Downsizer: Which Urbanite lives the cheapest?

[Wookey]

I have just left the rat race.. Or the chitty as I like to call it..Or will do in two weeks.. It took me a long time to get the courage to hand in my notice difficult to give up a high paying job.. But after all it comes down to being happy and not rich.. I have accepted that I will have less money coming in but it is for quality of life. Like you I don't have expensive tastes and when I go shopping now as said in the previous post I say "Do I need it" every time I have come back with no I don't

Will let you know how it goes in a few months time

Well done liberty!!

Eh!? Liberty! I get it now!!

Really really good luck. I got a reply today from a man who might train me as therapist, so I can go freelance and ditch my silly career in the media. Woot, I believe is the current parlance for the emotion I'm feeling.

Let us know how you get on.... I'll start sketching out my resignation....

 

[Wookey]

wookey - my MAJOR money saving tip is to write down EVERYTHING that you spend - you'll soon see how much you really spend on crap, if your estimating £100 Id bet its probably at least £150 its a really good way to help you think about what you need to spend, its boring as hell but it helps a lot

I think I've leaped that stage Callie and have gone on to 'Don't spend!' stage...I'll still write it down though and see what happens....I did very well today coz we got a free lunch at work.

 

[foo]

i don't get it. i thought your meeja career thingy was only just taking off Wookey.

 

[Herbsman.]

Its definitely me, I live on less than 50p a day and thats no fucking joke

 

[Wookey]

i don't get it. i thought your meeja career thingy was only just taking off Wookey.

And so it takes off, and they tell me I'm brilliant, and I start earning nice money - and then I realise I'm getting more and more unhappy following a road I was never meant to follow...

I wasn't put on earth for this, I know that now, foo.

 

[Wookey]

Its definitely me, I live on less than 50p a day and thats no fucking joke

Alright herby!! Tell us how you do it then?!!

 

[sojourner]

I definately need to start taking my own lunch to work.
I used to like pasta and tuna but I'm veggie now, so that makes things a bit harder. I could try and cold mock duck curry and rice salad thingie??!

Cous cous too. with nice big green leaf salads.

but the problem with books is, I never think 'Oh, I fancy a read...' - I think 'Oh, I fancy reading everying Jeanette Winterson's done...' - quite specific...

I applaud your good taste sir You can order books from the library though, for something like 30p - or it used to be til I got barred from the library

Does anyone work part-time, or are we all full-timers?

I've only ever worked full time and it's just not nice anymore, I want to have a life. Or find a job I don't resent?!

part time is ace, I did it when me girl was a nipper, but I had some help with benefits, with being in council accomodation at the time

 

[thought]

Seriously?


1. Learn to turn things off standby
2. Eat lentils, Get them from a chinese superstore, not a health food store.
3. Write a list out of what you spend your money on,,, and consider what you are prepared to do without for a month... and do without it for a month.
4. Month later... write another list :d
5. Get a collection of large plastic containers, together, and get someone to go halves with you at a wholesale outlet, on basics like washing powder... Think about what you normally pay for things though, and dont leave that list!
6. DONT go shopping hungary... ever!
7. Energy efficencent lightbulbes are great... but closing curtains will save you more money :d Draw them early, drop your heating buy two degrees, and remeber to use your cooker for a kettle if gas) as it will save you money... If you want to be a real tight arse... when you boil the kettle,,, fill a flask at the same time, and consider with the same energy you have just helped heat your kitchen :d

Back to food...

Consider what food you like, what food keeps you full longest, and what agrees / disagrees with you... then where possible buy it locally from farms in bulk... Some will give you added discounts for a bulk order

Oh and on the books front... Dont Buy new!

Its quite simple really, there are enough second hand dealers trying to scrape a living in current market, they would be glad of your custom, and will probably save you a lot of money... if not time!

 

[Ground Elder]

DONT go shopping hungary... ever!

but you can buy red paprika in gift boxes

 

[Wookey]

Cous cous too. with nice big green leaf salads.

Good idea sojourner, I love couscous too. Will make some for tomorrows lunch.

Also, I'm gonna check out this asking the library to buy business. Oh, well, I'll have to join first....job for tomorrow...

 

[Wookey]

1. Learn to turn things off standby

Do that already coz it's greener.

2. Eat lentils, Get them from a chinese superstore, not a health food store.

ha! Ahead of you there! Wing Yip is my second home!

3. Write a list out of what you spend your money on,,, and consider what you are prepared to do without for a month... and do without it for a month.
4. Month later... write another list :d

Doing that starting today. I spent £13.40 today, including £12 for me bus pass. I'm gonna try and spend less than £1.40 tomorrow.

6. DONT go shopping hungary... ever!

Agreed, learned my lesson there let me tell you!

Energy efficencent lightbulbes are great... but closing curtains will save you more money :d Draw them early, drop your heating buy two degrees, and remeber to use your cooker for a kettle if gas) as it will save you money..

Another good idea. I put the radiators on yesterday for the first time this year, and went round and turned off the hallways and spare room and bathroom ones. Will turn the thermo down (won't tell me laddo though)...

 

[WouldBe]

Also, I'm gonna check out this asking the library to buy business. Oh, well, I'll have to join first....job for tomorrow...

Not sure you can buy books from a library but if the library doesn't hold a book you want they can 'order' it from another library.

It may take a while for your library to get hold of the copy depending on how many other readers have 'ordered' it.

 

[Wookey]

Not sure you can buy books from a library but if the library doesn't hold a book you want they can 'order' it from another library.

It may take a while for your library to get hold of the copy depending on how many other readers have 'ordered' it.

Ahh. The chances of Salford libraries having some Jeanette Winterson or some Colin Wilson must be quite high? I imagine??

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

...Oh, and Eccles library is DREADFUL...they think Jeffrey Archer's cutting edge, they really do.

I know, libraries nowadays are full of Jeffrey Archer and Catherine Cookson and CDs/DVDs. But you work do in a building right next door to a huuuuuuge library! Or aren't you allowed to join?

...Does anyone work part-time, or are we all full-timers?

I've only ever worked full time and it's just not nice anymore, I want to have a life. Or find a job I don't resent?!

Oh, to be a full timer or part timer, I'm not fussy, am fed up of not working

Don't let recent events get you too disheartened though. I'm quite fatalistic, these things tend to happen for a reason. Something good will come of it in the end Wookey, don't you fret.

 

[Wookey]

I know, libraries nowadays are full of Jeffrey Archer and Catherine Cookson and CDs/DVDs. But you work do in a building right next door to a huuuuuuge library! Or aren't you allowed to join?

I dunno, I thought it was for academics, as opposed to hack-a-demics....what's in there anyway? (and just how ignorant am I??)

Don't let recent events get you too disheartened though. I'm quite fatalistic, these things tend to happen for a reason. Something good will come of it in the end Wookey, don't you fret.

I totally agree Ann, some good is coming out of it. I'm leaving the industry.

 

[pinkmonkey]

on the boat? how does that work!
/

Well we have a lot of bankside but most people grow stuff in containers, then stick 'em on the roof when they go on holiday. My neighbour even took her growbags with her when she went away this summer!

 

[thought]

The only way libraries will change their stock is when the people who use them order different books..

The more books you order, the more books they end up having to buy

I have a policy when i get a fine (which i often get, as i forget to return books on time) I then order books which if i brought new, would cost 5 x the amount of my fine.. O.K it might cost me 30p a book to order / reserve it, but in theory I could get £50 of books to read, for my £10 fine.. not bad hey