Theatre

If you like to go to the theatre like I do, it can get expensive so here are some tips that I use:

• Sit in restricted seating. At the Cambridge Arts Theatre, there are 3 seats on each side of the upper circle that are cheaper , I always get these seats and move if it is not crowded that night.
• If you can buy a pass, go for it. At the Shakespeare Festival in Cambridge, they allow you to buy a 3 or 6 play pass. This means you can go without booking a day, so if it is raining, then you can go another day since they are outside. Works out cheaper per play!
• I got a good deal to go see Wicked in London from Get into London Theatre in February.
• In London you can get half-price last minute tickets at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square from 10 am on the day you want tickets. The earlier you get there the better the seats!
• I work fulltime so I can't do this but you can go to the earlier shows and the tickets are often less.
• If you go to London by the train, you can get 2 for 1 tickets.
• Go to the theatre on the day and see if they have any going for a discounted rate.
• You should use smaller theatres. Often there are traveling groups so you can see the same play at the Theatre Royale in Bury St Edmunds for less than at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. It doesn't make sense for me all of the time because I cycle into town but if you are driving it might be worth it!
• If you just like going to the theatre, there are some amateur dramatic groups you can go see locally:
• ADC in Cambridge
• Mumford Theatre in Cambridge
• Newmarket Kings Theatre
• The Maltings in Ely

I hope you find these ideas help you go to a show!

Saving money on Food

I found out that I had a milk and soya allergy in 2008. This has made a huge difference in my life. This changed the way that I shop and cook and I lost 45 pounds because of it. I thought I would share some tips.

I think that many people do not know that 'cooking from scratch' really takes the same amount of time that cooking a packet of Hamburger Helper does. It is also way better for you. I never realized how many things had milk in it until my allergy was identified. They use milk as a cheap filler. If you like the flavors of things like Hamburger Helper, like I like the Beef Stroganoff, it is easy to locate a recipe that tells you the spices that are used so there is no need to buy the packaged stuff. So you are saving your family from all the unnecessary preservatives as well as the costs of the packaging!

First thing everyone tells you to do a meal plan. I have done a Google Calendar and I choose meals that kind of need the same items so that it ensures that I do not waste anything. I have also taken to preparing 12 meals in one day to freeze. I could not do the 30 day cooking that many people in America do because I do not have the freezer space but this way one day a week I pull one of these meals out in the morning before I head off to work and we have it in the evening. There are so many recipes available online to do this.

I am against shopping at the commissionary and I did not buy much from there when I was in. Again, I couldn't eat many of the American products anyways but the meat is frozen and shipped here, the vegetables and bread go off faster than if bought offbase and has additives that are banned by the UK and EU.

This goes for the meat too. There are things that American farmers are allowed to do with animals that the EU does not permit such as antibiotics and growth hormone. I go to my local butcher and buy what I need for the next 5 days and its fresh and he knows where it came from.

There are some foods that are VAT free. Generally they are the healthy food so keep this in mind when shopping offbase. 

I do a big shop online via Mysupermarket.co.uk every two months. It links your accounts from the grocery stores and tells you where the cheapest store to place your order. What I buy when I do this are all the staple items such as canned tomatoes, flour, toilet paper and all the nonperishable. I have been watching Extreme Couponing on the television and that doesn't work over here. Stores do not accept coupons from other stores and they do not double coupon either. However, sometimes they give you double points towards your loyalty card, which I use to get vouchers to go out to eat or go to the movies. I know that you have to pay for the delivery but I find it more convenient and it often keeps you from not buying things off your list. I check my meal plans against what is in my pantry and then buy it. 

I tend to buy my vegetables from the Co-op or market. I am bad at making sure I use up my onions, carrots and mushrooms so I have taken to chopping a whole bag full of them in my food processor and freezing it in small pots. Then they can be pulled and added to my cooking as I go. This has not only made cooking a bit faster but I have reduced what I throw away. I have to warn you, we got very teary when we were doing the onions!

The fridges here are a lot smaller than the ones seen back in the US although you can get the American styled ones but I like them this size because we waste less items and we do not consume so much, everyone eats too much anyways :)!

What you eat can make a huge impact on your life and I know first hand once I got my diagnosis and I would not change a thing. I hope this gives you an insight on ways you can save on food!

