Tuesday 3 November 2020

No spend November and 30 Ways to Save a £1 Revisited

 
 
How easy it will be to do a No Spend November while being locked down at home all month I thought (desperately trying to look for any silver lining through the cloud of depression that set in on Saturday night). 
But  then  realised that would mean NO library van and NO Swimming again - Oh B****R.
I don't know how to feel upbeat and cheerful through the next four weeks (and please God that it is only four weeks). November is often a dreary month weather-wise and gardening is finished and this time round I feel we are shutting down Suffolk (and Norfolk and Devon and Cornwall) just to save hospitals being swamped in Manchester, Liverpool etc etc. Well Done if you can be cheerful about it.

 Anyway......................

While trying to think of things to blog about I remembered that Way Way Back in April 2013 lots of bloggers did 30 ways to save £1 and emailed them off to Money Supermarket to earn £30. I searched back on my old blog to find my list.

I'm going to take a closer look at 5 ideas each day to see  if they are still relevant 7 years on.

1. Ask to pick up windfall apples if you see someone isn't using them.
    Still relevant for nowadays - although too late for this year obviously. In September I put several boxes of windfalls by the footpath gate onto the meadow and many went to new homes even though only a few dog walkers use the path. 2012 was the year of "The Great Apple Failure" at the smallholding but after putting a Wanted ad in the smallholders newsletter  several people offered their windfalls so we didn't go without chutneys after all.

2.Always try value range of supermarket brands most are good.
     Another that's still useful although I feel that supermarkets seem to have fewer Value brands than they did 7 years ago. 

3.Don't start pets on expensive brands, if started on a cheaper one they will never know different.
       This was the year  before we got Polly and unfortunately she didn't read this! I did start on cheaper stuff but she just wouldn't eat it.

4. Re-read the instructions for you washing machine, could you use a shorter cycle?
       My washing machine has two fast wash programmes a 60 minute 60℃ and a 30 minute 30℃. The 30 minute one gets used a lot - I mean how dirty do I get? This will upset Anonymous who said, when I suggested this as a way of saving money back in April, that this is dangerous in these Covid times. So I'll leave this idea out there for everyone to ignore but have to say personally I can't imagine that clothes that have been in the dirty washing bin for a day or two, washed, dried and put away for another few days before being worn again can still carry any infection?
 
5. Buy refill packs of things if you can.
      Are  refills available for things  now? Unless you are lucky enough to have one of those re-fill shops. After looking through the cupboards I couldn't think of anything except the 5L Ecover Washing Up liquid and 5L Clothes Wash Liquid which I decant into 1L bottles to use indoors.

 

My No Spend November

I thought about swimming yesterday but the sessions were nearly full (plus I was still aching after unblocking drains!) so instead went up to Diss specially for my favourite drinking chocolate from the Oxfam shop and to go the Bank.(Can rely on the Diss branch being open whereas since Covid Stowmarket branch keep changing their opening times - what's the betting that they never go back to 5 day week). Then I went to Morrisons and so did all the rest of North Suffolk and South Norfolk! It was crazy, I really only needed fresh fruit but some people had trolleys full to overflowing as if the world was ending. In the end I decided that if everywhere was going to be like this with a long queue to get out I might as well get the rest of the fortnights shopping done while there, so picked up all that was needed . 
Also picked up some printer paper ............something I've been forgetting for months. I printed out some Halloween Colouring and puzzle sheets for grandchildren to do  last week from the Orchard Games website which took me to the end of what was in the drawer. Maybe I'll see what other things I can find, print out and send to them while we are locked down again.

November Spending (rounded up or down to nearest whole £)

  1. No Spend
  2. Food  £33 + Cat £6 +  Diesel £18 + Printer Paper £4.          = £61    

 And not related to anything above.............................

I'm absolutely  Loving Monday night's TV ............Mastermind (many general knowledge questions correct), Only Connect (I can only do the missing vowels round) , University Challenge (my score 55)  and turnover to Paramount to see Kevin Costner in the US TV series Yellowstone........blimey it's violent. Are ranches in Montana really like this?

And for all my lovely readers in the USA I sincerely hope for a peaceful and non-violent election day for you all................whoever wins.


Back Tomorrow
Sue

34 comments:

  1. Just had torrential hail storm! What a change from yesterday. I went to Blooms in afternoon to buy new jigsaw ready for lockdown and had a pot of tea. I am disappointed that it has changed from regional to whole country as it seems unfair on us. North Norfolk has 6 cases in 100,000, South Norfolk 23. My History of Art class has been moved to Zoom. I expressed disappointment as it is adult education and is allowed to still meet but teacher said she has to go by guidelines that it is recommended to go on-line if possible. Lock down second time round I will handle differently though and will have timetable of walks whatever the weather and go shopping once a week, not once every three weeks. I do all my washing on quick wash, always have.

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    1. It was a torrential rainstorm here - sudden and pouring, then sun then another heavy downpour. I have to deliver two birthday cards today - then home and stay in. Cold tonight minus 1 is forecast.

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  2. It's a very sunny here and it makes you so much happier to. Very interesting post as usual Sue and pleased you went shopping do doubt you are like me and keep a good stock of essential items, my D is very good in getting my shopping and always brings in a nice luxury item and will always bring in essential things if they are a good price.
    I like the idea of GC sending pictures to colour is an idea I might use for my nieces.
    Hopefully I can cut back the dead flowers and tidy up.
    Hazel c uk
    🌈🌈🌈

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    1. Yes a well stocked cupboard always. I shop to replace things used and for fresh fruit and veg.

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  3. Wow ... is it really over seven years since lots of us did the 30 ways to save £1, time is flying by.

