Tuesday, 21 January 2025

Feeding the Addiction, Explaining This Year

 


I got a lovely email the other day, thanks Gail.  In it she mention she was having 'withdrawal symptoms' after following along all through my last years shopping challenge.  She was seriously missing the shopping photos and being able to compare our UK available products and prices with her local ones.

So especially for you, here's this morning's shopping.  😀

As the photo isn't brilliant ... it's a dark and gloomy January morning and the light is bad here, even under the skylight .. I will list what you can see in the photo and the price of each item.  I shopped at Aldi as I wanted to see the new vegan ranges that they have in for Veganuary.  They did have a lot of items, but I was very restrained as this sort of food is virtually all UPF and I am trying to steer away from most of it, but saying that a few new things did catch my eye and I thought it would be good to try them.  Served alongside a half plate of vegetables it won't be the end of the world occasionally.

Wholemeal Seeded Loaf      £1.09
Extra Large Breaded Cod Fillets      £4.49
Garlic and Herb Dusted Basa Fillets    £3.29
Titan Ice-cream Bars     £2.49
Vegetable Nests     £1.99
Mediterranean Style Fillets   £ £3.29
Ready to Wok Noodle   2 x 85p 
Cucumber   89p
Mediterranean Style Vegetables   £1.59



And finally some savoury snacks, as I am trying to steer away from the sweet stuff that I've consumed far too much of since Christmas.

Eat Real Veggie Straws        £1.49
Eat Real Hummus Chips        £1.49
Snack a Jacks        £1.35
Harvest Snaps        99p

Making a grand total of  £26.14


This is the main reason that I have not shared anything about shopping this year, today is the first time I have been shopping and bought something for myself.  

Alan paid for a loaf of bread for me when he was getting his own shopping on the 8th January, and on a different day ... I forget which ... he bought me a dozen eggs, and took no money for either.

This year is a strange one for me, and one that I have intimated about but not properly explained before.  So here goes.  

 Although Alan is now in receipt of his State Pension he retires officially from the company at the end of this financial year which is the end of March.  This means that we can then close our company down, and I will actually have no wages after my March pay-packet, I am effectively making myself redundant.  There will be a directors dividends payment to come, but that will be much later in the year when all the final figures have been dealt with ... and then that is it.  No more regular money coming in until I retire in May of next year.

My quiet mission is therefore to live off my three months salary for as long as I can, and try my best not to dip into savings.  Of course it would have made a brilliant Challenge if I had still been of the mindset to do challenges, but instead I am quietly ticking over in my own time and taking stock of what I have.

Last years Challenge really helped me to prepare for this and to learn what I need, what I can do without and it got me into gear for a year of living even more cheaply than before.  I also made sure that I completely cleared my credit card at the end of December, as well as the usual clearing of it on its due date at the start of the month, in fact I overpaid it by almost £100 so that I had a small buffer for January.

So this year is going to be an interesting one, as well as a very busy one.  But when you're busy you have less time to go shopping and thus you can avoid all temptation to spend any money.

It will all be fine.  💖



Sue xx



34 comments:

  1. Those frozen fish portions from Aldi are favourites of mine. I guess if you (anyone) normally do Challenges of one sort or another, it then might feel like an obligation or a bit of a millstone around your neck, which wouldn't be good if life happens and you can't keep up with the challenge. I don't really do challenges as such - except ones I keep to myself! I wouldn't want to feel pressured to keep doing something that I can no longer do for whatever reason. I'm sure you being you, Sue, you'll cope admirably well on reduced amounts of money - you've had plenty of practise at it!

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    1. Yes, you understand perfectly. ❤️ If I had launched this as a 'Challenge' I would have been upset if I hadn't been able to post regularly because of everything that's going on at the moment. This way I will mention what I'm doing as and when I can but with no pressure.

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  2. I'm amazed at the low cost of your food. Here in California that haul would be more like $60-75 dollars. Congrats to Alan for his upcoming retirement and you as well.

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    1. I understand, but there are other things that cost a lot more here, and our food prices are going up on a weekly basis, while wages stay at the same level. Our fuel costs both household and for the cars are also rising again.

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  3. It's a really good idea to prepare for retirement... I thought it was coming up ahead of my plans at the beginning of covid, when I suddenly lost all my hourly paid school work. I managed to keep a lot of piano teaching going on zoom (although that had hidden costs, eg duplicate music books and paid zoom). Now I've let that dwindle to the last rather irregular (suits me) three students, but we've had time to adjust. It's so lovely to be without so many deadlines and demands on one's time.

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    1. I think Covid threw a spanner in the works for so many people didn't it, I'm sorry it affected you so much, but it sounds like you managed to cope admirably. It will be lovely to have no deadlines, that's why not 'having' to post about a challenge can only be a good thing too.

