Alternative Ways of Living

enoughalready

Hi all,

I am obsessed with this idea of being frugal and thriftily saving my money! I can go days and days without spending a cent. Literally no spending days are the best! I have only spent €5.20c in the last 4 days. I could probably manage a whole week without spending anything. It got me thinking of other people's alternative ways of living and examples of how they cut costs.

Do you have a way of living that others would perhaps deem 'abnormal'? But saves you hundreds or even thousands of €€€? For example, I'm thinking of ditching my mobile phone and living my life without one. It would certainly cut costs and I don't NEED it. Surely there are other examples of thrifty, alternative living recommendations that you are all experiencing at the moment, would love to hear some stories. Just because everyone else is doing something doesn't mean we should follow like little sheep, STOP for a moment and question why we are paying out for stuff when it's not necessary.....

Freddiestar

Nah not for me, I work hard enough all week to be frugal, nothing like splashing out on expensive craft beer that I don't need, or a weekend in Berlin that I don't really need either.

Jesus Wept

mortgage/rent, /light/heat etc ? Hard to not spend...

sareer

It's funny you would mention giving up your phone as I am also thinking of ditching my smartphone. I was gifted one by my husband in 2012 when he realized I would never get one myself, comfortably happy with my ancient Nokia and clueless about whatsapp now I spent wayyy too much time online, especially on facebook, wasting quality time when I could be enjoying something else offline instead. Plus I pay for data every month to do so. I mean apart from google maps and free calls abroad, what does one need a smartphone for? This month I got a prepaid amount without data and only use wifi at home and take a guess...am still alive!

I am also a bit obsessive when it comes to not spending money and when I do I make sure I really want the item (even if it's a gift, I put in a lot of thought before shelling out my cash). We keep track of all our expenses so any day without an entry feels good somehow but not even a bit deprived.

I love finding ways to get items cheaper or free by being more patient and thinking things through. I used to be very quick to buy and then too the first available option but I have become better with that.

Our bank balance is comfortable and we intend to keep it that way. We are thinking about buying property but only if it makes money sense and not because everyone does it. I have friend who buy because that is supposedly what one should do or they buy a car on loan which to me is silly as it is a depreciating asset so what is the point? I think in general consumer loans are a trap and one should just keep away!

I have stopped drinking upon getting pregnant last year - yes, I do not care what people say but I firmly believe it is harmful to drink during pregnancy - and since them have not been to a pub as my friends only wanted to get wasted so I sort of fell out of those rounds. Interestif which friends stick around if you do not want to go out for a drink or a night of partying. Eye opening to say the least. I do not intend to go back to drinking; am breastfeeding still and not drinking any alcohol.

owenbutt

So true about drinking and not going out with friends. Happened to me few years back when I fell out of the habit which has reduced my friends to a number I can count on my fingers who enjoy a cup of tea or just hanging out. Forking out almost 100 bucks buying rounds. Nah. That's a REALLY expensive piss. I would rather stay home with kids. Can't ditch the smartphone but hate the social media. Too much time consuming and infact causing trouble more than good. I love to go to the markets or car boot sales where you can get fantastic bargains especially kids toys. But you gotta be careful because you can end up collecting tons of cheap stuff which you would never use. On the other hand, if you have to dump all of it, you know the whole lot would have cost you next to nothing. Kids also get hand me downs from my nephews and nieces as they are all under six and growing at such a rapid pace that it's waste of money buying clothes which don't last till next season. The only exception being school uniform. I also tend to buy cheap gifts on offer or reduced price from main high street stores ahead of time and hold on to them for an occasion so I don't have to buy it on full price at the last minute. Another place is online freebies advertised on the likes of Gumtree and Donedeal. Some of the things are quite good especially if you are looking to furnish a rental property and you are looking for cheap furniture. Buying a house on mortgage is ridiculous as well. You are better off renting as the mortgage house not only costs you a fortune to pay off but you also have to budget for maintenance of the property every year not to mention property tax and other overheads. If your house gets flooded, or the water tank leaks in the whole house, or even worse it catches fire, Inspite of insurance you are still not covered for the full loss and end up forking out yourself.

