2014 Frugal Living Challenge

cw18

And this is how it looked at the end of January



The Contact Lens entry is showing as a credit as I had a change in prescription around Christmas/New Year. I returned 3 months of the old ones, which they converted into 2 of the new (more expensive) ones and refunded me the difference in cost plus a partial refund on what I'd already paid for the next delivery. I'd also been put on a payment holiday for January so that they wouldn't ship any more before they'd sorted out my new prescription - so nothing out and plenty back in

My Camino spends were for some specialised blister plasters (expiry date of late 2015, so I've now got them to use while training if needed) and a small travel sewing kit (the ones I already owned have bits missing and damaged cases).

'Everything Else' look terrible, but I know from past years this is where I tend to struggle most with sticking to a budget. January's spend actually includes a new set of crockery as my old stuff was looking past it best, a number of pieces were chipped, and the dinner plates just weren't big enough now I'm serving up loads and loads of veg with every cooked meal. There's enough useable amongst the old that DD's taking it off my hands as she's broken that much of her's that she's barely got enough for her and her two eldest - with the third now starting to eat more with them and another to grow up to that as well..... so in some ways I'm helping her out for now as she doesn't need to find money to buy more while she's sorting out jobs needed around the house (Housing Assoc, so decor and garden is her expense). It also included a compact camera with SD card, 4 pairs of running tights and an e-reader - but they were all covered by the money my parents gave me for Christmas and my birthday (I even had a penny left over )

cw18

but at least a couple of the budget figures will be re-visited over the next month....

I've been looking at my phone/broadband costs since my provider started to advertise that my package now includes their TV for free (no use to me, so basically means I'm paying for something I can't use), and it appears they now have a cheaper package. For £5 less a month I don't get the TV but also lose all free evening and weekend calls, so I've spent part of today going through my call history since early Feb 2013. The calls I've had free that I'd have had to pay for on the cheaper package would have cost me under £7 !!!! So I'm looking at a saving of around £50/year by dropping my package even if I make the same calls (and I hope not to lose bank cards every year which were a fair chunk of those calls), and if I pay 12 months line rental up front that saves me a further £58.80. So that's over £100/year in my pocket rather than theirs

I'm also looking at keeping my handset when my mobile phone minimum term contract comes to end end towards the end of May. By doing so I should be able to switch to a SIM only contract, and reckon I can save at least £10/month by doing so (may manage more, but want to double check allowances against what I've been using carefully).

But my car insurance will be going up. I'm adding DS1 to the policy on his birthday in 3 weeks time :eek: He's been having major issues getting to work as buses don't run well around his shift (and he still has a fairly long walk at work end), 3 taxi firms around us all seem to think they can turn up at 7:35 for a 7:10 booking to get him to work which is 12 minute drive away for 7:30 start of shift (not sure how that works!), and if he cycled (using my pushbike!) it's uphill all the way with no access to showers before a 12 hour shift as a care worker. So at the moment I'm providing a taxi service, and from his birthday he'll have use of my car on his work days. Not putting him on sooner as the extra premium would be 3 times what it'll be by waiting (and he'd have a £200 excess instead of zero) because he'll be turning 25 !! To add him from mid-March to end July is around £52, so I guess my annual renewal will be at least £120 more than I'd estimated - and I may have to raise the estimated mileage which is going to push it up again

But the insurance (and extra petrol and some repair costs) will be covered by DS1. We've agreed that he'll be paying the difference in insurance premium plus 30p for each mile he uses the car for (15p for petrol which allows for quite a few increases in price as long as he drives sensibly, and 15p towards extra wear and tear to the vehicle for things like tyres, brakes, bulbs, wipers etc.). This means each day he uses it for work will cost him around £3.60, which is a big saving against the £12 it cost him in return taxi fares (and even against the £6-ish return bus fare). But one condition I've put on this is that he throws most of the savings at clearing his debts.

SarahB1989_2

Feeling quite down about the lack of money at the moment, and also feeling rubbish thanks to not eating well. I get three square meals and a few snacks, but they're all carb-based for cheapness - porridge for breakfast, hm soup and toast for lunch, dinner is chilli/bolognaise with more lentils than mince with potato wedges or pasta. Does anyone have any suggestions for lower carb/higher protein meals that won't cost too much more? How cheap can I go with meat before it becomes of dubious content?

cw18

I've actually gone up in terms of meat quality, but have less of it at a meal - eg,. I'd rather have two 80% meat sausages than the 4 with 30% I used to have.

Lentils actually have a hefty and very healthy protein content, so I wouldn't worry about using loads of them. They're only slightly high in carbs, but it does mean they're low fat which counter balances other things (like mince). I use a fair few other pulses as well, with one of my favourites being a mix of dried - and pre-soaked - beans with onions, celery, grated carrots, tinned tomatoes and a dash of red wine vinegar. It's great cold as a lunch, or hot with sausages, burgers or chicken. Another slightly high carbs, hefty and healthy protein and (very) low fat option.

