Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

milann said:

It is definitely a worrying time around the bills. I’m another who will be batch cooking…..I do this anyway tbh. I think another thing I’ll be doing is trying to get out everyday. I noticed a big difference last week. The days I’d stayed in - I felt cold but when I made the effort to go out it got my blood pumping I suppose and it felt nice and warm on my return 😁

I agree Milann that going out can warm you up. A hot shower helps too I find and can warm me up for quite a while afterwards.

HairyHandofDartmoor

The heated throws that DH and DS1 use are the cheapest make from Dre@mland and are supposed to cost from 1p a day to run. They have good reviews. It means we don't have to have the central heating (or any other form of heating) on most of the day as those are the two that feel the cold. We are lucky to live in Devon where the climate is quite mild. 

I'm glad we built up credit with E0n N3xt when times were easier. We just paid more than they asked for, as they always undercharge us and get us into debt with them and we were trying to outsmart them. I'm sure our meter readings will reduce the £528 credit they reckon we have quite a lot but it's a good starting point to have!

We're trying to buy less expensive food but eveything is expensive at the moment and we have to eat. 

I try not to use the tumbler much and use the dehumidifier to dry washing on the clothes horses.

We can only do what we can, so hopefully the government will come up with more measures to help people in time.

badmemory

I think the problem is that everything we used to know about usage has been knocked into a cocked hat.  Things must be using about 3 times (moneywise unless we are still on a fixed) what we used to assume they were.  So a lot of these things need to be looked at again.  Just for our own peace of mind.

EssexHebridean

If you still have 6 years to run on your mortgage HH would now not be a good time to get a 5 year fix? with rates increasing if you could lock in to something sensible now you might end up doing OK from it, and at least that would be one certainty on outgoings with everything else rocketing up! 

The price increases in the supermarkets are less to do with actual physical prices increasing in my view and more to do with the constant erosion of product lines from the budget brands in favour of the more expensive ones. This is one of the points Jack Monroe made recently I think - that if you can no longer buy - for example a 19p pack of value noodles, but instead have to buy the ordinary "own brand" one at 38p, that's a 100% price increase right there!  Interestingly though the one thing that does seem to have hung on for longer than I at least expected is the good old 20p Spaghetti - in real terms that's an awful lot cheaper now than it was when we were first buying them at that price a LOT of years ago! 

Seasidegal58

Just caught up with your diary Hairy. I was sorry to hear that you tested positive for covid and had to isolate just as you started your new job. What a pain!  Hopefully your cold has cleared up too. 

@EssexHebridean's idea of a five year fix on the mortgage is a good one and, as she writes, you would be sure that you have one regular outgoing confirmed without having to worry about rises for quite a while. 

badmemory

Sounds like a plan and asap too before they go up again.

Bubblesmum

Caught up too - well done you for sticking to strict isolation at home - We didn’t consider this at Christmas which resulted in mr catching Covid from OH… would have preferred to swerve !

Onebrokelady

Sorry to hear you had Covid Hairy but glad to see you have now escaped isolation. We did the full 14 days back in October 2020 but because me and DD caught it at the same time we didn't have to worry about infecting each other. I would have gone slowly bonkers if I had had to stay in my room! 

The bill increases are worrying me a lot at the moment 😟

Fidelia

I hope things are well with you and the family, Hairy, it seems like ages since you last posted an update.

Crazycatlady2

Hi hope you don’t mind me commenting after lurking a while. 

Firstly wanted to say I’m really pleased to hear your DH is doing better and you have found yourself some regular work.

sorry to hear the hard times you have been through with the loss of your loved ones. In 2021 we lost MIL and my grandma and it’s been awful. 

My husband works for himself and is finding it hard work for a small return over last few years but on the plus side having flexibility to support his mum and dad last year and his dad going forward has been valuable in other ways

i have 3 children all younger than yours and my youngest has special needs so I currently don’t work but I have done a open university degree and at one time was a midday lunch supervisor in a primary school

anyway hope you are doing well and looking forward to hearing more about your lovely garden as the weather improves