2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugalsod

I am already pretty frugal but will be trying to outdo myself this year. I will try and have no spend months and limit my actual spend to £50 in total. I already have plenty of food in stock and really only need to buy dairy produce to get me through the month, as much is already in the freezer.

mum2one

My tightwad tip - following on from us all re-using Xmas cards as tags I also use birthday cards andd recycle them for tags.

Another tip - re birthday/wrapping paper.

Patterned - Rose, Flower, Teddy - cut a strip off the paper before wrapping the items, and cut around the design

Plain/Dotted etc - again cut a strip off side, use pinking scissors, kids craft scissors (The Works 99p for 2 pairs) or cut a cloud shape with normal scissors.

Presents - frugal as I buy jan sales, regift (if I buy a set it has bubblebath - we only have a shower) save them and add a shower puff and make a little set up, hit the sales.

If anyone is interested, I do a thrify thread, it helps balance books, plus has cleaning challenges, this is this yrs, were have a new one for 2014, if anyone wants to pop by your more than welcome

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4367477

The pantry - weve also got a small one in the kitchen its from when it was a council house, little window in side, we did have a cold slab, but knocked that out to put the fridge in the pantry. We own the house, but the ones that are still council/HA owned, they knocked out the slab, blocked up the window - but the position of it, (under the stairs) - its now just an open cupboard.

My best friend, shes got an ex-council house as well, and they've got the old proper walk in pantry - theres is in the hall.

We have sugar and flour stored into old icecream containers, there great for storage.

xx

Frugalsod

I was going to say do you need to give gifts? Sometimes all you get are things that you do not want or need, so why not have a no present pact. It saves you having to buy presents that they might not want or need.

mum2one

Frugalsod wrote: »

I was going to say do you need to give gifts? Sometimes all you get are things that you do not want or need, so why not have a no present pact. It saves you having to buy presents that they might not want or need.[/QUOTE

For me, (as a family) we have trimmed the list down a lot over the last couple of years, there be another cull this year. But I couldn't do the no present pact with some friends, xx

Frugalsod

It is tough to have a no present policy with kids, though they get to an age when money is better.

ginnyknit

Instead of buying my spendthrift relatives gifts this year I made a donation to a charity helping elderley people in the third world support themselves - I hope it gives them an idea of who I am.

have subscribed to the thread as I have one debt to pay off and its important I get it done this year. Look forward to the journey and a new year.

Frugaldom

Hello and welcome to all our newcomers - I hope you all enjoy the 2014 frugal living challenge, which will be into its seventh year on these forums and 15th year overall.

Don't forget to read all of post one and check out the previous challenges and handy links - it helps avoid clogging the threads with repeated info. Some old threads may use previous names, so if you see any references to NYK or NYK Media - I changed names a few years ago but am still the same person. (Just been asked about this elsewhere.)

Things settle down after a few weeks of the challenge starting but, in the meantime, enjoy the introductory rollercoaster ride.


Just making final Christmas cards here then need to get out a walk to distribute them before the next storm lashes us - hope everyone is staying safe.

Lina_T

I've just been for a job interview. the job is a 40-65% increase in my current salary and it's exactly the kind of job I'm looking for so fingers crossed I get it.

I've got another one on Monday too, but the pay isn't as good and I'm not even sure if I even want it.

I loathe interviews.:(

Kerry_Woman

Lina T Wishing you all the best regarding your job interviews. I hope the right job comes your way.

parsniphead

Dozey_crow wrote: »

Sorry I was replying to the poster who was talking about bread tins but I quoted the wrong post....

Hello... We had this problem with the tins for a while... we were looking for others but had to carry on with what we had for a while so we wanted then I'm nearly boiling water with loads of fairy and have them a really good scrub. Although we washed them after each use this really seemed to help.

We have also found that greasing with the 'baking fat' block which is 49p from Asda really works and failing that we line the bottom with greaseproof paper... Good job we worked something or really because over a year later we are still looking for tins :rotfl:



My plan is to be more organized next year but I need to sit down over Christmas and work it all out financially first of all. I will be back to report soon.

Its so nice to have a nice supportive thread.

Thanks for the reply Dozey Crow.

I have been greasing them well and scrubbing between but they still stick. I think a roll of grease proof is next on the list as I have gone off shop bread and don't want to start buying it again. Plus it's taken me years to get bread coming out like bread and not a brick.