Ascot Racecourse

I was able to score some free tickets to the Discover Ascot day at the Ascot Racecourse. Ascot is famous for the Royal Ascot which brings out people by the droves dressed to the nines. At other times in the year the dress code is a bit more relaxed but if you do not dress appropriately you risk not being allowed in. Different enclosures have different rules so do check the website for the rules.

Ascot is two hours drive from Cambridge. Its best to go A14->A11->M11->M25->M4. It does not seem like it would be faster but the M25 gets really busy. Use Transport Direct info.  Also leave yourself additional time in case there is an accident. Do not park in the places where they charge you, if you keep going around, you will see free parking.

It is also down the road from Windsor Castle so while the racing will take up a whole day, you could try to book a room and stay in the area and hit that up as well.

The website also tells you how to place a bet and all other useful information so I would definitely read everything before you go. If you have been to the Newmarket races then you might know how racecourses operate.

I had a really good time with my friends, Laura and Jane. We brought a picnic which we ate before we went in. You are able to bring one in with you but there are only certain areas you can lay this out and you cannot bring seats.

We got really lucky with the weather as it didn't look like it was going to be very nice. We also won a bit of money, which covered our losses. We saw Frank Dettori make a great comeback and Princess Anne! Not a bad day out!

I would love to come for the Royal Ascot and dress up!

Why The EPC Rating Matters More Than Anything Else.

A lot of people are looking for the perfect house with the look that they are after. If you have been reading my blog for some time, you will know that while this can make a difference, I suggest that you get a house that suits your needs as you are only here temporarily. Many people like to look at houses with a view as if they are buying a house but this can be a very costly mistake.

Outside of the house that will suit your needs (but may not be what you have dreamt you will be living in since you heard you were going to be living the UK), you MUST look at the Energy Performance Certification (EPC) rating. This is going to tell you how much running the house will cost you, this is how you can save money on energy because  it costs 3 times as much as in the US.

Any house that is sold or rented out must have an EPC. Most advertisements will have the rating of the house in them. The ratings go from A to G. A is the most efficient and G is the worst. The average one is D/E and if you are in the military, your utility allowance should cover a home with this rating. Here is an example of what an EPC looks like. If it does not have it in the advertisement, I would be weary of the property and ask to get a copy of it before viewing.

One thing to look for in a house, always go for double glazing. I have been living in a house for the last 3 years that does not have it in the bedrooms (its my MIL's house) and they have been just been installed, you can feel the difference now in the spring but just imagine the difference it will make in the winter- we were sleeping under 4 blankets! Please see the video below to see the impact that this can have.

Another thing to think about is other heating elements. Fireplaces are another way to heat your home. Just be sure to only use coal in a coal one and wood in a wood one. Wood burners are more energy efficient than coal burning ones. If you do get other heating elements like space heaters, make sure that they have timers on them and do not leave them running when you are not home. Do not heat rooms you do not use.

You can also look in the report to see the suggestions made to increase the EPC rating, therefore saving you money on your utilities. Things like replacing regular lightbulbs with energy saving lightbulbs you can do yourself. Although they are more expensive than regular ones definitely save you money in the long run. Other things like increasing the loft insulation or having the hot water cylinder insulated could be a good negotiating point especially if you are paying above the asking price.

As Americans, we like to have our homes very warm but this can cost an arm and a leg over here. So dress warmly in the cold times and put a blanket over you when watching TV. This is why I think that you should choose a home with a better EPC rating almost anything else. You will feel the difference in your bones (the humidity makes the chill way different here) and you will feel it in your wallet.

Saving money on Beauty products

A lot of people complain the state of their skin and hair after a few weeks of using the hard water in the UK. I stocked up on shampoo and conditioner which finally after 4 years of getting out I am coming to the end of it and have bought some from Boots. It has made such a difference in the condition of my hair. This goes for any cleaning products and laundry products that you buy when you are here.

The Boots Advantage card is the best loyalty card that you can get. I buy all my pharmacueticals and beauty products here. In the run up to Christmas they have special events that enable you to get more points when you buy during this period. I use this time to stock up on the regular stuff and then get my Christmas presents or perfume for myself with the points.

You can get cheaper treatments at the local colleges Cambridge Regional College and West Suffolk College. It helps them to get practice and you get cheaper discounts.

One for the ladies! Have you ever thought/heard of the Mooncup or Eco Femme Pads? There are of course other options but these can really save you money in the long run especially if you add up what you are buying now and they are easy to take care of. Some people also believe that there are some health benefits on not using the commercial ones. Also there is the environmental aspect that you are not filling the landfills with disposable items.