But I've been spoiled since Oct '12, as I got Costc0 membership then. So I stock up on meat from there which is all fantastic quality and almost all is cheaper than the nasty cheap stuff (their skinless chicken breasts are very slightly dearer then Mr A's SP but a lot cheaper than Mr T's value, and their stewing steak isn't much dearer than the Value stuff whilst being cheaper than all other options in Mr T). So if you know someone with a card who'll take you in as a guest (and you can afford £15-20 on a tray of meat and have facilities to store it - or can share a tray with someone) I'm heartily recommend a visit.

SarahB1989_2

cw18 wrote: »

I've actually gone up in terms of meat quality, but have less of it at a meal - eg,. I'd rather have two 80% meat sausages than the 4 with 30% I used to have.

Lentils actually have a hefty and very healthy protein content, so I wouldn't worry about using loads of them. They're only slightly high in carbs, but it does mean they're low fat which counter balances other things (like mince). I use a fair few other pulses as well, with one of my favourites being a mix of dried - and pre-soaked - beans with onions, celery, grated carrots, tinned tomatoes and a dash of red wine vinegar. It's great cold as a lunch, or hot with sausages, burgers or chicken. Another slightly high carbs, hefty and healthy protein and (very) low fat option.

But I've been spoiled since Oct '12, as I got Costc0 membership then. So I stock up on meat from there which is all fantastic quality and almost all is cheaper than the nasty cheap stuff (their skinless chicken breasts are very slightly dearer then Mr A's SP but a lot cheaper than Mr T's value, and their stewing steak isn't much dearer than the Value stuff whilst being cheaper than all other options in Mr T). So if you know someone with a card who'll take you in as a guest (and you can afford £15-20 on a tray of meat and have facilities to store it - or can share a tray with someone) I'm heartily recommend a visit.

I don't mind fat content - anything to keep me full until the next meal, on some days half my calorie intake can come from snacks! The beans meal sounds nice, I'll have to give that a try.
Coscto sadly isn't an option - I only have a tiny freezer and there's only me to feed so even the supermarkets 3 packs of meat for £10 deal is beyond me! Will keep it in mind for the future though, thanks for those tips

skintygerlinky

SarahB1989 wrote: »

Feeling quite down about the lack of money at the moment, and also feeling rubbish thanks to not eating well. I get three square meals and a few snacks, but they're all carb-based for cheapness - porridge for breakfast, hm soup and toast for lunch, dinner is chilli/bolognaise with more lentils than mince with potato wedges or pasta. Does anyone have any suggestions for lower carb/higher protein meals that won't cost too much more? How cheap can I go with meat before it becomes of dubious content?

Sorry you're feeling like this sarah xxx

I really hope you feel better soon. You're doing the best you can at the moment and you're doing a good job. You're making sure you're eating regular meals and posting here for support. Keep it up, this won't last forever xxx

I like sweet potatoes, celeriac, carrots, turnips and swede as an alternative to pasta or wedges, especially cut into chunks and roasted with a bit of oil and garlic. They seem to taste a bit different and are really tasty! If they are boiled in any combination and mashed they make a lovely topping for shepherd's pie - nice change for bolognaise.

You've probably come across these sites before - but they're always good to check for inspiration:

http://agirlcalledjack.com/

http://thriftylesley.com/

cw18

SarahB1989 wrote: »

The beans meal sounds nice, I'll have to give that a try.

My last batch had also had some courgette (had some needed using up), and I often add some finely diced pepper if I have some lurking that need using up.

lovefullshelves

Sarah, we also have alot of carbs in our diet, meat is normally a flavouring! Although I do eke things out using tvp a fair bit.
I'm getting angry at OH's apparent blindness to our monetary situation. I'm squirreling money away and he seems to try to find ways to spend every penny he earns. i'm at a loss. Last week it was a car( i used me buying a second car to point out how bad an idea it was but nothing stops him looking, at least thats free) and this week its a huge caravan. Yes, cheap, but if it costs hundreds to have it delivered...hurumph. He just got ratty when I asked where he thought he could put it (and I wanted to say where he could 'shove' it :O)
And although I was under budget for weekly shop I went over by going to asda for a tinkle! Bargain fever i think I get, hence all the shelves!
Hope everyones enjoying the vaguely pleasant weather x

sparrer

Wednesday was a nsd though not a npd as I had to give someone a lift. Since having an mpg gauge on my car I haven't gone over 55 on local roads, 65 on m-ways and only have to fill up once a month which includes a monthly round trip of 160 miles to visit DM. This time last year I was tearing around at, umm...well, just a little over the speed limit
Hung a free, new-to-me curtain at the front door, painted the frame of a full length mirror and a picture I found in the glory hole (spare bedroom), now the front porch looks fresh and welcoming for no cost.

tatabubbly

Another NSD for me today. Trying to tweak things so I don't have too much money coming out of the accounts next month, it's gonna be a tight month for me. I owe the people for my braces €400 from missing a Standing order.. Bleh! I have about €280 here that can go towards it so I've only to earn another €120 to make up the difference!

That and the fact I need to purchase another flight... Hmmmmm. Things are going to be mega tight..