Wanderer78

Op look into Bushcraft skills. Might be the life for you. Very enjoyable and fantastic for self development and well being

enoughalready

Fantastic guys, great to hear about your 'penny-pinching tips', might hold on to my smartphone and instead of this €20 a month malark - just purchase €5 a month and avail of free wifi where possible to send whatsapp messages. Savings of €180 a year to be had!!!

enoughalready

I also cut the cost of sky tv down from €76.00 a month to €29.50 - another yearly saving - this time €558 has been saved as a family. We divide the €29.50 price by 3 a month for the 3 of us using the service at home...happy days

Speedwell

Best frugal tip I've ever heard... take an opaque plastic container, put your credit card in it, fill it with water, and put it in the freezer. Once frozen solid you have to thaw it to take it out, and that gives you time to get over your impulse.

Second best frugal tip I've ever heard: If it's not truly an emergency (like a forgotten overdue bill or you ran out of milk), let at least three days elapse between your wanting to buy it and actually committing to buy it/spending the money. I can't tell you how many times I've meant to buy something, put it off because I was busy, and completely forgot what it was I meant to buy for weeks, only to realize I didn't really want it after all.

Starscream25

Cooking for yourself saves a tone, my personal favourite chilli con carne, between all the ingredients in costs about ~8 euro, can get 4 meals out of it, so 2 euro for a fantastic tasty healthy dinner, I also enjoy the odd sardines on toast, aldi and lidl For about 90% of my grocery shopping. I make my own sandwiches too.
Sold the car and have my an economical motorbike, halves my fuel expenditure, tax and insurance are also way down, and I do a bit of my own maintenance.
Can be quite tough in the colder months but great fun too if your responsible on the road etc.
Pay as you go, usually send free messages online so that another savings for me.
Recycle as much as you can, put food extras in a compost(except oily and meat foods of course), you'd be surprised how little you'd waste after that, eventually you will have a smelly bin, I'm lucky in that a family member nearby takes a full bin bag off me every 2-3 weeks so no bin charges.
Don't drink much anymore so I can avoid the late night taxi fairs.
Charity shops- got myself a lovely practically new pair of Levi's jeans lately for a tenner, some great bargains to be had.
Sell your unwanted belonging online, even if your family or friends want to throw something out ask can have it, sold my brothers Hoover for a small bit not long ago.
LED lighting and energy efficienent appliances, I turn down my tv brightness, uses 40% power compared to if it was fully lit.
All small savings that over the course of the year save me a lot and make me a bit so it's certainly a nice hobby if you can look at it that way.
Also I'm a student so I'm poor

Starscream25

Cooking for yourself saves a tone, my personal favourite chilli con carne, between all the ingredients in costs about ~8 euro, can get 4 meals out of it, so 2 euro for a fantastic tasty healthy dinner, I also enjoy the odd sardines on toast, aldi and lidl For about 90% of my grocery shopping. I make my own sandwiches too.
Sold the car and have my an economical motorbike, halves my fuel expenditure, tax and insurance are also way down, and I do a bit of my own maintenance.
Can be quite tough in the colder months but great fun too if your responsible on the road etc.
Pay as you go, usually send free messages online so that another savings for me.
Recycle as much as you can, put food extras in a compost(except oily and meat foods of course), you'd be surprised how little you'd waste after that, eventually you will have a smelly bin, I'm lucky in that a family member nearby takes a full bin bag off me every 2-3 weeks so no bin charges.
Don't drink much anymore so I can avoid the late night taxi fairs.
Charity shops- got myself a lovely practically new pair of Levi's jeans lately for a tenner, some great bargains to be had.
Sell your unwanted belonging online, even if your family or friends want to throw something out ask can have it, sold my brothers Hoover for a small bit not long ago.
LED lighting and energy efficienent appliances, I turn down my tv brightness, uses 40% power compared to if it was fully lit.
All small savings that over the course of the year save me a lot and make me a bit so it's certainly a nice hobby if you can look at it that way.
Also I'm a student so I'm poor

iguana

enoughalready wrote: »

For example, I'm thinking of ditching my mobile phone and living my life without one. It would certainly cut costs and I don't NEED it.

