tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post5365288015921527945..comments2023-10-17T09:38:33.865+01:00Comments on Our New Life in the Country: Keeping Up AppearancesSuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04177854521955532744noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-81859831677577356332014-03-24T19:52:21.967+00:002014-03-24T19:52:21.967+00:00Hello Sue, just found your blog courtesy of a link...Hello Sue, just found your blog courtesy of a link on Money Saving Expert, I was nodding avidly as I read through all of the above. <br />Thank you for the suggestion of the 'Leftovers' book, I have Marika Hanbury Tenison's 'Left Over for Tomorrow' but that is a little bit more geared towards not wasting food that costs an arm and a leg to start with. (A bit like Jamie Oliver's book, though his recipes are very adaptable.)<br /><br />I agree completely with Value ranges and own brands being fine. I have an Aldi locally so am able to save even more money. It's interesting to see how the demographic of Aldi shoppers has changed. Now you are highly likely to see someone re-using an M&S bag in ours. We don't have a Waitrose locally, but my sis reports high numbers of those bags at her local Aldi. :) Andhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760085414838406179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-42779625661592981492014-03-24T08:52:11.115+00:002014-03-24T08:52:11.115+00:00What good tips Sue. I have always found own brands...What good tips Sue. I have always found own brands to be pretty good. Although I do prefer branston beans to own brand, but I buy them when they are on special.Jacqueline Meldrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05748535381400208316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-53730616648973905912014-03-23T14:05:23.176+00:002014-03-23T14:05:23.176+00:00I agree with you Angela. Mixing an increasing amou...I agree with you Angela. Mixing an increasing amount of one in with the usual was really useful for us, we knew we were tricking ourselves but it was fine. I found this particularly useful when we were reducing the amount of sugar in something. <br /><br />Using smaller plates is a good idea too, we also shred or grate some foods to make a little look like more, I'm always amazed at how much we eat with our eyes!thrift deluxehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12267215022924475298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-67738780046922343742014-03-23T00:00:36.392+00:002014-03-23T00:00:36.392+00:00This blog is the epitome of elegant frugality. (I&...This blog is the epitome of elegant frugality. (I'm not connected to it btw) http://theprudenthomemakerblog.blogspot.com<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11796587736917897985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-8785970704500458602014-03-22T17:37:07.925+00:002014-03-22T17:37:07.925+00:00Wow, that's fantastic! Well done! We cleared £...Wow, that's fantastic! Well done! We cleared £25k over approx 3 years and I swore I'd never get into debt again. Now working on massively overpaying the mortgage and building up savings, so still living frugally but things aren't quite as tight as they were for us. It makes me realise how wasteful we were in the past.SusanMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09622557936441532144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-79798235792449009082014-03-22T15:34:50.716+00:002014-03-22T15:34:50.716+00:00I agree SusanM, good luck to the person who wants ...I agree SusanM, good luck to the person who wants to become more frugal.<br /><br />I felt a similar pressure amongst friends and family to keep up with the Jones's and have the latest whatever. When we finally started to address our debt and live more simply I did it in secret but my confidence grew and I started to tell friends and family why we were economising. I've never looked back since! We've downsized our home, cars and hobbies and we've never been happier and are almost debt-free after owing over £30,000 two years ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-21571931247137104292014-03-22T12:37:16.401+00:002014-03-22T12:37:16.401+00:00Super tips here Sue xSuper tips here Sue xBadPennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09889591351222591488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-1627012774776283452014-03-22T12:09:52.745+00:002014-03-22T12:09:52.745+00:00Last night I was shopping in Aldi and commented to...Last night I was shopping in Aldi and commented to the checkout lady how busy it was. She said it's just getting busier and busier and two new stores are due to open locally. I think this shows that people are shunning the food snobbery and putting their money first. You have some excellent tips Sue, for people who want to keep the frugal changes away from other people's eyes. It used to bother me what people thought when they came into my home and noticed the basic tissues, value handwash, the empty tissue box full of kitchen roll which I'd cut in half etc but now I can