What Can Be Done To Not Support The Current Rotten System?

[stuckin2up2down]

I'm doing my best to not support the current system until its been reformed in terms of housing benefit, tax credits, state pensions for 20-30 years, help to buy and so on.

This is what I've done so far without having much impact on my quality life:

• Stopped working full time, now just to bits and bobs and don't pay income tax
• Installed a wood burner and pay cash in hand to the local log guy and avoid the 5% fuel VAT
• Get veg delivered from a local farm
• Rarely buy anything with VAT added, sadly bog roll has VAT and id rather pay this than use a VAT free guardian
• Use the bike for anything <5 miles
• Moved 80% of my liquid assets to somewhere where they won't be given to mortgage junkies

Any more tips?

[doomed]

Bitcoin and gold until the eventual debt ponzi collapses.

[janch]

I've done more or less the same. pay as little tax as you can by working part-time; stop buying things you don't need; walking instead of using the car; keep the car going as long as possible (mine is 22 years old this year and still going strong...it'll soon be a collector's item!); grow your own veg; get as self-sufficient as possible.

[Maynardgravy]

I've done more or less the same. pay as little tax as you can by working part-time; stop buying things you don't need; walking instead of using the car; keep the car going as long as possible (mine is 22 years old this year and still going strong...it'll soon be a collector's item!); grow your own veg; get as self-sufficient as possible.

You may soon soon exempt from road tax too:

https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/classic-car-enthusiasts-call-for-25-year-rolling-road-tax-exemption

'Thousands of classic car enthusiasts have signed a petition asking for the Government to introduce a rolling road tax exemption for all cars over 25 years old.

The original 25-year cut off for classic car VED (road tax) exemption was scrapped when Tony Blair became prime minister in 1997.

The Conservatives announced they would bring it back as part of their manifesto – and, in 2014, announced that a rolling road tax exemption would be introduced for all classic cars over 40 years old.

While campaigners celebrated at the time, they’re now calling for the exemption to be extended to all cars over 25 years old. This could include early examples of the popular Mazda MX-5, the Land Rover Defender and the Lotus Carlton.

More than 15,000 people have signed the petition since it was created, enough to warrant an official response from the Government. If 100,000 people sign it, it could be debated in Parliament.'

[spunko2010]

I doubt many will agree with my suggestions but whatever.

1. Cancel the direct debit to the Vile BBC and go no contact. Cancel any paid TV subscription and get Freesat.

2. Declare SORN on any vehicle , as long as you avoid main roads where they usually site ANPR you'll likely be fine. I drove along the M4 on a SORNd vehicle accidentally, didn't hear a peep. The fine for driving on a SORN is the same as driving without VED.

3. Buying logs is expensive. I've befriended a local tenant farmer who allows me take a splitting axe out if I need any wood within reason.

4. Bit late in the season now but grow/pick your own. You don't need much land, for the mainstays. Obviously growing rhubarb and sweetcorn takes up quite a lot of space, but you can get away with an allotment to feed a family of 5 easily. Not really cost effective if you're single, but I do it anyway, as it's healthier. Also http://fallingfruit.org/?locale=en

5. Give up , or seriously cut down on eating meat, it's expensive and "Big Meat" is part of the system. If you smoke cigarettes, switch to vaping or get them from Pawel down the road and skip the tax.

6. Get Adblock Plus, SSL Everywhere or uBlock Origin. Eeven though you don't pay to use most websites they're whoring off your personal information to the highest bidder. Use a VPN if you want to opt out entirely (i recommend iPredator), and try to avoid social media.

7. Vote Corbyn

Edited September 12, 2016 by spunko2010

[Frugal Git]

Ahhh....this is the type of thread i love. I'd say you've done almost everything you can of what's necessary. I can't think of much more. Maybe try and be a vegan, or a freegan too by dumpster diving.

Awesome job so far.

Warning: graphic content below.

Bog roll isn't necessary either. Use a spray hose/butt gun if you're that keen. Having used one in Asia I got used to it and really, I think it ends up feeling more hygienic.

