Being cheap

[Rosendula]

I was asked (by the woman doing the article for Essentials magazine) how much I save by being self-sufficientish. I tried for a while to avoid the question as it really is a hard one to answer. I mean, I make my own bread but that doesn't mean bread doesn't cost me anything. I have to find out the cost of a pretend loaf and subtract from that the cost of the flour, etc., in order to get to my savings. Anyway, I did some rough calculations by making a list of all the things I used to buy that I don't now, and all the things I now have to buy that I never used to. Based on what I managed to grow in my first year at the allotment, cutting out convenience foods and making my own wine, yoghurt, things like that, I am saving over £100 per month. The allotment, plus seeds, etc., is costing me less than £100 per year. So in a year I'm well over £1,100 better off for that.

I then realised that if I wasn't doing things for myself I would have to buy the finished products. To get the money to buy them I'd have to go do paid work. So I roughly calculated the costs of a bus pass, plus a clothing allowance (couldn't work in an office in my gardening clothes, could I?), lunch from a sandwich shop and coffee from a machine. Suddenly, I find I would need to work full-time in order to pay for my work-related expenditure and the things I wouldn't have time to grow or make. If I was working full-time I would need full-time child care. I looked up the costs of that on the internet and was astonished! All of a sudden, when everything is taken into account, I would need to be earning £1,000 a month just to pay for everything, and I wouldn't see very much change from that at all.

I know you all know all this already, but putting a figure on it really does boost the self-esteem. At least, it did for me.

[Annpan]

I like that it gives me a little boost too Thankyou

[The Riff-Raff Element]

Coo... now that is impressive. Well done for working it out: I know it's not all about money, but it is interesting to see the figures.

[Rosendula]

Thanks, Jon. I keep pushing the fact that it's not all about money, and I do hope she makes a point of that in the article. Since giving up processed food I have never felt healthier, and the work on the allotment plus the walk there and back has seen me go from extremely unfit to fairly fit. In fact, I feel great!


Touch wood quick 'cos my son's getting a cold and a cough.

[The Riff-Raff Element]

Thanks, Jon. I keep pushing the fact that it's not all about money, and I do hope she makes a point of that in the article. Since giving up processed food I have never felt healthier, and the work on the allotment plus the walk there and back has seen me go from extremely unfit to fairly fit. In fact, I feel great!


Touch wood quick 'cos my son's getting a cold and a cough.

Oh yes, it's the winter disease season all right. My three are just coming off the annual bout of winter vomiting virus (I know it has a proper name, but I can't remember what it is) so I've got a day of emptying bowls, disinfecting, mopping & brow wiping planned though hopefully I'll have bit of time between ejections to get some baking done. There's always a window to do something!

Happily I seem to be immune to this one. Either that or my hand washing regime is a good one.

[Silver Ether]

Well I am not as ish as you guys just doing a little growing, preparing all meals from scratch. Buying local and only british and of course foraging. But what I discoverd that by cutting my work load I have more time to do all these things. I have roughly £700 a month on the credit card bill
Because I worked very long hours I had to do shopping at supermarkets so paid on the card so over the last two year with cutting down I go to the market more yes I am using cash but not any where near as much. So I am pulling my weight in keeping this home going.
AND I feel so much better and content with life.

[Thomzo]

I work as a contractor so often have periods between contracts. I have found you can save a fortune when you aren't in the office all day.

Firstly there are the clothes. As already mentioned, you have to dress to a certain standard in the office. It's nowhere near as bad as it used to be; I haven't really needed to wear a suit for several years. I have also saved a fortune since I started wearing trousers to work and don't have to wear tights any more.

Then you can get the bargains at the supermarkets, plus you can get to shops that only open in normal working hours so there is more choice.

More time means less reliance on the car and there's no cost of commuting.

Having the time to make presents and cards, do your own DIY, cleaning and cooking.

Some places, such as hairdressers, offer cheaper services when they are quiet.

You don't have to buy cakes for every one on your birthday. You don't have to contribute to endless collections for leavers, pregnant mums, birthdays.

The latest tax on workers - dress down days. Obligatory cost of £1 per month. Might as well just reduce your salary.

The constant demands to sponsor someone, their kid, their dog.

Yup - going to work is expensive.

[Annpan]

...
You don't have to buy cakes for every one on your birthday. You don't have to contribute to endless collections for leavers, pregnant mums, birthdays.

The latest tax on workers - dress down days. Obligatory cost of £1 per month. Might as well just reduce your salary.

The constant demands to sponsor someone, their kid, their dog.

Yup - going to work is expensive.

