2014 Frugal Living Challenge

kb_soma

InClover wrote: »

Well I was doing well in January and looking forward to having around 200 pound lwft in bank at end of month to pay off debt, then yday car gives up on me and I know have 300 to pay out. :-( Bang goes all my frugally saved cash plus 100 of Februarys.

Feeling down.

Don't feel down, if you hadn't been frugal during Jan, you'd be searching around for the money, feel proud of yourself.

Sorry to hear about your car. x

skintygerlinky

Afternoon Fellow Frugalites xx

I'm deffo limping over the finishing line too, glad to see the back of January! However, getting myself involved with this thread has honestly made a big difference as I've been inspired to admit (to myself as much as others) that I am skinty and need to get on with it!
Never thought I'd go so long without food shopping and the best thing I did this month was list everything in the cupboards, fridge and freezer and meal plan. Still plenty in to keep me going til payday on Friday, hoping to just stock up on fresh bits then as there are hopefully enough store cupboard bits in to see me through Feb - but let's see.

Got a few days off this week so I spent today going through my book shelves and rearranging them to perk up my reading interests again and to make me realise what's on the shelves - in short, lots of fab unread books! I'm not buying any new books this year (I include 2nd hand ones there) and if I want to read something new that's not on the shelves then a trip to the library is needed.

I rearranged my wardrobe at the end of last year and 're-discovered' clothes I hadn't worn in yonks. I like doing this, it keeps my interest alive and also keeps thoughts of 'oh I've nothing to wear...poor me...I DESERVE a new top/dress/complete new outfit' at bay grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

I've spoken on here before about this emotional tie-in I seem to have with spending money. The refrain goes 'it's only £7/£15.99/£50, you deserve a treat, what difference does it make in the long run?'

Well the answer, for me, is it makes a HUGE difference. What will make me happier - a new top now? Or continually chipping away at debts in the long run?

I know the answer now, thank goodness

So so glad people here understand my rambling comments and can empathise - thanks Frugalites it's appreciated xxxxxxxxxx

ginnyknit

Finally cut out our once a month takeaway with Ds. this month I made 2 curries - one chicken, one veggie (for daughter iL) and Ds just picked up poppadoms and chutney from the takeaway.

Been to stock up on bits at sm and market. Picked up 500 gms of pastrami ends and corned beef chunks at £1.50 each so not too bad. Corned beef hash for tea tonight and probably lunch tomorrow. Chilli last night from leftover pork chunks - £6.99 piece of pork did 3 meals for 3 of us and butties so went well.

Am feeling the benefits of good preparation and organising. Money seems to have gone much further this month and I have saved a good bit for my debt re-payment fund :j De- cluttering going well too and have a box of bits for fleabay all ready to do tomorrow.

Skinty the new mindset sounds as if its working for you, think I will adopt the same mantra as paying off this debt means so much to me for my future.

skintygerlinky

SarahB1989 wrote: »

Had the boyfriend staying for the weekend and was seriously tempted to go for a pub lunch today to save me cooking, especially when we didn't wake up til late. But decided I needed the money more than I wanted a meal out, so cobbled together a sort-of roast dinner that went down well

Thanks ginnyknit - as you can see, I was inspired by SarahB1989!

Love this thread xx

abby1234519

ginnyknit wrote: »

Abby not tried butternut squash cakes will have a google for a recipe, they are only 50p on our market.

It is one of my favourite cakes, if you can't find a nice recipe I can post mine. It has a bit of cinammon and nutmeg in, its so tasty. My 2 year old likes them more than banana cake and chocolate cake. To quote "its 'licious"

abby1234519

littleskintdragon wrote: »

Just had egg on toast for lunch, yum!

Chicken is in the slow cooker. Hoping to make a roast tonight, curry and possibly a third meal from stores.

What can i do with all the stock, can i use it for soup? If so any advice? Do i need to put chicken in or will the stock be enough to flavour it? Ive got some mushrooms. We're low on lunches for dh, would rather keep the bread for toast than him use 6 slices a day for lunch!

I freeze the stock in either one big bag or in separate portions.

If I freeze it in a big bag its so that I can make a big batch of soup.

Or I use it in smaller portions when making a risotto. It adds wonderful flavour to a risotto. We really like A girl called Jack's bacon and brie risotto with chicken stock

In fact you can add it to anything really! Bolognese for instance, flavour is goooood

mummy2threeboys

skintygerlinky..i can totally relate to the mentality of well its only £7..Thankfully i had my lightbulb moment..and in fact if you have debts that £7 isnt just £7 its £7 plus apr ..which a) your giving to your bank! b) you don't actually own said dress yet if you bought it on cc/store card and C) that means its not such a baragain at all!

Now i comp to win myself treats or get freebies like perfume samples..i store the samples into a large wash bag and when i fancy a treat i rummage through that, its great fun! i Also allways ask for bath goodies for birthdays and christmas.

Thank crunchy its nearly the end of jan and 1 more week till money in my bank..will kill one more debt and half of another fingers crossed..im currently only using £120 month for clothes , shoes, haircuts, after school activitys, food top ups , and saving for holidays (thats for 5 people) and paying £309 off in debts a month..think i did ok this month..dont want to check out the bank just yet.

Made soup for tea and home made bread , also this week one friend gave me a large mirror for my newly decorated dining room..i got a bread maker from another friend and a total starnger from freecycle has offered me a brother knitting machine..i feel really blessed this week!
Have a good week all..oh a pair of wedding shoes im selling on ebay has 101 watchers!!!

pm2326

Evening everyone

I'm enjoying reading your updates for the end of Jan and how you've all got on.

