Live on a tenner a week ???

HOWMUCH

Well I managed to get some Mama and papas dream pods at 99p each off eBay I got 3 and arranged local collection for today. We went to collect them at 3.15 knowing that we would pass an asda called in on our way back. YS bread cakes packs of 4 for 5p x 6 and bridge rolls packs of 4 for 10p X 2 so that's enough bread for over a week for 50p

Lynplatinum

Evening all

Sometimes living in a fantasy world is really useful!
For example, NewShadow, that is an excellent idea - pretend that you haven't been paid yet!! So,in effect, you will have earned another week's wage!
An idea that I did while still working for a large employer was that when the yearly increment and/or payrise came round I would pretend that I had not had it and Direct Debit it into a savings account. Thus, when I was made redundant I had 3 months worth of salary in there which, by returning to frugal ways, I made last 6 months!! As some famous place says - every little helps

Nite all!

NewShadow

Lynplatinum wrote: »

Evening all

Sometimes living in a fantasy world is really useful!
For example, NewShadow, that is an excellent idea - pretend that you haven't been paid yet!! So,in effect, you will have earned another week's wage!
An idea that I did while still working for a large employer was that when the yearly increment and/or payrise came round I would pretend that I had not had it and Direct Debit it into a savings account. Thus, when I was made redundant I had 3 months worth of salary in there which, by returning to frugal ways, I made last 6 months!! As some famous place says - every little helps

Nite all!

I save into a credit union account - direct from my wages and before they hit your bank.

Everytime I get a payrise or increment, I put about £50ish onto the deduction.

That way I still get a bit extra cash, and increase my savings - I'm up to about £350 a month, with another £50 due in June.

A load of people tell me I should save into an isa or similar, but this works for me, and in a good year the dividends are 4%. Not to be sniffed at.

moneyistooshorttomention

Now wondering what Credit Union you're in New Shadow - at 4% interest "in a good year". No interest much to speak of in mine - so I guess we must be in different ones (though I think you said you're a civil servant somewhere?). As a former civil servant - I'm in the PCS Union one - though mine is only a pretty token £10 per month I save with it (just in case money basically).

Re fuel - and that is low JackieO - but I must admit I don't think my monthly debit (for both gas and electric) is too bad at £53 a month as from my last "tariff swop". My account is with E-on. When I rang them last swop time I also asked about the pensioner tariff (whatever its called) and decided against that after getting projected costs and thinking "But that's a worse bet than the non-pensioner tariff. How come?" just before the newspaper scandal about that. Think its a "fixed version 19" one or summat of theirs I'm on. So £53 isn't at all bad for the fact I use whatever central heating I think I will - 1,000 square foot detached bungalow, (ie 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom with standard shower in, 1 kitchen, 1 through lounge). The loft has 12" thick insulation in, double-glazed windows and all my "machinery" is pretty new (so double A or whatever). So my heating is on for quite a few hours daily and I sometimes whack it up from 21C to 22C if I think a "top up" is needed.

[Deleted User]

It was reduced last year down from £48.00 per month as I had so much left over,no doubt it will go up a bit in June when the bills come in for the month I am with EDF and I have found them very good and when I talk to them on the phone they have always been very helpful in finding me the right tariff .
New month today, and new food purse budget nestling in my old brown purse separately from my Happy Stash Cash which is for treats etc during the month.

Just got a nice recipe from Candygirl for chickpea curry which I will make tomorrow to help use up some of my mountain of chickpea tins in the cupboard. I'll probably throw a few extra bits in the curry as I have some tatty mushrooms that could do with using up and maybe a few lentils as well :):)

zaxdog

Walked to work today. Used £1.50 of my wombled money for a roll on lorne when I got up there :j

Lunch was a tin of soup from the press. I have a stash of tins from my last boss who has holiday rentals and used to give me what was left when guests went home as she doesn't like tinned food.

Freebie today at work of 3 x 4 packs loo roll and some Birds powdered custard :rotfl:

Dinner was a chicken balti with naan bread. 50p for two chicken breasts, about 1/6th of a £1 (huge) tub of balti sauce and some 49p naan so £1.16 for a hearty meal for us both.

