2013 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

A bit late but I assume Frugaldom means this:
http://frugaldom.myfreeforum.org/SEPTIMUS_FRUGALUS_CHALLENGE_about1347.html

Yes, thanks, that is the September challenge thread, I didn't want to link to it in case I get banned from MSE. All my challenges are over there now bar this one and the instructions for taking part in any of them are always included within the first two posts.

Hope everyone is doing well. Temperature is dropping here, so we're back to winter preparations, foraging, preserving, crafting and autumn food preparations.

[Deleted User]

This weekends frugal plans:
1. Use up peppers and free tomatoes from neighbour to make soup. Freeze some.
2. Ideally keep the heating off Sat and Sun (been quite old so had it on for an hour the last night or two), try to use hot water bottles, extra blankets instead.
3. HM bread.
4. Minimise car use.
5. Plan food for next week and shop.
6. Plan frugal meal for family coming tomorrow for dinner. They will be having some of that soup with HM bread for starters. Done - we are having a Lidl Gammon joint done in the slow cooker with veg and roast potatoes. HM Ice cream.

LolaLemon

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

A bit late but I assume Frugaldom means this:
http://frugaldom.myfreeforum.org/SEPTIMUS_FRUGALUS_CHALLENGE_about1347.html

Frugaldom wrote: »

Yes, thanks, that is the September challenge thread, I didn't want to link to it in case I get banned from MSE. All my challenges are over there now bar this one and the instructions for taking part in any of them are always included within the first two posts.

Hope everyone is doing well. Temperature is dropping here, so we're back to winter preparations, foraging, preserving, crafting and autumn food preparations.

#


Brill thanks, and sorry, I didn't realise it was for your external site


I'm really getting stuck in with the Crimbo preperations... I dont know if I have mentioned here but I am getting both son and I a new bike each, well Santa is! I have been paying into a christmas saver type club at the local bike shop, currently paid off one for my son, and I am adding some money to one for me, that has not been chosen yet. Its my birthday 2 weeks before christmas so any birthday money i get will be going towards the bike. I got from Lid! bike pump, gloves, and repair kits at really good prices (when i compaired them to shops/online).
Just about to start flavouring some vodka for presents.

Booked sons birthday party venue, for April :eek: we are having a that Harry Potter themed party that we wanted to do last year... so busy collating loads of ideas and soon we will be testing them out! Need to start now if I intend to keep the cost down as much as possible.

hope everyone is well

Frugaldom

Hello

We've just recently started our final 100-day challenge on the run up to 2014, so things are hotting up in the frugaling stakes despite the temperature cooling and the birds starting to fly south for winter. My organisational skills are still sadly lacking, so the only Christmas presents I have made, so far, are the hedgerow jelly and the fruity champagne-style fizz.

Sewing machine, knitting needles and crochet hook all back in use while I try to complete my bedroom makeover of less than £50; it's looking good, so far.

Hope you have great fun with the new bikes, Lola, I know I have cycled more over the past 10 months than I had for the past 30 years. No car may be good for the budget, but I'm not finding any weight dropping off me.

LolaLemon

I've been itching to get out on a bike lately, but not having one is a bit of a problem Haha, really hoping it helps with the weight, at least reducing the fat content and the muscle getting stronger.

I've just signed up for the October shopping challenge, put us down for £30/week, for me, son n kitten. Then realised I'm suppsed to be going to my uncles for a week which means eating out a lot more than we normally would, so going to be a bit tricky. .

mummy-of-2-boys

can't believe how fast this year has gone.

can't wait too do a full year of frugal living next year and start saving as all debts should be paid off by then.

mummy-of-2-boys

how does everyone save money on here ? what are your tips .... im really struggling to get my budget down any lower for next year,

on the plus side DP won £80 the other day (he used a free £5 code thing on a bingo site so it didn't cost him anything) so only need to put £35 with it too cover his bike insurance for the year.

need to start keeping a closer eye on spends so im best prepared for the challenge next year, think when i go to the post office tomorrow i will buy a notebook and start tracking spends properly ..... this way i will know where and how i can cut back ... on paper its looking good for next year which is good ........ im really hoping we do it ....... my dream is to buy a property one day so i need to pay the debt off and start saving before its too late.......

natnat13

It is very hard but can be done, have you read through some of the earlier threads?
I went totally off the boil this Summer, I had relationship problems, moved house and thought "s** it" and bought lots of new furniture! I didn't put myself into debt and have a beautfiul house but my savings have taken a battering. My head was not in the right place unfortunately.

