Diary Wednesday 20th June 2016
@arthurchappell (44941)
Preston, England
July 20, 2016 4:11pm CST
A busy productive day for me and a little cooler than yesterday though still very warm out.
With my move from Manchester to a new city, Preston, now virtually certain, I started planning what to take with me and what new things I need too. I went to the shops to look at food prices. I never really did a full weekly shop as in living at home most of my life I just give my mum money to the cost of the shopping which my sister picks up, though recently my sister has been returning with very little food for me – just stuff for herself and my mum, much of which gets thrown out uneaten or offered to me.
At 54, I am long overdue for my own place and many friends have moved house more than once by my age.
I have taken buying my own food daily, to eating out and foraging the fridge for foods my sister might not miss. Now in moving in early August, I’ll be even more self-sufficient. I looked round several supermarkets, especially low cost ones, as I don’t care about big brand names. I found I could easily get enough food for a varied modestly healthy weekly diet for myself for about £10-£15.
On advice, back home after a library visit, I looked on Freecycle, a website where people give things away for free. I have asked about various furniture and useful items for the move. One reply came back right away – lots of packing boxes to put things in for a house move. I’m collecting them on Saturday.
An online search told me where to find Preston’s real ale groups, a writer’s workshop, a science fiction society and a burlesque society too. It’ll be a home away from home.
Arthur Chappell
8 people like this
7 responses
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
20 Jul 16
Glad it all seems to be falling into place. We are Aldi converts since they opened a supermarket just ten minutes walk away. So much cheaper than Tesco, although we still have to go for some bits which Aldi just don't stock.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
20 Jul 16
I dislike the automated self-service system at ASDA where staff treat you like you are stupid for requesting assistance when such robo-tills will put them out of work soon
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
20 Jul 16
I dislike aldi/lidl.
poor choice and although cheaper for some stuff you do have to go elsewhere often which costs money and time.
I go to neither anymore...on the whole ASDA is the cheapest across the board in my opinion although here they've only multi story parking so I don't go there as I always hit something in those car parks
2 people like this
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
20 Jul 16
Look back at one of my previous posts mate
We are going to be in the same position soon if your move goes through
I've a few tips but one that may save you money is get to know the workings of your nearest supermarket.
Often at certain times they put out stuff that is just before the sell by/use by date.
It is often 90%+ reduced...you can get a whole week of shopping for literally pence if you aren't fussy.
Good luck and lets keep in touch more as we'd maybe able to help each other out a bit with regards to savings etc.
We are going to be in the same position soon if your move goes through
I've a few tips but one that may save you money is get to know the workings of your nearest supermarket.
Often at certain times they put out stuff that is just before the sell by/use by date.
It is often 90%+ reduced...you can get a whole week of shopping for literally pence if you aren't fussy.
Good luck and lets keep in touch more as we'd maybe able to help each other out a bit with regards to savings etc.2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
20 Jul 16
@Mike197602 thanks, worth knowing - I did get a quick look round two low cot local supermarkets during my visit there yesterday - looks promising
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
20 Jul 16
@arthurchappell other things to research asap are how to get your single person discount on council tax as that will save you 25% of your stated bill.
Also consider looking at first utility for gas and electric...they bill you according to monthly readings you send from your meter not on estimates...currently I pay £43 per month for gas and electric and I know I can get that down.
Also look at appliances, often it is better spending a little more to get the ones that are energy efficient rather than taking the short term cheaper purchase price goods.
Also, as you get some benefits I'm sure there is some fund you can apply to to get a bit of money for your move.
Other thing is cash back sites...currently sky are doing a deal where you pay £17 a month for broadband but they give you a £100 m&s voucher and through topcashback you can get another £37 back to so it is essentially free internet.
Also tv licence...look at the actual rules...don't watch live tv on any device and you don't have to pay.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
20 Jul 16
Tesco at 9.30-ish sell off their doughnuts for about five pence for a pack of four! And their posh bread for mere pennies. Bargain.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
21 Jul 16
@arthurchappell Considering how long it has been since that station was in use I would have expected the photograph to be daguerreotype.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
21 Jul 16
@Asylum it is really annoying to me - though not far to walk from Piccadilly Gardens or Market street to Peter's Square is the stop I head to more than any other and it gets very wet just walking that short stretch in bad weather - expecting its completion to coincide with the next millenium
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
21 Jul 16
@Asylum not a recent photo in this case
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@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
21 Jul 16
@jaboUK my mum is staying in Manchester with my sister - she is upset i'm not moving somewhere local but nothng is available - the stairs up to my first floor flat would not be practical for my mum to visit me but I'm thinking long term future for me rather than just the next year or so - staying in Manchester seriously risks actually leaving me totally homeless
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17712)
• South Africa
21 Jul 16
I think thats a marvelous site - I just gave away all my old blankets and linen to a center yesterday - I am spring cleaning in WINTER - the season does this to me, Is that £10-£15 per day? wow that is quite dear to our values in SA, but I can see that it will save on buying stacks of stuff to stock the kitchen which you only us now and then - I am glad you are getting all this planning done - You and Valarie in USA are both heading towards new beginnings
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
21 Jul 16
per week, not per day @Inlemay
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@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
21 Jul 16
@JudyEv kitchen yes, though no fridge as yet - looking for one on Freecycle
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@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
21 Jul 16
@JudyEv no, I will tend to drink milk quickly - not even trusting the fridge too long with it
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382024)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul 16
@arthurchappell When we stayed Paddington we just left the milk on the window-sill. 
but that's probably not a very good long-term solution.
but that's probably not a very good long-term solution.1 person likes this
