Pointless things to spend money on.
I'm sure everyone right about now is tightening their belts accordingly. I was amazed to see the Christmas lights have been switched on already in Dundrum. Amazed. Wasn't it Halloween not two weeks ago? I seem to remember a time when Halloween and Christmas used to be some time apart.
The reason behind the lights is a gee up to the buying public, a sort of 'fear not, just shop' reminder. Well yes, but sticking our heads in the sand and pretending we're not facing a few rapids in the economic river is stupid.
But it occurred to me yesterday as I switched off yet another light in an unoccupied room, that wasting money is ridiculously easy, and when coming out of a decade of unprecedented wealth, a bit of a challenge to wake up and smell the instant not French Vanilla coffee.
Gym membership. Unless you actually go to the gym regularly what on earth is the point in paying gym membership. I'm looking at you Paramour and Country Gay, French gay.
Leaving light/radios/computers/lamps/ all thing electrical on standby all over the house- Paramour, paramour paramour. He's a sink hole of electricity.
Driving everywhere and using city carparks- Yes, it's more convenient, but it's also ridiculously expensive. Just walk or catch a bus- Paramour, Etheline, Yoga friends, French Gay.
Buying clothes you never wear, ever- I'm looking at you Etheline, Oldest Friend, Yoga Pal, Self.
Not doing shopping for house hold products in ALDI or LIDL- I'm looking at you Oldest Friend and Lunch friend. I mean seriously. You have the room, buy in bulk and store your washing powders and kitchen towels.
Not moving your accounts if your bank is slow on passing on interest rate cuts- Everyone.
Eating out- self. Self for sure. I've had to curtail my eating out in a big way. I LIKE eating out but for fuck's sake, I'm not willing to pay through the nose for mediocre food regularly.
No hooch drinking like you're the last person on the Titanic and the bar man has fled leaving you the keys- Me, my current no hochiness is probably- if I"m totally honest- saving me about 60 -80 Euros a week, and trust me, that adds up over a month.
Anyone else got some ideas on how to save some money over the next few months? All suggestions will be mulled over while I wait for the 'chimney expert' to call me back.
The reason behind the lights is a gee up to the buying public, a sort of 'fear not, just shop' reminder. Well yes, but sticking our heads in the sand and pretending we're not facing a few rapids in the economic river is stupid.
But it occurred to me yesterday as I switched off yet another light in an unoccupied room, that wasting money is ridiculously easy, and when coming out of a decade of unprecedented wealth, a bit of a challenge to wake up and smell the instant not French Vanilla coffee.
Gym membership. Unless you actually go to the gym regularly what on earth is the point in paying gym membership. I'm looking at you Paramour and Country Gay, French gay.
Leaving light/radios/computers/lamps/ all thing electrical on standby all over the house- Paramour, paramour paramour. He's a sink hole of electricity.
Driving everywhere and using city carparks- Yes, it's more convenient, but it's also ridiculously expensive. Just walk or catch a bus- Paramour, Etheline, Yoga friends, French Gay.
Buying clothes you never wear, ever- I'm looking at you Etheline, Oldest Friend, Yoga Pal, Self.
Not doing shopping for house hold products in ALDI or LIDL- I'm looking at you Oldest Friend and Lunch friend. I mean seriously. You have the room, buy in bulk and store your washing powders and kitchen towels.
Not moving your accounts if your bank is slow on passing on interest rate cuts- Everyone.
Eating out- self. Self for sure. I've had to curtail my eating out in a big way. I LIKE eating out but for fuck's sake, I'm not willing to pay through the nose for mediocre food regularly.
No hooch drinking like you're the last person on the Titanic and the bar man has fled leaving you the keys- Me, my current no hochiness is probably- if I"m totally honest- saving me about 60 -80 Euros a week, and trust me, that adds up over a month.
Anyone else got some ideas on how to save some money over the next few months? All suggestions will be mulled over while I wait for the 'chimney expert' to call me back.
posted by fatmammycat at 8:38 a.m.
32 Comments:
If I stopped drinking and smoking I would be so rich. Really should get on to that!
One vice at a time Ellie, for gawd's sake.
€60-80 a week on hooch?!! Really? That's probably my food bill for the week. And if you're drinking that amount then taxis must be a factor. I think using taxis regularly (sorry taxi-drivers) is as good as tossing fifty euro notes on a fire.
