2014 Frugal Living Challenge

[Deleted User]

his_missus wrote: »

I'm trying to be frugal so I can treat myself. At the moment we're saving up for a cruise next June. After that's paid for, we'll be saving up to redecorate our bedroom.


Maybe you could set yourself a challenge to live more frugally to have extra money to treat yourself each month? An extra night out or a new pair of shoes, whatever floats your boat - "If I can save £x this month then I'll do xxx"

Thanks that's probably a better way of looking at it.

[Deleted User]

Seems like a very good idea, his missus:T

Scrimping and saving just to get by can be very wearing and soul-destroying sometimes (which is not the same as Frugaldom's concept of frugal living which seems like a truly happy and satisfying way to live). It's a bit like a strict long-term diet where you get so fed up of depriving yourself of everything that gives even the smallest amount of pleasure that you go and blow all your hard work on a massive binge:eek:. Been there, done that more times than I care to remember:o.

Factoring in a planned treat as a 'reward' for being more careful with spending seems a good way to go for lots of people. If you can save for it rather than put it on the plastic you win on every count. That's how many of our parents/grandparents used to conduct their affairs before the days of universal credit.

youngmummy

anyone else have a change pot ? ive just came across an old biscuit barrel i am going to use as a change pot ... for example if we come under budget one week and have spare change in our purse i will put it in the change part and then whatever day is set for my new week start my new budget but if we are ever short one week we use the money in the change pot the theory being across the year we should never go over budget

his_missus

youngmummy wrote: »

anyone else have a change pot ? ive just came across an old biscuit barrel i am going to use as a change pot ... for example if we come under budget one week and have spare change in our purse i will put it in the change part and then whatever day is set for my new week start my new budget but if we are ever short one week we use the money in the change pot the theory being across the year we should never go over budget

We have a change pot for 50ps and under and another for £2 coins. When we have enough to bag and bank, it goes into the savings account.

Picklepot

Thank you all for the TV advice - much appreciated.


I want frugal ways to be a way of life.. I grew up with it and it feels do- able but its getting the compromise. My OH 'gets' the big stuff like why changing mortgage provider and saving a whopping £240 a month and cancelling Sky when we don't watch it saving £52/month are good plans but now we have got to a point when its the smaller stuff that leaks and drips away at our finances without us realising. I am very aware of it and feel I could cut back harder like coffee shops and impulse buys but OH still feels we deserve purchases because we work very hard.
Does anyone struggle with this?

Becky_2

Picklepot, my OH is the same. He thinks because we both work full-time we deserve a treat every week or ideally every day. Over the last few months he has got better after starting using netflix we have saved a smaller fortune on not buying dvd's. He has even agreed that we can now start selling our current dvd's to create space in the house and make some money. That was unthinkable last year! Wishing you good luck.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

apple box???


can someone give me more info please.. is it legal for one lol


also roughly how much are they?


the thing is I mentioned to hubby a few years back about not paying a tv license, and watching stuff on catch up etc on the computer, but he wouldn't have it.. he said
'I will pay the money' but its not his money, its our money lol


he lets me deal with all the money, bills etc, as long as he gots money in his pocket, I keep telling him when things are tight etc but as I have always 'juggled' things well, he thinks things will be ok..


Its not always about if we got the money or not, its also about getting one over on the big companies in a legal way lol..
'

nannygladys

Just thinking forwards to next year and I'm ready to join the frugal thread, this year I have cut back considerably, thought more about needs and wants, grown veggies, shopped at charity shops and as I'm wanting to give work up by Xmas 2015 (I reach retirement age in March) I really need to keep to my frugal ways and learn some more.

By the way I've really enjoyed learning all about it and realize how lucky I am to be happy with a lot less.

Nannyg

Picklepot

Becky_2 wrote: »

Picklepot, my OH is the same. He thinks because we both work full-time we deserve a treat every week or ideally every day. Over the last few months he has got better after starting using netflix we have saved a smaller fortune on not buying dvd's. He has even agreed that we can now start selling our current dvd's to create space in the house and make some money. That was unthinkable last year! Wishing you good luck.

ahhh thanks Becky. Great progress on the DVD's !

Bobarella

Hi All
A slow day at work but 60p in tips to top up my oyster card. I only take one bus per day which costs £1.45, I walk 4 miles to save money taking 2. If I earned that each day & it's probably going to be more (was £12 on saturday) then I'd knock 2 days per week off what I pay for at the moment. Small amounts but it all helps.

Also found 23p today whilst out walking. I found £1 on Monday so my December roadkill is going well.

It truly is a mindset. My husband bought 400g of diced chicken breast on YS for £2 on Sunday night. It was conveniently portioned in 2 plastic pouches to suggest 2 meals. That's how I'd have used it until I started to push down on my Grocery bills. This time it was stretched into chicken curry, chicken stew & a chicken pasta bake. I probably spend on my whole weeks food shop now what I would have once done on meat. It makes me happy to know I'm living healthier as well as saving money.