Anyways, I hope this helps!

Cath Kidston Outlet

Are you in love with the fabulous designs that are sold in Cath Kidston like me? If you love the stuff in the Cath Kidston shops but can't bring yourself to pay the asking price?

I love Cath Kiston, I have two handbags and an iPad cover from there but sometimes I can't justify paying full price for the lovely designs (I do try!). Recently I found out that there is a Cath Kidston Factory Shop just outside of St Neots, about 20 minutes from Cambridge.

There they sell the stock from previous seasons which to me is fine because I just love everything! You can get about 1/3 or more off the original price. That is great for the cute little baby items that they will grow out of so quickly and also you can get great prezzies for family and friends at a reduced price!

I had to share this with you guys!

You see the shop's details and hours of operation here.

Saving Money on Pets

I have not hidden my thoughts about people rehoming their pets over and over again. Dusty gets a walks either with my husband or myself everyday which lasts about an hour or more. On the weekends, I take him out for a long walk on Saturday and Sunday. During the sailing season, I walk to the Cam Sailing Club which is about 6 miles from my home. I

I think that dogs need to be walked regularly and that people need to be responsible before getting a pet. I saw on one of the selling sites someone was rehoming their puppy when it was 16 weeks old! Most dogs don't go home until 12 weeks old- that is awful! If you don't have time to keep up on all your other activities and are not willing to ship them all over the world with you, don't get one. Dogs are for life, not for Christmas like the Dogs Trust says.

Rant over!

Okay for my tips:

• Don't waste too much on toys and other accessories. Ruddles hardly ever played with any of them. Dusty's never lasted more than 5 mins. 
• Take the dog out frequently, a lot of behavior problems are due to pent up energy. England doesn't really have dog parks as such because they take their dogs out with them. If you are worried about them running off, you just need to train them to walk off a lead. I did this by taking Dusty to footpaths that I knew he could not get too far away and then giving him treats whenever he came back to me. Thetford Forest is a good place. Now we can walk through parks in Cambridge off the lead and he has good recall but that comes from practice!
• If you need help, get a dog trainer. I know this sounds like an expense but if it stops them running off or runing your stuff, I say that is a saving :)
• Train your dog and have patience. Dusty still isn't perfect but he is good and that enables us to go out for walks. If they don't walk perfect, keep trying, Dusty is a joy to walk now, thanks to Jon.
• Get pets insurance. I know many pet owners think it is too much but it has saved us loads of money in the long run. Ruddles was hit by a car and it took care of his scans and treatment. Also last year, Dusty was diagnosed with a congenital cataract and it covered a lot of the costs, the operation was 3,500 pounds itself! Also recently Ruddles was locked in someone's garage by accident, and the insurance would have paid for advertising for him- he is safe now! They do not give you discounts for taking your pet to the vet for regular checkups because that is viewed to be part of owning a pet- insurance is for the things you cannot plan for. Also if you do not keep your pet's vaccinations up, it can invalidate your insurance. But in my experience it has been worth it.
• Shop around for food but choose quality over quantity. I went to a local feed shop and found working dog food. It is about 2 pounds cheaper per bag to what I used to get from a pet store, unless its on offer, but Dusty eats less and his backend movements are better. I would pay more for that.
• I find having a dog, we get out walking through town and parks and this is free. It keeps us both healthy and entertained. 
• If you want a dog but can't give the full attention, offer to pet sit as so many people over here want to travel. You can make a bit of money and get your fill!

Do you have any that I missed?

Saving Money on Pets

I have not hidden my thoughts about people rehoming their pets over and over again. Dusty gets a walks either with my husband or myself everyday which lasts about an hour or more. On the weekends, I take him out for a long walk on Saturday and Sunday. During the sailing season, I walk to the Cam Sailing Club which is about 6 miles from my home. I

 think that dogs need to be walked regularly and that people need to be responsible before getting a pet. I saw on one of the selling sites someone was rehoming their puppy when it was 16 weeks old! Most dogs don't go home until 12 weeks old- that is awful! If you don't have time to keep up on all your other activities and are not willing to ship them all over the world with you, don't get one. Dogs are for life, not for Christmas like the Dogs Trust says.

Rant over!

