Got here by luck, intending to stay by judgement.

getmore4less

As well as stopping buying things you throw out

another way to save is to identify the things you do use a lot and buy them cheap(in bulk between deals)

Big freezer and another use for the shed tubs once the stuff has gone.

Start with the Tea aim for 1p a bag, got close this week 240 ty-phoo £2.50 at Tesco.

Igamogam

Extreme meal planning..........you have come along way Mr B.

I have cut back on the food shopping this year but we still have full freezers and store cupboards so heaven only knows what we were hoarding before! I hate any sort of shopping with a passion - I resent the time it takes. Although I like the on line idea - and I found I was spending less when using on line service for groceries - I discovered a whole new revolutionary way of grocery shopping: CASH!! Armed with a list, my new friend from which I do not waver and my weekly allowance for groceries and household items, I can hit the supermarket and be in and out in 15-20 mins.......and have saved a heap of money so far this year:) And of course I am a demon change pot saver and these have been filled up much more quickly...........

Very impressive mind set shift Mr B:)

getmore4less

variable expenditure.......takeaways............

Review and analyse why you have takeaways.

TIME: this is quite a common one.

The reality is there are quite a few times you could cook quicker than it take to order and get/deliver a takeaway.

eg pizza, we never get those takeaway, we have reasonable quality in the freezer(bought when reduced) and pimp them, tie to cook 12-15mins + oven heat time.

A large Wok and stir frys,(we use prepared marinated frozen meat cut in strips and flat packed in the freezer we can knock up a meal quicker than order from the Chinese.

The trick is to stop reverting to takeaways as a default when you can't decide what to eat, make them part of planning and have a budget for them.

HABIT. this was our problem.

Large Indian meal every Friday(ordered and picked up on the way home from work) when I analysed we decide to cut that one out. and stop every Friday.

We still did the takeaway but less often and we started enjoying them much more.

money saved got us another weeks holiday.

It is not all about cutting back but priority of where you spend.

Think about the things you can't afford to do, are they more important than where you do spend your money

edit: forgot to add.

Another angle I use with takeaway is distraction.

What could I have if I just spent the money on food, even a cheap takeaway buys some decent things we really like, I like steak and sea food, this time of year a few steaks and big shrimp on the BBQ where burgers sausage used to be.

A gas BBQ(with lid) makes for rapid dinner.
Turn on, start prep, when hot give a brush to clean the ash, throw on the food, finish other prep. ready to eat in 30mins.
(no need to clean quick brush, and just reheat next time)

Freezer is the trick here, having stock of the stuff you really like gives the incentive to get something out rather than resort to a takeaway going out or going shopping. and gives much more flexibility to the planning side of meals.

MrBloater

If I squint hard enough I think I can just about make out the faintest outline on the horizon of the wagons I fell off Saturday morning. Or it could just be a mirage. Either way, time to get back on track even though the road ahead is hitting a particularly soul-destroying part - next on my list of virtuosity is filling out the transfer forms for the littlies' CTFs to become Junior ISAs, a transfer form for the utilities switch, and going through the ebay tubs. I wish I could find my resolve. Maybe I'll find it at the bottom of a mug of tea.

MrBloater

Grrr. Found my resolve and resolved to get the house back into working order before Mrs B returned from work. The plan was to get the bins emptied, the dishwasher emptied and refilled, the laundry put away upstairs and dinner in the oven for her. But she got home early mid-plan and I managed to drop the gluten-free pizza I had lovingly created (or put extra things on top of) fell topping first onto the floor as I was putting it in the oven. The thought was there but all Mrs B saw was carnage. But I kept on with the tea, even though the Strawberry Pimms kept winking at me from the sideboard. And then it turns out that the blooming Junior ISAs are not easy to open, I have to go into a branch of Nationwide and do so, and whilst the Energy switching thing wasn't a switching thing at all, merely a letter telling me all about it, the tubs of ebay remain steadfastly unsorted. This has to be the most pointless diary update I've done for a while - but hey ho, that's life.

getmore4less

What about going back to car planning when distracted by other things.

The end of current deals will come round soon enough and you need a plan, different leases, save to buy, borrow, something special, something practical.

start pricing up the various options, including all running costs.
when the time comes you will then have a really good idea of what you want and if buying you need to have a purchase window to try and catch a good deal or a bargain second hand.

The risk is without a plan you just rush back into another familiar lease.

gallygirl

getmore4less wrote: »

What about going back to car planning when distracted by other things.

The end of current deals will come round soon enough and you need a plan, different leases, save to buy, borrow, something special, something practical.

start pricing up the various options, including all running costs.
when the time comes you will then have a really good idea of what you want and if buying you need to have a purchase window to try and catch a good deal or a bargain second hand.

The risk is without a plan you just rush back into another familiar lease.

Good thinking Batman :T:T

rockm87

Hi Mr B!

didnt realise you had a new thread, so followed you from the DFW boards.

I do like your style of writing too, and will be subscribing!

Best of luck on your journey.

MrBloater

Back in the groove again now after the weekend hiccup. Here's the groovy stuff.
- Ordered a PAYG SIM so we don't get crucified on the roaming whilst away this summer.
- Car dealership rung today and are very keen to shift existing stock - am going down there on Saturday to see if I can chop it in for something else - at the very least I'll have all the figures to hand to make a more informed decision in a year's time.
- Learnt all about the world of P87 forms and will be claiming tax rebates for Mrs B's professional fees for the last 4 years, and myself for 2 (til I realised I was wasting my money)
- Got offered the free use of a French farmhouse for the summer - no use this year, but maybe next.
- Got a massive kick out of logging on to all the CC online accounts and seeing zero balances, or even better - account does not exist messages.

Still lots to do before the ship is running as tight as possible, and then it's all about using vouchers wisely and just reducing our consumption of services and groceries. Decided against making a token overpayment on the mortgage cos those pounds will work harder for the bigger picture by reducing the remaining CC debt first.

sweetpea26

Well done Mr B. What a positive post.