Cost of living/Living cheaply How cheap can you live?

DrWazzock · Oct 25, 2022

So the average weekly food shop is about £31 per adult person according to Google but that includes one meal out at £13.
I think I spend about £42 per person on my weekly supermarket shop but that includes some none food items and I’m not going out of my way to eat cheaply. I’m not a member of any loyalty scheme and there is only Tescos nearby. The COOP sadly is prohibitively expensive like most things with socialist origins. Farm shops here are also prohibitively expensive until you go to the south of the county to proper side of the road prefabs, stalls and warehouse types.
Home cooking ain’t quite what it used to be as the cost of heating the oven will soon be more than the cost of the food being cooked, but used thoughtfully you get a lot more out of a kWh by using steamers, putting it all in the oven at once and cooking big batches etc.
But has anybody time or inclination to look into all of this?

Sandpit Farm · Oct 25, 2022

toquark said:
Was in town this morning and found myself craving a takeaway coffee and a flapjack to go with it. I bought neither. I hate this thread.

You can go too far with it!!

It is weird though that you can baulk in the supermarket at the cost of a jar of coffee being £7 but then happily buy a takeaway coffee at the shop for £3. I think we stick things in different budget pots in our head. It is like avoiding at the £10 wine in the supermarket but then thinking you got a good deal for a £20 bottle supplied at the pub with dinner.

When we are being careful, we just change how we go out. Rather than eating out, eat in and go for a pint together instead. Or do a cooked breakfast and go out for a coffee. You get the same experience.

Sandpit Farm · Oct 25, 2022

DrWazzock said:
So the average weekly food shop is about £31 per adult person according to Google but that includes one meal out at £13.
I think I spend about £42 per person on my weekly supermarket shop but that includes some none food items and I’m not going out of my way to eat cheaply. I’m not a member of any loyalty scheme and there is only Tescos nearby. The COOP sadly is prohibitively expensive like most things with socialist origins. Farm shops here are also prohibitively expensive until you go to the south of the county to proper side of the road prefabs, stalls and warehouse types.
Home cooking ain’t quite what it used to be as the cost of heating the oven will soon be more than the cost of the food being cooked, but used thoughtfully you get a lot more out of a kWh by using steamers, putting it all in the oven at once and cooking big batches etc.
But has anybody time or inclination to look into all of this?

Same with air dryers (I hear). I don't think anybody really knows how much output the cooker uses and how much that costs. It'd be interesting to work it out for some rough rules of thumb.

Our nearest supermarket is 20 mins drive and there is a fuel cost to that. CoOp in the village is still really expensive but there are things that aren't badly priced. I reckon a simple white board on the fridge with a list of things to get when you go out would be worthwhile... the worst thing is driving through Bakewell and realising I should have measured the mower part I needed as I could have picked it up while I was out.

Chopsy Varmint · Oct 25, 2022

DrWazzock said:
Actually I find the more money you accumulate the less bothered you are about material goods, that’s if you ever were bothered.
All that matters to me is keeping the farm functioning and producing as it should without knackering it or myself. If that’s got right, and if we have our health than there really is nothing more that I want for.
I wouldn’t want a Range River if I was given one for free nor an exotic foreign holiday, nor to travel the world.
I see living cheaply as an enjoyable challenge. For one thing, the cheaper you live, the less you drain the planet of irreplaceable resources and the more you leave for the next generation.
Since having to do the weekly shop and menus I’ve actually quite enjoyed the challenge of balancing cost with an acceptable level of quality and minimising waste to zero. Same principle as running any business realky. Maybe it’s a Scottish thing but for us there is virtue and satisfaction in treading lightly on the planet and living “carefully”.

Thank you for this post. This is entirely my way of thinking too and has been for all of my adult life, which means I'll ride out this expensive time just fine.

Far too many folk seem to have been all fur coat and no knickers for so long and I don't understand how they thought it wouldn't have to be paid for at some point, not just in terms of interest rates held down so low for the best part of two decades, but the cost in resources of buying so much cheap Chinese tat on a daily basis, cheap 'wear once and chuck it' clothing, cheap food, cheap air travel, new cars every three years etc.