BUT it is now. I have a lovely new man who is very into money saving and I am back to meal planning and thinking "do I really need it?" before I buy it? Also working 5/6 days a week which is tiring with 2 children but feels good and its nice to see a healthy bank balance.

I really want to save to buy a house, I hate paying rent each month when I have always owned, so I'm saving, saving, saving.:)

It is very quiet on here, maybe we can all post christmas ideas and tips? I am cutting back, buying 2nd hand, making and also have a stash of presents under my bed I have picked up through the year.

[Deleted User]

I go through phases of thinking 'S** it' too but thankfully they don't last as long as they used to. I spent too much in the summer on holiday but am back on track now.

My best money saving tips:
1. Plan, Plan, Plan. Planning ahead really makes a difference. I try to plan ahead with most things but especially holidays, birthdays and Christmas. I buy in advance and in the sales and allow myself plenty of time to make things too. I set a budget and aim to stick to it.

I like to plan my weekends too and often make it into a game to try and plan a totally free weekend but have a good time anyhow. We have Historic Scotland memberships which we make use of (asked for these for OHs 40th this year), we do lots of walks, picnics, bramble picking and sometimes just have a chill out day in front of the TV.

2. Meal planning
This can give major savings. I have used the OS Grocery Challenge to help with this and often return to it if I find myself slipping. I plan a week in advance but have also done a month in advance before. Batch cooking, making best use of the freezer and avoiding packaged meals all work well for me.

I had been a bit lazy when I first went back to work after my summer hols this year and had been buying sandwiches out of T*sco on my way to work - cost £3 daily for the 'meal deal'. A few weeks ago I decided to cost out my lunch and snacks if making my own at home - for what I was taking then the cost was around 90p per day - that was for lunch and snack and a drink (I also use water from the water cooler but the drink was a 'treat'). It really brought home to me just how much making my own does save.

3. Budget
I have a monthly budget set for myself and OH. It covers all expenditure for the month as well as aiming to set aside savings. I redo this each month (OH works shifts so his salary varies) and evaluate how we got on last month. It allow us to reflect on how our spending is going - we have had to up the petrol budgets in the last year or so but then we look at ways to cut down on driving (we need to drive to work but we can walk to the shops, walk to visit family at weekends etc).

In this budget I also set aside money for 'Annualised expenses' and put away say £30 per month towards Christmas, £20 a month towards Car Insurance etc. I always pay insurances annually to avoid paying interest on them and by saving up I get paid interest and have the money ready when I need it (albeit a very low rate right now!!).

Hope that helps. There are also lots of little things I do but these are probably the ones that I can think of right now that make the biggest differences.

[Deleted User]

Been thinking about Christmas savings and this year I am really aiming to spend less on gifts. The last few years I have spent quite a lot on my sisters family, especially my 2 nieces.

My usual Christmas saving things are:

Only ever buy wrapping paper and cards in the Jan sales. Wait until they have been properly reduced.

Buy toiletries gift sets from boots in their Jan sale. Usually half price or less. I use these throughout the year for gifts on mothers day etc.

Make use of early sales and 3 for 2 offers - used this is As*a last year as they had a 3 for 2 toy sale. This year I notice Matalan has a 3 for 2 sale on Christmas gifts so have used this. Boots usually do the 3 for 2 as well.

This year I plan to do mainly a homemade Christmas - jams chutneys, marmalade, tray bakes etc. Most of the fruit I have picked for free (blackcurrants and raspberries from garden, brambles picked on local walk etc). The stuff for my nieces I bought back in the summer - a dolls cot for one and a pram style walker for the younger one, Both bought online and I shopped around to get the best deals. I will make bedding to go with these using wool and fabric I already have.

Food for the big day I usually get from Lidl. I love it when all the Christmas food comes into Lidl. Their Christmas cake slice is fab and me and OH usually start eating it from October onwards!!