It is nearly three years now since I retired (Calloo Callay O frabjous day) and it has taken me a long time to get my head round the fact that I now have a very limited, and static, income. When I first finished work I had a few months pay to keep me going, I had money in the bank, was spending it on my trip to Australia etc etc and just thoroughly enjoying this retirement lark. Well, reality has now set in and having to find £1,000 in the last six months to pay to the Tax Man (their mistake, not mine) has really made me sit down and think.
I have been indoors for most of January with the flu or whatever it was and not spending money in order to make sure I had the dosh in my account when the final instalment of the tax bill was paid, and it has concentrated my mind wonderfully. I managed to save up the final £210 by watching every penny I spent and living within my means and I found it not too difficult and I did not feel I was exactly depriving myself either. So I sat down and did my budget and after all bills and outgoings are paid, there is not much left. So it is time for Economic Random.
First up, I have really wanted a mattress topper for some time. Spending half of this month in bed feeling rotten showed up the fact that my bed is not that comfortable. I have a firm mattress for the sake of my back but I was finding it a bit hard now. Trawling the internet for such a topper threw up various prices and when it comes to something like this I don't think that buying a cheap one is going to do any good. So I gave up the idea until I was in Sainsbury's the other day doing a shop (and 
sticking to my list) when I came across their Basic Range in the bedding section. A 13 tog double duvet for £8. A flash of inspiration struck me and I bought two, plus a King size sheet for £6 = £24 in total. Got home, stripped bed, put both duvets on top of mattress, new sheet on top, tucked in and when I went to bed last night and sunk down into its blissful comfort I was really pleased with myself.
I have been doing some shopping at Poundland for some time but am now going to increase it. Needed a new omelette pan – £1; shampoo and conditioner which normally costs me £3 each, £1 (ok the instructions on it are either in Arabic or Chinese but hey I know how to wash my hair); Vaseline is a brand name and in Poundland it is plain old Petroleum Jelly, massive tub £1 (I use it for body moisturiser, have been taking my make up off with it for years, shifts ANY mascara); Sellotape Three rolls £1; talcum powder (baby powder) £1 and so the list goes on. They do have a small selection of groceries so biscuits, baked beans, washing powder etc are good value for money but beware the bacon – Yuk, it is mainly water.
I am pretty sure that this post must be unbelievably boring but I just need to set this all down so that I know what I am doing and also once it is on Random then I know I will be asked how the Great Economy Drive is going so it will help me to stick to it. Well, I have to, simple as that.
Daughter Kathryn coming home this summer so want to be able to relax and spend while she is over so have set up a standing order for money to go into a savings account, not much but it all helps, and my sister and her husband who have a time share in Madeira, have given me a week in a flat there in June as a birthday pressie. I booked my flights six months ago so got a stonking deal so that will be my main holiday this year though I do rather yearn over a long weekend break in New York which I have been promising myself for some time. That money went to the Tax Man but we shall see.
Of course the main thing that I used to spend my money on when I was working was books, CDs and DVDs. Sometimes I look at my DVD collection and wonder why I bought this particular film which I saw in the cinema and have not watched since. Now I am more discriminate and borrow DVDs instead of buying. I also have a digibox so can record programmes so the last series of Sherlock is saved, The Killing Series 1 and 2 also saved, and am currently recording Borgen. I have also taught myself patience – once when a series came out on DVD that was it, I had to have it on release but now I wait a bit. I do love Lewis and have ordered Series 5 but I waited six months and it is now only £10 on Amazon whereas when it first came out it was £25. And so it goes on. I am very glad that I have a huge collection of musicals on DVD and certain series and box sets that I would not be without and I bought all these precisely for the day which is now here, when I am retired and cannot afford them any more.
Books – every month while I was working I spent a lot of money on books. If I had a binge read, say the Mankell Wallender series, I would swan into Waterstones and buy five or six at a time. Once read, they were either given to friends or a charity shop. Money down the drain. Now that I have more time I go to the library and my latest binge read, the Harry Bosch books of Michael Connelly, have largely all been borrowed though I have bought a few for my Kindle. But of course, the main reason I no longer buy books and I am not bragging about this believe me, is that I have no need to thanks to all of the lovely, kind and generous publishers who send me shed loads of stuff. I cannot review them all, they know and understand this and I do sometimes say not to send me a particular title as I know it is not for me and they must not waste a copy, but a lot come my way. If there is a title I particularly want then I ask and it is given. This is a blessing I am truly grateful for and never ever take for granted.
I had better finish this now as sure you are all keeling over with boredom, but I suppose this Economy Drive is my New Year Resolution if rather late, and I fully intend to stick to it.
Off to the kitchen now where I have pegged out my last tea bag so I can use it again….
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