honestly say that people can think what they like. We'll be the mortgage free ones who can afford to retire and not be sitting up to our necks in debt in our old age! Sorry to sound so blunt, but that's how I see it. Interest rates are going to rise and food and fuel prices continue to rise, with pensions and savings on low interest rates. <br /><br />Good luck to the person who wants to become more frugal. The changes are definitely worth it in the long run.SusanMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09622557936441532144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-43616505307517200642014-03-22T11:19:50.273+00:002014-03-22T11:19:50.273+00:00Like your reader, I have to live more frugally tha...Like your reader, I have to live more frugally than my friends or family. I am embarrassed to say that years ago I wasted lots of money on crazy things. I was spending sometimes $12 (6 pounds) a day on my lunches, and buying books and magazines I seldom read. Now I get my reading material from the library for free or next to nothing. Lunches are made at home - this weekend I am making carrot and corriander soup, and with a cheese toastie each day and a piece of fruit, I spend the same amount I used to spend in a day on a whole five days worth of lunches.<br /><br />This still allows me a little spend money to meet my friends for a frugal mean once a fortnight. We always choose somewhere budget to eat out, but I would rather join them then waste my money on my work lunches.<br /><br />We still love to go out and look at the shops, but I leave credit cards at home and am happy just looking. Sometimes I try some clothes on, then look online to see if I can get the same clothes/shoes second hand, especially if I know it will fit me.<br /><br />Good luck to your reader.<br /><br />Julie QPoppy Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12271337805172036471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-79302265156189185442014-03-21T21:51:57.037+00:002014-03-21T21:51:57.037+00:00LOLLOLBeverleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13890150929382264192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-81981983451700551322014-03-21T20:47:52.813+00:002014-03-21T20:47:52.813+00:00It is difficult to hide frugality from friends, es...It is difficult to hide frugality from friends, especially if your lifestyle has changed from comfortably off to skint in a short time! You have to grasp it by the horns - tell friends that you are saving to be mortgage free, a new roof, or saving for a special holiday - anything that you feel OK with. Then just do it, and turn it into a game.Vintage Maisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00929038050028476580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-67004452223971060072014-03-21T20:27:41.536+00:002014-03-21T20:27:41.536+00:00I have loads of large (200g) coffee jars, like you...I have loads of large (200g) coffee jars, like your sample sized one, because I asked my rather more extravagant friends to save them for me. (To be fair to them, they drink far less coffee and tea than we do, so probably spend as little money as us on these things.) Attilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15916442932314835859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-47332912106620701462014-03-21T19:31:01.868+00:002014-03-21T19:31:01.868+00:00Hi Sue, I've just found your blog and I'm ...Hi Sue, I've just found your blog and I'm enjoying it. I think these are great tips. I am always looking for new ways to save money on food. We also repackage a lot of foods from larger bags or containers, and jars are one of our favorite kinds of vessels to use. My husband found a small suction-pump sealer to use, after making a small hole in the jar lid, which has been good for keeping grains fresh especially. Jennifer Hayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04685253944514672324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-42423448738303555392014-03-21T19:25:18.383+00:002014-03-21T19:25:18.383+00:00weirdly saving money is a game to me. How little ...weirdly saving money is a game to me. How little can I spend...<br /><br />Can I say one thing, some basic brands are better than others. For instance, rice crispies from sainsburys taste very metallic. The ones from tescos are nicer. Rice crispies can be whizzed up and used instead of bread crumbs and are cheaper.<br /><br />Tinned tomatoes, Tesco ones are thinner in the liquid, sainsburys are the same price but have a thicker juice.<br /><br />I have found the basics shampoo in coconut from superdrug is the best I have found so far.<br /><br />Don't skimp on beans. Heinz is best, there is more bean to juice ratio, where as the cheap ones are more liquid than beans. And yes I have drained them to prove this to my sister.<br /><br />Carrots are your new best friend, blitzed up they can be used to bulk out mince and gives it great taste.