Okay for my tips:

• Don't waste too much on toys and other accessories. Ruddles hardly ever played with any of them. Dusty's never lasted more than 5 mins. 
• Take the dog out frequently, a lot of behavior problems are due to pent up energy. England doesn't really have dog parks as such because they take their dogs out with them. If you are worried about them running off, you just need to train them to walk off a lead. I did this by taking Dusty to footpaths that I knew he could not get too far away and then giving him treats whenever he came back to me. Thetford Forest is a good place. Now we can walk through parks in Cambridge off the lead and he has good recall but that comes from practice!
• If you need help, get a dog trainer. I know this sounds like an expense but if it stops them running off or runing your stuff, I say that is a saving :)
• Train your dog and have patience. Dusty still isn't perfect but he is good and that enables us to go out for walks. If they don't walk perfect, keep trying, Dusty is a joy to walk now, thanks to Jon.
• Get pets insurance. I know many pet owners think it is too much but it has saved us loads of money in the long run. Ruddles was hit by a car and it took care of his scans and treatment. Also last year, Dusty was diagnosed with a congenital cataract and it covered a lot of the costs, the operation was 3,500 pounds itself! Also recently Ruddles was locked in someone's garage by accident, and the insurance would have paid for advertising for him- he is safe now! They do not give you discounts for taking your pet to the vet for regular checkups because that is viewed to be part of owning a pet- insurance is for the things you cannot plan for. Also if you do not keep your pet's vaccinations up, it can invalidate your insurance. But in my experience it has been worth it.
• Shop around for food but choose quality over quantity. I went to a local feed shop and found working dog food. It is about 2 pounds cheaper per bag to what I used to get from a pet store, unless its on offer, but Dusty eats less and his backend movements are better. I would pay more for that.
• I find having a dog, we get out walking through town and parks and this is free. It keeps us both healthy and entertained. 
• If you want a dog but can't give the full attention, offer to pet sit as so many people over here want to travel. You can make a bit of money and get your fill!

Do you have any that I missed?

Saving money on TV

I think that there is so much for you to experience here, you can definitely save money by not buying Sky or any other cable.I currently have Sky only because it is free but we hardly ever watch it. We have Freesat which means you can get loads of channels for free. There are hardly any that Sky has that interests us. If you add up paying £15 per month for 3 years of being here you will have spent £540! Is TV worth that much to you?

I have recently signed up to Netflix which is only £6 per month and prevents us from buying DVDs that we only watch once.

To those of you that say you want to experience the culture, TV is part of that. All you get over here anyways is How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory and a few other ones. I learn more about England by watching their TV. So save yourself money and watch TV for free!

Money Saving tips for London

I know its expensive here and London is even more expensive so here are some ideas on making the most:

1. Buy your train ticket for off-peak times and save more with a rail card.
2. Use the Oyster Card for traveling on the tube and buses. It will NEVER cost you more than a travel card but can cost you less!!!!
3. Walk- sometimes you miss the be sights being under ground. Here is a favourite walk of mine. You see the most important sights.
4. Don't take black cabs, but if you have to for the experience, take a short trip.
5. Have a picnic, you don't have to carry the food with all day just pop in a grocery store and head to a park. I love to do this on a sunny day.
6. Use your your Tescos Club Card  and Nectar points to get into places or eat out.
7. Bring a water bottle.
8. You can go to a show half price if you go to the ticket booth in Leicester Square. 
9. Or buy tickets here or buy standing tickets at the Shakespeare's Globe.
10. Get into London sells tickets for Jan to Feb at a good price.
11. Go to a free concert at Royal Opera House, National Gallery and National Theatre.
12. Attend a talk at the British Academy.
13. Go to the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London.
14. Go see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
15. Free talks and courses on mediation here.

Hope this is enough!

Kimx

American to Britain

Saving Money on Mobile Phones

Well, our phone contracts were coming up for renewal this year and Jon and I started looking into what we really needed out of a phone and what we did on our phone. Luckily for me, the last few weeks, my phone was on the fritz and I had not been able to make many emails, texts or calls so had to hold out until I could renew my contract. The reason why I say luckily is because it got me to take a look at how not having a phone affected me. It was nice actually.