So total "real" cash spent was £1.16 :T

FunBrum

I too manage very well with food and household bills. My family and friends are astonished at how I keep them so low.
I concentrate on things that I can reduce and I'm constantly looking for ways to cut back further without being silly.
My food bill monthly is under £20 pm as I get quite a lot of free food. My sister works at a restaurant and brings home food that would be thrown out only because they are not allowed to keep it. It's perfectly good, fresh food.
Each week l usually have as much salad items to last me throughout the week. On average, I get 2 east chickens, bread rolls. Sometimes desserts.:)
I can't believe how much people throw out and as I've voiced this, if my friends and family are about to bin anything....all good usually unopened....they ask if I want it first. For instance today, I received, 6 free range eggs, pkt button mushrooms, half bag of salad potatoes and 10 Brown bread rolls.
My gas and electric is down to £12 pm for both! :T
Water bill was £20 for 3 months.:D
I'm single so I get 25% off my council tax. I only have a mobile which tariff is only £7pm, that's unlimited text 900 call minutes, but I hardly use it, and there is internet usage but I never use it as I gave a kindle and do everything on there.
I don't have internet at home, I just use family and friends Wi-Fi when visiting, and there are loads of restaurants, coffee shops, fast food outlets, and the library if I'm out and about, all free, so I don't need to pay for it at home or a landline!
If I want to watch tv, then there is more than enough channel's on freeview.
I gave my car up a few years ago, as I have a perfectly good pair of legs!:rotfl:

I may live frugally but I never miss out on anything that I want to do! :j
I don't feel like I am missing out at all, and enjoy a very full life.

WeeMidgie

For those of us who are gluten free, and are aghast at the cost of GF bread, have you tried making socca? - crepe-style pancakes made using chickpea/gram/besan flour. I bought a huge bag of it in the ethnic foods aisle of a large Morrisons for £1.85. It's lasted for ages and there's plenty still!

Socca can be stuffed with anything you like for packed lunches. I make them into pizza using tomato paste and grated cheddar, cooking it in the frying pan till the cheese topping melts and then roll them up while still hot, then cut to fit my lunch box. Strong flavours go quite well with them as some people find them slightly beany. I have successfully added tomato puree and herbs to the socca batter.

It's also good for people who can't eat eggs, being an egg-free recipe. So is suitable for vegans.

Socca

200g chickpea flour
400ml water
1 tablespoon olive oil
good pinch of salt

Gradually mix the water into the flour. I get any lumps out by using a balloon whisk. Add the salt and oil, and mix in. Let stand at least ten minutes although several hours or overnight is recommended.

Heat a non stick flat bottomed frying pan or crepe pan, with a small amount of olive oil. Take off the heat and then ladle in enough mix to thinly cover the base of the pan. Cook for several minutes then carefully turn using a spatula or fish slice. The underside should be golden brown. Then cook the flipped pancake for a couple more minutes till brown marks appear (this side of the pancake will only be partially browned). The first pancake is the cook's perk as adjustments for thickness, size, cooking time etc may be necessary.

Stack between greaseproof paper and freeze flat. Reheats well from frozen using the same pan over a low heat.

Enjoy!

ETA the recipe amounts give me about 6 or 7 thin crepe style pancakes, if you wanted to make a thick pizza base or two or three, simply use less water and cook for longer.

Lynplatinum

Evening all

Wow FunBrum - that is really low gas and electric - what kind of premises do you live in and which part of the country may I ask??

Talking of donations - I have been given a big bag of quinoa - despite being an adventurous cook its one of the few things I ve never tried - anyone on here got a god recipe for me??? :A
Thanks in advance folks!

Another expense for me which means I overstep the £10 mark once every 2 months is that I have to pay for a repeat prescription. It is so frustrating as I know there are folks on more monies than me who do not pay. I am self employed - and as always we get kicked in the teeth for being enterprising and not giving in!!! :mad:

I dont have the tablets everyday but miss out Tues and Thurs - by careful experimentation I have discovered that I can do that but more days make me unwell (although if Im not too busy I give Sat a miss too)

Anyone else in this trap?
Nite all

honeythewitch

Lynplatinum wrote: »

Evening all

Wow FunBrum - that is really low gas and electric - what kind of premises do you live in and which part of the country may I ask??

Talking of donations - I have been given a big bag of quinoa - despite being an adventurous cook its one of the few things I ve never tried - anyone on here got a god recipe for me??? :A
Thanks in advance folks!

Another expense for me which means I overstep the £10 mark once every 2 months is that I have to pay for a repeat prescription. It is so frustrating as I know there are folks on more monies than me who do not pay. I am self employed - and as always we get kicked in the teeth for being enterprising and not giving in!!! :mad:

I dont have the tablets everyday but miss out Tues and Thurs - by careful experimentation I have discovered that I can do that but more days make me unwell (although if Im not too busy I give Sat a miss too)

Anyone else in this trap?
Nite all

I just add quinoa to curries, stir frys, pasta bakes etc to add crunch and texture rather than using it as a grain.