2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Mrs_Cheshire

lantanna wrote: »

Well, just thought I would jot some things down here that I am already doing - any comments welcome how I can up the anti for 2014!


Buy my novels from the charity shops or Amazon second hand - I get through a lot!
Could you borrow them from the library instead or only buy ones you know you'll read more than once!

I have just recently started buying 2nd hand clothes from Ebay!
You can get some great bargains on new clothes too!

I've lost a lot of weight and have a ton of clothes to sell but thinking now isn't really the best time to be selling with all the sales etc and maybe February would be a better time as January never great as everybody skinto?


Make most of my own food from scratch - links in to my diet anyway!


Things I do need to tackle in 2014 is reducing my heating bill and cutting down or stopping (ahem!) smoking !


I make my lunch for work and have to use my car as where I go is not accessible by public transport!


Can't wait to read all the tips and stories on this thread - quite excited about it really!

I've added my thoughts in red above

Lina_T

Yay a 2014 thread! I'd love to join in too please :j

I'm not in debt (apart from £100 overdraft) but I'm saving up for a house deposit and need to curb the spending drastically. I'm planning to buy my first house (with a mortgage) mid-2014 so it will be the first year I have to deal with things like food budgets, house bills etc. I'll be spending a lot of time on MSE!

Lina_T

lantanna wrote: »

Well, just thought I would jot some things down here that I am already doing - any comments welcome how I can up the anti for 2014!


Buy my novels from the charity shops or Amazon second hand - I get through a lot!

I buy my books with the Amazon vouchers I earn through Swagbucks, I get a about £5 a week might be worth doing!

threepenny_bit

I would like to join please as I am attempting to be debt free from loans & cards by end of 2014.

daisystar

I would LOVE to join please!! I've had a browse through the 2013 thread and as I'm aiming to clear 44K of debt by the end of 2015 I could do with a longer challenge to keep me on the straight and narrow!


I shall endeavour to sort out amounts for the year asap. Also, if anyone has any super spreadsheets they would love to share from previous years that would be just marvellous and most appreciated :-)

Money_Tree_Faerie

I'll be popping by to keep myself motivated. I was due to be debt-free this month but unfortunately had to use my credit card again to pay for essentials. I am hoping to find new ways to reduce spending (preferably ones that don't involve washing dishes in cold water...).

sammey90

Me too!

Need a blooming good kick up the bum, so here goes

Habibiboo

lantanna wrote: »

Buy my novels from the charity shops or Amazon second hand - I get through a lot!
!

:wave:
Lantanna, do you have a Kindle?

If so, I use this site regularly as it has daily updates of all kindle books available for free on Amazon.

http://www.dailyfreebooks.co.uk/

Ok, so some of them are dreadful, particularly some of the non-fiction, but some of the novels are OK and it's a good way to discover new novel writers without parting with your cash!

I bought my mum (a "traditional book"stalwart) a Kindle a couple of years ago for Christmas, set her up with this site and she hasn't looked back since - the one thing she loves more than a good read is a lovely freebie!

If not, as Mrs. Cheshire said, making friends with your local library is a very good move - plus the more of us that use these local facilities, the less likely the government are likely to close them down too, so it's win-win!

Good luck with your aims for 2014!

brizzledfw

Hi everyone :wave:

Have subscribed and looking forward to a frugal 2014

Thanks daisystar for leading me here

Mrs_Cheshire

Money_Tree_Faerie wrote: »

I'll be popping by to keep myself motivated. I was due to be debt-free this month but unfortunately had to use my credit card again to pay for essentials. I am hoping to find new ways to reduce spending (preferably ones that don't involve washing dishes in cold water...).

What things do you feel your over spending on?