I'm quite surprised at how little I spent on food in January when I really concentrated on what I needed rather than what I fancied. Even though I did a bulk shop at the beginning of the month, I've only opened one bag of cat food, everything else is still there. I've managed to feed myself quite well on what's already in the cupboards & freezer and with £10 top ups each week which went on fresh food like eggs, milk, veg etc. Normally I would spend £50 - £60 on a monthly online shop and then spend £25 -£30 on a top up each week :eek:

I think February will be the real test, I got paid on Friday so I've technically started a new month. I spent £35 on Saturday when I went out on the drink for my birthday but this was factored into my spending for the month, which I would never normally do.

I went to Ald* yesterday for shopping and it came to £17, but I bought mince, pork steaks, chicken etc which will be made into more meals for the freezer. I don't expect to spend more than £5 this weekend coming so already I'm saving big time. Oh and my stock of booze has kindly been restocked with birthday presents :rotfl:

I realised last night that I hadn't prepared my lunches for work and it was too late to make anything, 5 mins later I'm up to my elbows in frozen food looking for the pasta meal I froze 2 weeks ago....ta da today's lunch was sorted. Now this may seem like common sense to some on here, however, 2 month ago I would have just bought a manky sandwich from the work canteen and paid £3 for the privilege!

my only wish is that I'd woken up to this way of life years ago.....maybe then I'd be happier with my lot

skintygerlinky

pm2326 wrote: »

my only wish is that I'd woken up to this way of life years ago.....maybe then I'd be happier with my lot

pm2326 I can really relate to this!!

The last few weeks have enabled me to concentrate on what I have got rather than what I don't have. I'm honestly happier.

For a kick off, I'm not fretting along the lines of 'life would be so much easier if I only had x, y, z...' or being resentful and childish if I don't have 'it'.
I'm starting to make full use of the clothes, make-up, perfume, books, CDs and DVDs I already have - and feel so lucky to say "I have plenty". I don't need any more of those and, for me, having more of everything doesn't make me any happier. In fact I feel worse as I'm then left feeling guilty for spending money I don't have!
I'm thinking so much more about what I eat due to meal planning and as a result I'm eating so much healthier - food tastes better too!
In short, I'm thankful for what I have, I'm keeping my 'emotional' spending in check and overall learning to have a sensible, enjoyable relationship with money rather than a scared, complicated one.

Am quite misty-eyed!! Sorry for being so dramatic, Frugalites! I know we have many different stories on here but I feel so inspired by everyone's stories every day.

Let's keep it up :grouphug: !! xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Shortie

Evening all, I've been absent for a few days as I was off work on Friday and then again today. I had a complete diva-day yesterday after a culmination of things, and finally cracked over one last thing screamed, and promptly cried at both Mr Shortie and Mr Shortie's Dad, whoops.... I wasn't in a mood with anyone, just feeling very 'hard done by' (:o) and steamed through the whole day getting housework done

The plan for the 4 days was to get the chicken run finished, but Mr Shortie dislocated his shoulder early on Friday when we were in the garden, Saturday my neighbour asked if we fancied joining forces and taking our kids to the £1 cinema (a much needed break) and my Mum wanted me over at hers that evening as my Dad was out for the day, Sunday it pee'd down and we discovered a puncture on our only car (queue major diva moment) and today I managed to get a little bit done on the chook run in between school runs, getting the tyre repaired and the rain...

So, a round up of Jan (actually, I quite like the idea of reflecting back):

Financially... In my December pay I bought quite a few reduced pressies, including a most of DS2's birthday pressies, some of DS1's birthday pressies, and birthday pressies for both my Mum and MiL. I paid the first repayment for the top up loan on the car. In my Jan pay (only paid last week) I paid for the Sun holiday in October, including the service charge, passes and to take the dogs with us. Paid off the last of DS1's school trip money and paid my tax bill. Also paid to have the fence repaired this weekend just gone. On the day I was paid I had already forecast that I was overdrawn by a few pounds, urgh...

However, the fencing was done quicker so we paid a bit less - the money went onto some popcorn etc at the cinema (ouch! lesson learnt there!), and then today on the puncture repair and (cough, cough ) Mr Shortie reminded me as we went to get the tyre repaired that the wool shop nearby would be open... so I spent £15 on wool this morning, whoops... Oh...and I enrolled myself in a crochet class for this Saturday (Tunisian crochet?) while in the wool shop which used up the rest of the returned fence money

Oh, and £10 in the hospital car park on Saturday after Mr Shortie's fall in the garden


Personally / mind set..... It's been a pretty tough month as it goes. I worked all over Christmas and there were major issues so it was not only 'not quiet' but it was actually stressful. I then felt 'cheated' out of my dry, outdoor-productive 4 day weekend (hence my diva-moment yesterday )


Looking forward.... It's been personally challenging as I have now realised that debt-free doesn't mean tonnes of money as I naively thought. I think I've readjusted my head now and get it - and I hope I've calmed down around that now and realise I just have to keep my head down and crack on. The saving plans that I made in December have already doubled and pushed out at least 2 years but hey, I can't change it and there's no point fighting it - I just have to get my head down and crack on. I somehow really feel like I turned a corner after my massive all day diva-moment and I seem have 'cleared the air' in my head and am ready to move forward. I can't promise I won't wobble and strop again but I feel so much more positive.

Next step for me is to get my tax return for 2103/14 submitted as soon as the year closes and I get my P60 and P11D through (assuming I get a P11D every year :think:) so that I can fully realise how much I owe for that one and get saving asap. I can then work out (again) my savings plan for the heating and then building work