Edited September 12, 2016 by Frugal Git

[spunko2010]

^ I was going to mention it in my post, but I'm not convinced that being vegan is any cheaper having tried it for a few months. A lot of the things you basically need to eat to be healthy are quite expensive particularly out of season. It is however a good way to opt out of supporting big industry and animal cruelty in one fell swoop.

[Frugal Git]

^ I was going to mention it in my post, but I'm not convinced that being vegan is any cheaper having tried it for a few months. A lot of the things you basically need to eat to be healthy are quite expensive particularly out of season. It is however a good way to opt out of supporting big industry and animal cruelty in one fell swoop.

Yep, it's not necessarily cheaper especially the way I buy meat (only buy if its very heavily reduced and going to get chucked otherwise). For all the reasons you gave that's why I've opted out of buying any animal product unless it would otherwise go to landfill.

[winkie]

I'm doing my best to not support the current system until its been reformed in terms of housing benefit, tax credits, state pensions for 20-30 years, help to buy and so on.

This is what I've done so far without having much impact on my quality life:

• Stopped working full time, now just to bits and bobs and don't pay income tax
• Installed a wood burner and pay cash in hand to the local log guy and avoid the 5% fuel VAT
• Get veg delivered from a local farm
• Rarely buy anything with VAT added, sadly bog roll has VAT and id rather pay this than use a VAT free guardian
• Use the bike for anything <5 miles
• Moved 80% of my liquid assets to somewhere where they won't be given to mortgage junkies

Any more tips?

As you say...

Live within your tax free personal allowance.

Shop locally, grow food if you can, not much land is required, share gardens or get an allotment.

Avoid traveling far if the journey is not worth the price of the fare.

Buy secondhand.

Shop around for utilities and insurance.

Try to be debt free or pay down the good debt.

Join in with free community activities, like walking, swimming, singing,reading, playing a musical instrument, dancing, acting etc.

Do not look or listen to ads....try not to be taken in with them, when your life will not be improved by any of them.

[Fairyland]

Some tips:

1) Local farm/grow your own veggies. Eat as much raw food as possible(50% raw would be a good start).

2) Bake a bread to last for a week. Also put other things in the oven when you are baking your bread eg. lentils, beans, rice, veggies... This way you use oven(gas) only once a week.

3) Reuse foil 2/3 times to wrap sandwiches.

4) Use a broom to sweep your house instead of vacuum cleaner. You can save on the gym by doing this.

5) Hand wash your clothes when in shower. It is super quick to do it everyday.

6) Buy clothes, books, music cds, dvds and toys for children from charity shops.

7) Buy school uniform, shoes in school uniform sale.

8) No just in case... type of buying.

9) Walk, cycle, share a car, get a lift if you can or worst case use public transport ... still better than own car.

10) Live with parents, elderly relatives or house share if you can. This should put a break on the mortgage industry and help people socialise more.

11) Do not subscribe to any channel TVs, news papers or magazines. Read free online or in the local library.

12) Instead of eating out invite friends at home on weekends and try out new recipes together.

13) Do not buy any greeting cards unless supporting local artists. Make your children do some.

14) Christmas presents: try to reduce as much as possible, make children share toys, buy presents that will be of use for a long time. Gift an experience instead of objects.

15) Clear your home of as many things as possible. Ebay, freecycle, recycle, charity shops, friends or recycle as much stuff as you can.

Forgot some:

1) Wash your bowl/plate immediately after eating. Outer leaves of Green cabbage usually thrown by the super markets make excellent bowls. I have used them to serve thick soups, rice and other dishes. If you must run the dishwasher just once a week on the big cooking day.

2) Fold clothes tightly, immediately after drying so they don't need ironing and store them in dressers. Space saved on furnitures is amazing.

3) Make your own tooth paste with sodium bicarbonate. I have also heard of people using apple cider vinegar instead of shampoo to wash hair. Has anyone tried it?

