Sunday 3 February 2019

The secret of budgeting.

I have a mug of coffee every morning, sometimes I have a second mug around about lunchtime. I have got my sugar down from two spoons to one, but I just cannot get it any lower. Coffee is too bitter for me without any sugar. 
I read a book recently which said there are lots of different kinds of sugar, more natural ones which are better than the refined white sugar which is said to be deadly. I spotted this in Aldi and thought I would give it a try. It's made from the nectar of the coconut flower, it's unrefined and dehydrated. Ingredients ; organic coconut sugar. A 100% natural alternative to sugar. Worth a try I thought, but it's not cheap, £1.69 for 50 x 5g teaspoon servings. 
I put some in my coffee and it tastes just fine, I couldn't tell the difference. 

This is how you save £150.50, by not buying a TV licence. They send me a letter every two years asking me to confirm if my circumstances are still the same, or if there are any changes which mean I need to get a licence. I tell them I still don't watch live TV, still don't watch BBC iplayer, on any device. Don't watch programmes at all on a TV set, because I don't have one.

So, my new healthier sugar might cost more money than the conventional white stuff, but by not buying a TV licence, I can buy 89 bags of coconut sugar for the same price. A good deal I think. Swings and roundabouts, balance one off against the other. That is the secret of budgeting.  ilona

21 comments:

  1. I too don't pay for a tv licence....
    One does wonder how much they pay in tax...
    Or don't...
    They take millions each year where does it go..
    Obviously not on tv programs or radio...
    This day & age i think it's disgusting that they r thinking of charging people of a certain age for there tv licence again...
    But there again there attitude is I'm alright jack...

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    1. I think the TV license is worth every penny. As for not charging people of a certain age for the license, I think that is wrong. It makes no sense to me that just because someone reaches a certain age they should get a free TV license, a winter fuel allowance or a free bus pass. Vote buying to me.

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    2. Sorry pri, cannot agree with you. A free TV licence is gold for some seniors, they can not get out all the time and rely on the TV for entertainment. Also with limited pensions many struggle with fuel payments, surely we can offer our seniors this little bit of respect and comfort.

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    3. I agree with you Flatlands.When there are so many handouts being given to non deserving people,the least we can do is make sure that our seniors have some comfort and entertainment in their own homes,xx

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  2. I’m defo off to Aldi to get that !!! I don’t like to eat too much white ‘ normal ‘ sugar .

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  3. Hi Ilona. I use Sainsbury's organic golden granulated sugar. £1.10p a bag. The coconut sugar looks interesting. Will have to try it. I don't use much sugar and a bag lasts ages. Keep the good ideas coming.

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  4. I have sugar in my tea & coffee too Ilona ... same as you, just one spoonful. I shall look out for something similar to what you have shown. Just LoVed your video in your last post of the kitty .. what a wonderful life with you !! Thanks for your visit to my blog Ilona.

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  5. We don't have cable any more but have internet and price has gone up a bit. Need the internet though. We bought a roku tv as our other LCD tv was not good any more. We like it and enjoy watching what we wish with no cost, except for Acorn tv, $4.99 per month. We use sweet n low for our tea drinking, my daughter and myself. Hubby doesn't drink it. Trying to keep costs low but then things need replaced too, including a printer/copier. Sigh but they aren't expensive. I'll check out coconut sugar for our home use. I like to have little packets with me when I'm out though. Happy week!

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  6. Sugar is sugar wherever it comes from, it's all glucose, fructose or sucrose (or combinations of the 3). White sugar made in this country comes from sugar beet so is a natural substance. I would say, with your active lifestyle, just use white sugar, one teaspoon a day isn't going to have harmful effects. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/ask-the-expert/coconut-palm-sugar

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  7. We are all fugual to different levels, and reasons. Part of the reason to make savings on loads of items, is so we can spend our money on things which please us. We save money on sugar by not using it, I have a friend who visits and takes 3 teaspoons of sugar in her mug of tea, I've never put 3 in and I never will, she gets 2, but if I could get away with it, I would only give her 1. She has never noticed.

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  8. Neither of us uses sugar in hot drinks, or milk for that matter, in baking I use granulated or soft brown, I will not pay out for caster sugar. If I need fine I can pop it in the processor but even in a true sponge granulated is okay. I do spend a great deal of my "frugal savings" on yarn and fabric and that brings me lots of happy crafting time.

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  9. Please be careful using sugar substitutes. Xylitol which is now available in bags like sugar and can be used in baking etc is extremely poisonous to dogs and cats. It is also in sugar free chewing gum, toothpaste and other products and while I am not suggesting that you would actually feed you pets on such things dogs have been known to steal food! There have been deaths of dogs from cakes baked with this and a single piece of sugar free gum can contain enough to kill a dog. If you google it there is lots of information on reputable sites, eg Blue Cross, so please, don't just take my word for it check it out.

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  10. Our TV licence expires in September; giving up tv is one of the things we are going to experiment with, just to see if we really do need it.

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    1. Give it a try for a month or two, but be prepared for the licensing people to pester you. Some of the letters can be quite threatening at first, you have to stand your ground.

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    2. Totally agree, haven't had a TV in 12 years and still get threatening letters!

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  11. I couldn't live without my tv but I am considering giving up Sky once my current deal expires. I'll just have Freesat and the cheapest film app, which will still be a massive saving.

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  12. I was lucky to find coconut sugar in Poundstretchers for 59p. On a side note, I haven't seen the Perfect Fit cat food in there for along while.

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    1. Thanks for that tip off, I'll have a look in there. I have seen Perfect fit in Wilko but it is silly price. I have got mine onto Whiskas dry, and have to look around for the best price for that. £4 a bag at the moment, sometimes two bags for £7 when on offer.

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    2. I see you found some of the sugar Ilona, what a bargain!

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  13. I find we are watching more Netflix and online shows so we cut our TV programmes down to the " skinny package " as they call it ( Canada). I don't miss the other channels.I make a lot of food from scratch and find that the savings allow us to buy good quality soap, shampoo etc.Some items I make are tarter sauce, soups,stock,chocolate sauce, pies and cookies, bread, pasta,pasta sauce you name it and the recipe is on line. I am retired and have the time to cook all day, I cook when the electricity is at the cheap rate, cook once and eat twice is a good way to stretch our budget.

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  14. I would give up many things to support BBC TV. I love their excellent programs. As I live,in Australia all I can do to support the BBC is buy their DVD’s . Think about the effort the BBC put into preserving your cultural heritage before you dismiss them so lightly.

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