Anyways, here are some things you should consider when getting a phone:

1. What will you use it for? I decided, I did not need that much data usage because I can link to my home WiFi and work WiFi (which is where I am usually). Otherwise, coffee shops and other places have free WiFi if I really need it. So I turn my mobile data off completely unless I need it. I do however needed to use it to tether my iPad when I am doing homework and not able to get that onto WiFi.
2. I usually text more than anything else and now with apps like Whatsapp and Viber, you can text people back home too. I thought unlimited texts would be good because that is what I do the most.
3. I did not need the top of the line phone, I just needed a good phone. So I have a Macbook, iPod, iPad and so my husband thought after my Blackberry packed up, surely I would go for the iPhone. I could have gotten a Xperia Z1 for £37 per month for 2 years (costing me a total of £888). But instead I bought the Xperia SP for £40 and pay £22 per month for 2 years (costing me a total of £568). My husband's contract came due the month following mine and he got the same phone for free and at £17 per month (£408 for the 2 years). It does all I need it to do and is saving me loads since we are buying a house soon.
4. Shop around. I was able to get a good deal by calling my existing carrier and telling them the offers I have found available to me and they were able to match it.
5. A free phone is never free. Calculate how much it is going to cost you in the long run. Sometimes buying it upfront can be cheaper and then you can be on a SIM only contract.
6. Recycle your old phone. Jon did this and it covered the cost of a couple of months contract for us.
7. My friend Jane is the one in her house that uses internet, calls and texting so she put her husband on a pay as you go phone because he only really texts and receives calls. So not having a contract for one of them saves them money.
8. When I first got here, pay as you go was not as good as a deal as it is today. In fact it can save you money and you are not stuck in a contract.
9. Compare your usage with Bill Monitor to see if you are getting the most out of your contract or can you get something better suited to you.

I hope that you will find these tips helpful.

Kimx

American to Britain

Saving money on days out

I love to get out and about but it can get expensive. Here are ways that I save money on my outings:

1. Become a member. If you are going to going to sights become a member. I recommend doing English Heritage one year and National Trust another. They have different types of sights so they are worth it. Also you get free parking at their locations. Another one that is worthwhile it the Historic Royal Palace Membership. You get into Tower of London ,Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace.
2. Take advantage of Heritage Open Days. These are every September and sometimes you get to see things that are not open all of the time. They are also free!
3. In Cambridge, there is a Bridge The Gap walk. This is a great way to view the colleges as you get into over 10 for a round £15!
4. Also if you live within 12 miles of the St Mary's Church, you can get into Kings College for £10 for 3 years! You just have to get a resident's card.
5. Go to local events. I love to go when there is a local festival. You don't have to buy anything but I just like to have a wander.
6. Bring a picnic. I usually pack something to eat while I am out and about. Also bring a water bottle, there is always somewhere to fill up. You can even bring food in to the cinema as long as it is not hot.
7. Remember when I said collect your Tescos Club Card  and Nectar points and not use them on food? You get a better value if you use them for days out. I always try to see where we can go on a voucher. 
8. Many museums are free and really good ideas for rainy days!
9. Go for walks, there are so many footpaths, look one up and get out there!

Hope this gets you started on planning your next day out!

Kimx

American to Britain

Saving money on clothes

You may already know that I used to work at Sweaty Betty and I think I may have been one of my best customers while I worked there. After I left that job I took a year off from buying any clothes. It has really bought some things to light for me. When I got out of the Air Force, I felt like I did not know how to dress myself because I spent 10 years knowing what I was going to where for work. Here are some tips that I have:

1. Take a look at your current inventory. If you have a lot of clothes, you need to do a clearing out to see what you have and if you can wear it multiple ways. Sort your clothes by pile- keep, donate or trash. I once helped a girl organize her closet. She has 25 pairs of jeans! You can only wear one pair at a time!
2. Make sure that you can wear things with other things. There is no reason to get a super cute pair of shoes if you can only wear them one thing. The more versatile your wardrobe is, the happier you will be and it will also be easier to pack for travel too. I love Gok Wan and his tips! http://scrapbook.channel4.com/experts/gokwan
3. Know your style. I think I learned this late in the game. Once I knew how I liked to portray myself, then it was easier to buy the key items that I needed. I dare not to think about all the clothes I bought on my credit card because I don't have any of it now. I don't think I was as bad as this lady though! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2546427/How-adding-cost-clothes-curing-shopping-addiction.html
4. Have a one in, one out system. I hardly ever buy clothes now. Maybe it was my year break, it made me realize that I didn't need anything. I will replace items that I cannot fix but I am not buying for buying sake. In fact, I  have conversations with myself on whether I should buy something and 9 times out of 10 I will decide that I don't need it. I still like to pop into Sweaty Betty and see the girls but I can't justify buying new things because I have drawers full of SB clothes.
5. Make do and mend- This is so easy to do. Get that sewing needle out and fix the seams instead of throwing it away. If you don't know what you are doing look it up on You Tube, there is so much out there.
6. If you can't mend it, take it to the professionals. I have had numerous pairs of shoes repaired (my bike pedals are lethal to the soles of some of my shoes) at Timpsons. It costs a fraction of what a new pair would cost me to replace them. 
7. Shop in the sales. There are generally sales in January and August. So shop ahead for what you need.
8. Instead of buying new shirts and what not, sometimes all you need is a scarf to finish off that look.
9. Wear your style, not 'the' style. The fashion industry is just that its an industry. They change back and forth between wedges and stilettos, slightly change the colors that are in fashion and its planned years in advance. Find the items you will wear when its not in fashion and keep that in mind.
10. Children grow out of their clothes so quickly so you can get gently worn clothes either from the FB groups I always mention or charity shops.
11. Here are some tips to make the ones you have last longer.