Edited September 12, 2016 by Fairyland

[council dweller]

Petition is now closed. (20,500)

My Nissan is just coming up to 25 years old.

[GreenDevil]

2. Declare SORN on any vehicle , as long as you avoid main roads where they usually site ANPR you'll likely be fine. I drove along the M4 on a SORNd vehicle accidentally, didn't hear a peep. The fine for driving on a SORN is the same as driving without VED.

I always wondered what the odds of getting nicked were on this now you dont even have to display a disk. How many miles a year have you been doing with no tax? Does it invalidate your insurance if you have an accident?

Edited September 12, 2016 by GreenDevil

[council dweller]

I`m an old git of 56. I seem to be able to keep my weight down to exactly 71kg just by eating two meals per day (breakfast at the usual time and dinner at 3 to 4.)

So...roughly £1 a day.

Breakfast consists of one Aldi `Weetabix`, sprinkling of oats, blackberries milk or whatever is in season (nothing from the middle of January til may)

Basically I`m living on half benefits and half savings....it's tough but possible.

[ccc]

Some tips:

1) Local farm/grow your own veggies. Eat as much raw food as possible(50% raw would be a good start).

2) Bake a bread to last for a week. Also put other things in the oven when you are baking your bread eg. lentils, beans, rice, veggies... This way you use oven(gas) only once a week.

3) Reuse foil 2/3 times to wrap sandwiches.

4) Use a broom to sweep your house instead of vacuum cleaner. You can save on the gym by doing this.

5) Hand wash your clothes when in shower. It is super quick to do it everyday.

6) Buy clothes, books, music cds, dvds and toys for children from charity shops.

7) Buy school uniform, shoes in school uniform sale.

8) No just in case... type of buying.

9) Walk, cycle, share a car, get a lift if you can or worst case use public transport ... still better than own car.

10) Live with parents, elderly relatives or house share if you can. This should put a break on the mortgage industry and help people socialise more.

11) Do not subscribe to any channel TVs, news papers or magazines. Read free online or in the local library.

12) Instead of eating out invite friends at home on weekends and try out new recipes together.

13) Do not buy any greeting cards unless supporting local artists. Make your children do some.

14) Christmas presents: try to reduce as much as possible, make children share toys, buy presents that will be of use for a long time. Gift an experience instead of objects.

15) Clear your home of as many things as possible. Ebay, freecycle, recycle, charity shops, friends or recycle as much stuff as you can.

Forgot some:

1) Wash your bowl/plate immediately after eating. Outer leaves of Green cabbage usually thrown by the super markets make excellent bowls. I have used them to serve thick soups, rice and other dishes. If you must run the dishwasher just once a week on the big cooking day.

2) Fold clothes tightly, immediately after drying so they don't need ironing and store them in dressers. Space saved on furnitures is amazing.

3) Make your own tooth paste with sodium bicarbonate. I have also heard of people using apple cider vinegar instead of shampoo to wash hair. Has anyone tried it?

Are you Stig of the dump !!!

[JoeDavola]

Find out what your priorities are, and reject mindless consumerism.

The science points towards a heavily plant based diet being good for you. Eat clean.

If you can build a life without a car, do it and just walk/cycle places. A clean diet with an hours worth of walking/cycling every day means you'll be in better health that most people with gym memberships.

Be aware of times you feel bad about yourself because you aren't keeping up with the joneses. Spunking 20 grand on a car probably won't make you happy, especially if you retire a year later because of it, or you have to take a higher paying job that you hate to fund it.

[Democorruptcy]

I'm doing my best to not support the current system until its been reformed in terms of housing benefit, tax credits, state pensions for 20-30 years, help to buy and so on.

This is what I've done so far without having much impact on my quality life:

• Stopped working full time, now just to bits and bobs and don't pay income tax
• Installed a wood burner and pay cash in hand to the local log guy and avoid the 5% fuel VAT
• Get veg delivered from a local farm
• Rarely buy anything with VAT added, sadly bog roll has VAT and id rather pay this than use a VAT free guardian
• Use the bike for anything <5 miles
• Moved 80% of my liquid assets to somewhere where they won't be given to mortgage junkies

Any more tips?

