2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Just_be_2

I am ready for the 2014 challenge! First timer with a debt free day in April 2015, if not sooner!

nikki2002-2008

I want to do this as I am now a student and my incomes halves but I want to be totally debt free by the end of 2014 I also want to be able to go camping for the summer for the week I am determined to do this. I got a bargain in Tesco huge packs of minced beef were reduced to £2 but then I took the 3 of them to the till and they were on the 3 for £10 and another £2 was taken off for 3 packs for £4, I love mince as it's so versatile. Freezer is fit to bursting now so January will be so cheap as I have more than enough meat.

meg72

helencal80 wrote: »

JackieO - I always use mushroom stalks now, they taste exactly the same as the rest of the mushroom, I don't know why I wasted them for years! I am currently raiding my fridge for stuff I can stick in an odds and s*ds pie, thanks for the idea.

It never occurred to me that people don't use the stalks until a neighbour gave me a bagful to put in the compost, I didn't ,I used them. I take out the stalks when I buy mushrooms as they keep longer that way but always use them. I try if I can to pick up reduced, sometimes on the market I have got a 3lb punnet for a pound, they dry beautifully, I am lucky that I have a dehydrator, but even before I got it I found just putting in a paper bag and hanging up worked. you can make a bag out of a sheet of copy paper. They keep for yonks dried and are useful for spaghetti bolo, soup, stew etc

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Frugaldom wrote: »

Fast moving thread - please highlight my name in bold or else PM me if it's something I need to see, otherwise I'll miss it during my brief visits.


Welcome to all our newcomers! The thread will slow down once the new challenge is fully underway, so relax and have frugal fun.


Cooltrikerchick 2 things - First, wow! 2 bags of sugar for £1.50 is awesome, it is £1.40 per bag here! Secondly, please don't ever try feeding cats dog food. It's safe enough to feed dogs cat food but not the other way around, as the ingredients and nutrient levels are completely different. Just thought I'd mention to help save you any vets' bills in the long run in the event you saw a fab dog food offer.

its the different protein levels that are different for cats and dogs... Cats need a higher protein level, its ok to feed tinned dog food to cats, as long as its part of a mixed diet... but agree not good to be fed solely on its own... comparing tinned cat food with fresh, fresh is more economical, as you only get a low % of meat in a tin of pet food... I did feed my cats on soley fresh meat/fish etc, but the cats would grab a piece of meat and run off with it around the house....lol.... so now when Ibuy them a yellow stickered tray of liver/heart etc, they are firmly locked in the kitchen until it is all eaten...




Does anyone know how long a bag/sack of flour will keep for?


Even though I really do need to be super frugal in 2014, I do want to try and buy some stuff from local or independent suppliers..

nannygladys

Hello everybody
I cant wait to get started so I'm taking some steps already. I have done my main shop for the big day without using my sealed pot money so I'm planning to use that for food in January, mind you it's only 47
pounds so that's frugal challenge number one!
Other things are making loads of homemade soup and not sending Xmas cards to people at work and neighbours
Baby steps!
Nannyg

SarahB1989_2

Count me in... Graduating this summer after 6 years and the pennies aren't projected to stretch until my first paycheck at the rate I'm going! Planning to take my budget for food and 'entertainment' (nights out etc) out in cash at the start of each month so if there's nothing left I can't spend it. Know that buying snacks and coffee whilst I'm out is my biggest waste of money (at least correctable waste - reckon we could cut heating bills etc but living in a shared house means this isn't up to me). Budget is £3k for 8 months (will change once I have a salary).

savesummore

Hi Everyone

Can anyone point me in the direction of the budget planner that ive seen mentioned in previous yrs?

need to have a sit down and work out a budget

modern_millie_2

Evening all, I think this challenge could be what I'm looking for....

We are debt free, but on a low and uncertain income. I looked at projected income and outgoings for 2014 a couple of days ago, and gave myself a shock!

OH and I are mid 50s, so 10 years or so to retirement, have some savings but keep dipping in for major expenses which is not good as we are not currently saving for pensions.

Our amount to live on after essential bills I have projected as £6400 for two adults, cat and DD when home from Uni. Plans include:

Grow more veg! we have plenty of garden so no excuse!

Aim to finance my personal spends - haircuts, coffees with friends etc - from crafting sales - very small scale atm.

Shop around for insurances this year - have let this go for a year or two.

Barter where possible! bit anxious about this one but I like the principle.

We need a new ch boiler next year, I am hoping to at least part finance it through next year's income.

Will read back through last year's thread, and watch this one with interest.

skint_chick

Hello, I' back in again for the 5th year, I got seriously off track last year with having to do some major home repairs and improvements and I went part time at work to allow me to go back to university part time, which has another few months to go - although I'm hoping for a further 3 years funding which would rule out working at all from September. So I have £15,322 to try and shift, half of it on an interest free credit card until June, £5k of a personal loan due to finish July 2015 and some to my dad which is interest free.

I spend a lot of last year working on making us almost self sufficient in vegetables and living a simpler life. I only bought clothes to replace ones that wore out, got most of my toiletries as birthday and Christmas gifts and the majority of eating out was mystery shopping. We now only have one car, OH changed his job to be close enough to walk and I walk to work when it's warmer. We only took a short break to Germany this year instead of our usual 3/4 holidays and next year any trips will be study related or visiting family.

I'd love to have all the debts paid by the end of the year and think if I put more effort into reducing the grocery bills we could actually do this with overtime, mystery shopping money and craft sales.

patentgirl

Can I please be added to 2014's challenge did join in couple of years ago but confessing to falling back into my old ways built up various debts,got out the habit budgeting and saving need to get back into this lifestyle again got a holiday booked next year need to replenish savings as near rock bottom after a lot of expenditure this year! Some was Essential like boiler and cooker but a lot wasn't! Need to join challenge please to get back on straight and narrow! Will make a start by going back to using cash!