2014 Frugal Living Challenge

sparrer

Goldiegirl I retired at 58 and have loved every minute of my time so far

Water saving today and every day - I washed a new bra using a 2 pint jug with a sprinkling of washing powder, then used the same water to wash a pair of woollen gloves. I always put gloves on to wash them, find it's more effective. I used the water to clean the sink and drainer, washing powder works beautifully. Used the same jug with cold water to rinse both items twice, and then the sink etc.
Before filling the jug with hot water I ran off the cold into another jug which I used for making tea through the day - I put just under a mugful of water in the kettle each time. I've tried using a flask but don't like the taste of the tea that way. Fussy beggar .
I wash up once a day using a plastic mixing bowl which uses a lot less water than the sink or a washing up bowl.
I shower/wash my hair on the days I go out, usually twice a week, and top & tail the other five days.
The mop bucket - I wipe down the radiators and window sills before the skirting boards get mopped then do the bathroom and kitchen floors, using a quarter bucket of water with a tiny squirt of washing up liquid and about a tablespoon of soda crystals.
A very nice letter from my pension company to let me know they're very generously going to increase my pension by £1.01p a month. Ecstatic - not.
Today would have been a nsp but I had to post a parcel. The postmistress tried to get me to send it recorded for £7'ish but I insisted on 2nd class for a little over £2.60p.

mrsinvisible

Morning frugalies, still plodding away here, semi-frugal month, still in budget, but only just. Like you Sparrer, I don't regret early retirement. There is more to life than work and more to retirement than pension. I have enough to live on and a little over for the odd extravagance so I am well content. Hope the cruise is wonderful, Goldiegirl and that you have fun too, Dawn.
Got to get ready for the school run now xx

Just_be_2

Just a quickie to let you lot know: in asssda today I got 500g biisto gravy granules at 2 for £3, usually £3 each!! And also heellmans mayo 750ml at 2 for £3, usually £2.95 each!!! Bargain!!

Ches

May I please join you all for the second quarter of the year? Household budget has been ticking away nicely for years and has never been a problem. Food/cleaning/toiletries budget is also OK and I don't overspend very often. Personal spending is dire and I am always buying more than I plan. For instance I bought 3 knitting patterns today at a cost of £8.25p :eek: and a jug (I love them) from the CS yesterday for £5. Perhaps if I have to declare each spend it may make me think twice before I buy.

I should add that OH and I keep our money very seperate except that he gives me rather a large lump sum every month and I pay for mostly everything including holidays. He also picks up any odds and ends of groceries such as milk in the week and never asks for the money. He pays for all meals out, car expenses and all booze.

We are both retired and have nice holidays etc its just my PS that I feel lets me down as I have having to show all the spends on my balace sheet every month.

cw18

Welcome aboard Ches

As I mentioned to you before my personal spends is also my major downfall, but this month (so far anyway) I seem to have done OK with it by sitting on my hands. Just a food festival to get through on Saturday, which could be an issue as the last 2 have seen me come home with an expensive pan - and I now spend more on 'toys' than food at these things :eek:

Ches

Thanks Cheryl.

lovefullshelves

Ello Ches My OH tends to only add to the budget when he actually notices me struggling!
Definitely a his and mine..which I'm hoping to correct if I'm lucky with my April 'live on whats in the house and what I earn ' challenge. Should be interestin as my hours plummet in April!! (make up for it in july though:D)
Kitty is doing well, his hurty foot is alot better now, he has to go back to vitnary on monday, so lord knows how much another trip will be!
march budget has gone in the wind as I've been stocking the shelves to busting!
This way I'll learn what we use alot of and hopefully the men will see how i struggle sometimes. They have no idea the time that goes into their food!
I spent a couple of hours just menu planning for April, using what we have, Ds tried to help!! But OH ignores me..his answer to food is potato waffles and beans (and yes, that is cheap if theyre on special offer, but really? I'm not 10!!)
Oh well..april here I come!!

Mint1955

Sparer and mrs invincible, I am 58 and now not working but no pension now until 66!! Luckily oh is 48 ;-) and still working but looking to retire in 7 years.

I have worked hard all my life and now I don't know how to fill my days. I can't seem to find the enthusiasm for much. Never had a hobby so no passion for anything.

I go to the gym mon to thurs am with a friend and volunteer at hospice fri am. Housework and cooking etc gets done as before when I worked but then I am at a loss.

No garden to do although that wouldn't be a pleasure anyway lol
Sheila

DawnW

Yay :j it's the weekend :j:j:j
Plans for today:

In shower in a minute
Eggs for breakfast (chickens laying )
Make a chocolate and banana cake (use up brown bananas )
Cuddle baby GD
Sort out strawberry plants (everywhere atm )
Investigate seedlings in mini plastic greenhouse thingy
Water plants in lean to
Supermarket - list needed first, shouldn't need much
Go to unit and tidy up, restock if necessary (I wish!)
Wipe kitchen over after recent roof leaking incident :eek:
Tidy up a bit - visitors tomorrow
Washing out on line
Walk mutt
Make some soup, and cook dinner, dying to try some recipes from Jack Monroe's book, which I bought a couple of weeks ago, and while I have read it avidly (it is a good read) I haven't actually made anything from it yet
OH is off to a farm sale - hope he doesn't buy anything :eek:

Not sure if I will get to all this today :eek:
Weather doesn't look great - I thought it was supposed to be nice this weekend??

mrsinvisible

Mint, Hi there, don't know what to suggest to you, there are loads of hobbies and passions you may discover, art, photography, needlecrafts, ceramics, are all things on my list to have a go at when I have time, or you may find a second career as an author, who knows! anyhow, its lovely to 'meet' you.
Grey day outside, so won't get much done outside, but need to transplant some seedlings in the greenhouse, I love doing this, it is calming and peaceful, mind wandering stuff.
Indoors looks positively neglected, too so perhaps some work inside is due. Whichever way I look at it it is going to be an NSD as the coffers are bare.