, my two children and our animals alive.)


Essential food products in Trishiaville:


Water.
Flour ( including gluten free.)
Milk/yogurts.
Rice.
Eggs.
Sugar/salt/herbs and spices.
Pasta.
Fruit.
Vegetables.
Meat.
Fish.
Animal feed.


Essential non-food products:


Heat/ electricity.
Internet.
Phone.
Car.
Clothes/ shoes ( reasonable amount.)
Shampoo and conditioner.
Bicarbonate of soda.
Bleach.
Washing up liquid.


No doubt, I forgot some things, but I do hope people get the idea.


Non-essential:


Everything else! That's right, everything else is there because I want it, not because it's essential to my survival.


My son always says : " We all need certain amount of money. Everything else is for show." Boy, is he right about it!


With that in mind ( when I go shopping) I will NOT be tempted by anything that we don't need.


On a different note, my o/d is reducing slowly and it currently stands at £1050 ( it was £1500 at the beginning of the month.) The extra £250 from my successful Gumtree sale has really helped


I wish you all a wonderful day!

Trishiapp

As planned, done my weekly shopping earlier...

It came to slightly more than I initially expected, but still not bad when I consider the cat and guinea pig supplies. So how much did I spend?

£32. 19 at Morrison's and £6.15 at Pound-stretcher-altogether £38.54 for week's shopping.


I don't anticipate to spend any more this week as I still have the free food my family and friends donated earlier in the week.



I think I've mentioned earlier that, after ten years of being on my own, I've recently met a lovely man Anyhow, since it's Valentines Day tomorrow, I did wonder whether I should get him a card ?( I'm completely out of practice.)


After checking out the 'Valentines Day' section, I decided against it ( it didn't feel right to spend money to show how much I care.) Instead, I shall recycle and gift him one of my books he wanted to borrow. I will even wrap it up for him!

Toomuchdebt

make him a card

Trishiapp

Thank you for your suggestion Toomuchdebt

I did think about it, but don't have any craft stuff to use ( I would have to purchase some) hence my idea of the book. To make it more romantic, I shall write a little note and pop it inside the book.


Today's weather is not too bad, which is why, I shall shortly go for a long walk. But before I do that, I must quickly write down the frugal things I've been doing for years ( partly so I don't come across as completely inept at managing my money.)


I've never had gym membership. I walk and cycle ( saving of approx £400 per year.)


I don't travel. Yes, I would love to travel, but only once my debts are paid off and I have substantial emergency fund. In the meantime, free days out ( saving of approx £1500 per year.)


I know a lot of people who buy lunches and coffee at work, which costs between £4 and £20 per day. I bring my own ( saving of approx. £1200)


I am an introvert, so rarely go out ( saving of approx £500 per year.)


I very rarely buy takeaways ( saving of approx £500 per year.)


I used to enjoy a good glass of Spanish Rioja, but as I got older, I tend to avoid alcohol ( saving of approx £ 380 per year. This is based on one bottle per week.)


As my hair is very long, I cut the ends myself . I also re-touch my roots at home ( saving of approx, minus the cost of hair dye, £360 per year.)


As I'm currently developing new habits , I am hoping to soon add new savings to my current list.

Trishiapp

Everyday I am making changes to how I perceive money. Some changes are larger than others, but like Tesco always says, ' Every little helps!' Hmmm, perhaps it does, but not by spending unnecessary money at your store!

Anyway, I've been thinking to myself about my future ( hopefully I will be lucky enough to get to an old age) and how I could simplify it further...


I've been paying into my pension since I started working for the NHS, which is 13yrs ago, so hopefully, by the time I'm 67 ( current retirement age for me) I will have enough money to live on ( provided I won't have any debts and the state pension is still in existence!)


Apart from the pension issue, it struck me that, actually, I have everything I need already and because I buy high quality items, they will last me well into my old age. So, what kind of things am I talking about?


For starters, my two sofas. They are very well made and unless I take an axe to them, there's no way of braking them.


My bed and bedding ( part of my debt is to do with my love of expensive bedding )


Towels, again, too many to mention!


Pots and pans.


Utensils.


Book-shelves, wardrobes and chests of drawers .


Desk, dining table and chairs ( I have a great love for mid-century chairs.)


