2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

Good morning to all, I hope this storm isn't interrupting play for anyone; winds are howling here, rain battering down but power is still on,which is a pleasant surprise.

As most know, we have no nearby shops, but the nearest villagestore, abour 3.5 miles from here, changed to Spar last year. Small shop, limited stock and no butchers or grocers within 10 miles, no major supermarkets or farmers' markets within 20 miles. For me, online shopping is my biggest saver and,despite everything, we eat well on £1 per person per day.

For those wanting to buy their own home - never give up. This is the link to my own challenge on here from 2007, after I had achieved my debt freedom.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/604887

Not sure if it will be of any help and we did end up buying in a different area to what I had expected, but we got there in the end... still renovating the house but have, since, managed to save and buy a field to turn into a slightly bigger frugaldom project.

Good luck to all... just see everything you bin as cash you have paid out that could have been saved. At one point, I was parking the car a mile from the shop just to save 2 miles' worth of fuel. Now I no longer need a car, I got a bike and cycle everywhere. (I work from home and kids have all grown up and left now.)

Frugaldom rocks!

[Deleted User]

Morning All. Sorry not posted on this thread for a while.

I could really use some advice folks. My mum phoned last night to say that she has been talked into going away as part of her 70th birthday celebrations next July. My sister had been talking about this a few weeks ago but my mum said she would rather just have us all go out for a meal. So I was surprised to get a call from her last night saying that they have decided we should all go to Centre parcs for a 3 night stay over one weekend in July next year.

Now here's my dilemma (which may sound like a nice dilemma to have it's not really) - My mum did the whole guilt thing saying that she wants us all there while she is still able etc and that my Dad will pay for us to go. But I am really not happy about taking handouts from my parents. So if me and OH are going we will pay for ourselves. This brings 2 issues - 1. My mum will insist on paying for us and not be happy that we want to pay our own way and 2. It will cost around £550 for the cheapest accommodation they have plus petrol, food and whatever else. So we are talking around £700 - £800 for a weekend away. I do have a reasonable amount of money saved but its been saved by not having expensive weekends away and being frugal wherever I can.

Am I just being unreasonable? Should I just let my poor old Dad cough up for us to go? I just feel that I am an adult now and should pay my way but I would not normally be spending that sort of money on one weekend trip. I know I must sound like a total ingrate! Advice appreciated.

his_missus

Lynnejk, I did used to do the grocery challenge back in the day but the people on there have such low, tight budgets in comparison to mine I kind of felt awkward posting on the thread. No-one ever made me feel awkward, it was just me.


Allie, that's a tricky one. Are mum and dad are prepared to pay for everyone to go? If so, what about having a word with your sister and trying to come to some arrangement - maybe mum and dad pay for accommodation, the rest of you pay for petrol, food, added extras for activities.

[Deleted User]

allie23

I can see why you are having doubts, allie. It sounds as you will be upset whichever option you choose, and that's not good on what should be a lovely, happy, family celebration.

You say your Mum has been 'talked into' going away and I assume it was your sister or your Dad who persuaded her. Can you have a face-to-face chat with them and see why they have made a decision which doesn't seem to be what your Mum would prefer. It's her special day after all. Maybe it's not too late to have a rethink if bookings haven't been made yet.

It's going to be a very expensive bill for your Dad to pay:eek: but if it was purely his idea and he wants to do it maybe you should just go along with it. If he is paying for your sister and everyone else he obviously plans to foot the whole bill and wouldn't have offered to unless he could afford it. I know exactly where you are coming from in wanting to pay your own way but this is a different situation.

I'm not much help, I'm afraid, but will be very interested to hear how you get on and what you all decide to do.

alja

Frugaldom wrote: »

For those wanting to buy their own home - never give up. This is the link to my own challenge on here from 2007, after I had achieved my debt freedom.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/604887

Not sure if it will be of any help and we did end up buying in a different area to what I had expected, but we got there in the end... still renovating the house but have, since, managed to save and buy a field to turn into a slightly bigger frugaldom project.

