This week the momentous decision I made to take voluntary redundancy came to its obvious conclusion. I left my job of almost 11 years! Because I will no longer have income from an employer, I have many reasons to be frugal. I intend to work for myself, but need to make my redundancy go as far as possible whilst I get myself going.
The plan is to spend more time on the blog and also to make the casual eBay selling I have been doing into a proper business. I have registered for self employment and I am learning all about how to run my own business. After so many years as a wage slave, I really want this to work! So, because I have my reasons to be frugal, here are this week’s five frugal things.
Scouring the charity shops
We are really lucky to have a £1 charity shop close to us. In the week, I went with my daughter for a really good look through the rails. We found some really nice items, including these fab vintage dresses to resell.
I know vintage is either something you love or hate. Not sure I would wear them, but I know that others would! I persuaded my daughter, with a lot of giggling involved, to model them for me.
Investing in flowers
I love having a garden full of flowers. Last year we didn’t have time or energy to do much gardening, so want to rectify that this year. We have planted lots of flower seeds and taken some cuttings of our wallflowers.
We also found a great little nursery that we had never been to. It only sold plants, didn’t have a café or a shop selling expensive stuff that no one really needs and was therefore much better value than some of the chains. We bought a load of beautiful flowers in small pots, and have since potted them up. Hopefully they will make really nice displays in a month or so.
Real tea
As part of my wish to reduce our single use plastic consumption, we have cut right back on the number of teabags we use in favour of loose tea. I think it tastes nicer and it is also cheaper! However, using a teapot just for the two of us is a bit of a faff. When it is just me, I used my metal diffuser, so I thought I would invest in a couple more.
I don’t like the ball ones as I don’t find the tea can move around enough to brew. I prefer those like the ones in the picture, which I got from Amazon
Super soup
I mentioned last week that I had made a load of vegetable stock, some of which went into the freezer. Last night I used a butternut squash that was sitting in the bottom of the fridge to make some soup. I roughly used this Mary Berry recipe, although I chucked in some parsnips that needed using, as well as some slightly manky salad leaves to use them up! I didn’t use any oil either as I am following Slimming World at the moment. Instead I roasted the veg in Frylight.
The Essex Serpent
Isn’t it weird how you can live somewhere for years and miss a crucial local site of interest? We found out last week that there is a dragon on the hill just a few miles away from us in Bures. Not only that, but it is opposite what is thought to be the site of the coronation of King Edmund, of Bury St Edmunds fame and an ancient thatched chapel. There is a fascinating story behind the serpent, which terrorised the residents of the village in the 1400s before being chased into the marshland nearby at what is now Wormingford (the dragon being the worm from which the village gets its name).
We had an interesting walk, if a bit chilly, with our flask and picnic with us as usual. If you want to know more about the story and the walk we did, have a look at the newspaper story here. Absolutely fascinating!
It’s been an emotional week. Leaving the job wasn’t hard, but leaving my work colleagues and good friends of many years was really difficult. There were tears! Still, sometimes change is for the best. Onwards and upwards!
This post contains affiliate links.
I’m linking up with Cass, Emma and Becky in this week’s ‘Five Fabulously Frugal things I’ve done this week linky.
PennyP says
Wishing you the very best of luck in your new self employed life. It takes a while to get used to your new normal but I don’t regret taking voluntary redundancy and I’m sure you will embrace it too. Looking forward to following your journey.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Thanks, Penny
Ilona says
11 years is a long time. The job can be done by someone else, but good friends are worth hanging onto. Your desk looks lovely. Can you meet up for lunch once a month, a nice treat for you.
The dresses look lovely, have you any vintage events near you, maybe take a stand and sell direct to visitors.
If you are good at book keeping you can do that yourself. I was hopeless so I had an accountant which specialized in small businesses. Only charged me £100 a year for collating all the figures and filling in the tax return. Freed me up to do other things.
I hope it goes well for you, with the backing of your family you should be fine.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Thank you, Ilona. I have an accountant friend who is going to help me with all my questions. Currently have a very vague knowledge of book keeping so a steep learning curve for me!
