Newbie to the thrifty life!

betty77

Hello All, I am new to this site and to being thrify! I recently moved in with my partner and due to his income I lost all my benefit money (ESA due to poor health) so I have to be very frugal indeed now as I have very little money to call my own.

My long term plans are to work from home blogging and making art but I am trying to get started with surveys, compititions and finding offers online I can benefit from.

I am also looking for ways to just cut my expenses in general.

With the little money I do have I would like to be able to still buy; art materials, decent skincare products, vitamins (to help with my health issues), gym membership (this is a low cost gym I do use), gifts and cards, travel expenses when needed, and the odd meal out or cinema trip.

I used to buy a lot of books but have joined the library and am using free and low cost online sites for information and music instead of buying CDs and magazines.

Other ways to save money are:
Walking everywhere I am able instead of taking the bus
Only eating food from home i.e. no snacks or water from outside always bring them with me unless a special occasion.
Always write a list of what to buy
Keep a spending diary
Sell my unwanted stuff - not really a lot of stuff maybe £50 I could make here.
Find other ways to make money online

I am lucky in that my partner will pay for our food, mortgage and bills which is great but my own personal spending money isn't enough at the moment to cover the above so I need to find way sto maximise what I have and spend less.I would also like to save us money as a couple by switching energy providers and budgeting on food shopping.

I am going to spend some time looking around this site and hopefully pick up some more tips!

If anyone has an advice for me please feel free to post below, many thanks!

whiteguineapig

if you are home all day you could do swag bucks, there is a thread on the extra income board, , lots of tips in the first post, we save amazon vouchers up

betty77

Cool thanks, yeah that looks great I will check it out now!

vodkawitch1

Try sending tips into magazines ( look at pinterest for inspiration), I got £50 this month for a tip with a photo. I like mintvine survey site and do try mystery shopping. It all adds up

Ilona

You're off to a good start Betty. If you live near a supermarket could you do a deal with your partner. Go shopping at around 7pm, buy up the yellow stickers, reduced and sometimes super cheap, work out the difference between the original and the cheap, your partner could give you the money saved. I shopped at Tesco last week and got £29 worth for less than a tenner. Worth a thought.
Ilona

rach_k

I'm sure people will offer loads of great suggestions but one thing I would question is whether your partner is able to give you some money of your own, out of any 'spare' money he has. You are obviously classed as a couple and your income is assessed as a couple rather than two individuals, so why should you be the only one losing out financially? I appreciate that it's your benefit that has changed but that's because of him. I don't work so my husband gives me money for myself so that we both have money for things like treats.

wondercollie

You're in a relationship with someone who can provide for both of you.

I understand the need to have your own money, I was a stay at home Mum for over a decade.

My husband never questioned what I did with the money. I looked after the home, children, etc. and he earned the wage.

So, my advice is to stop beating yourself up over the perceived lack of you bringing money to the relationship. What you provide in housework, meal planning, and over all making you partner's life comfortable is a job and they should be thankful for it.

culpepper

Surveys are very good for that sort of spending money.
As mentioned above the extra income board is very useful for ideas.
In the debt free part of the forum there is a make £10 a day challenge which often has interesting suggestions for earnings even if you aren't really thinking of actually making £10 a day.
If you can find it in your library, 'the tightwad gazette' is a very good read.
Also 'Feed your family for £5 A day ' has homemade food ideas that are very economical even if just two of you to feed.

gonebust

I have to agree to some extent, your partner moved in with you, he should help support you and that includes you having money for yourself from the joint finances ( as a couple all finances should be joint)

However I do get where you are coming from where you need money in your name only where you do t feel the need to justify where it's spent


However, whilst your ideas and plans are admirable , you are not going to make up the loss of your ESA anytime soon. You need the conversation with OH as to you having access to money to spend as you see fit without it impacting on the monies needed for the smooth running of the house hold

If his income isn't enough to facilitate this, perhaps you need to look again at living together


Sorry if it sounds harsh, it's not ment. But unless you are on equal footing financially, or there's money there that you can freely access without you feeling guilty or he begrudging you, it's never going to work

Prinzessilein

Your partner is willing (and able!) to support you which is terrific...I do agree that this should include seeing that you have 'personal' money too.

Having said that, I think it is a great idea to look at how to save money for you both.....switching energy providers is definitely worth a look (and phone/broadband too?)

Survey sites don't pay out a huge amount....but you might look at Consumer Pulse ( they pay out in vouchers and you could select Waterstones ones and treat yourself to a 'real' book once in a while...or save the vouchers and use them to buy Christmas/Birthday presents)....and YouGov seem to give a fair number of surveys (and you can save your points for a £50 cheque).

Charity Shops are well worth a visit....depending on what art you do, you could find materials here (fabric et.c).....and Lidl do 'specials' each week - I have the app and can check which offers are on ....you could keep an eye out for their 'art/craft' weeks.

And just a thought....you say you have lost your ESA due to moving in with your partner...have you checked your eligibility for other benefits?....PiP? (the criteria are TOUGH, but if you fulfil them then living with your OH won't be a barrier)...and if you have mobility issues check your local authority criteria for a disability bus pass (in my area you can claim one if your disability would preclude you from getting a driving licence)

honeythewitch

I think the finances should be joint too, and I would worry if my partner didnt agree.
If the boot was on the other foot, would you see him struggling for money?