    I have put off going to the supermarket up to now, but I do need to brave the aisles of Aldi for a couple of cartons of almond milk and some Weetabix so I will have to at some point. My son said he called to his Asda in Workington to pick up something for his tea on the way home from work and it was like 'Christmas shopping fever' ... and everyone was bulk buying toilet rolls again. Don't people learn, or are they just adding to the spare-room full of toilet rolls from last time. I definintely don't need any as I found half my box of my last 'Who Gives a Crap' order under the bed in the Van when I moved out.

    It's a shame you missed your last chance to swim but it sounds like you had a proper work out unblocking your toilet, and it would have been a frustrating final swim if it was a bit crowded in there.

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    1. Yep 7 years have flown and how life has changed in that time.

      It was so silly in Morrisons as they had no restrictions on how many people in - which they did have through April, May, June July and August - so it was crowded and hardly any tills open so queues to pay were so long as everyone had a ton of stuff.
      Should swim tomorrow fingers crossed

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  4. Well I've just ordered my Morrison's stuff for delivery, so hopefully it will last me to the end of the month. Went to my local organic shop (she is so sweet but her prices are sky high), for my Yorkshire bread flour, declined some milk thistle tablets at £12 for indigestion, there is mint in the garden after all.

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    1. Milk Thistle tablets don't sound like something to cure indigestion!

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    2. Milk Thistle tablets are for helping the liver ... nothing to do with indigestion!! I was advised to take them for a while when we were waiting for liver tests after my Dad's cancer was diagnosed.

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  5. My part of Wales is in lockdown even though our rate is very low too - the blame lies with other counties where people cannot see that obeying the rules is the sensible thing to do!

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  6. Our shop tomorrow. Was going to be today but had to walk instead.

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    1. Hope the weather was better in Norfolk than here - it's been raining on and off all day

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  7. Thank you for your good money saving tips. I guess a lock down is one way to save money if you don't order a lot online.

    We are going out to vote soon. I don't know how the lines will be but we will wait as long as necessary. It is a bit frightening that all of our large cities are boarding up store fronts in anticipation of problems. I certainly hope there won't be any.

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    1. Thought re-doing the tips would fill a weeks posts.

      Do hope election day goes smoothly - we can listen to your results here all night if we want to!

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  8. A low spend month should be easy for us, as we've already purchased any holiday gifts that need shipping elsewhere. It will be a scaled back season. Grocery and sundry prices have climbed so high since the pandemic; it encourages some renewed frugality. We live in a quiet CA county that up until June had no real violence. That's changed. It has us on edge this week, waiting to see what might unfold. We've bought land in an even quieter, more remote area in another state. That's now become our fallback plan should things continue to get ugly fast here, retiring sooner than planned, perhaps.

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    1. I do hope things don't kick off there in towns and cities - very frightening.

      I shall give money to the grown up children so just need to sort grandchildren

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    2. Sue, I've followed your blog for many years and want to thank you for all of your tips. Even the most recent about your septic system, as we're having one put onto our land (it passed perc test) after the 1st of the year. Then a modest home and lots of self-sufficiency! Plenty of trees on the land for firewood.

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  9. Thanks for the well wished for our election. Very anxious here today. Hoping we can call Joe Biden President-elect!

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    1. I agree! I prayed hard last night. I cannot imagine another four years of Trump.

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  10. From the reports we hear, one wonders if lock-down is really necessary. I can imagine your feelings, but I guess we have to do what we are told and maybe, just maybe, it might help somewhere along the way. Take care, Mxx

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    1. First time round seemed OK we knew why we were doing it but now it seems every decision the government make is done just to appease someone - this time the Labour party and the MPs in the North of England + plus s few panicking scientists

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  11. Sue, I know your lockdown starts on Thursday. Could you go to the actual library (since I assume the library van will not be around) tomorrow, Wednesday, and stock up on books? Maybe it is too far away but it is an idea. Very sad that you won’t be able to swim.

    Here in America I don’t think the virus will be under control for a long time because Trump won’t listen to the epidemiologists. He’s now relying on a doctor in an unrelated field who thinks herd immunity is the way to go. I know your lockdown is a pain, especially at this time of year, but I wish that we would make a serious effort here. My two cents.

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    1. I could go to a library building but wouldn't be able to find anything I'd want to read on the library shelves as the books I order usually are new books by favourite authors and I'm on a waiting list for them.
      I wish there was a middle way - halfway between a full lockdown as we have and the way things are for you

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  12. Now that Gardeners' World has finished for the season, Monday is the *only* night's TV! I love Only Connect and UC.

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    1. I've got snooker on tonight to keep me company while reading but on Monday nights I actually watch!

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  13. if you arent going out and are isolating at home for most of the week 30 oC is perfectly ok for washing your clothes.

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  14. Sue its times like these I hang on every word. And already I feel better in my mind. We have so much, warm, housed, food. Great blogging friends. Everything - we will get through. Thanks.

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    1. And I look forward to your photos of the birds and the surfers in your bit of the world too

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  15. I had forgotten that I had done 30 ways to save £1 and emailed them off to Money Supermarket. I remember being thrilled to earn £30 for this. I shall have to look back and see what I wrote now. I look forward to reading the rest of yours : )

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    1. I hadn't been blogging long when the opportunity came for earning that £30 - haven't earned anything from blogging since!

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  16. Love the ways to save a pound. You have 5 really good ideas. Our cat was the same way with the cheaper cat food.

    God bless.

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  17. I am still TRYING to give away apples here, but so many people say no - they have some already1 It has been an absolutely bumper year too and still plenty of apples on our trees, despite the gales.

    We are on Lockdown so only venturing out to go to the local PO/Community shop as necessary, Vet's, and Dr's for blood tests for OH.

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