Wednesday 17 October 2012

Getting back in the Swing and The Plan

 
Waitrose - Total Spend £15.97
 
 
Now the holiday is over and it's time to get back in the swing.  I spent all my saved spends last week and a little bit more besides, but I had a great time and it was worth it.  Now I am back to my Frugal October but there was some things that I just had to buy. 
 
Lovely Hubby forgot to water my herbs while I was away so an emergency restock was in order.  Once you get used to cooking with lots of herbs you just can't go back to not using them, although all the outdoor ones are fine my selection on kitchen window sill herbs had died a very sad death.  They have all been trimmed right back to soil level and there are already signs of regrowth so all is not lost and I can make do with just some Basil and Parsley until they are usable again.
 
 
 
In town - Total Spend - £7.57
 
Housekeeping left - £ 26.46
 
 
Although I nipped to Waitrose for the shopping I did call to town for a new washing line, the days may be cooler and shorter but I still like to make full use of outdoor drying whenever I can and although I already have a line between the trees near the house, now the sun has shifted in the sky it does not get the sun for very long, so LH has said I can stretch a line from his Man Shed to the climbing frame where the sun shines for much more of the day.  It will be great for drying those big items, sheets etc, that can be stretched out to get the full benefit of the suns weaker rays and even the slightest breeze.
 
While I was there habit lured me into the charity shop and I'm glad I called, I got this brilliant recipe book for just 99p and a lovely pudding bowl for £1.99.  I see lots of frugal winter puds coming up.  I love reading about the way rationing made people really work magic in the kitchen.  I did it myself for real for years and it stands you in good stead for feeding your family in the future on a limited income whenever you need to.
 
And I need to because of The Plan - I'm on a mission to save every penny possible over the next two years, now there's a challenge and a half!! 
 
 We have made the big decision that we will move back 'up North' rather than buying in this area. We will get so much more for our money there, at the moment we live in one of the most expensive areas of the country.  Currently we rent a 1930's two bed bungalow that is believe it or not (with it's 4 acres of land) valued on the open market at almost £800,000, there's no way on this planet that we could ever afford to buy anything even remotely similar if we stay in this area.  Even better we will be closer to our roots and much nearer to all our family.  It does mean that we have to get as much money together while we can, while we live here.  LH's job is really based here and it's here that we can milk the 'cash-cow' for all it's worth and hopefully save enough to almost buy a place for cash.  Any shortfall will have to be made up by LH continuing to work down here and commuting back to our new place for weekends, so my challenge to save every penny matters........really matters, we don't want to be apart for too long.
 
 
 
So I've already started earning pennies and pounds where I can, and yesterday I listed my first 10 items for sale, books on Amazon and other things on Ebay, and good news, one book has already sold, so I'm just off to package it up and get it ready for posting.  Although I will hang on until I have to go into town for something else, saving petrol matters too.
 
 
I'll try and get a link in the sidebar to my Amazon and Ebay pages so you can see what I sell.  After that I'll be looking out ten more things ready for listing next week.  I'm doing the listing every Tuesday so that the 5 day auction ends on a Sunday evening, I've been told by a very good authority (thanks Froogs) that this is the way to maximise earnings.
 
 
Sue xx

14 comments:


  1. Good luck with the amazon, I sold some molly makes magazines for £7-£10 each a while ago and last week had the winning bid of £1 each for two lovely lightweight indian print silk scarves - they look so refereshing with a white shirt for work. I couldn't go in waitrose as everything looks so nice I want to buy it all! do you grow the herbs in your picture (Waitrose) and get them to come back? I thought they were throw aways - hope I haven't been wasting an opportunity for a small kitchen herb garden! Just looked at your followers - you have so many - not surprising as you are so inspirational. Betty





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    1. I use the herbs as they come from the supermarket and then as they are nearly all gone with the last cutting I crop right back just above the level of the compost and then leave on a light windowsill in the kitchen. You get a second growth, not as vigourous as the first but still well worth having.

      I usually grow all my own herbs but this year has been bad for everything and I've had to buy about half a dozen or so of the more indoor herbs, Parsley, Corriander etc for the kitchen windowsill from the supermarket.

      Sue xx

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  2. Exciting times ........good luck with all the saving

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    1. Thank you, sometimes I'm in my element when I have to be extremely frugal, I'm actually looking forward to it.

      Sue xx

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  3. This is exactly why we moved down to the West Country, Sue. The further you get from London, the better value you get for your house buying buck.

    Wishing you the very best of luck with your saving, and the plan. And look forward to following your progress. Jessica x

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  4. Thank you Jessica, as usual all the information will be on the Blog...lol.

    We have always known how expensive this area is but were hoping somehow to be able to manage it, but LH would like to retire to a simpler life sooner rather than later and if a couple of years of serious saving and tighetening our belts will do it AND we get to be nearer our families it will all be worth it.

    Sue xx

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  5. I have recently started selling a few bits on eBay too. Not made a fortune, but every little helps.
    That cookbook was formerly published as "The Postwar kitchen" and I love my copy - esp the pic of the bossy woman on p29 in the black and white shoes!! Bob is esp fond of "Gypsy Tart" p21- which was a still favourite on his school dinner menu in the late 50's/early 60s. Great book- you got a bargain there!!
    blessings xx

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  6. I'm very excited to hear your plans Sue - deciding where to live is something constantly on my mind. Like you we've decided to milk our 'cash cow' for as long as possible and then move. Good luck. Can't wait to watch you on your journey x

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  7. HHMMMMMM so I was right then, I thought that was whats going on.

    Every penny will have to be a prisoner for you for the next 2 years. Keep your eye on the market where you are wanting to go so you have some idea exactly how much you are going to need.

    Good luck.

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  8. Exciting ... I'm sure you will feel at home here in the North ... closer to you roots. Prices of property are much more realistic, my sister bought a smashing house at Auction last week .. a real bargain.
    Good luck with the ebay .. every penny counts.

    Vicky x

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  9. I love your china bowl from the C shop. I got the perfect bowl for water for the cats in our shop during my stint & after paid for it a customer came in looking for one. I felt a bit sorry so rummaged around & found her something too.
    All my kitchen herbs died - just using the outside ones now. Your plans are so exciting !

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  10. Good luck with your money-saving ventures and with ebay and Amazon. You might like to try listing on Thursday evenings for 10 days (thus ending the auction on the next Sunday but one) to maximise the number of people who wee your item for sale. I too am thinking of moving back to my roots in the near future - seems to be a bit of a trend these days!!

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  11. Good luck with your plans. My hubby and I are doing something similar -- working toward an earlier retirement and more simple living. We're more than half way our plan and excited at the prospects.

    I'm looking forward to hearing more about how you accomplish your goals.

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  12. Love your charity shop finds - I'm the same, got some lovely bits myself recently and shared them on my blog. :-) I look forward to seeing all the puds you make in that pretty bowl! Good luck with your Amazon and Ebay exploits, and your saving. 800k for where you are - sheesh!!!!

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