<br /><br />I hope this helps. Love the jars.Solhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518631542782309728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-69281078811659678292014-03-21T19:24:55.543+00:002014-03-21T19:24:55.543+00:00It's really good advice. It is sad that people...It's really good advice. It is sad that people might feel the need to hide being frugal for fear of judgement. They could do with nicer friends. <br />I think these are very important skills that should be passed to our children should they ever need them!Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06873855806514080395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-53198616252528515122014-03-21T19:20:10.033+00:002014-03-21T19:20:10.033+00:00Great post, I need to start being more frugal, I s...Great post, I need to start being more frugal, I spend way too much on food,I am looking to live more simply and save for our forever home like you did Sue, I started a blog today, its a great way to keep me on the straight and narrow, and hopefully one day we can have a beautiful home. I have read your blog right through and picked up some great ideas and tips, thank you Sue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-79393016292078063502014-03-21T18:28:36.396+00:002014-03-21T18:28:36.396+00:00Well John ... you could start by cutting the Scotc...Well John ... you could start by cutting the Scotch Eggs in half and wrapping the other half in cling film and placing in the fridge for later ;-)<br /><br />Yeah ... like THAT'S going to happen!!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04177854521955532744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-56936473393029535432014-03-21T17:52:44.544+00:002014-03-21T17:52:44.544+00:00It's so sad that people are ashamed of being f...It's so sad that people are ashamed of being frugal and afraid others will find out.<br />I blame all the " your worth it" type ads, the magazines constantly telling people how much better their life would be if..... etc etc.<br />If being frugal means paying off debt,paying off a mortgage, being able to do what YOU want instead of what THEY want then I say BE BRAVE because some time in the future other people might wish they had been frugal too.Sue in Suffolkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13166036914348424622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-35050113990547507862014-03-21T17:24:46.394+00:002014-03-21T17:24:46.394+00:00"I would rather my people laughed at my econo..."I would rather my people laughed at my economies than wept for my extravagance." Quote from an 18th century Swedish king. But it is hard to be laughed at. Coming up with an acceptable reason can help. Eg you want to get rid of chemicals.Marybhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13236420833178711218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-85513129251482031142014-03-21T16:39:18.641+00:002014-03-21T16:39:18.641+00:00I think it is really sad people feel the need to h...I think it is really sad people feel the need to hide their budgeting but some great tips there.<br /><br />My top tips are <br /><br />1. cook from scratch<br />2. a joint of meat or a chicken goes way further than <br />3. half of all cleaning toiletries rule.....use half the recommended amount of washpowder etc I even broke dish wash tabs in half <br />4. Investigate green DIY cleaners such as laundry gloop etc <br />5. Forage for free food<br />6. Investigate shopping outside of big stores at £world homebargains and farm shops as often these are cheaper <br />7. Butchers and greengrocers at markets are usually cheaper than pre packed <br />8. bake cakes and biscuits - cheaper tastier and no rubbish in them <br /><br />The biggest friend of a superfrugaller is knowing where every penny goes! The Squirrel Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08970265671489926403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-34048631621723962062014-03-21T16:32:04.386+00:002014-03-21T16:32:04.386+00:00You make me feel wasteful
I want to work harder a...You make me feel wasteful <br />I want to work harder at being frugal<br />John Going Gentlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14958171262765033946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468906973954014850.post-15826762877891318262014-03-21T15:58:19.019+00:002014-03-21T15:58:19.019+00:00Totally with you on all these tips and blog-recomm...Totally with you on all these tips and blog-recommendations.<br /><br />Try the 'fraction' route - it is easier to wean the family off luxury muesli and onto basic stuff if you do it in stages. Mix a fraction of basic [eg a third] in with the best stuff. Then half&half - then two thirds/one third. And by week four, they won't have noticed you have gone All The Way To Basics. <br />Similarly, if you really don't like Basics Shampoo, Conditioner, Liquid Soap or Washing Up Liquid, buy your usual, and pour half into another bottle, then top up the container with water. <br />I have also started serving food on fractionally smaller plates - so our portions, bills AND waistlines are getting smaller. Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13494078135251214182noreply@blogger.com