Battening down the hatches

Very true merlot.
And you will need a signed thingy every time from now on. ( Yearly? )
It is a pain, but at least you will have covered yourselves.

A friend of mine nearly decked the bloke when he wrote a negative comment on her precious certificate. She had two broken tiles in the hearth! DH can't stand the man so I'm going to have to arrange a day when he's out fishing. Why does everything have to be so complicated these days?

merlot 'decked the bloke'

merlot that made me chuckle

When I was made redundant it took 3 months for the redundancy money to come through. I had my last month's salary in the bank and an income of nearly £50 a week from job seekers allowance. I determined to live on that amount only without touching savings and managed perfectly well, in the end for 6 months, until I found another job. By that time I had depleted the once overstocked freezer and larder and nearly used up my store of cleaning stuff. I quiet enjoyed the challenge for six months but the pleasure was wearing thin by the time I was working again. Still we had no additional debt and the redundancy money went straight into savings.

As to clothes, when the 'must have something new' lust takes over I take myself to the nearby town which has 6 Thrift Shops, with only £20 in my purse. Usually come home with a whole new outfit or at least a couple of items which will spice up my existing wardrobe, new or nearly new and brands that I could not normally afford.

I always buy cleaning materials, bin liners and detergents in Aldi, saves a fortune, I don't see the point in pouring money down the toilet. Their loo rolls are good too.

We don't have an Aldi but I find Wilkinsons really cheap for all household stuff and dog food. I buy their paint as well when decorating. Just as good as Dulux and Crown and much cheaper.

I only started shopping in Aldi about 1 yr ago but I was astounded on how much my shopping bill has come down, if I go in there first and then go to the bigger supermarkets to finish my shopping I can make a huge saving.

We have a Netto (cheap) and an Intermarche (less cheap) on the same site. I shop first at Netto, especially for tinned stuff, then go on to the better shop for more choice in yoghurts, cheeses, and cooked meats.
I can get corned beef here now, which makes excellent hash (with my imported gravy granules!) Two meals for about £2.

greatnan I love corned beef hot pot its a winter comfort food, and it used to be a cheap meal when the Dc were little.

Do you like it with brown sauce, or beetroot slices?

Piccalilli...!

Mmmm....corned beef hash with pickled red cabbage or beetroot. True comfort food

A little brown sauce, but I love beetroot so I will give it a whirls next time I make corned beef hotpot.

I'm so glad I looked at this thread! When I read the title, I thought it was about the weather, so didn't read any of it! It's been so interesting to read other people's ideas and what works for them. I shop at Aldi, catching the bus there (bus pass!) then walking a little distance to the store. I don't buy more than I can carry in two calico bags which will go over my shoulder. Then I walk back over and either catch a bus back or, if I time it right, a train for which the fare is 50p! Odds and ends are bought at places like Home Bargains or Poundland, both of which are very good for branded items.
My clothes I buy from charity shops, mainly. I always seek out good labels and also buy clothes on ebay. I also sell my clothes on ebay!
We got rid of the car a year ago, and certainly haven't missed it - especially the expense of running it! I do use my credit card occasionally, but make myself pay it off by the end of the month. If it's something a bit big, where I can't pay it off in the month, then I arrange my outgoings so that amounts will be paid into the account every week until it is paid off. I do online banking, which is really useful, as it lets me check my finances on a daily basis and helps me keep on top of things.

Marelli I thought it was about the weather too

And me!

Best laid plans etc This week I have had to buy birthday presents for 2 sisters in law, DH, SIL's mum and also hit Waitbury's and our local butcher for the wherewithal for a family lunch tomorrow. Oh and not forgetting a special cake for DH! Ah well, next week!

I have taken to buying presents from Amazon and from Ebay traders. You can find some very individual things on Ebay made by craftspeople who market their products on line. My DiL has a birthday tomorrow. Notified by DS that she wanted some silver drop earrings, I found the very thing on Amazon at a very reasonable price. I'd really have liked them myself!

It is not just the gifts, I usually end up spending quite a lot on cake, balloons and gift bags all adds up to an expensive day.

I've had a bad week with birthdays too! DGD's boyfriend's 21st, son-in-law's, DD's, all in the course of one week.....I've not used my credit card, but I know that when I check my balance online on Monday, I'll have to have a very 'thin' week next week....bread and scrape again, I think!

Not a good week for my finances - £2,000 for air fares and car rentals, and my property tax bill arrived. My annual water rate is due, and I have a trip of over 420 miles to make next month to do a house exchange to the Pyrenees. Definitely a time for 'drawing in my horns' and eating frugal meals! I love travel, but it comes at a price!

It certainly does greatnan - but worth the frugal meals!

I've got some sound advice about credit cards, get rid off them you will never pay them off. I got into debt with a credit card, and slowly and painfully paid it off. Use some scissors and cut it into thin strips and rid yourself off it before it takes over your life. There should be a written warning with a credit card; it can mess your life up.

It can do so, but only if you're not careful, Ian42. I can manage mine very well.