It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

Siebrie

I wish I could find reductions like that! Reductions in Belgium are 30% off, max. In my local supermarket that means from 'expensive' to 'still more than I'd like to pay'....

A simple ready meal costs around €8 and is reduced to €5,50. And that's a small meal, barely enough for 1.

manaman

I am trying to combine 'cutting back' with reducing some of my bad habits. 

I am doing this in a few ways: 

1. Cutting out chocolate, I think I'm addicted...like I'll buy a big bar and just smash it in one. I worked it out, I could be spending almost £300+ a year on it. So, I'm looking to cut it out. Maybe replacing it with healthier snacks, so not really saving money...but I am getting healthier. 

2. Buying crap I don't need. I'm trying to buy less, but buy better. Bit of a strange mechanism, but basically I am looking to spend zero money beyond bills, mortgage, food shop. Then each month if I manage that + I manage to not eat chocolate for the whole month...then I buy myself a treat, usually something fairly expensive...but something I really want (like new airpods) and I know I will look after. So I end the month with one really good thing rather than 10 crap things I don't really need. 

Wednesday2000

I tried to cut my hair finally yesterday, like I did during lockdown. It did not come out right and I have no idea why. It doesn't look that bad, luckily, but I can feel it is wonky at the ends. Oh dear.

Elisheba

Siebrie said:

I wish I could find reductions like that! Reductions in Belgium are 30% off, max. In my local supermarket that means from 'expensive' to 'still more than I'd like to pay'....

A simple ready meal costs around €8 and is reduced to €5,50. And that's a small meal, barely enough for 1.

Those are the sorts of discounts my local Waitrose offers on yellow stickered items, and very often my Tesco as well.  Not worth it as they are rarely items I would have bought anyway.

YorksLass

@London_1 - Just popping in to wish you good luck for tomorrow's consultant appointment (fingers crossed it's good news) and Happy Holidays!  

Last night's liver, bacon & onion casserole was delicious and much appreciated.  It was really chilly yesterday, so much so we had the sofa throws out during the evening.  Today is a tad warmer but it's very dull again - we've had a little bit of rain but the thundery showers that were forecast haven't arrived - yet.  I didn't risk hanging out any washing though.     

I've been quite productive today and have got done all the jobs I had on my daily To Do list - it's very satisfying to cross them off.    One of them was to make a batch of bolognaise sauce, some for tomorrow and some for the freezer.  I'll have mine with pasta but DH will have a jacket potato with his.  He's not a fussy foodie and there's not much he doesn't like but pasta isn't his favourite although he will eat it, if pushed.  Tonight we're having scampi, chips and runner beans.

I'm pleased to report the bin men have managed to empty four of our five bins today - they're communal so get full very quickly.  The one they didn't do wasn't quite full but it was almost - no idea what that's all about.  

I've had a re-think on the energy fixed price plan vs standard variable and have decided to leave things as they are.  Come 1st July when the new EPC kicks in and the EPG reduction is withdrawn, on the fixed plan we'll be paying slightly more for the unit rates (4p/kWh electricity and 3p/kWh gas) but less on the daily standing charges (7p/day electricity and 2p/day gas).  Our monthly electricity usage hardly ever varies whatever the time of year and gas during the summer is extremely low (hot water only).  I'd rather have smaller daily standing charges that we have no control over and pay a little more on the units that we can control.  Meter readings are due on the 20th but I'll be sending interim ones this weekend as well to generate a bill for the period up to 1st July.  

London_1

Thanks chums all the tests went well and now its a case of waiting for my letter with the date for the operation.
It hopefully won't be too long, but a nice restful holiday tomorrow for two weeks will make me feel a lot more fit and ready for it.

I am with the family for two weeks and have to watch things  as my son-in-law is a lovely cook and does all the cooking on holiday so apart for a nice break I expect with three dogs there will be some walks to walk off his delicious meals  

JackieO xx

Crazycatlady2

Enjoy your holiday
fingers crossed for operation date asap 

euronorris

Kids parties are sooo expensive nowadays!!! Unless you have the room to host one in your own home (which we don't, sadly). Most options I looked at were a minimum of £250-£300!!! And that was only about 10 kids! Ludicrous!

I've managed to find a cheaper option, and I'm providing little packed lunches for them and the little party bags etc etc. Still all adds up and not cheap. I've got tomorrow afternoon off and am heading to costco to get some of the bits to help make it a bit cheaper still (like the bread rolls and drinks).

Next year I'm limiting her to 2-3 friends max, and doing an activity like the cinema.

Florenceem

euronorris - I was blessed to be able to host parties at home. With 6 children - there was no way I could afford otherwise. They were allowed to invite 6 friends so we had to seat 12 at the table which was fine.

newlywed

Picnic and games in a local park not enough?