Life style shift - cutting costs / cheaper meals

ska_lover

oh I forgot to add, we do have a basic Netflix account

Which I am kind of reluctant to give up to be honest - I probably get more enjoyment from Netflix than OH, as I like a good box set when I have the house to myself - I think its a tenner a month

Mind you, it is a tenner I cannot really afford right now.... hmmm

Doom_and_Gloom

Are you the only one watching Netfix/does more than one screen get used for Netlix? Or do you prefer the HD quality the standard gives? If none of that is a problem then maybe think of the basic plan for £5.99 a month that is SD and only one screen. That is if the basic isn't the one you have anyway.
My OH and I have the standard package £8.99 a month as one often watches on the TV while the other uses their tablet. We don't have a TV licence so this really is a big part of home entertainment (we also use an anime service for free as there are adverts, we could pay £4.99 though slated to go up to £6.50 soon, but we endure the adverts so we don't have to pay).

kathrynha

ska_lover wrote: »

I normally buy own brand foods, the only thing we don't regularly have own brand is loo roll. My husband will not hear of value toilet roll. It really winds me up hahaha

May I recommend Aldi quilted toilet roll. 9 rolls for £3.09 I think. It's loads better than Andrex quilted.

ska_lover

First visit to Aldi today

Well, previously in my highly stressful job - I always online ordered my groceries mainly from A's. Maybe twice a month and this would easy come to up to £100. I just didn't have the time and needed the convenience.

Today, I have been to do a shop at Aldi and am blown away. A good healthy two- week shop for the two of us, £54 - that includes cleaning products and toiletries and lunches for work

For work, I have got soups / cous cous / cup noodles / peanut butter, the totally slovenly way to lunch at work. Most expensive item was Marmite - I really do love that stuff

I popped in Aldi recently, but never wandered round properly looking at stuff and comparing prices to the bigger supermarkets

For the next ten days until I start my new job, I am going to be testing hubby on various new brands (but not telling him)

in the last week we had pasta bake (hubby wolfed that down) and Lasagne (again he is a greedy guts) - both made entirely with Aldi stuff, and no complaints from him whatsoever

Not sure what to test him out on this evening - it really is too hot to cook

Also I am making real effort to cut down alcohol. In my old job it felt necessary to come home and unwind, but i need to break this habit - for health and financial reasons

joedenise

I can recommend the Iceland Petal Soft Luxury toilet rolls. They are quilted and very soft. Only £1.25 for 4 rolls or if you have a Iceland Food Warehouse they do larger packs which work out cheaper.

If you want a good selection of veggie recipes I'd suggest the Jack Monroe site - https://www.cookingonabootstrap.com - one of my favourites is her aubergine & chickpea curry although I add more spice as her's is very mild because I think it was one of her early recipes when her son was still a toddler. Another one I like is is the bean goulash although I buy a tin of mixed beans rather than using baked beans and washing off the sauce (ugh!) and a tin of kidney beans.

Because of the heat I'm doing a fairly light evening meal of teriyaki salmon, stir fried veg & noodles.

Denise

JCS1

If you decide to do sandwiches for lunch, don't forget they can be frozen (just don't add salad/mayo). And then it's just a case of taking a few out of the freezer and they have defrosted by lunch.

If you are after a challenge to join, there is a "bring your own lunch to work" one on the debt free wannabe board.

ska_lover

I hope no one minds me keep posting (and irritating you all hahah)

So as I've mentioned, I am planning for a big downshift in income - and I have a week left before new job starts - which I am actually excited about despite really not being a fan of any kind of change

So I have managed to sort out new work clothes I needed - I posted in the charity shop thread what I got yesterday - massive haul that will sort me out - ended up purchasing a few non-work items that I could not resist - denim dungaree dress - I have always fancied one

At the minute I have time to prep and think about what I am doing as I am not at work right now - I haven't gone as far as starting a spreadsheet, but I have retained receipts of everything since starting this thread

Food - I have meal planned everything this week, very simple meals mostly, omelette, stuffed pasta - testing out all my Aldi stuff....and I have been surprised by the quality of the food from there to be honest. I haven't tried any of the meat yet

Fuel - Hopefully in my new job, one tank of petrol a month will do me. I was running low, so I went to mr Ts to fuel up (which is only ever so slightly out of my way, maybe a minute from the most convenient fuel station) and took my points card. I don't remember the last time I shopped at T's to be honest though so i probably have three points

Things like running the washing machine without a complete full load (unless absolutely necessary) , leaving lights on in the day - we have been very frivolous in the past where we could afford it.

I feel like I have woken from a long slumber and had my eyes opened to what the !!!!!!! hell was I doing with my life before - working in a job that was killing me / to buy stuff I didn't need.

ska_lover

I have seemed to have developed the strangest sleep habits whilst I have been having these two weeks of no job

Awake at this time of night *quietly* cleaning my kitchen cupboards, and doing an inventory/ checking dates on things. Found a bread mix that went out of date last week - so I've got the bread maker on too. That'll smell nice as we get up in the morning

Been digging through my handful of cookery books/pamphlets for ideas - and found one that my dearly departed Grandmother gave me - years ago. It is a 'School Dinner' cookery book - and it looks ancient. A couple of good ideas in there though

We had another Aldi tea tonight - Quiche and stuffed ravioli with sauce. All absolutely beautiful.

joedenise

ska lover the meat from Aldi is generally very good. Just look at the colour before buying as sometimes it looks a off colour as though it hasn't been stored properly or it may be because of the lighting.

Denise

lessonlearned

I have been reading with interest. You have got off to a cracking start.

Loved the bit about waking up from a slumber......working in a job that was killing you to buy stuff you didn't need. How true!!! TBH I think a lot of people live like that. I think many people would be happier if they could take a step back and reevaluate their lives.

Well done on biting the bullet.

My position is somewhat different from yours in that I'm a widow and now retired but I so agree. Life is short and we need to follow our dreams.

I live simply but very well. I started a thread called "Champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget" to share ideas. I am not ashamed to admit I love luxury and glamour and am determined to live a luxurious glamourous life even if I do have a minuscule budget.

After all who wants to wear a hair shirt when you can wear silk:rotfl:

Anyway good luck with your new job and your new lifestyle. I don't think you will regret it for a minute. I'm sure you will be much happier.

I shall be reading along and cheering you on.