God I hate those things... it is your choice but we will all talk about you if you are the only one not to put in £1 or sponsor me to eat a banana...

Saying that, I was most perturbed when I left my job after 4 years (it was a fashion clothes store - 4 years is a long time) to go onto maternity leave, no baby gift (not even a card) and no leaving present (not even a card).... It's not a big deal, but it is the thought that counts.... so they never even thought about it.... 4 years.... it played a part in my decision not to go back after my maternity leave ended.

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

...
to go onto maternity leave, no baby gift (not even a card) and no leaving present (not even a card).... It's not a big deal, but it is the thought that counts.... so they never even thought about it.... 4 years.... it played a part in my decision not to go back after my maternity leave ended.

God I wish I was able to afford not to go back to work, my employer is so fantastic that I didn;t recieve anything as a leaving gift when I went on maternity leave, but I did recieve a bunch of flowers when my son was born, It's in the human resources policy that flowers will be sent!!!!!
You know I didn't want anything, but to recieve complaints that I hadn't sent a thank you card for the flowers really took the piss!

[mrsflibble]

i recently had a realisation like this concerning money. I have been worried for a while that I rely too much on James, and told him as much. Although he's already done the maths, we sat down together and he explained it all to me. working on normal hours of 40 per week, plus 2 weeks holliday a year...
if I went back to a similar job, or another minimum wage job 'cos lets face it, that's all i'm really trained to do, i'd be on about £12 kpa. less after tax. about £10 kpa i think... i've lost the bit of paper he put it all down on.

child care for both during the school day and after would be costing about £4kpa if I was on normal hours, i.e. 9-5 5days a week.
my bus fare would (if i had a season ticket) cost about £17 a week depending on where i was working, so over £800 per year.
I'd need child care cover for school hollidays because of jim's shifts. i have no idea how much that costs.

Basically we'd not be much better off if I worked full time and I'd miss out on all the wonderful sophie stuff. i'm incredibly lucky to be able to stay at home and be a hippy lol!!

[invisiblepiper]

Hee hee you've remimded me - I left the College where I had worked for 17 years - to go to Art School. No one noticed! I was full time. Haven't heard from anyone there since - as though I had ceased to exist. That was 8 years ago.

No , I didn't go back !

[theabsinthefairy]

When I left work, and probably because we were moving to France, I had all the 'keep in touch, we'll be over to visit and muck in on the farm' platitudes. Needless to say they faded away within the first year, and now only real friends keep in touch and offer to help, so - I am not missing work at all in that respect.

And - on topic - I am so cheap now - I cannot remember who's tag line it is but - but I don't buy anything unless it is essential, and I make do or do without, but it has been hard convincing my family that they have to do the same.

I make everything I can - and buy only the bare necessities like flour and milk, and try to make everything from scratch.

I feel hippy-ness coming upon me more and more fully every day.

[Millymollymandy]

Saying that, I was most perturbed when I left my job after 4 years (it was a fashion clothes store - 4 years is a long time) to go onto maternity leave, no baby gift (not even a card) and no leaving present (not even a card).... It's not a big deal, but it is the thought that counts.... so they never even thought about it.... 4 years.... it played a part in my decision not to go back after my maternity leave ended.

That stinks! What a complete bunch of ****** they were.

[Thomzo]

Basically we'd not be much better off if I worked full time and I'd miss out on all the wonderful sophie stuff. i'm incredibly lucky to be able to stay at home and be a hippy lol!!

I've know several women that have come back to work only to find that their salaries only just cover the childcare costs and that's on a lot more than the basic wage. Don't forget that you pay tax and national insurance so your take home pay would be a lot less than £12k. The afterschool and holiday care costs more than you'd think and then there are the add on costs of sending a child off (travel, lunches, their charity/sponsorship/presents for teacher).

You are also investing in Sophie's future. I'm sure she will get a much better education in her early years and be a lot more secure and confident than if you sent her away all day.

Zoe

[JulieSherris]

Personally, I think I'm a lot busier now than when I was working.

I know that I'm VERY lucky because hubby earns enough to support both of us & pay the mortgage & bills.
This next year will be tight, but because I'm going to be growing a lot of our food & I'm also trying tobacco as well - (every little helps ) I'm hoping that will help the bank balance.

When we've talked about me finding a job, he gets a little defensive & starts arguing about who will cut the logs, bring the peats for the fires, look after the dogs, so just WHO be feeding the chicks & pigs when we've got them?

OK, so I might not bringing a wage, but my 'job' is to look after things here while he's at work - and I LOVE being my own boss!