Thank you to everyone for comments on Monday. Some I didn't see until later but thank you to JennyP who said she was impressed by my Can Do attitude regarding unblocking the drains to the septic tank. That cheered me up a lot and made me realise that lots of 65 year old women alone would have rung for help!
It's the last of the family birthdays for the year today. Youngest daughter is 33, Colin's sister is still less than 60 (lucky thing) and a friend/former neighbour and Son's Godmother is a year older than me. The next will be Youngest Grandson's first birthday in February next year. I wonder where we'll be with the virus then.
1st. No Spend
2nd Food £33 + Cat £6 + Diesel £18 + Printer Paper £4. = £61
3rd No Spend
30 Ways to Save £1 Part 2
6. Have a look around local industrial estates and see who chucks what - pallets for wood, containers for water butts.
Probably not so relevant now. There are now many rules on how manufacturers dispose of unwanted materials and they are less likely to be willing to give things away. Back in the day we used to get pallets for firewood from many places.
7. Christmas is the same day every year don't let it creep up on you,
start shopping in January sales and carry on at car boot sales.
This is still a good money saver. Shopping in the January sales for Christmas cards and wrapping paper is a good way to start.
8. Swap an expensive hobby for a cheaper one.
One of Col's work colleagues had a boat for a while and said it was just a way of pouring money into the sea. Hobbies that keep you fit (without expensive gym membership) are available for free or cheap. Hobbies that produce an end product that can be a gift are good and of course reading library books is lovely and free.
9. Cut down on how much toothpaste, shampoo, lotions and potions that you use see if less will do the same job.
Still very relevant now and always. Do you remember toothpaste ads from years ago when the toothpaste went right along the toothbrush?
10. Before you buy anything new STOP and think if you already have something that could do the same job.
Another that continues to be a good idea if you want to spend less. Putting off buying something new while you look for an alternative could save hundreds of £s in a year.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Great advice, thank you very much.
ReplyDeletexx
You're welcome!
DeleteI did the 30 ways thing in 2013 too. It's good to know we're still being thrifty. Orchard Games (you mentioned them yesterday) have such a brilliant website. I've been using their worksheets with Rosie. Their games are well thought out and you can always get spares. I found one for £1 in a CS the other week. Trying to have a no spend November - apart from food & postage (5 family birthdays, plus Christmas stamps)
ReplyDeleteThe Orchard Games worksheets that I printed out went down very well with the 2 oldest grandchildren.
DeleteMy No Spend November always fails so it's more of a spend as little as possible until something crops up November!
the shampoo thing is so true. I used to get through it quickly then I thought maybe I'm just using too much at a time. Yep. I cut it down to a smaller blob and it still worked as well, with the added bonus of making it last weeks longer.
ReplyDeleteWith all the rearranging I've been doing with pictures in the living room, I looked in The Range at picture frames. The prices made me stop, that and the fact that so many of them are no longer glass but plastic. In a world where plastic is the enemy and glass is easily recycled, that seems like the stupidest change ever. Anyway. Those two facts made me think that I'd go through old frames in the garage and I'm glad I did. Found exactly what I wanted, thus reusing and saving loot. Everything helps!
How handy that you found the frames stored away until you needed them again.
DeletePlastic always seems to be static and attract dust
Us 60+ age women with our own drain rods wouldn't dream of ringing for help until we've had a bloody good go ourselves :-)
ReplyDeleteSo many of the money saving tips still apply, and I would venture the thought that we have upped our game even more in the ensuing years since we first did this challenge.
Now today its the compressor gone wrong so I can't pump the bike tyre - tried different extension lead and fuse in plug but no luck
DeleteI remember this challenge and would look on every blogger who was doing it for inspiration, but found that I was doing the ones most relevant to me anyway. Still you never know, there could have been something new for me to try. Can't believe it's seven years ago.
ReplyDeleteTime flies when blog writing and reading!
DeleteI wish you could get No 10 across to my OH - the amount of new stuff that appears in this place when there is still plenty of working old is depressing - I blame Amazon, it's way too easy to click and purchase on a whim.
ReplyDeleteOh dear
DeleteIn a way I was lucky after leaving school that my articled clerk's salary was so low I couldn't afford anything. Gave up on accountancy after a while but the lesson in how not to be a spendthrift did stick.
ReplyDeleteA useful early lesson then
DeleteI've always admired the way you just get on with things ever since Col died. You're an inspiration, Sue.
ReplyDeleteThank you - hard work sometimes
DeleteYes for our generation saving money and being thrifty was instilled in us from birth. It is the next generation and those thereafter who need telling.
ReplyDeleteIt was the first years of marriage, managing on a roadman's salary that made me thrifty plus looking for ways to get a smallholding
DeleteThe toothpaste one made me smile, especially as it says about applying a pea size portion on your toothbrush, a third of the portion they use in the advert.
ReplyDeleteMy frugality started when I applied to university late so it was a while before my LEA grant came through. I was lucky because I was in hall of residence and didn’t have to pay for accommodation and food until my grant came through. If I recall I had £20 to last me until early December, when my grant came through. After paying hall fees I had a nice nest egg in my bank account. I worked full time each holiday and that added.
ReplyDeleteLife was way easier back then thoigh, I graduated from university with no debt and money in the bank.
Since I now keep my hair short I use way less shampoo and only put a small dollop of toothpast on my brush. I love the fact that I am not running out and buying more every month.
ReplyDeleteWe can still pick up pallets here and have used the wood from them in our firepit at times.
God bless.
Such good suggestions!
ReplyDelete