All the Best

Kimx

American to Britain

Twilight at the Museums

Twilight at the Museums is an annual event usually held during half-term. The museums are lit up and children are asked to bring their 'torches' (flashlights). It is a free event and a great way to go see some of the museums if you find it hard to get there during their normal opening hours. Also you get to see the museums in a different light.

A great way to break up the short days in the spring!

Saving money on your house

I just wanted to write a few ideas down on how you can keep your housing costs down:

1. Live outside of the centre of town. The closer you are to the middle the smaller house and more money you will have to pay.
2. Only get a home the size that you need. If you have reduced the amount of stuff you have, the more flexibility you will have in where you can live.
3. Do not go to your OHA cap. One thing I was thinking is lets say you are able to downsize your house you can save on the exchange rate. The more money that you are converting over to £s the more you have to pay to convert it. It may little amounts but over 4 years, it can add up.
4. Get a house with EPC rating D or better. I will go into utilities in another post but this is key. It means how efficient your house is with its energy.
5. DO NOT LIVE IN A HOUSE THAT HAS SINGLE PANE WINDOWS. If you ignore everything else I have written don't ignore this. I live in a house that is single pane and you can tell the difference. This will also contribute to the cost it will take to heat it.
6. Do not live in built up areas. Around the base, there are certain places that the houses were built particularly for the American military in mind. Instead like amongst the locals and a bit further away.

All the best

Kimx

American to Britain

Saving money on Groceries

Well I have been thinking about this post a lot lately!

I will not try to replace what The Budget Loving Military Family covers because she is clearly an expert. But I do shop here in the local shops and eat here so I am my own little expert.

I watched Extreme Couponing recently and one thing is for sure is that it won't work over here. Stores would never pay you for shopping, they do not allow you to bring coupons from other stores and they do not do double couponing. It just seems like to me that the things that have coupons are highly processed and are junk food. However there are ways to save:

1. Use Mysupermarket when shopping online at the local grocery stores. It compares your cart with what it costs at all the major grocery stores and also suggests ways to save. It then sends you to checkout through that store's website. Has saved me quite a bit. You can still use your coupons if you have them. Also get the membership cards, you get deals and rack up points BUT do not use the points on food use them for other things.
2. Vegetables, fruit and bread are almost always fresher offbase. Shopping at the markets is cheaper but not everyone has time for that. Only buying what you need really cuts down on costs. That is why I like my small fridge, I really can't over do it.
3. I buy vegetables in bulk like, onions, garlic, carrots, peppers and mushrooms and use my food processor to chop all of them and divide them up into containers and freeze. It saves you having to do every time you cook. You can cook straight from frozen and it uses them up. I am really bad at allowing these items go bad so this has helped me cut down on my waste.
4.  Look at what you are wasting. I started making meal plans in my google calendar. That way I can buy what I need for the week and have variety.
5. I only do one big shop every month or every other month. Then I get the things that I need from the Co-op or other little store. The less I am in store the less things I buy that we don't need. I also tie this in with if they are giving a coupon on petrol for spending a certain amount.
6. I do a pantry challenge once a month to get rid of those lingering items because you should think of the food in your pantry as money sitting there.
7. I buy my meat at the butchers. The prices are comparable and the quality is higher than you will get at the grocery store.
8. Eat less processed food. "Cooking from scratch" like the perfect moms like to say that they do, does not take as much time as you think. I have a food allergy to milk and soya so I have to avoid a lot of processed food because it is in everything. If you care about the preservatives that are in your food, you should shop offbase, the US allows chemicals in their foods that are not allowed in the UK. http://www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/13-banned-foods-still-allowed-us
9. I have made an attempt to do the 30 day cook in one day- see I told you I was American and I do have some American tendencies! It did not work because our freezer is not big enough. But it allowed me to make 6-8 meals that I pull out over the month. 
10. Buy in bulk. I like to buy my spice in bulk from The Daily Bread  in Cambridge. It really spreads out the cost especially when my husband likes to add chili flakes to everything.
11. Forage! There are times in the year that you can get free food! I have my freezer stocked with pears and apples given to me by my neighbors that I chopped and forzen. This weekend I made apple cinnamon muffins to freeze and take with me to work.
12. Finally, DO NOT BUY BOTTLED WATER EVER! Not only is it ridiculously priced, it is harmful for the environment and the water here is perfectly fine. In fact in many area in the UK they do not add flouride because it is a natural occurring item. Just bring a water bottle with you and fill it up when you can. The only taps that you cannot fill from will have a sign saying that you cannot drink from it.

