Living on $12,000 a year

Hardup_Hester

Hi FZ
Last I heard some of her kids, once they became teenagers left home as the weren't happy with the lifestyle.

moanymoany

My Frugal Living for Dummies has arrived and I've started reading it. It is very American, but I think I will get something useful our of it.

The author is the women who wrote 'Frozen Assets: How to cook for a day and eat for a month. She says it is possible to freeze jacket potatoes, has anyone done this?

I'm just on to the chapter 'Enjoying a Frugal Home and Hearth', this looks interesting. A lot of what it says that I spotted on a flick through, have been on these threads.

One thing I've done is to sort out my 'lifetime' clothes. I have a good quality thick fleece, a thinner fleece, (these both given to me) a cardi/jacket fleece, (Primark 3 years ago and still in good nick), a barbour, (5 years old) and warm liner (10 years old) a lovely black quilted down padded jacket for best I bought last year and a long black coat. I'm on the verge of retirement and I reckon these will last me through.

If anything appears in the book I'll keep everyone posted.

Off for a cuppa. Had a tough morning, took mum (with vascular dementia) to the hospital this morning. Went OK. We were sitting outside waiting for the (very friendly, kind) doc when she got paniccy in case they made her take her clothes off (she was there for her eyes). In the middle of the crying she said 'I'm so frightened I'm weeing now, will the doctor know?' I said - 'not if you don't tell him'. 'Ah well', she said, cheering up, 'we won't tell him will we', and lifted her shoulders and giggled. Life, don't talk to me about life!!!!!!!:rolleyes:

rosieben

moany moany, I've been eyeing up that book, so will be interested in your opinion of it.

sympathies to you for your mum, similar situation here, you have to laugh else you would cry!

sharronloves2spend

I bought frugal for dummies a couple of years ago and like the above poster found it very American but very inspiring. I also found Miserly moms by Jonni Mccoy a good read too, it really hit the mark for me as i wanted to be a sahm but could'nt afford too at the time, it gave me the confidence too cut the budjet so i could enjoy my kids more. I am pleased to report that i am now one happy sahm with 4 (almost) contented children and an even happier hubs!!! Bye for now Sharron

overlykeensaver

sharronloves2spend wrote: »

I bought frugal for dummies a couple of years ago and like the above poster found it very American but very inspiring. I also found Miserly moms by Jonni Mccoy a good read too, it really hit the mark for me as i wanted to be a sahm but could'nt afford too at the time, it gave me the confidence too cut the budjet so i could enjoy my kids more. I am pleased to report that i am now one happy sahm with 4 (almost) contented children and an even happier hubs!!! Bye for now Sharron

what sort of things did you do if you don't mind me asking?

sharronloves2spend

Started with food budjet this was a big one for us, we used to spend around £700 a month its now down to £220-£250 per month and we all eat like kings, we batch cook,buy bulk and cut out all of the convnience and other c@@p we used to buy the kids cos we felt guilty about not spending time with them. We got rid of one car, stopped just saying 'yes' to the kids whenever they asked for something, toys and games are strictly for birthdays and christmases only. Clothes buying is more planned now as opposed to 'Thats nice i think i'll have that' and takeaways are a big no-no too except on special occasions!!! Sorry to ramble but i do get on my soap box a bit cos i really feel as though we have a good quality of life now as opposed to before. HTH love Sharron

rosieben

Well done Sharron! not only have you reduced your spending and still have a good quality standard of living, you are also teaching your kids to be money wise. :T

tbh I think if we questioned ourselves before we got to the till we would probably all be much better off. I try not to impulse buy, give myself a little thinking time and its amazing how much stuff I really dont need!

Penny-Pincher!!

I have just bought the Frugal Living book from Amazon for £3.75 inc postage...secondhand.

PP
xx

ceridwen

hi moany moany

Had to laugh at yr comment re "lifetime clothes" - you know you're getting older when you start making comments like "this will see me out"!! Yep - I've got to that age myself! I'm onto thinking - well, I reckon I'll need to replace the bed and cooker once more and the fridge-freezer and washing machine twice more.......!

Clothes - don't get me onto the subject of clothes - how on earth did I ever get so many?! Oh - I get it - it was for the life I might live, then the other type of lifestyle I might live...... Its another sign one is getting older when you only buy clothes for the lifestyle you actually DO live.! Jeans, jeans, more jeans...... and a couple of outfits in case I have to dress up smart or - at my advanced age - actually go dating again ever (!)

ceridwen

Another book - one for those going self-sufficient. "The Self-Sufficiency Handbook" by Alan and Gill Bridgewater (ISBN 978-1-84537-693-2) £12.99.

Definitely meant for those about to "go back to the land" - me I'm just reading it fantasising, as I dont have that option personally, but one can dream. Its an English book, published 2007, and seems to be very well-written and up-to-date.

"I got those homesteading blues..."