Please help me get BACK TO THE BASICS of os moneysaving

Rachiedabbler70

Great thread. Loving all the posts. I was brought up in very poor household in 70s and 80s and have had a paid job since age of 8.

A few things I do some already mentioned by others;
Overpay mortgage on pay day each month with amount I have saved previous month;
Home cook- I work/ travel 50 hours a week and single parent but no excuse not to give good food to my kids;
Meal plan every week;
Cook double portions of more time consuming meals and freeze excess;
Use my garden shed to dry clothes on rainy days by opening window a little to let air through;
Never had tumble dryer;
Use a remoska cooker find it is economical. Does jacket spuds in 45 minutes;
Save for annual bills so don't pay interest on house/ car insurance;
Never bought designer clothes for myself or kids;
Use housework as free exercise in evenings after work;
Walk or cycle all journeys of 3 miles or less each way unless shopping;
Don't buy processed foods;
Take own food and drinks everywhere. Love picnics;
Staycations
....... Could go on, but probably getting really boring to read.
I didn't always do all of this but do now and would never go back.😀

DomRavioli

Hi all!

I was bornin the 80s, and came from a pretty hard up background. My fondest memory as a child was going to the supermarket on my birthday and getting "birthday food" - food that was on the use by date of my birthday, AKA yellow stickered - nothing more, it was one of the only days we had enough food for all of us. I never thought we were poor growing up, but we were seriously poor (my parents were divorced before I was born and my dad had a habit of skipping the country when child maintenance was due). I also remember waking up to ice on the inside of the windows (single glazed and freezing!) from about october through to march, thankfully we got double glazing when I was 15.

Most people my age haven't had to go through that - my mum made my clothes herself and I loved (and still do love) them, although I'm not great with a machine I can run up bits if I needed.

I've always been "thrifty" as my nan says, double cooking portions, mending rather than buying new, and I do love second hand furniture. The vast majority of my friends aren't the same - I've managed to come through losing most of my sight, losing my job, getting a new career relatively unscathed. Me and the OH have a nice 3 bed semi in the suburbs (mortgaged), and a decent-ish quality of life.

OP, the only advice I can give is take it at your own pace. Don't try and do it all in a week, jump in where you are and make one small change every day. My OH takes coffee to work every day, saves a fortune on city prices, I work from home and my office is covered in blankets (and its the smallest room in the house), so I don't need the heating on just for me.

Fruball

Little tip which I recently remembered is to turn the hob or oven off a few minutes before you normally would. The hob (elec) stays hot a while and the oven even longer. Things still keep cooking and you've saved money!

mrsmortenharket

Fabulous thread. Just what I need!

[Deleted User]

Looks like we are all thinking 'frugal' as the autumn draws in.I certainly am as I have far too many things still to eat up in my freezer (I swear it multiplys in there ) So far since I did a top up shop when I came home from my holidays on 26th August I have only been to the shops once and then only spent £10.61.have more than enough in the fridge and freezer and cupboards now to keep me going for another 10-12 days.Then it will probably only be fresh fruit and veg required.I fished out a nice Y/S sea bass from the freezer for dinner last night and it was really nice I also found whilst freezer diving some Y/S steak which will be my dinner tonight along with a small jacket spud and some salad bits.Next weekend I shall be away in Scotland at a family reunion so I definitely don't need any shopping during this coming week. Breakfast are all sorted with cereal or granola (already bought and in stock) lunches will be crackers and cheese (also already in stock ) the Cheese I bought and had frozen before I went on holiday Its a nice wensleydale with cranberry that was reduced in our local Dobbies deli.I also have some frozen carrot and coriander soup pouches in the freezer which may see the light of day next week.I only have to sort out Monday Wednesday and Thursday evening dinners as I am away on Friday morning until Sunday night.Tuesday night is sorted as I go to a quiz night where we get a supper thrown in with the price of £2.00,very good value and even better our team won two bottles of wine last week
Sunday I go to DDs for dinner. I'm sure I can sort three dinners out from my freezer stocks if not the cupboards I think my food budget purse will do well this month
Basic simple meals that fill you up don't have to cost a fortune, even if its only egg,wedges and baked beans one night its satisfying and filling and inexpensive.

well done everyone

carry on frugalling :):)

JackieO xx

elona

JackieO

I try to freeze extra portions too but every time one of my dds arrives they are desperate for something homecooked and healthy so I end up giving them some home made frozen dishes to take home. On the bright side it does encourage me to cook properly and they do appreciate it.

SIL ended up going home with half a home made loaf last week as he loves the toast it makes and it stops me being tempted to overeat.

katkin

I too like to "shop" from my freezer, fridge and cupboards. We might fancy something else but it's amazing how creative you can be with stocks at hand.

It takes self discipline but it's a frugal way to go, not buying stuff regularly just because you fancy something else. I find it healthier too. Mostly I buy fresh veggies etc from aldi once every few weeks.

I too am enjoying this thread, loads of great tips. Thanks x

westcoastscot

I shop once a week, with cash and a shopping list. We don't have any of the supermarkets, just a wee co-op and local shops, so no opportunity of cheap buys. When my husband left my children were 10, 13 & 16. I've always been frugal but we sat down together and I explained our household expenses, how much I had coming in, how it was allocated and how much was left for food etc. We decided between us how we would spend it, what we would do without, how we would "finagal" what we needed.
We all have enough money now, as all working, but the two of us still at home still work a household budget together, contributing equally, and making decisions together on whether we want something or not. We all run our households on this basis, budgeting carefully what we have, and not spending what we don't.
WCS

katkin

Westcoastscot I was a single parent too (both grown up and independent now) and taught them the same.

My frugal ways have rubbed off on them, they're both great with their money and savings. I'm proud of them. Like you must be with yours.

I actually made a money purse, must find a pic to post. It's a bit like the old envelope system, but boy it got used when the kids were wee/ teens. I now have 6 bank accounts and a spreadsheet :cool:


Edit: ock im on a tablet and can't get the pics to post...

westcoastscot

katkin wrote: »

Westcoastscot I was a single parent too (both grown up and independent now) and taught them the same.

My frugal ways have rubbed off on them, they're both great with their money and savings. I'm proud of them. Like you must be with yours.

I actually made a money purse, must find a pic to post. It's a bit like the old envelope system, but boy it got used when the kids were wee/ teens. I now have 6 bank accounts and a spreadsheet :cool:


Edit: ock im on a tablet and can't get the pics to post...

Yes very proud :-)

Would be interested to "see" your money purse, i'm looking to tighten my belt a little with a view to being in a position to retire early if my health worsens - hoping for the best but planning for the worst! I'm using envelopes in "the bank of pink tin" - hereabouts known as Mum's chinese bank :-) but would like to devise something better to carry it with me but kept separately (ifkwim) without having to carry 3 or 4 small purses