I hope you found this helpful!

Kimx

American to Britain

Moving house

It is quite cool that I decided to start this trail of posts at this time because many of you are moving house. Not only moving house but moving to England. I am also moving house but I am buying my first house here and getting ready for that but using things that I have learned over the last eight years I have lived here. Can you believe it? I have lived here eight years but really reflecting on the differences and where I can save. I am writing a post about buying a home here as it is very different, so look for that to post sometime this year hopefully! My estate agent thinks so!

Okay back on track. So we are moving home. Here are the things I looked for in a house and am prepping for the move so I thought they may be things you should consider:

1. Location, location, location: I currently live and work in Cambridge. I like the fact that I cycle to work. I know that as Americans we are bred to commute to work but believe you me, it is not the same. In America, if a fender bender occurs, the rest of the traffic proceeds as usual. Here, it comes to a stand still. I used to live in Newmarket and commuted in but it all adds up. I suggest you think about your everyday trip. Its nice to think you might go to Oxford once a month, which is a two hours drive but if you are finding a house that will make this trip an hours drive shorter but your hubby has to drive an hour everyday to suit this (times five!) that doesn't make financial or time management sense. BUT thats just me. The house we bought means I have to cycle 10 minutes more each way (but that is 10 minutes less I have to workout :P)
2. Amenities: Everyone says that they are only going to shop off base in the markets and yada, yada, yada (that's for the Seinfeld fans). Truth is everyone likes comfort and people find comfort in food. The only place to get the mac and cheese how you remember it is the Commissionary. I will be writing a post about how I save money shopping at the grocery store since I no longer have access to the base, but a lot of people still are devoted to the Commissionary. I have told you many times that I have an allergy to milk and soya which means I cannot have processed foods or many of the American favorites like mac and cheese :( Don't worry, it keeps me thin! The point of this point is that you need to think about what you need. For me, I do a big shop either online or once a month in my car at a huge supermarket like Tescos or Sainsbury. The other days I go to the local Co-op or butchers, to get the bits to tie me over. I obviously bank with the local bank and use the local post office (I do not recommend you using one if you have access to an APO box- it costs a fortune to ship to the US!).] You need to think about what you are really going to do. If you like to have a coffee at 11 a.m. and have done so  for 10 years, moving to England is not going to change that. Habits are hard to change and they do not change with the time zones. You know what you do and what you would like to and in the middle is the probably where you can move to. Rome was not built in a day and you cannot change everything you know in a day, I know I have tried! You need to have an idea of what you need today and go off that not what you would like to be. Sorry for the rant but I see this all the time. BTW my new house, Co-op, 5 pubs, bank and post office so good to go!
3. Take this chance to get rid of your junk! I have been selling my stuff on Gumtree, Varagesales, FB groups and giving whatever else on Freecycle. In fact, Saturday I am doing a carboot sale. I don't have a huge sentiment with my crap. There are some stuff that I refuse to give up. Living over here has made me become accustomed to the lack of storage the houses have. Have a jumble sale, donate to charity shops and feel how free it is to let go of things (and put the money aside to buy the things you do need in the new location). In fact, as I am writing this I am waiting on someone to buy my Freeview box.
4. If you get rid of the stuff you do not need, you don't need to get a house big enough to store it in. Okay so we currently live in a 2.5 bedroom, 2 bath, dinging room, living room and conservatory which we could have bought but we choose to move to a 3 bedroom, dining room, living room and one bath. We only need so much space. This allows us to grow and allows me to get rid of unneeded items that I was holding onto fill this house. It cost 3 times as much to run a house here (I will write a post on how to keep you costs down).
5. Go for double glazed always. Look at the EPC ratings this is important. This directly reflects what you pay to run the house. The bases tell you to get something D or above and your utilities will be covered by your allowance. For non-military related, A-D means it is affordable otherwise you could be paying too much to heat your home. The current house we are living in is freezing cold and you can never go wrong with being warm.
6. Do not take a bigger phone contract than you need. I recently went through this. I had a Blackberry and a pay as you go contract. Since we are buying a house I am trying to keep my costs down. So after sadly returning my Xperia Z1 before the cooling off period, I decided I would prefer a phone and contract that was 15 pounds cheaper ($  ). I figured that I would have access to Wifi at home and work and if I needed it its everywhere, Starbucks and more. So why did I need to pay so much? Also the time I have had away from being attached to my phone, has shown me that I don't need it as much as I thought- thank goodness my new phone, Xperia SP, and contract 22 pounds (300 mins, unlimited texts and 500 MB) is on its way!
7. This gets on my nerve a lot- crime. The areas around the bases are very safe when compared to the crime rates in America. However you can look up and see what is going on where here. One make sure you are insured- helped me when my bike was stolen. Although the affluent area we live in has been hit up lately but apparently Dusty (my dog) is a deterrent.
8. Schools- I used to be one of those children that had to ride the school bus for an hour to school and back and no this is not the same story you hear from your grandfather that he had to walk to school 3 miles uphill both ways. My stop was the first and last on the route. I cannot personally agree with parents doing that to their children when it not only takes time away from their homework and other activities. I suggest you live in an area 30 minutes or less BY BUS if you choose to send your children on base. Others will often find that they will be able to walk their children to school. I suggest that children 9 and below go to school off base. It is a  great learning experience, they are ahead (1.5 years) and they will catch your children up. After this point American and European schools four on different skills and different teaching styles. If you think you would like to enroll your children in schools after 9, you need to meet with the head at the school to make a decision. In some cases your children may need to be held back to catch up as they have to meet the requirements for their age range.