It have a Tesco mobile as do my mum and husband who are the main two people I call with it. I also have the horizon app, which means when I have wifi I can use my mobile as an extension of my landline, which I have all free calls on. I usually add €10 credit to my phone every 8-10 weeks. For the first month I don't spend a cent of that as all calls to Tesco mobiles are free and I have €10 free credit for other calls. The rest of the time I mainly use the horizon app for calls so it takes well over a month for my original €10 credit to run down even though I use my phone all the time. Well worth €50 a year for the convenience of having a mobile.

Harry Palmr

enoughalready wrote: »

I also cut the cost of sky tv down from €76.00 a month to €29.50 - another yearly saving - this time €558 has been saved as a family. We divide the €29.50 price by 3 a month for the 3 of us using the service at home...happy days

Anyone serious about frugal living would ditch SKY in a moment. Buy a second hand Freesat+ box for UK channels and stick a bit of wire in the ariel socket for saorview

enoughalready

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Anyone serious about frugal living would ditch SKY in a moment. Buy a second hand Freesat+ box for UK channels and stick a bit of wire in the ariel socket for saorview

It's the brothers so its his choice to ditch it or not.

Starscream25

We pay 51 per month for the basic sky and unlimited internet, get about 8mb download speed, share with 2 others, Internet is vital nowadays obviously, wouldn't be a huge difference if we were just paying for Internet although I'm all ears. Might run it by the housemates

mrmanire

Sure money is there for spending. Ye are some tight shower and deserve to be named and shamed. Made my night reading about all of your eccentricities though. Drinking a craft beer now and planning my next weekend away. Go get some joy into your lives!

Starscream25

mrmanire wrote: »

Sure money is there for spending. Ye are some tight shower and deserve to be named and shamed. Made my night reading about all of your eccentricities though. Drinking a craft beer now and planning my next weekend away. Go get some joy into your lives!

My current situation requires me to make my cash last that bit longer than usual nowadays, if your lucky you might avoid it yourself, and yes i do treat myself and have joy, thanks for the tip.

Wanderer78

mrmanire wrote:

Sure money is there for spending. Ye are some tight shower and deserve to be named and shamed. Made my night reading about all of your eccentricities though. Drinking a craft beer now and planning my next weekend away. Go get some joy into your lives!

Believe it or not, the way we live now is completely unsustainable for this planet and our race, but do carry on!

The J Stands for Jay

mrmanire wrote: »

Sure money is there for spending. Ye are some tight shower and deserve to be named and shamed. Made my night reading about all of your eccentricities though. Drinking a craft beer now and planning my next weekend away. Go get some joy into your lives!

Frugality in other areas gives me fine wines and fortnights away. Enjoy your Saturday abroad!