Art... Honestly, I could go on with my list for another ten pages!


Like I said in my previous post, my debt is mainly due to me spending money I didn't have on my house. Whilst I was silly to get into debt in the first place, at least I bought items that are well made and should last me for many, many years to come. In some cases, they should out live me!

Plus, by not buying anymore stuff, I am not adding to already full landfills. There's also the added bonus of really appreciating the things I already have


On another note, as it's half-term next week, I won't have to pay my daughter's travel expenses of getting to college (£23 per week) and my son's school meals ( £10 per week.) The extra £33 will be utilised towards filling up my car with diesel ( just in time for my return to work.)


I wish you all a fabulous day!

Trishiapp

Today is a big day for me since I am meeting my partner's daughter later ( they are coming for a supper tonight!)

In a DFW fashion I am using my food supplies, although I must confess, I was tempted to go into a temple of consumerism to get more stuff. But I didn't!


Instead, I shall cook children's all time favourite (spaghetti bolognese with garlic bread, followed by a carrot cake baked by my dear mother.)


I think it would be very easy for me to get carried away to try to impress her, but the reality is, she either likes me or she doesn't -no amount of spending is going to change that.


Having said that, I am really looking forward to meeting her and am hoping for a lovely evening

Trishiapp

Well, last night went very well and everyone enjoyed the food- she is a delightful little girl with a very curious mind. Me and my two children loved her!

Today we are going to a family lunch, so won't be spending any money at all, which is just as well, since I must fill up my car with diesel tomorrow. Also, I've been planning how I am going to manage meals when I'm back at work, as of tomorrow, and decided to prepared everything in the evening, so my two lovely children won't be calling me at work saying,' There's nothing to eat!' No doubt, I will soon get into routine.


Yesterday I visited a friend of mine, who is suffering with a chronic health condition. Sadly, there's no cure for it ( she takes steroids to control it.) Despite her illness, she is very upbeat about life, and even thankful that she no-longer commutes to London ( she was a high-flying PA.)


Inspirationally, she told me that it took her illness to snap her out of the 'rat race.' She feels that, despite her ill health and very little money, her life has more meaning; she is able to care for her animals better, made friends with her neighbours and strengthened her relationship with her family and friends. How wonderful she has turned seemingly negative life situation into a positive one!


After visiting her, I was pondering my own life ( I was plotting ways of reducing my work hours.) Realistically, if I clear my debts and drastically reduce our outgoings I could, in theory, go part-time. I intend to talk to my children about it today and see what they say.


Right, I better go outside and repair my rose arch which was battered by the recent storms.


I wish you all a wonderful Sunday

Trishiapp

Oh yes, forgot to ask...

What is the most fuel efficient way of driving my car? I know about driving in traffic, but am not sure about fuel efficient speed on A roads.


Thank you for any answers in advance.

Skinnylatte

Good morning, I'm glad yesterday went well, another hurdle over!

I do a lot of driving in my job and have been trying to perfect the art of economical driving, so here's my tips...

• Keep your tyres pumped up to the recommended pressure (use the pump as Sainsbury's its free!)
• Try not to over rev or drive to fast, as a rule I try and keep the rev counter below about 2000, that means I drive about 55mph on the motor way, so allow plenty of time!!
• I put my clutch in and free wheel down the hills
• Try not to carry to much weight around or drive in heavy rain!
• I have been experimenting with slip streaming behind big lorries like the cyclists do, but have come to the conclusion it doesn't make much difference and probably isn't very safe lol

I manage about 58mpg in my 1.4 diesel.


Have a lovely day x

[Deleted User]

Skinnylatte wrote: »

I put my clutch in and free wheel down the hills

Free wheeling is dangerous, and wastes fuel.

A modern car, when on overrun (clutch engaged and foot off the throttle) uses absolutely no fuel. It also saves wear on the brakes when descending hills.

When idling (stationary, or rolling without the clutch engaged), the engine consumes a bit of fuel, to keep it from stalling.

If your car has a fuel computer, take a look at the Instant MPG reading.

On overrun, it'll be reading 99.9mpg (indicating it isn't using any fuel), but at idle, it reads about 0.2g/h.

"g/h" stands for gallons per hour.