I thought you are a mortgage free homeowner paying council tax, TV licence, etc.?

Plenty of off grid scope for improvement there!

[spyguy]

Dont earn more than 12k/year.

Dont go in debt.

Assuming the system has not melted down in 10 years, I plan on moving to only earning 12k/year.

Remove housing and running a car and eating out, 12k (at todays money) would more than do me.

[spyguy]

I can heartily recommend de-car-ing yourself.

Dont have to get rid of the car. Just run a cheap one, bought with cash.

[winkie]

I can heartily recommend de-car-ing yourself.

Dont have to get rid of the car. Just run a cheap one, bought with cash.

....depending on insurance risk, should cost no more than £500 pa to run inc fuel.

Edited September 12, 2016 by winkie

[Fairyland]

Even if you have a cheap car it will still incur MOT, Road Tax, Insurance and Service charge which will easily run over £500 pa. Am i missing something?

Edited September 12, 2016 by Fairyland

[Byron]

I wouldn't vote Corbyn

He is a socialist and will tax until the pips squeak.

Who remembers Clay Cross?

[Inoperational Bumblebee]

I'm nowhere near as hardcore as some of you!

-I used to enjoy shaving with a proper old safety razor, badger hair brush and a shave stick which dramatically reduced the cost per shave. I now have a beard entirely down to laziness, but that's even cheaper! It's probably been 10 years since I bought anything Gillette and disposable... More blades does NOT equal a better shave! I also cut my own hair with a 6-year old set of clippers.

-Crystal deodorant. I get 3 to 6 months out of each and they cost around a fiver. I sweat a lot so any antiperspirant would always get overwhelmed, but this stops the smell very effectively (rather than masking it) and doesn't leave impossible-to-remove filth on your clothes.

-Not used shampoo or conditioner for over two years, I just rinse my hair and beard thoroughly every time I shower. After a few weeks your scalp gets used to it and produces the right amount of oils. My hair is not greasy or smelly, and I have much less dandruff than I used to.

-Motorbike or walk rather than car. Motorbike reduces road congestion, has decent mpg, cheap tax and insurance, and we get to use bus lanes. Wife's car was secondhand for around £2k.

-Vape rather than smoke. Liquids from poundland. Rebuild my own coils and wicks, and buy kit from China for far cheaper than the UK. Works out maybe 90p a week?

-Cook mostly from raw materials rather than buy ready-made, then freeze excess for later in the week.

-Only credit card debt is on interest-free.

-LED lightbulbs, and turn stuff off when not in the room.

-Fireplace with local wood (if available) when it's cold (gas CH mainly gets used for hot water).

I won't skimp on toilet paper or kitchen roll though. False economy IMO!

Edited September 12, 2016 by Inoperational_Bumblebee

[winkie]

Even if you have a cheap car it will still incur MOT, Road Tax, Insurance and Service charge which will easily run over £500 pa. Am i missing something?

Tax can be zero or £50....MOT £40 to £50, service every 10k to 20k miles....£100 to £150....so ~£150 pa for garage, MOT & tax...insurance can be as low as £130 fully comp depending on you, your driving and the car.....petrol, depends on the car and how many miles you travel.....so £500 pa is well doable.....can be more other years if tyres/brakes need replacing......share the car, share the costs....

Edited September 12, 2016 by winkie

[council dweller]

A motorbike ?

Yes, I`ve got a new Suzuki sv650. Everyone must have room for a bit of luxury !

Btw, I change 2 or 3 gears at a time...

[Frugal Git]

Depends on the bike and how you use it! My motorbike costs more to run than my car, and my car isn't a cheap one to rUn.

The only way it's better/faster too is on journeys of more than 1 hour, because the faff of putting on and taking off full leather kit is then negated by the lesser journey time.

I wouldn't be withour one though because as council dweller says - its a little bit of luxury and one of the few astonishingly thrilling things left that are legal ;-)