Faith A. says
Good luck in the brave new world of self-employment! All power to your elbow and do give me a shout if I can be any help. Do love that red, blue and yellow vintage dress, hope you get a great price for it.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Thanks Faith. I may take you up on this offer! Will let you know if I’m charity shopping near you again too
Sam says
Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end, says rhe song. Good luck as a new fully self employed business owner. I think the dresses will be a huge seller.
Julia says
Congratulations on the start of your new life. I hope it brings you much happiness.
I love finding out new things about where I live – sometimes it’s by actively googling (or should I say Ecosia – ing!) but the best are when you’re out and about and see new things – even if it’s just a display of Disney themed gnomes in someone’s front garden – which I once spied from the top of a bus!! 😀
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
I have been using Ecosia since you mentioned it, Julia!
Jo says
Good luck Jayne, I have followed your blog for a long time – I am looking forward to reading about your new journey as it is one I hope to follow eventually.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Thank Jo
Beverley says
Good Luck – the old saying ‘as one door closes another opens’ will hopefully be your way forward. Write a book with all your great advice and suggestions. I know that I would buy it.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Thanks – I want to do that!
Alison Butler says
Wishing you the very best of luck. Shame I am in Devon at present, as I used to be a book-keeper. Don’t forget to let us have the details of your ebay name, those dresses are lovely and I am sure will sell well. As you are aware, there are lots of places to look for additional income, our main work is a fixed term (summer) contract, but sometimes will take on additional work before Christmas. It gives us the opportunity to try something different, without strings and give a boost to the bank account.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Thanks, Alison. Lucky you in Devon! Lovely county
Su says
I’d take voluntary redundancy if it was available ( it is, but not in my job) I’m 55 and really don’t want to be doing night shifts for another 12 years.
I love the first vintage dress, which is strange given that I’m more usually into bright colours!
I drink loose leaf tea because it tastes better, it can be difficult to find but it’s worth searching out. I do use a teapot, because it makes an ordinary, everyday thing into a little bit of an event. I have MANY teacosies that I have made. The dregs from the teapot go onto my camellia and it thrives on them!
Enjoy not having to go to work and the EBay business.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Loose tea definitely tastes nicer. I get PG Tips from Sainsbury’s usually
Jean Scholefield says
All the best in your new venture. I love the dresses and modeled beautifully. I have been using loose tea for years as I think it tastes much better.
Wean says
Good luck with your business ideas.
Did you know that Clipper produce an organic tea with ‘no plastic’ tea bags ? I was worried about the plastic content of the bags and came across these by accident when just looking for my usual tea in the supermarket. Obviously I’ve switched now. I didnt fancy faffing round with loose tea, so this was a good discovery.
Katie says
Those dresses are lovely and what a bargain! I need to go back to charity shops again
Katie xx
http://www.katienor.com
Sally says
Wishing you much luck with your new adventures, you’re friends did you proud with their messages and pressies – I’m sure you’ll make a success of things with your positive outlook and the dresses are great.
Would be really interested to know the name/location of the new little nursery you mentioned as like you am always on the lookout for value for money plants for the garden etc just can’t resist them
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
The nursery is Deanes near Elmstead market. It was really nice!
Viv says
Your daughter looks amazing in the dresses and should definitely consider wearing that sort of thing, so classy and differnt to all the Primark rubbish.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Will tell her you said that
anne says
Hi Jane,
Thank you for posting the lovely ‘worm walk’. Many years ago my sister was luckily enough to be one of the few people to get married at ST Stephens chapel! My mother was close friends with the owners. This is the most beautiful and intereseting little chapel and the walk is stunning. Ager Fenn and the bluebells again stunning and costs so little if anything. Enjoy your redundancy and keep up the good work.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
That’s amazing, such a special place. We went to see the bluebells in Arger Fen too
becky says
yes wishing you all the very best in your new role. I make my living blogging and have for 10 years now – you will ace this ! #5frugalthings
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
Thanks Becky
Petra says
Going for loose leaf tea is definitely the right decision. It’s better quality and has much more flavour. But I buy organic as much as I can to avoid pesticides. It costs a little bit more but it’s healthier.