Over 50? What’s one small money saving habit that’s made a real difference?

[Deleted User]

singhini said:

I think ive got an illness about saving money to be honest (it actually put a smile on my face knowing i didn't spend any money yesterday). 
I also don't get things like door keys cut in this country but abroad as its usually cheaper.
i could/should relax a little but i really struggle.

Here's my lawnmower - yes its held together with cardboard.
Oh dear!!!

If you are saving for a purpose or a safety net fair enough, but otherwise I agree. You need to loosen up! 

uralmaid

Each to their own.  Our mantra has always been - if you don't have the funds-don't buy it (in other words spend within your limits and don't borrow)  If you are fortunate enough to have the funds then - buy it and enjoy it - you are a long time dead. Don't see the point in living frugally just for the sake of it - when you die, whoever you have left your money to will spend it. And the big one - don't try and enforce your ideas and points of views on other people as their priorities and funds may be different to yours - nothing worse than a sanctimonious "friend or acquaintance.

BrilliantButScary

singhini said:

I think ive got an illness about saving money to be honest (it actually put a smile on my face knowing i didn't spend any money yesterday). 
I also don't get things like door keys cut in this country but abroad as its usually cheaper.
i could/should relax a little but i really struggle.

Here's my lawnmower - yes its held together with cardboard.
Oh dear!!!

You've made my day! 
Plenty of life left in that lawnmower! Although how much money you spent on gaffer tape, I don't know.

I think people's attitudes to money are often linked to their childhood/background and whether you have always or never had, a 'safety net'. 

BrilliantButScary

In response to the OP, my answer would be that if you are in a relationship, make sure you are both 'singing from the same hymn sheet' in regard to finances. Plan together for retirement, particularly if there is an age gap or disparity in pension provision. Make sure, if not already, that you are knowledgeable about your pensions, both state and occupational/private pensions. Have you made a will? Do you have LPA's  in place. Being well-informed and acting accordingly, is a a great money saving habit that makes a real difference.

Organgrinder

BrilliantButScary said:

singhini said:

I think ive got an illness about saving money to be honest (it actually put a smile on my face knowing i didn't spend any money yesterday). 
I also don't get things like door keys cut in this country but abroad as its usually cheaper.
i could/should relax a little but i really struggle.

Here's my lawnmower - yes its held together with cardboard.
Oh dear!!!

You've made my day! 
Plenty of life left in that lawnmower! Although how much money you spent on gaffer tape, I don't know.

I think people's attitudes to money are often linked to their childhood/background and whether you have always or never had, a 'safety net'. 

I recall an advert saying your attitudes to money are formed by the age of 7. I sometimes struggle to justify purchasing things, probably because growing up we never had much.  Savings were things other people had.

I think my attitude to maximising what I have is based around the fact that that's exactly what we had to do when growing up.

BrilliantButScary

Organgrinder said:

BrilliantButScary said:

singhini said:

I think ive got an illness about saving money to be honest (it actually put a smile on my face knowing i didn't spend any money yesterday). 
I also don't get things like door keys cut in this country but abroad as its usually cheaper.
i could/should relax a little but i really struggle.

Here's my lawnmower - yes its held together with cardboard.
Oh dear!!!

You've made my day! 
Plenty of life left in that lawnmower! Although how much money you spent on gaffer tape, I don't know.

I think people's attitudes to money are often linked to their childhood/background and whether you have always or never had, a 'safety net'. 

I recall an advert saying your attitudes to money are formed by the age of 7. I sometimes struggle to justify purchasing things, probably because growing up we never had much.  Savings were things other people had.

I think my attitude to maximising what I have is based around the fact that that's exactly what we had to do when growing up.

I hear you. I couldn't put it better myself.

Sarahspangles

We bought an espresso machine and travel mugs. Also, the pandemic was a ‘reset’ for us in terms of how often we ate out.

SouthCoastBoy

singhini said:

I think ive got an illness about saving money to be honest (it actually put a smile on my face knowing i didn't spend any money yesterday). 
I also don't get things like door keys cut in this country but abroad as its usually cheaper.
i could/should relax a little but i really struggle.

Here's my lawnmower - yes its held together with cardboard.
Oh dear!!!

singhini said:

I think ive got an illness about saving money to be honest (it actually put a smile on my face knowing i didn't spend any money yesterday). 
I also don't get things like door keys cut in this country but abroad as its usually cheaper.
i could/should relax a little but i really struggle.

Here's my lawnmower - yes its held together with cardboard.
Oh dear!!!

I have the same problem, if I lived on my own I don't think I would spend anything other than essentials. I love having money and watching it accumulate, not interested in spending it. I generally spend nothing on myself from one year to the next

I did grow up in an environment where there was no money, so maybe it is related to that, who knows! 

Murphybear

singhini said:

I think ive got an illness about saving money to be honest (it actually put a smile on my face knowing i didn't spend any money yesterday). 
I also don't get things like door keys cut in this country but abroad as its usually cheaper.
i could/should relax a little but i really struggle.

Here's my lawnmower - yes its held together with cardboard.
Oh dear!!!

I’m intrigued.  You have an illness about saving money yet go abroad.  You’d save a lot more if you didn’t 

What do you do if the keys you get cut abroad don’t work properly?   Get new ones cut at home?  No matter how good the key cutter is sometimes the new keys don’t always work 

singhini

I’m intrigued.  You have an illness about saving money yet go abroad.  You’d save a lot more if you didn’t 

What do you do if the keys you get cut abroad don’t work properly?   Get new ones cut at home?  No matter how good the key cutter is sometimes the new keys don’t always work 

I said "i think ive got".............  not "I have" 

I've cut aprox 7 keys abroad and never had a problem (Infact ive never had a problem when i did cut keys in the UK).