Beating Lifestyle Inflation and Staying Mortgage Free!

earthgirl2

Yes, goldfish memory here! Also my brain likes me to write down what I need to do. Writing on here makes me even more accountable!

I had a reoccurrence of a facial nerve problem that I first had on first vaccination. It's a known side affect and nothing to worry about but I did follow the advice to rest and take pain relief this weekend. It's pretty much cleared now. 

It gave me the time to look at pensions and investment in more detail. I can't believe how blasé I was about this. Stupid even! I thought that I would just have to "be good with money"
Ie save a lot and it would be fine- I could retire when I liked! I have realised over the last few days that I need to look at investment or a pension strategy much more seriously. 

I've still got a bit more research to do before I do anything. 

Im trying to really cut back on shopping- just the things that have crept in for convenience. We still have a pretty good shop in terms of health and not too expensive This week £70, with some stocking up of items in offer, but I've noticed:

I could save quite a lot by making homemade or buying  non convenience items. Don't buy ready grated cheese, trying making organic nut butter myself, and also try making vanilla essence. 

Bananas are the cheapest fruit, carrots snd frozen peas also really cheap and can fill out a dish or be a good side. 

I hope everyone has been ok with the storms. 

savingholmes

Glad that you are looking into pensions. Your future self will thank you. 

My current self thanked past self yesterday for covering the servicing charge... 

On the shopping - a lot of supermarkets put down their food around 6.30ish at night so you can often get really good deals then

EssexHebridean

On the veg front I'm a big fan of frozen peas and sweetcorn from the "value" ranges of budget supermarkets being every bit as good as their regular own-brand stuff. We also try to keep a bag each of frozen peppers and frozen mushrooms in as they're useful to avoid the thing of ending up being more fresh than is needed because you require them for one dish on the meal-plan. 

Also - don't beat yourself up on the pension front - for various reasons I'm not far into paying in to one for the first time - we DO have other plans as well but equally we're also keen now to maximise what we can on the pension in the remaining time available.

earthgirl2

Thank SH and EH!

So I lost a big post about having a disaster yesterday. But to cut a long story short, I don't have the electric car and I am hoping that I will have it next week. Some other things related to children happened - sorted now. We are £500 in debit to electricity company and dds need to tripple. Generally I had a bad day, but I didn't let it beat me - I didn't eat or drink away my stress either.

I didn't manage a walk on the beach which really find relaxing, so I found a walk on a beach on a tropical island via y-tube, and sort of walked along to it! I felt a bit warmer anyway!

So today, I sorted out the problems with the car and with the children as best I could. I called the holiday company about a holiday we have booked in December that is being advertised at 1k cheaper! They reduced it by 1k so I am delighted.

I turned the fridge up to 5 degrees. 4 is too cold and expensive. We have turned off a couple more appliances that we don't use. I'm after the fridge freezer next - I am going to have a no spend month,apart from fruit milk and bread, and try to use up everything in the fridge freezer that is outside, and downside to the built in fridge in the kitchen with an ice box. I'm just paying to run another fridge freezer for convenience.

I will continue to think of some other ideas for reducing electricity.

badmemory

Be careful with changing the fridge temp as I have noticed recently that a few things are now saying below 4 degs.  I assume that is something to do with a reduction in preservatives.

apple_muncher

Hugs, earthie. Well done on handling the disaster x

EssexHebridean

Good disaster management there - and excellent work on that holiday thing too - so you've saved double the debit to the power people with one phone call - that's superb!  

savingholmes

Ouch to the bad day. Well done for not losing it and for staying on plan. Fab news on the £1K holiday reduction.

Alchemilla

Hi Earthie. Found you! I need to look at our fridge and freezer temps. Good reminder!

earthgirl2

So a few good money things to report

• continuing to empty the 'extra' fridge freezer - hope to switch it off this week
• shopping was £40
• Got a great 0li0 pick up, lots of lovely things
• Put our spare room back on bnb
• booked a weekend of activities for the children next weekend, budget of £100.