tringle

I work part time and have to have a mobile phone for it, its €20 a month and €10 goes to all calls, €5 on a text bundle and the other 5 for when the text bundle runs out or for using for calls when month is up. I use web text for most of my work group texts.
We bought satellite box, its €70 subscription a year and we have all the channels. I watch Game of Thrones and a movie at the weekend, husband watches Formula One.
A trip to France just bough enough wine for the next 6 months, a few parties and a cold glass every evening in the garden, we don't go out and we don't smoke. We much prefer to entertain at home.
I am an excellent cook and normally cook everything from scratch. We have €80 each week for grocery/toiletry shopping (we are a family of 3 to 5 adults). I do the shopping on Sunday and that's it other than milk for the week. I found just running into the supermarket I was buying lots we didn't want. LIDL is main shop, ALDI for a few things and Tesco for specialised such as bread flour and spices, or the local health food shop. But we grow all our own vegetables and have our own hens, we don't buy most veg all summer long. The €80 includes household items such as linens, towels, smelly candles etc. It also includes gifts and any entertainment expenses we have. I'm not trying to scrimp on the food bills I just hate waste and hate paying for extra packaging and additives. We dine vey well on this. I use all the leftovers.
I make our own bread and bake cake in bulk and then freeze so we always have some sweet treats to hand and are not tempted to buy it.
I love clothes and shoes but have more than I need so a few years ago I started my €100 a year budget. I have €100 to buy regular clothes for the year, socks, underwear, jeans, sandals etc. I am also allowed one "special" outfit such as something new for a wedding/christening/party. And sometimes you need something specific, last December it was really good walking wellies when we were flooded, they cost €60. This year it was a new swimsuit...these come our of any money I have been given as presents for Christmas and birthday.
5 adults cost a lot in water and electricity, always dishes and clothes to be washed. The washing machine and dishwasher are loaded up each evening and set to come on during night time rates. No dishes are hand washed as this uses too much water, the dishwasher is more economical. We have no microwave or tumble dryer. I know water is not charged now but we also have the cost of waste water, we have a treatment system and each day a pump comes on, the more water going the more electricity we use, so we watch carefully and don't leave taps running for washing or rinsing things.
House is well insulated with underfloor heating, heat is on only Nov to Feb. Hot water is timed each day and simply if none is left them you wait until tomorrow or have a cold shower (no immersion).
I live in a rural area and have great neighbours. One gives me manure for the garden, another lets me raid their apple and plum trees as it is too much for them, and yet another (who has a bakery) gives us leftover bread for the hens. I give them eggs and jam. Yesterday our next door neighbour and I visited each others garden and swapped lots of plants and seedlings.
I can knit and sew and this means lots of clothes can get repaired, I'm very short and have to take up all my jeans. A €70 LIDL sewing machine saved me €12 on every clothing item...the cost of having it altered.
I'm not frugal for the sake of scrimping money, its that I hate waste and the idea of using up all the earths resources. And then I enjoy a three week holiday in France each year and a really good long weekend in a 5 star hotel in the Spring.

Sam Kade

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Believe it or not, the way we live now is completely unsustainable for this planet and our race, but do carry on!

Do you think the planet will explode or something.

Speedwell

Sam Kade wrote: »

Do you think the planet will explode or something.

If the planet exploded, we might as well have been living like courtesans at the fall of Rome. No. What you need to worry about is what happens when changes we cause to the planet make the rainfall and temperature not match the amount of sunlight to a given latitude, and the plant and animal life that evolved to exist under certain proportions of each fail because those proportions are so out of whack, and things that depend on the failed organisms fail because of their dependencies, and humans fail because the food chain collapses. There's more to "global warming" than "gee, it's hot outside this year".

Sam Kade

Speedwell wrote: »

If the planet exploded, we might as well have been living like courtesans at the fall of Rome. No. What you need to worry about is what happens when changes we cause to the planet make the rainfall and temperature not match the amount of sunlight to a given latitude, and the plant and animal life that evolved to exist under certain proportions of each fail because those proportions are so out of whack, and things that depend on the failed organisms fail because of their dependencies, and humans fail because the food chain collapses. There's more to "global warming" than "gee, it's hot outside this year".

Global warming is a load of hot air.

Speedwell

Sam Kade wrote: »

Global warming is a load of hot air.

Heh

AMKC

Agree totally Global warming is a load of bull. The Earth goes through these cycles naturally. There is very little we can do about it. Even if humans were not on the planet the weather would be just as it is in the world now. I do however believe that you should reduce,reuse and recycle wherever you can as we use more than the planet can produce at the moment and that has to be fixed. We cant keep doing that its just like a bank overdraft you can,t do it forever.

florawest

Hi all,

I make my own tarts and jams and trade with my neighbour for her delicious bread, wish more of this went on, spent good part of the day baking tarts, scones and have freshly made gooseberry jam, looked after friends children today got lovely compliment, you are a great cook, made my day ☺.