Wine Conan, wine is the big bill raiser. The paramour and I were splitting a bottle of wine between the two of us most nights, two glasses each but damn it adds up. Then factor in a night out over the weekend and some cocktails on Sunday and suddenly you're looking at small change out of 100 Euros.
€50 a week would get you a lot of potable wine in Aldidland.
Not that you'll ever be drinking as much ever again....
not sure if it applies to you FMC, but bringing your own lunch to work saves a fortune.
Although you might be able to slide this under the "eating out" pile, but i think you were referring to going out to a restaurant for dinner type eating out.
I was Morgor, but you're quite right, if I was working outside the home I think bringing food from home would make an excellent dent in spending.
Conan, even at that it's still a fair whack of money, better off without at the moment.
I've had to seriously curtail the boozing over the past few weeks (I'd normally spend £100 - £130 a week) and as of 2 days ago I'm seeing how long I can stay off the ciggies.
That should keep a few quid in the bank.
It should and well done Sheepie on the fags!
Ive taken to drinking meths (strained first of course) it's a little acerbic on the pallet at first but the alcohol content is high.
Try loitering outside the chippers at closing time, some tasty uneaten morsels to be had there, hell, bring the family and they wont have to eat at all, the following day.
Casually nip in to Paddy Powers, just off the street like and grab a handful of those little pens, will save a fortune in pens for the kids.
Finally my masterstroke, aI threw out the TV and obtained some sheets of bubble wrap from work, hours of wholesome entertainment for the whole family, popping those bubbles.....
I like your style Anonymous Monkey, family fun for all and saving money to boot.
I find that I'm using combinations of things. For instance, I get a cheap haircut and then immediately afterwards I wear pink bedroom slippers to distract peoples attention away from the cheap haircut and down towards my feet. Thereby saving money but avoiding the embarassment of people knowing that I am being cheap.
Anonmymous - I like your style :)
Nice Docky and I see where you're going with that. I might start only getting my hair cut once a year instead of twice.
Get the Paramour to cut it for you!
I find the less time I spend out of the house the less money I spend, and the more time I spend in bed the less expense I incur in the house - heating, lighting, washing, eating and so on. Move your office into your bed and you'll save a fortune.
Eventually you too can be H Hughes. Right, off to town to argue with a sales lady, laters.
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When I was on a really tight budget, I only did a little shopping, and what I did get was from consignment shops, some of which had incredible bargains for expensive labels.
Gym membership was the first thing to go for us.
Big pots of stick-to-your-ribs lentil soup can feed a family of 4 for 2 days: 2 lunches each (with hunks of bread), 2 starters at the evening meal and snacks in the evening and after school. Cheap, filling, nutritious, it helps cut down on more expensive packaged snacks. And nice anyway, in the autumn.
We're big for the freezing of food here too Sam, especially as his nibs is keen on making enough food to feed an army.
Cheers Red! Sounds classy.
Medbh, I like vintage clothes so checking out the more quirky stores is right up my alley.
"I'm not willing to pay through the nose for mediocre food regularly."
true....but just pop the tip you would have left in an envelope.....no point in everybody being skint.....
Sure you could stop drinking, but where's the fun in that?!
There's cats for warmth, Wienie Water Soup for supper the day after you have hot dogs, and the electricity you save when you turn off the TV and listen in on the neighbors...
I've got this being broke thing down!
Pearl
Oh Pearl, you just reminded me that as a youth Hotdog pasta was part ( nearly all) of my staple diet. Nom nom.
Oh My, hotdog pasta, ewwwwwwwwwww.
Not as bad as some people who I have seen with my own eyes putting tomato ketchup on pasta, and thats it! Yock.
PS: I'm back!
Huzzah!! Welcome home Babs, now if I just knew Shebah was alive and kicking I'd be pretty dandy.
I was in 'Stralia for a while, needed to go and sort my head out, since I have been back (not long) I have been reading your back catalogues, only got up to speed yesterday, I'm temping, you'd never guess would ya!?
How was down under? You feeling up to the world again?
It was great, shit happened, I legged it, came back, it had still happened but I felt a whole lot better about it in the end. I needed to get away for a while so I just booked tickets and went, freaked out completely the first week I was there questioning myself a lot, and then I relaxed into it. Best thing I have ever done so far!
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not sure if it applies to you FMC, but bringing your own lunch to work saves a fortune. Although you might be able to slide this under the "eating out" pile, but i think you were referring to going out to a restaurant for dinner type eating out.
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