AGirlWrites - Trying to be Old Style

jackyann

I often post about being a fan of cheap, local treats. Of course it depends a lot on where you live, but there are things to look out for everywhere.

Our library hosts book groups and "wellbeing" days.
Our local leisure centre does "taster" days.
We have several walking groups, and our nearby country park does themed walks for £1.
Our local council has a free music day once a year (several stages) and another nearby council has 4 free outside concerts a year.
We have some fantastic local music groups that put on free or cheap events, all kinds of music.

If you scour the local paper, look out for posters in local shops and so on, you will soon get in the habit of seeing what's on and what suits you.

lessonlearned

Need to join you, Agirlwrites (love the name). With my white hair perhaps I should be "Mother of Dragons". Lol.

I'm not in debt so haven't posted on the debt board but I do need to rein in my spending and build up the savings pot. May is going to be very expensive, son's wedding, holiday, car mot but next month I will definitely pull my socks up.

I will be following your progress for inspiration and motivation.

Jackyann - love your ideas for cheap and free local treats. I must do this.

Tink_04

I'll join in really need to stop spending - no debts to pay off but want to save more!

Meal planning is a must with me and I need to try for more NSD as I often waste money easily. I like the idea of cash only too.

I'm doing the GC and always start well but then get 'lost' towards the end of the month so I'm trying to focus better.

AGirlWrites

Hello everyone,

Yes please join me Tink_04 and lessonlearned, the more motivation for us all the better. I didn't put this on the DFW board because i'm not really struggling with debt. I just need to be stricter with myself, cut out the unnecessary shopping.

I haven't has time to come on the forum this weekend but i've been doing well. Only £10 spent for the whole of last week on a takaway Saturday night with friends. Cooked everything else from my food stores and took a packed lunch everyday. I'm going to have to go food shopping today though, my chickens need fresh food and I need a loaf of bread, milk and some fruit. I'm headed to Aldi after work.

jackyann, I shall look into what my area has to offer. I would like to join a walking group of some sorts that I could take my dog along too. I'm sure there must be something along those lines available. I did recently enquire about joining the WI, I may go and just see what one meeting is like, whether I would enjoy it enough to pay the yearly fee.

Soworried, I know it's an awful lot. I didn't realise it was so high until I stopped and added it all up. I'm a sucker for going into M&S on a Friday to get some 'nice' food for the weekend and coming out £60 lighter. Most of it isn't even a meal. I'll be much better off if I can meal plan and buy only what's on my list. That's my main priority at the moment.

I hope you all have a good week too, i'll be writing this weeks meal plan tonight!

THIRZAH

You can go to three W.I. meetings as a guest before you have to join. Most W.Is will be having their A.G.Ms in May so you might be better to leave it until June unless you like sitting through a lot of reports etc.

Some Ramblers groups allow dogs on walks-our group usually put it in the programme if dogs aren't allowed on a particular walk but you can always ring the walk leader beforehand to check. If you go to the Ramblers website it will tell you about walks in your area. Again you can go on two or three Ramblers walks before you are expected to join.

AGirlWrites

Thank you Thirzah, that's great. I shall head over to the Ramblers website and have a little looksee.

I've sent an email to my local WI and waiting to hear back. I shall ask when they think is a good time for a guest to attend.

jackyann

It is worth remembering that anything run by volunteers can be very variable. Our local WI has a good number of interesting talks, but occasional bums, and did have one whole year of dreadful talks with only occasional relief!

Some Ramblers have loads of walks at different levels and at different times, but some groups can only manage one a week.

Most areas however have "Health Walks" that are free.

I think that every area has some societies that are great and others not so good. The big national organisations tend to be well known (as above) but others less so.
Locally, we have a fantastic RSPB that organise a lot of walks & outings.
Also, depending on where you live, the Townswomens' Guild or Co-operative Womens' Guild may be more active, or have more people you get on with, than the WI.

I have some friends who volunteer for the National Trust, from helping in tea rooms to clearing waste land; they have a good time and get free membership.