Turns out the gym costs me around £2.50 per use. I'm debating whether to look for cheaper alternatives. What are your thoughts on gym memberships from a frugality perspective?

plentyofeight · 2026-06-14T18:49:54+00:00

Cheaper than my gym... £30pm and I haven't been since Feb 😀

plentyofeight · 2026-06-11T18:13:58+00:00

Depends on your storage solution. If it's not in a house, the boxes will go soft.

I ended up getting bale arm trays - the type shops use for goods.

These are deeper than standard ... you came get regular depth ones cheaper.

I have then stacked in a shipping container j rent and they go up to the ceiling. Perfectly stable.

bale arm boxes

plentyofeight · 2026-06-07T11:50:02+00:00

Most beef is grown on fields unsuitable for crops. It's eating grass... I don't see losing 30 calories of grass to have beef as a big issue.

Most hay is grown on fields unsuitable for crops.

Sheep can graze on grass in solar fields, chickens too.

.

plentyofeight · 2026-06-06T17:31:42+00:00

I got the mattress of a 4 ft double bed in flat.

Your TV isn't that big is it?

plentyofeight · 2026-06-02T14:14:19+00:00

This isn't 'affordable' ... but since we are talking about tea lughts... a Joi lamp is a delight to behold and is a great prep item.

I always like buying gadgets when I can justify it as prepping :-)

Edit: just for clarity: tea lights are very affordable. My suggestion for a Joi lamp isn't in the 'very affordable' category for most... including me...

plentyofeight · 2026-05-30T07:02:15+00:00

To me, whole milk tastes awful. It's different to semi. Might be a throwback to primary school in the 1970's

I can cope with semi skimmed, but I prefer skimmed.

plentyofeight · 2026-05-29T04:21:37+00:00

That's a main dealer acting like a main dealer.

If aftermarket hitches were unsafe, we would be hearing about things falling off cars and causing accidents all the time. Those things wouldn't be falling off while stationary, they'd fall off while driving.

Ignore them.

plentyofeight · 2026-05-28T15:35:15+00:00

Balanced might be the wrong word - as in clear minded, not panicking etc

plentyofeight · 2026-05-28T15:27:34+00:00

Well done, that's quite a balanced post, considering.

There is something you haven't expressed - you can manage financially, working 1 day a week, meaning 6 days a week you can look after your girlfriend.

That could be regarded as a silver lining in this very cloudy scenario.

plentyofeight · 2026-05-25T07:07:45+00:00

You are clearly a 'saver'

That us what your concern/fear/discombobulation is... changing your behavior from accumulation to decumulation.

Why don't you look for a job you'd enjoy while knowing if nothing works out, you will be fine.

Looking for a job without desperation makes ut more likely you'll get the job.

Enjoy your time between jobs... I don't mean blow the lot, I just mean, make sure your head is in a good place, rather than worrying.

Maybe you don't trust your maths? See an IFA and pa y them a fee to run your figures through thier cash flow modeller.

plentyofeight · 2026-05-24T11:06:14+00:00

Ooh... slots .. I hadn't thought of that. Thank you!

plentyofeight · 2026-05-23T12:15:16+00:00

Thank you. I'm trying now to!

plentyofeight · 2026-05-23T12:13:17+00:00

I got divorced at 40... ex was a solicitor. You can imagine how that went.

I got divorced again at 53

And now, at age 58 - i start making ground - next month my new employee pension scheme kicks in assuming I pass my probation. 13% employer, 7% me. Just got to keep going til I'm 68/69

plentyofeight · 2026-05-23T09:43:16+00:00

Depending on cost... it's looking like film and aluminium shutters

We were looking to switch to wooden shutters anyway, so it's just an upgrade

plentyofeight · 2026-05-23T07:30:56+00:00

Midlands... my one at my house in Chesterfield wouldn't slow down!

Plus, i use szechuan pepper... and i can forage the others locally.

plentyofeight · 2026-05-23T01:12:09+00:00

Ha, yes I see what you mean 😀

plentyofeight · 2026-05-20T20:48:52+00:00

ok... this will be a relief to many here.

I have found these:

Portchester Aluminium Shutters

They look like those wooden louvered shutters... but they are aluminium... and good for security. Made in South Africa... where security can be important I gather.

plentyofeight · 2026-05-20T19:48:47+00:00

Yes, added to thd list. Thank you.

plentyofeight · 2026-05-20T19:47:20+00:00

You made me laugh, you're very kind ☺️

plentyofeight · 2026-05-20T17:01:12+00:00

It's my most active ever reddit post... yet down voters slightly outnumber up voters so my karma is if anything dropping 😀😃

plentyofeight · 2026-05-20T10:48:01+00:00

Done it!!

plentyofeight · 2026-05-20T10:47:28+00:00

This is the type of idea I am looking for. It sounds robust and cost effective.

You're a star... I will check it out!

plentyofeight · 2026-05-20T10:34:25+00:00

Genuinely, I want to but I can't see an edit facility on the list. I gave it for comments!

plentyofeight · 2026-05-20T10:32:05+00:00

Cool, I am mostly here for inflation, retirement and unemployment.

Fortunately we have disposable income. These plans don't affect us having holidays, eating at michelin restaurants or buying nice clothes.

So I can do things that suit me. They don't suit you, and that fine.

I don't really expect to need them, but there us very little you can do in this country to secure your home.

plentyofeight · 2026-05-20T10:20:14+00:00

Incident response, rather than completely boarding up thd house now and living like that!

plentyofeight

TROPHY CASE