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  4. Sorry I have been AWOL, been away (in the van, yes it was minus 6 the first night, had a brilliant, brilliant time!)

    If anyone can make the last three paychecks go a long way it is YOU, but you must do this in your own way and not allow anyone else's interest to push you into lists and "challenges" which you don't need. Being away in the van for a week always reminds me just how very little we need, I always want to spend more to support where I visit but it is often hard because I do not need anything.

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    1. Oh gosh, I hope you kept warm and cosy in the van, it must have been quite the adventure. :-)

      Oh I'm definitely doing it my way ... Sinatra would be proud!!

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  5. I bet Alan's counting the days till retirement!
    As Jane so rightly says, if anyone can live on a budget, you can. xxx

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    1. Some days he's really looking forward to it, and sometimes I catch him with a pretty scared look in his eyes. He keeps saying 'what will I do with my time?' but I quickly reassure him and tell him not to worry ... I will find LOTS for him to do. ;-)

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  6. You can do this Sue as you have had lots of practice. Congratulations to Alan.

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    1. I know I can ... well I'm pretty sure. ;-) Alan says thanks. xx

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  7. I really enjoy the eat real snacks-they are so tasty. Looking forward to seeing how you will manage until your pension comes in but I know you will be an example of how to eat well on a limited income. Catriona

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    1. They are definitely UPF but better than some others, and we all need a 'treat' every now and then don't we. :-)

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  8. Congratulations on your upcoming retirements - Alan's and yours. I'm sure you will be able to manage very well on the money you have until the pension starts to come in.

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    1. I'm lucky that there's money in my savings if necessary, but it would be so good not to have to dip into it. xx

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  9. With all your challenges you are set to get this done and dusted. You will do very well.

    God bless.

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    1. It's like all my previous challenges were training me up for this year. I LOVE your positivity. :-)

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  10. Happy upcoming retirement to you both! Greetings from snowy Florida.

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    1. Now that's something I don't think I have ever heard before ... snow and Florida. Wow, has it happened before and I've just never heard of it, or is it a new phenomenon?

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    2. Rarely. Maybe 45 years ago. This is climate change now I think.

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    3. It seems like it doesn't it. 🫤

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  11. We were in a similar position. Bob retired at Easter when my state pension kicked in, and he could access his ministers pension, but his state pension didn't come for another 7 months. But we managed fine, having factored it all in, as you are doing

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    1. It just takes a bit of thinking about doesn't it, but it's all very doable. It helps for me and you that we are obviously similar ages to our husbands, I doubt it would be as possible without some sort of private pension, to do this if the age gap was bigger.,

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  12. Good luck in the coming months, I’ll be watching with interest.
    I missed commenting on your previous post, marvellously titled “I do stuff and I know people” - it struck such a chord. Recently my husband was being quizzed on how he spends his time in retirement and the person suddenly turned to me and said - “and what do you do all day?”
    He said the expression on my face was one he’ll never forget!
    I wish I’d been able to trot out “I do stuff and I know people”

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    1. You'll be able to next time. :-)

      I do hate being put on the spot like that, like you my face tells exactly what I'm thinking in every scenario.

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  13. I think it is normal and natural to worry about how one will manage, how one will pass ones time, and so on, but when it comes to it, we just do. I lost sleep worrying about finances before I retired - what a waste of good nights' sleeps!
    I anyone can make money do its job and more, it is you, Sue, and I so look forward to reading about what you want to share, when you want to share it. xx

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    1. The great thing is that after doing all my various challenges over the years is that I'm not worried at all. I'll make it work, and I've got the back-up of savings if necessary, I'm very lucky. 🙂

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  14. I have been trying to comment to your last 3 or 4 posts, Sue, and either a message says 'publishing' for ages then doesn't or I appear to comment and it then disappears from your page. Aaargh Blogger is driving me insane! I'll try again,
    Angie x

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    1. Blogger was really acting up for me yesterday, it seems to be a law unto itself these days. 🙃

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  15. Yay! It worked this time...
    What I wanted to say is that retirement takes a little getting used to but you are so organised and have planning down to a fine art, Sue, that I just know it will work for you. We seem to be living on diminishing amounts of money each year but can somehow cope. It might be a bit more tricky when we get the warmer weather and want to go out more but we'll see how it goes. Retirement IS scary but you can reassure Alan that he'll wonder how he found the time to work once he's settled in to retirement!
    Your food purchases all look delicious. I'll be looking for more healthy snacks once January is over too :)
    Angie x

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    1. You seem to be coping admirably, your challenge really focuses the mind doesn't it, which in turn helps with the finances.

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    2. It certainly does and even Graham is on the case now. He's actually choosing to eat simpler meals and both our digestive systems are thanking us for it. Less UPF and more basic cooking are definitely saving money ;)

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    3. That's great, working together when budgeting makes it so much easier. ❤️

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