2014 Frugal Living Challenge

cw18

My in-laws used to buy stamps to pay for their TV licence, and had about £20 when I took over paying it for them by D/Debit (as their birthday and Christmas presents every year). They had to cash the stamps in, so it's possible they'll have to refund you any overpayment on a payment card.

I used to pay by direct debit. You pay for the first one over 6 months (so £145/6 = £24.17 or thereabouts a month), then pay for the next one 6 months in advance and 6 in arrears (£12.09 or thereabouts a month).

When I cancelled mine at the end of 2010 they refunded me the 3 months left on my current one and the 3 months I'd already paid for the next.

cw18

It seems that some of my shopping habits have definitely changed!

When I was in Mr T last week I was given a till spit for £6 off a £40 spend, which is equivalent to 15% off.

Up until the start of this year I'd have been straight in picking up all kinds of stuff "I'll use at some point", but no more. I've already had a couple of these this year, and I've sat on their website compiling a shopping list of items I either get there normally or are long life (or freezable) items I usually get elsewhere for pennies cheaper but which are on offer making them cheaper at Mr T before I consider the additional saving from the voucher.

So last night I sat down to compile a list to use this voucher - and have so far got my spend to £10.81

I'm going to do a check of my kitchen cupboards (and other food stores) today, but at the moment it looks like this voucher won't be used unless I can think of some non-grocery items I need.

quidsy

Can the voucher be used on anything or just groceries/household stuff? If yes, if you have any bdays coming up pick up cheap 2 for 15 quid kids toys or scented candles, toiletry sets etc. If it is just for groceries & hh stuff I tend to stock up on washing powder if it is on offer as with the money off it works out very cost effective & can be stored for months until you need it.

cw18

Anything in store.

I've not bought any presents there in years - they either don't have want people want or it's a lot cheaper elsewhere.

In past years I've added to my storage box collection (plastic clip type), but don't need - nor have space for - any more.

I get washing powder and toilet rolls from Costc0 - normally cheaper even at full price, but I only buy when on offer so even cheaper.

Since having access to Costc0 (just paid for 3rd year) both OH and I have found we're spending much less in Mr T, and both now regularly get vouchers trying to tempt us back I used to get 1 £4 off £60 a year if I were lucky, and this is my 3rd £6 off £40 in 9 months !!!

Mrs_Cheshire

Hi all, another coming out of Lurkdom. I've had a busy few months with my Open University module and have just started the 2nd. Been keeping to the budgets set and have been able to keep under the grocery budget so have managed to book our first proper family holiday. Only a short break to Haven but apart from the odd night in a Travelodge we've never paid for our own holiday, usually tag along with my parents. Really looking forward to spending some time on the coast in Ayr during the Easter holidays

I saw someone earlier in the thread mentioned Geocaching, we've recently taken it up as a family, did quite a bit during August when the weather was better but now the kids are back in school and I'm back to studying we've not been out as much but as Frugledom says it's a great form of exercise exploring the great outdoors.

We put some curtains up at the front and back doors at the weekend in a bid to keep some of the cold out and the heat in, as we live in a rented house and the doors are old and don't tightly fit the frames. We've always used a draught excluder but thought curtains would help keep out the draughts around the top and sides. I'm going to find some old fleece blankets and stitch them into the curtains to insulate them more.
Interested in the foil behind radiators as all except 2 are on outside walls and 2 are huge! Not sure a roll of foil would work as they are that big, might be worth me looking into the proper stuff

lynnejk

Hiya everyone


Sorry been AWOL for a while but been really busy and on holidays


Still bumbling along trying to save the pennies and now trying to get all household spending down to £200 - managed for last two months but struggling a bit this one.


The car is one of our big expenses as DH has to have it to get to work (he works very early or very late shifts) and it costs about £200 a month to run :eek: Can't even lift-share as it is not fixed finishing and can vary by up to four hours from day to day.


I am quite chuffed as my 0% credit card for 18 months starts tomorrow. This means I will still get my cashback on most expenditure - I use it all the time - but I can also put the money into an account earning 5% so long as I pay the minimum each month. Also the money will be there if anything happens and I have to pay the card off and so will not be in debt :money:

cw18 wrote: »

It seems that some of my shopping habits have definitely changed!

When I was in Mr T last week I was given a till spit for £6 off a £40 spend, which is equivalent to 15% off.

So last night I sat down to compile a list to use this voucher - and have so far got my spend to £10.81

I'm going to do a check of my kitchen cupboards (and other food stores) today, but at the moment it looks like this voucher won't be used unless I can think of some non-grocery items I need.

How long does it last CW ? If it's long you could wait until all the lovely bargains appear just after C*. If it's short maybe you could buy some C* drink for yourself or someone else ?


I'm the same as now mainly shop at Al*i but am watching with interest to see what happens at Morrys when their card starts next week together with their statement that they are going to compete with the discounters !!! Can only be good for us savers eh :rotfl:


Hope you all do well with your frugalities and have a thrifty Thursday
Lx

cw18

lynnejk wrote: »

How long does it last CW ? If it's long you could wait until all the lovely bargains appear just after C*. If it's short maybe you could buy some C* drink for yourself or someone else ?

These things only last until the end of the following week, so it expires this Sunday. Alcohol is something else I don't buy - I don't drink, my son already drinks too much, my Mum is trying to get my Dad to cut back (for medical reasons), and my OH likes a pricey wine that would only just about be affordable (to me) if Costc0 sold if by the bottle for the same price it works out at in a case I actually have a bottle of wine I was given last Christmas (neighbours keep forgetting I don't drink) that I plan to pass to the local primary school for a prize at their Christmas Fair.

Frugaldom

Hello to all,

CW, I have always to bin any vouchers I have received owing to no shops here and only having a bicycle for. Transport but I am loving the local trial of home deliveries from A$da, as their price comparison and shared delivery slots are brilliant. Nearest store is over 50 miles from here, so they really have cornered the frugal market here.

Mrs Cheshire, great news about your Ayrshire break, hope you enjoy it.

Does anyone on here go back packing or cycling and camping?

[Deleted User]

cw18 wrote: »

I actually have a bottle of wine I was given last Christmas (neighbours keep forgetting I don't drink) that I plan to pass to the local primary school for a prize at their Christmas Fair.

I can empathise over this, CW, except in my case it's chocolates or any kind of sweets. I just haven't a sweet tooth, I must be one of the few women in the country who hates chocolate:rotfl:. When I was working (and even now to a limited extent) I used to receive loads of boxes of chocs at Christmas and other occasions ( and sometimes really expensive classy ones) from colleagues and clients who just wanted to give a small gift. It was really kind of them and I was genuinely touched that people had bothered but I always thought chocs were a pretty unimaginative choice.

Friends and family did very well out of me when I passed them on, and local events wanting prizes always received plenty!

quidsy

Stock up on undies & socks? Planning to get anyone electrical gift for Christmas?