Am useless fixing punctures on child's bike, wish I could do a trade for puncture repair.

Wouldn't it be great if the men's sheds charged small fee for this type thing.

I try hard to hang on to cash but it seems to leave me.

Fair play to every one for their tips etc.

MrsFox

I'm glad I found this, you have some great tips. I spend too much money, I know that and I would love to stop and save. I really like the idea of logging everything I spend the accountability would be good for me. I'd like to travel but at the moment I'm not saving so there's the incentive

Sam Kade

florawest wrote: »

Hi all,

I make my own tarts and jams and trade with my neighbour for her delicious bread, wish more of this went on, spent good part of the day baking tarts, scones and have freshly made gooseberry jam, looked after friends children today got lovely compliment, you are a great cook, made my day ☺.

Am useless fixing punctures on child's bike, wish I could do a trade for puncture repair.

Wouldn't it be great if the men's sheds charged small fee for this type thing.

I try hard to hang on to cash but it seems to leave me.

Fair play to every one for their tips etc.

Bartering would be a great idea I never tried baking tarts but I've repaired punctures from bicycle wheels up to tractor wheels

tringle

That's a great idea about the mens sheds, popping in to them for little things you just cant do. I'm trying to put a pop up tent back into its bag!!!

Bob Z

enoughalready wrote: »

Hi all,

I am obsessed with this idea of being frugal and thriftily saving my money! I can go days and days without spending a cent. Literally no spending days are the best! I have only spent €5.20c in the last 4 days. I could probably manage a whole week without spending anything. It got me thinking of other people's alternative ways of living and examples of how they cut costs.

Do you have a way of living that others would perhaps deem 'abnormal'? But saves you hundreds or even thousands of €€€? For example, I'm thinking of ditching my mobile phone and living my life without one. It would certainly cut costs and I don't NEED it. Surely there are other examples of thrifty, alternative living recommendations that you are all experiencing at the moment, would love to hear some stories. Just because everyone else is doing something doesn't mean we should follow like little sheep, STOP for a moment and question why we are paying out for stuff when it's not necessary.....

how do you manage food?

Logo

florawest wrote: »

Hi all,

I make my own tarts and jams and trade with my neighbour for her delicious bread, wish more of this went on, spent good part of the day baking tarts, scones and have freshly made gooseberry jam, looked after friends children today got lovely compliment, you are a great cook, made my day ☺.

Am useless fixing punctures on child's bike, wish I could do a trade for puncture repair.

Wouldn't it be great if the men's sheds charged small fee for this type thing.

That's a great idea on how to share abilities with men's sheds, to improve communication, reduce costs, depend less on commercialisation and to value lives! It's a pity though that it's hidden in the 'Coupons & Living Frugally' forum though:(

leo.wanderlust

enoughalready wrote: »

[...]Just because everyone else is doing something doesn't mean we should follow like little sheep, STOP for a moment and question why we are paying out for stuff when it's not necessary.....

goat2

how do I keep wood dry outside, I do not have a shed

Water John

Tarpaulin, or trailer cover.

goat2

when I cut back my shrubs each year, I put the cuttings in one place neatly, when I come back the following year I have got fire starters all the time, I break them down into little bundles and tie them with old tights or tea shirts cut into strips, put them in fire to start, they are brilliant, and the leaves that come off them on ground I rake up, and put around shrubs , great for keeping in moisture and as a fertiliser, doing this on fine days and storing them you are never short of dry kindling for the fire, as well as a great way of clearing up the garden

tringle

I do the same with cuttings, I also collect chestnuts and acorns as firelighters

henryforde80

Started the same myself and have cut back on everything.
Mightn't spend anything for a week

Monday - Grocery shopping for the week. Cook all the food and freeze the remaining dinners
then. Stops the craving for take aways. Also only 5KM from work so drive home now
for lunch. Before it was take away twice a week and getting a roll, tayto and a coffee
in the morning. Also get my Diesel on a Monday. Used to smoke twenty cigarettes
a day and get the ejuice now on a Monday for a tenner which lasts me for the week.
Wouldn't spend a dime on food for the rest of the week.