Good luck to all... just see everything you bin as cash you have paid out that could have been saved. At one point, I was parking the car a mile from the shop just to save 2 miles' worth of fuel. Now I no longer need a car, I got a bike and cycle everywhere. (I work from home and kids have all grown up and left now.)

Frugaldom rocks!

Thank you! I will have a read. I'm very lucky to have never had any debt (apart from student debt) and I'm very lucky that I found my way onto this website at the beginning of my adult life, I'm 100% sure I wouldn't have the amount of savings I have now if it wasn't from the motivation I get from reading the forums on here.


There has been times where I have lacked motivation because I will be buying the house by myself on my one salary, therefore I have to save a crazy amount of money to be able to afford somewhere I'm happy with - it has felt like I'll never get there at times so I've occasionally thought "what is the point" etc.


However, I have recently seen somewhere that I'd be happy living in and it's not too far out of my reach. I've come this far I might as well give it that final push now and be really frugal over the next few months to reach my goal!


I'm sure I'll be on here looking for ways to keep my grocery costs down too once I've thrown all that money at somewhere...

quidsy

Maybe someone can help with something that I have wondered for a while. I know (think?) that things plugged in use energy even when not in use, for example a TV on standby will use a residual amount of energy but does that apply to everything, such as a kettle that doesn't have a standby light?

Does it need to be switched off at plug until use to stop ANY electricity usage or can it just be ON at the plug without using any?

I've been trying to cut back on the amount of stuff we leave plugged in but wont waste time turning off hairdryers/kettles & whatnot at the plug if it isn't needed

his_missus

Quidsy, I've heard that some chargers (phone/tablet/toothbrush) draw a small amount of energy if they're left plugged in but not in use.


I suppose you could have a look at your electricity meter and see how much energy is used the day/night you leave all the plugs on compared to when you turn them all off...

quidsy

That's a good idea.

I think one of our biggest energy suckers is the charging station. I have an 8 plug extensions & all tablet, laptop, mobile phones & DSi etc chargers are plugged in yet not all being charged at the same time. I will rethink that as it is probably costing a fortune. It is convenient & tidy though and the only way to access the plug, which is behind a heavy dresser!

I think I will leave all plugged in as normal tonight, take a reading before bed & again on waking, then switch off at the plug tomorrow, take readings at the same time & a total unplug the night after & see where the readings stands. I will post back the results. My elec bill HAS to reduce.

Habibiboo

quidsy wrote: »

That's a good idea.

I think one of our biggest energy suckers is the charging station. I have an 8 plug extensions & all tablet, laptop, mobile phones & DSi etc chargers are plugged in yet not all being charged at the same time. I will rethink that as it is probably costing a fortune. It is convenient & tidy though and the only way to access the plug, which is behind a heavy dresser!

I think I will leave all plugged in as normal tonight, take a reading before bed & again on waking, then switch off at the plug tomorrow, take readings at the same time & a total unplug the night after & see where the readings stands. I will post back the results. My elec bill HAS to reduce.

:wave:

Thanks for sharing this!

My OH and myself have an ongoing debate about this as I think we should turn everything off, but he's happy to let chargers just sit around plugged in, switched on but not actually doing anything! He's terrible for leaving certain chargers in particular just plugged in all over the house!

I'm also interested in how much juice they all use in general when they are charging because I think this is a hidden cost for us when we accommodate foreign students as all of them come with various hardware and chargers which they happily keep plugged in for the whole 1/2/3 weeks or so that they're with us.

I shall watch your findings with interest.

I also really like your signature!

quidsy

My oh is a work in progress too with this stuff. He does this one really annoying thing which eventually will become a massive row I just know. I have to hold my tongue as it is as I have asked numerous times but he still does it. He runs the extractor fan for hours after cooking. I will come home from work & it's going & I know for a fact he has cooked a couple of hours previously. I have no idea how much energy it burns if much at all but it's the principle of it. He knows we are trying to cut back yet he still does it. He is very technical though so I really hope my experiment shows some extreme differences & he takes note. Baby steps, baby steps.

I also really like your signature!

lol, a bit naughty I know but sometimes I have no energy to argue with stupidity so just post "I am referring you to my sig" haha