2014 Frugal Living Challenge

sparrer

Been very frugal for a while now, sifting away every penny I can and cutting back wherever possible.
I was (note 'was') doing so well - then I got a call from a close family member yesterday to say they can't cope any more, they both work but have poorly paid jobs, and like many thousands of other struggling families, they're at the end of their tether.
They weren't asking for help, they're not the type, so I gave them some suggestions re debt charities then went to Mr S to do a bit of a shop for them. They were so tearfully grateful it almost made me cry!
I've been helped in the past and am okay now so now it's my turn to help someone else. It's not all about self, if you can help someone you'll be rewarded tenfold, it's be proven to me so many times.

Nicki_Sue

No big major saves to add but I have really cut back on food spends, am making wholesome meals with what is in and when I go to the market or shop I am getting ONLY what I need and the cheapest item at that. Cutting food spends has made a big difference to the bank!

alja

Another NSD for me today so only £5 spent this week so far! However, this weekend is set to be a very expensive one as I'm potentially booking an expensive hotel room for a friend's wedding and also a holiday with friends to somewhere quite expensive too! I believe I'll possibly be paying out over £300 at the weekend!!!

The hotel room is a treat for myself as I haven't had a chance to let my hair down in a long time, so I'm thinking of that as the money I've saved up from not going out so much in recent months.

The holiday will be expensive, but it's my first ever holiday with my friends and I can afford it, so it's probably one of the most "splash out" things I've ever done! ...but don't get me wrong! I will be using any vouchers I can from Mr T and surveys to pay for any clothes & other bits needed for it! And I will make a note of what I truly *need* not want, as I have plenty of clothes already!

kb_soma

I'm loving this forum. Everyone is so inspirational! Ive decided to leave my credit cards, bank cards and wallet at home, and i am keeping an emergency fiver in my pocket. Need to set up gas and electric monthly dd, I have set a £900 per month budget and am trying to bring all house hold cost/food/cat costs to under £110 per month. So far so good, im on day 4 of taking lunch to work, and day 3 of nsd. Im keeping a small diary in my bag of any spends so that I can add them up at week end. Im going to see if it's possible to clear most of my debt by the end of the year. I know it will be tight, but I do think it can be doable. Ive just finished december's stew, which made 30 portions, fed me through december. The saving on this paid for the christmas pressies. Feeling inspired, thank you everyone!

Dinner tonight was home made cottage pie from the freezer, brussel sprouts and frozen sweetcorn. Yum!

skintygerlinky

Evening all, hope everyone's OK!

Took leftovers in for lunch today - spent out on usual expensive bus and train fairs grrrrrrrrrrrr to get up to uni. Need to chase up and see if I've qualified for the 'hard up student' bursary thingie. That should help with travel costs so fingers crossed!
Bought an Americano at lunch that wasn't that nice and then later a StarBigBucks monstrosity which was horribly sweet and sickly. Do I need really need to buy any more coffee from these guys before I just stop?? It's not nice, I don't enjoy it and it's stupidly expensive!! Enough!!

Coulddobetter

Had a spend day today as needed some de-scaler for kettle, dishwasher and washing machine. In the last when the kettle looks as bad as it fun I would have bought another one. No more:j

Bought more fresh fruit and veg and some cleaning fluid spent the grand total of £18.08. I didn't realise I had become so tight. I bought one make of de-scaler from A***but found the make OH wanted At another shop so returned the A*** one back them. Before I would have just kept them both. I am learning, thank you.

I decluttered another 8 items today:T

CDB x

CT19720

Had a busy few days with work so lots of catching up here to do.


Real know what you mean Cydney65 about finding it difficult to actually spend money. I had a debate with myself yesterday in the Works. Needed a few crafting bits to finish a project off, and picked up a few more just because, but then put the extras back on the shelf and only buying what I needed for £3.97.


Sparrer, what a lovely thing to do for your close relatives. If I was ever in that position, I know I would definitely do the same thing.


Not a very frugal day for me today, just had to pay £125 as the final instalment for my son's 4 day trip to Barcelona with school in April. My youngest son then handed me a letter for his school trip to the Isle of Wight in the summer for £280. I have the money to pay it, but this year you are able to pay by instalments, so I'll do that over the next 3 months, then it won't feel so bad.



Still haven't had to do a shop, so going to try and hang it out until the end of next week. I have plenty in the freezers, just don't know if the stuff will make recognized meals, my family will eat!

Keep up the good work everyone, like others have said, this thread is very inspirational.

InClover

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Thanks mum2one, hope this works!


Sorry, photo is a bit big :rotfl:

KazLA

Still 4 pages behind, but in the meantime:

Cydney65 - mmm, yes, bread & butter pudding, that's what I am going to do with the crusts that end up left in the freezer! Maybe with some choc spread!

Made the choc banana cake, but not overly impressed - weight works out at 5 bananas, that seemed an awful lot, and it was more banana than cake? Also think I killed it, by leaving it on the side for several hours, so I could cook it when I had the oven on for tea...?

On the plus side, I added the spiced Wensleydale & cranberry to a boiled fruit cake and that tastes lovely! Also used up some prunes that none of us like, and the rest of the currants from the Christmas cake!

Forgot who, but thx for the tip off on the naan bread!! 20p - amazing! We use them for hm pizza most weeks & can't believe that's never come up in a search! Hv added them to my online basket.

Happycrafter - the square foot gardening book is by Mel Bartholomew, I looked up on Amazon & read reviews, then ordered from the library.

sparrer

kb_soma wrote: »

I'm loving this forum. Everyone is so inspirational! Ive decided to leave my credit cards, bank cards and wallet at home, and i am keeping an emergency fiver in my pocket.

Good for you kb_soma, while I know some people need a credit card I gave up mine when I got in a financial mess some years ago and only keep a debit card now. Like you I leave it at home and use minimal cash, I allow myself a sensible amount of pocket money every week and if I want something I just have to save for it. I haven't missed living what I thought was the high life at all because today I don't own anybody anything