NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

[Deleted User]

Morning chums I am very pleased at the small savings I have made this month just by using stuff already in store. OK its not a fortune but its still a saving.The branch of my local bank is closing this Thursday so I am going to be even less tempted to go across to the shops.

I draw all my monthly small bills stuff out at the beginning of the month, and I have a row of little jars all labelled up with 'window cleaner ,gardener,history club,quiz written on the front and once the jars have the right money in then I don't have to think about finding it from my little brown food purse which has my £60.00 budget cash for the month.

It a system that suits me, and has worked for the past year or so. Having very little cash around means I don't seem to spend as much,less temptation.I only use cash as much as possible, apart from my diesel
I use my M&S card to top up with diesel once a month and pay it off straight away so I get my points which will accumulate into vouchers which get used at Christmas for food goodies for DD and the tribe.

Im pretty good at sticking to a budget and it does help that I am not keen on shopping much anyway.This month I think I have shopped for food about four times and then only for essentials. I am slowly finding things in the cupboards, and adapting them for eating up:) I have a fairly full freezer with lots of Y/S stuff and as it will slowly reduce I am hoping to be able to defrost it by Christmas.
Using a cash only system is going back to my early days of marriage in the 1960s when you only had cash as few people had credit cards in those days and it was a case of once its gone that's it until the next payday.

It really is OS and once you get back into the mindset it gets easier as you go along.In the 1960s I had one wage coming in (OHs) and two small children my housekeeping in 1969 was £8.10.00 a week and we ate reasonably well. True prices have risen dramatically along with wages since then but the principles of cash flow are roughly the same, money in,money out, and if more is going out than in then you are in trouble.

I am not hard up and could afford to perhaps spend more but I am happy with my system as it means I can help my grandchildren and DD's when they need it.

Then I have my 'Happy Cash Stash' which again is separate.This is the money I use for small treats for myself or my grandchildren,you know the sort of thing, an unexpected treat when the boys have maybe done well at school, or if I just feel like treating myself to something.
Living this way means its not all scrimping and saving and you appreciate the odd treat more ,especially if it doesn't come out of the day-to-day budget.

Although I no longer have small children to feed,clothe and fret about I do have seven grandchildren whom I help out on occasions.

Yesterday one of my grandsons Henry (14) started saving again from his paper round He has already bought his Fifa game himself from his savings. He gives me what he wants to save and when he has enough he gets it back.
I have promised him if he saves up half of the money for his new bike I will pay the other half, and he is very happy with that.He is a good hard working lad who gets up at 6 .00 a.m. every day seven days a week to do his paper round, no matter what the weather.I don't mind giving him a helping hand as he knows the value of working for a goal. Instilling a good saving habit and seeing the results will help him when he grows up I hope.

His big brother Ben is at Uni and has just started to pay back the cash he owed as I helped him pay his rent from June until he got his grant last week.He has found himself a part time job collecting and washing glasses two nights a week in Norwich where he is at Uni this will help him repay what he owes and with his future house rent.The next generation of sensible spenders I hope

pm2326

Have just cleared the local co-ops shelf of green lentils...they've reduced them to 50p a bag as a 'clearance' item but they have a sept 2016 date on...:huh:

I bought 5 bags so now have 2.5kg of lentils... I use loads so they're an investment :T

Primrose

Pm2326. Curious to know some of the things you use your green lentils for. Your comment has just reminded me we used to make a green lentil and mushroom pate which we haven't had for years!

pm2326

Primrose wrote: »

Pm2326. Curious to know some of the things you use your green lentils for. Your comment has just reminded me we used to make a green lentil and mushroom pate which we haven't had for years!

My favourite is sausage & lentil simmer, i wait till I find decent sausages YS then make a batch and freeze, doesn't go mushy when reheated

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1708/lincolnshire-sausage-and-lentil-simmer

Use them as a base for fish so pan fried salmon fillet on lentils, cod with lentils etc

They're really good as long as you add flavour to them.

Have just finished making a pea and bacon soup using a small bag of frozen peas and some smoky bacon....enough for lunches for the remainder of the week and a bit more space created in the freezer ...win, win!

Lynplatinum

Hey all

Well done Jackie O!! So great to hear of young people with a sensible attitude to money! As I think I have said before - my boys (now 29 and 32) have a sound attitude to money - DS1 has girlfriend who is a fantastic seamstress and has the same attiude. Sadly DS2 has a girlfriend who came from a very rich family but will accept no help from them - she has recently confessed to DS2 how much debt she is in - but she is still off buying coffees (largest Co!ta) and unnecessary things - like curtains for the house (the ones there functioned) and chairs for the bathroom off e-bay. The difference in attitude is casing problems - such a shame :-(

Nice bargain pm2326!!!
Went shopping today and spent £13.42 but I have used up most of my proteins - so I will have to alter my signature as I am buying more fish and meat! I must seek out the YS bargains!!
But am not buying what I do not eat anymore and am also not buying clothes/magasines/books etc etc!
Nite all

GrannyKate

Had a couple of expensive weekends as we had family gathering for my birthday which we do every year and then this weekend I bought a few clothes. I had a voucher but spent a bit more. I lost some weight (but not enough yet) but needed something for an interview in London next weekend. I got separates which go with what is already in my KM wardrobe. Voluntary role but nice to be shortlisted. I think I may buy some new underwear - frightening sight in the fitting rooms.
Mil is 92 today so will visit with 2 GD.
DH did all the ironing from last holiday and bedding from busy weekend so basket empty today. I need to do some shopping for Christmas so it is not last minute.
Had beef stew last night done overnight in slow cooking using freezer and store cupboard ingredients. Very nice and one portion frozen for future use. Need to root around in chest freezer to see what else is there. I think lots of fish. Fish pie would be nice.
Need a few bits in Mr M today and fuel but nearly managed NSD yesterday with just 20p tea money spent at meeting. I think I should do what Jackio does and put that sort of money in jars a month at a time. Savings from not buying a newspaper, occasional Amazon book sales and value of any coupons used now at around £700 since March which has gone into my 'holiday' ISA. Simple one at post office which I can pay in any time without hassle. 4 year fixed term one matured this week - it paid 4.5% - nothing like that around nowadays.

firesidemaid

I love gaining inspiration from this thread


I was very pleased to find the coffee OH likes (and we had been searching for) in Farmfoods for only £1 a fullsize tin! Expiry date of end of this year, but it will last....bought 16 tins enough to last 6 months I reckon - Nesscaffee Smooth Roast. Also bought 2 large Nicky Toilet Roll packs (so 36 rolls) and some Beans to use a voucher for £2.50 off a £25 spend.


Not sure if everyone knows, but Sainsbobs are doing the x10 points offer on petrol throughout October - so if petrol is a good buy for you there then this is a nice bonus for the month

[Deleted User]

firesidemaid wrote: »

I love gaining inspiration from this thread




Not sure if everyone knows, but Sainsbobs are doing the x10 points offer on petrol throughout October - so if petrol is a good buy for you there then this is a nice bonus for the month

Is that diesel as well???

firesidemaid

Hi JO.


Yes, as far as I am aware it is on all Fuel

[Deleted User]

Brilliant I normally top up in the last week of the month so I will go there and get the extra nectar points.I try to use the points after Christmas when a lot of shops are selling off Chritmassy bits at vastly reduced prices to clear the shelves I have two large pots of mincemeat left in the cupboard at the moment from my half a dozen I bought in January for 10p each, I use them in pies of dark fruit cake