I have hope though for Generation Z as regards living carefully and considerately. My 18 year old nephew has started 'cash stuffing' having seen it on Tiktok and is delighted with himself for being fiscally responsible instead of tapping his card. I didn't have the heart to tell him I was 'cash stuffing' all through my 20s, and both his great-grandmothers did it all through their lives to manage daily household finances. As a consequence he is more open to talking about drip-feeding long-term savings, making a small sacrifice now to reap the benefit later and all that.

Chopsy Varmint · Oct 25, 2022

toquark said:
Was in town this morning and found myself craving a takeaway coffee and a flapjack to go with it. I bought neither. I hate this thread.

If it helps, us parsimonious Calvinist folk are very proud of you. Well done!

britishblue · Oct 25, 2022

It is mad when I only live 4 miles from nearest town when I think it now costs more to go for a Sunday Paper than what the paper costs! I have been swithering giving up the Sunday paper as at £3.50 it is not great value but I like to read Clarkson,Rod Liddle,Dominic Lawson etc! Maybe I will have to get my bike out rather than the 25mpg defender!

toquark · Oct 25, 2022

Chopsy Varmint said:
If it helps, us parsimonious Calvinist folk are very proud of you. Well done!

They always talk about catholic guilt, but nothing is ever said about the deep self-reproach felt every time a Scottish presbyterian opens their wallet. The feeling's real.

britishblue · Oct 25, 2022

DrWazzock said:
Actually I find the more money you accumulate the less bothered you are about material goods, that’s if you ever were bothered.
All that matters to me is keeping the farm functioning and producing as it should without knackering it or myself. If that’s got right, and if we have our health than there really is nothing more that I want for.
I wouldn’t want a Range River if I was given one for free nor an exotic foreign holiday, nor to travel the world.
I see living cheaply as an enjoyable challenge. For one thing, the cheaper you live, the less you drain the planet of irreplaceable resources and the more you leave for the next generation.
Since having to do the weekly shop and menus I’ve actually quite enjoyed the challenge of balancing cost with an acceptable level of quality and minimising waste to zero. Same principle as running any business realky. Maybe it’s a Scottish thing but for us there is virtue and satisfaction in treading lightly on the planet and living “carefully”.

Best post of the thread!

Chopsy Varmint · Oct 25, 2022

toquark said:
They always talk about catholic guilt, but nothing is ever said about the deep self-reproach felt every time a Scottish presbyterian opens their wallet. The feeling's real.

Moth lives matter

Sandpit Farm said:
Same with air dryers (I hear). I don't think anybody really knows how much output the cooker uses and how much that costs. It'd be interesting to work it out for some rough rules of thumb.

Our nearest supermarket is 20 mins drive and there is a fuel cost to that. CoOp in the village is still really expensive but there are things that aren't badly priced. I reckon a simple white board on the fridge with a list of things to get when you go out would be worthwhile... the worst thing is driving through Bakewell and realising I should have measured the mower part I needed as I could have picked it up while I was out.

I googled a while back and came up with this from The Sun:

Cost of appliances according to the Sun Oct 2022.jpg

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/19665346/appliances-home-energy-bills-price-cap/

le bon paysan · Oct 25, 2022

Hindsight said:
Hi, indeed. I had assume you to be righteous! And agree - compared to when I bought my first car at 18 in 1979 for £200 if I recall along with plenty of filler (J reg Ford Escort) youngsters today do buy better vehicles - and for that I am pleased. I would hate to send my youngsters out in a 1970s vehicle with drum brakes and a carburettor. Also I agree seems to me mean, unseemly and nasty to chide the young for having a nice car or other things. I bought my son a Peugeot 106 when he was 19 9years ago for £1000 from the village garage which lasted him four years and then from same garage a 207 for £1200 which packed in this summer. Now he is in a full time job and he bought himself (with a loan) a nice little VW Polo for £7k.