At the moment, this is all I can come up with so that you can make a good decision on a house for you and your family.

Kimx

American to Britain

How to make the most of living here

I decided this year I would give you tips on living here frugally since the major complaint that Americans have is how expensive it is to live here. This is kind of inspired by The Budget Loving Military Wife. She does great analysis to help you save money on shopping.

It took me a long time to get a grip on my spending. I paid off all my debts, car loan and credit cards two years before I got out. I have moved several times since living in the UK and I have parted with a lot of stuff that I didn't need. I even took a year off from buying clothes after having worked at Sweaty Betty. I have started to think more actively about my spending and think that others should too. It is expensive to live here but I try to make the most of it and am always looking for a bargain. I will provide you with ways I save!

Few tips before you move over here whether it is with the USAF or otherwise.

1. Have a clear out. Let go of the things that you do not need. This will allow you to be able to get a smaller house (which has great implications- less time cleaning, less utilities and more choice for location).
2. Sign up for Martin's Money Saving Expert newsletter.
3. Cook from scratch.
4. Get rid of the big US vehicles. Although some people say that they have no problems with their big trucks, they have larger engine sizes, are less fuel efficient and you have to pay more for road tax. Nothing makes you stand out as an American than a F-150.
5. Look at your debts before you move. If you have large debts, it will be a struggle but hopefully I can give you some pointers.

I hope that you find my future posts helpful.

Kimx

Brandon Country Park

Brandon Country Park is a great place for you to take the family including the dog out for a day. It doesn't cost anything to park there unlike High Lodge down the street.

You can bring along picnic and walk or cycle the trails. There is a playground for the children and shop to buy drinks and food. Dogs can be taken off the lead. It is open 7 days a week. There is also a lovely walled garden.

Taking the children out for the day doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg!

Old Bailey

The Old Bailey is one of the most famous courts in the world. Generally the more high profile and/or dangerous criminals cases are handled here.It was also built on the site of the old Newgate Prison.

You are able to walk around the place and sit in court cases for free. I would not suggest that you visit here between 24 December to 2 January as most cases are closed or delayed for the Christmas break.

It is within walking distance of St Pauls.