The Reason

Packing all one’s possessions into fourteen cardboard boxes does force a person to reflect and take stock of their life.

Many people tell me that I don’t have much stuff, but I still feel weighed down by it. Furniture is particularly problematic for me and genuinely stresses me out. I want to feel free and ready for anything, not only because I’m perpetually terrified but because there are people in this world whom I love with all my being. I want to be giving them my time but I’m not there as much as I’d like to be. Something needs to change.

Life is about love. Above all, I know I love these particular humans. The nature of that love is secondary. For example, my mum is my friend and my family. Even then, those words don’t seem awfully precise. Friendship itself fascinates me and I am curious about what exactly it means to other people. Likewise, I personally believe there is a strong distinction between ‘family’ and ‘relatives’.

There are people who are worth everything and when you’re lucky enough to find them, you should hold on tight. They are the ones who make life worth living.

Being Broke: Master Level

This post applies to those of you who have a roof over your head but not enough money to cover all the basics.

I find that some people can be pushy and judgemental when you’re struggling for money. If you aren’t doing absolutely everything humanly possible to cut costs then they disapprove or assume you must be hiding something or they think it’s your own fault or they think you don’t deserve help. It’s similar to not giving money to homeless people just in case they spend it on alcohol. But really, even if they do, given their situation, can you really blame them? So, I want to make it clear that this is written purely to share strategies I’ve used that might help you as well. Don’t feel guilty about what you spend. It’s a real struggle. I get it.

Rent
– There isn’t much you can do about rent, so do your best to always keep enough for that. Other expenses are more adjustable.

Utilities
– If you have the opportunity to cut one of your bills entirely, go for it! In my first flat, I just never switched on the boiler. The shower and hob were electric and I had storage heaters, so the boiler was purely for hot water from the taps. Not worth it. Even if you keep the usage low, you’ll still have to pay the standing charge unless you just don’t set up that utility.
– If your utilities are metered, make the effort to submit meter readings. If you’re careful, it’s likely that your actual usage will be less than the company’s estimated readings. But even if that isn’t the case, it’s better to know what you’re using and avoid an extra-large bill when the supplier eventually does check your actual usage.
– If you’re on a water meter, take advantage of sources of free water. Fill up a flask while you’re out and use that water to drink at home.
– Using public toilets saves your water usage, hand wash and toilet paper.
– Cheap phones are worth considering depending on what you need a phone for. Pay-as-you-go would allow you to control when you spend money and to avoid the pressure of a bill you can’t pay if it’s an unexpectedly bad month. There are also cheap SIM-only contracts, and smartphones for under £100. It depends what you can afford and how important a phone is to you. There are a variety of options to consider, if you want a phone at all!
– There are plug sockets everywhere. Charge your phone while you’re out.
– If you have a good library nearby and you’re up to it, spend time on your laptop there with a flask of your beverage of choice. It’s an opportunity to charge up your laptop and it saves your heating bill. It’s also an alternative way to get online if you can’t afford internet access from home.
– Basically, charge up anything you can in public places!
– Invest in a hot water bottle. It is important to have the heating on sometimes to keep your environment healthy, but hot water bottles are a good interim measure for keeping warm.

Food
– Look out for cheaper supermarkets that are maybe slightly further away but will make your money go further. I realise it’s a balance between time and effort and saving money. It’s up to you whether it’s worth it.
– Look at the stock hidden away on the bottom shelves; often it’s where they put the cheaper items.
– Make sure you know where your nearest food bank is. If you’re struggling, please make use of it. It is a hassle to get the voucher that allows you access to it though.
– Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for buying yourself a treat from time to time. In general you should prioritise the nutritionally rich food, but if you’re miserable and just need some chocolate, please buy it! A small amount of being irresponsible can make an important difference to your happiness. There are different ways to take care of your health.

Miscellaneous
– If you’ve spent money in a café, it’s okay to bring home a couple of extra serviettes or sugars or whatever you’ll use.
– If you use a laundrette, it will be cheaper to do bigger, less frequent washes than to do smaller, more frequent washes. It should save you money overall to pay for a bigger machine once every two weeks than a smaller machine once a week. You may have to wear a pair of socks twice but being poor is not glamorous!
– This week I tried cutting my own hair for the first time. I was very nervous about it and was prepared to accept that I may have to make an emergency appointment with the hairdresser to get it tidied up! I followed a tutorial on YouTube and it was rather tricky but it turned out okay, I think. It was nice to save the money and to not have to interact with fellow human beings.
– If you live in the UK, consider looking into getting an HC2 certificate. It gives those with financial difficulties full help with health costs.

Social
– Spontaneity is expensive. Plan ahead as much as you can. It’s more effort but it’s better than missing out. Book coach or train tickets in advance whenever possible. Take food and drink with you when you go out.
– Do cheap/free things when you socialise and enjoy the creativity that requires. Like, prepare a beautiful bento and go for a picnic, or create a cinema experience in your flat.