Just bought my girl a 206 for a thousand euros

egbert · Oct 25, 2022

Chopsy Varmint said:
Moth lives matter

I googled a while back and came up with this from The Sun:

View attachment 1071918

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/19665346/appliances-home-energy-bills-price-cap/

cost of overhead light £2-£5 per hour, on 52p tariff.
Er...is this light burning 10kw?

Chopsy Varmint · Oct 25, 2022

egbert said:
cost of overhead light £2-£5 per hour, on 52p tariff.
Er...is this light burning 10kw?

It's not £s. It's 2p-5p but they kept in the tiny amounts that the computer worked out for them.

For example, from their table it is not £104-£114 to run the oven for an hour, but £1.04-£1.14.

Nor is it £20 to have the telly on for an hour. Not yet anyway.

Sharpy · Oct 25, 2022

egbert said:
cost of overhead light £2-£5 per hour, on 52p tariff.
Er...is this light burning 10kw?

You missed the decimal point.......

le bon paysan · Oct 25, 2022

britishblue said:
It is mad when I only live 4 miles from nearest town when I think it now costs more to go for a Sunday Paper than what the paper costs! I have been swithering giving up the Sunday paper as at £3.50 it is not great value but I like to read Clarkson,Rod Liddle,Dominic Lawson etc! Maybe I will have to get my bike out rather than the 25mpg defender!

Subscribe and have the postman deliver it.

Sharpy · Oct 25, 2022

le bon paysan said:
Subscribe and have the postman deliver it.

On a Sunday?

Bossfarmer · Oct 25, 2022

Clive said:
its about balance surely

the title of this thread and some replies suggests its good to spend not a penny more than absolutely necessary to exist - anyone not doing so is somehow excessive, living beyond means or wasteful

my point is such a frugal existence is rarely good for mental health and can lead to some big problems / a life not really lived on this wonderfully interesting and divest planet

i’m not for a moment suggesting money buys happiness…….. it clearly doesn’t, but if spent wisely it can enhance life tremendously, facilitating travel, education, hobby, interest and health / wellbeing. Those choosing to live more and not just exist on the minimum possible are not wrong

not necessarily a simple life is possibly best for longevity, ive known farmers in their 80s no wife/kids/hobbies but the farm/farming which is their hobby, interest and keeps their mind active, theyre happy as a pig in sh!t, watch an episode of towie and theyre driving the latest rangerover/latest iphones etc but actually crying because someone in their friendship groups hanging with another friendship group that doesnt like them WTF

Henarar · Oct 25, 2022

Chopsy Varmint said:
Moth lives matter

I googled a while back and came up with this from The Sun:

View attachment 1071918

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/19665346/appliances-home-energy-bills-price-cap/

one thing to remember is if its winter and you have your thermostat controlled heating on then a lot of the things on that list that produce heat will cut down on the cost of heating, for instance its surprising how much the oven will warm the room its in, its not wasted heat

le bon paysan · Oct 25, 2022

Sharpy said:
On a Sunday?

Oh, missed the Sunday.

Bossfarmer · Oct 25, 2022

puppet said:
Poverty kills people. You are 3 times more likely to commit suicide if you live in a deprived compared to affluent area. Every £1000 cut in pay takes 6 months off your life.

yes but theres a difference between being comfortable but living cheaply because you are thrifty and like to save money and someone who has no money or options and being forced to spend the bare minimum, the latter is likely to lead to higher stress levels which ultimately affects life expectancy

Henarar · Oct 25, 2022

Henarar said:
one thing to remember is if its winter and you have your thermostat controlled heating on then a lot of the things on that list that produce heat will cut down on the cost of heating, for instance its surprising how much the oven will warm the room its in, its not wasted heat

I suppose if you have electric heating and electric oven then the cooking is costing no more than not cooking and using the electric heating so the cooking is for nothing

Cost of living/Living cheaply How cheap can you live?

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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