Broadband- Cancelled my Broadband as you can just top up your phone by 20 euro and tether and lucky to live in a 4G area.

Alcohol - Used to spend around 400 a month on the booze and have cut back completely. Used to go to the pub around 9 on a Friday and 7 on a saturday. Now I have a few bottles at home and usually take out 30 euro that would do me for the two nights. I go down close to closing time. Hoping to cut this back to one night soon. I used to spend around 800 in the pubs and night clubs a few years ago.

Sky - Bye Bye Sky - Other alternatives.

Car - Was driving a high powered petrol car where tax was 720 for the year. Went up in years and now paying 200 tax a year and get double the mileage with the Diesel.

From cutting out cigarettes(350 a month), giving the pub a fortune(roughly 400 a month), sky (80 euro) , brodband (40 a month), lunch + coffe(125) a month, take aways(Roughly 100 a month) I am saving roughly a grand a month!

It's easy to get into very bad habits but took me a good while to change!!!!

goat2

I always go out with the thinking, of buying what I need, not wants,

juneg

I'm trying to reduce all the plastic we buy so I really think before I buy anything . Particularly single use plastic like bottles of water, cups of coffee.

cbreeze

juneg wrote: »

I'm trying to reduce all the plastic we buy so I really think before I buy anything . Particularly single use plastic like bottles of water, cups of coffee.

Same here. I have given up on shower gel in plastic bottles and have gone back to bars of soap (from LIDL). Given up buying water in plastic bottles and rediscovering the tap. I don't buy coffee to go. If I want a hot drink on the move I make it at home and put it in an insulated cup or flask. You can live cheaply but without living meanly.

_Godot_

I'd love to save money by ditching Sky, but I still would want to see things like Dr Who and Game of Thrones when they come back on. What's the best sat box for that?

goat2

henryforde80 wrote: »

Started the same myself and have cut back on everything.
Mightn't spend anything for a week

Monday - Grocery shopping for the week. Cook all the food and freeze the remaining dinners
then. Stops the craving for take aways. Also only 5KM from work so drive home now
for lunch. Before it was take away twice a week and getting a roll, tayto and a coffee
in the morning. Also get my Diesel on a Monday. Used to smoke twenty cigarettes
a day and get the ejuice now on a Monday for a tenner which lasts me for the week.
Wouldn't spend a dime on food for the rest of the week.

Broadband- Cancelled my Broadband as you can just top up your phone by 20 euro and tether and lucky to live in a 4G area.

Alcohol - Used to spend around 400 a month on the booze and have cut back completely. Used to go to the pub around 9 on a Friday and 7 on a saturday. Now I have a few bottles at home and usually take out 30 euro that would do me for the two nights. I go down close to closing time. Hoping to cut this back to one night soon. I used to spend around 800 in the pubs and night clubs a few years ago.

Sky - Bye Bye Sky - Other alternatives.

Car - Was driving a high powered petrol car where tax was 720 for the year. Went up in years and now paying 200 tax a year and get double the mileage with the Diesel.

From cutting out cigarettes(350 a month), giving the pub a fortune(roughly 400 a month), sky (80 euro) , brodband (40 a month), lunch + coffe(125) a month, take aways(Roughly 100 a month) I am saving roughly a grand a month!

It's easy to get into very bad habits but took me a good while to change!!!!

Yes, you have given great advice there, what are the alternatives to sky, Yes I am changing my v old car for a newer one, and finding out tax will come down is good, also the broadband, I am thinking of doing same, I am off ciggies and on e juice with 18 months now, doing ok, but was never a big one to go out for the few drinks, do that about every 4-6 weeks, I do make the coffee at home for on the go, prefer my own brand Azera