2014 Frugal Living Challenge

nomi76

Dincanada wrote: »

I am trying to do the 10 10 challenge I read about on the internet - decluttering 10 things for 10 days and getting rid of some stuff.
I was a bit bored and tidied a drawer out today, went to recycling with christmas tree, sorted out dvd's and cookbooks and took them to the swap room at the recycling centre. Felt very good to be be getting rid of things

That decluttering challenge sounds like something I need to do

Daisychain1

All this talk of decluttering is making me want to go and have a good old sort out. I'm a wannabe minimalist but it's clearly not working out for me :rotfl:

Today will be an NSD consisting of cleaning and enjoying the rest of the day for relaxing. Having a roast for tea and breakfast and lunch will be from stores.

Yesterday was a spend day. Got some birthday/Xmas presents for this year all in the sale so very pleased with that.

DC1:)

tatabubbly

Hoping for my first NSD of January, OH is going away for the week this week so I can lay low and save!

Paid off my first bill completely of my January mission : My littlewoods bill! Doing a bit of a dance inside as this bill was annoying me!

I have enough in my bank to cover the next bill but I need to wait until tomorrow to pay it and then the only thing left to pay will be my credit card!! I'm so excited as I know I might b able to make my january goal of having all my debt paid off!

Started small savings towards wedding next year and saving for a flat!

Minesamojito

Keep the posts coming about decluttering. Something I desperately need to do but never seem to have the motivation to get started.

Hoping for another NSD today as no plans at the moment. Mission for today is to get my OH to switch a CC debt to a 0% deal.

kayester

Have subscribed to this thread, i need all the encouragement going!!

Penny2myName

Just ordered the pup his food. Bought a 12kg bag of Iams, and his individual daily amount comes to 35p which is 3p cheaper than were I bought it from initially, plus I went through cash back site , so once I find out how much cash back I received, I think I can probably knock another 2p off each days food. Now to find where cheapest place is for cats food, as where I got the dog food wasn't for the cat food. Oh and today is my first spend day of 2014 (minusing the essental money spent at laundrette due to broken washer)

Found cheapest cat food at £11 cheaper than my last order for a 15kg bag, at 24p a day for each cat (I have two).

ellie-g

DawnW wrote: »

HI Dollydaydream, I am in a similar position - my job is full-on and very stressful (I can't say what it is because not many people do it ) and I want to spend time with my grandchildren instead of working all hours till I die! OH and I have also paid off debts and mortgage, and put by a savings cushion (we don't intend to downsize - we only have a little terraced house anyway). I am therefore intending to take early retirement April/ May time. OH has already done this, and we both have not very lucrative, very small businesses. I may look for something part time, but am not too bothered if nothing comes up for a while!

In the meantime, all hell is about to be let loose at work, and this looks like continuing up till I plan to leave. I will be thankful to hand over to an eager, younger pair of hands. I have come to the conclusion I am no longer ambitious!

Hi All
Just wondering if there is a separate thread for soon to be or actual early retirees. If so would be very grateful for the link. Thanks.

Meantime its the usual Ready Steady Cook here! I am just about to make carrot (yellow sticker) and stilton (christmas gift) soup for lunches this week. Never tried it before so here goes....

mummy2threeboys

HI all id like to sign up..so many of you already! i signed uo in 2013 but forgot to chat lol.

Things id like to achieve this year clear off debt..currently £3600 (christmas set me back a bit from my current sig)
upstairs and downstairs floorboards sanded..think we may know someone
get cooker installed..ditto know a qualified gas man friend hopefuly cheaper than £70?
Take mum to royal ascot ladys day have seen trips for around £70 each with buffet lunch and coach..already have £45 and get about £40 for birthay so thats one paid for
Sunholiday isle of wight seems to be the concenus of appeal in the family but theres also ferry costs and 5 of us which means we like a silver caravan as its a bit bigger . about £260?
and lastly take the boys to one adventure park and stay over night chessingtons i think..sadly again as theres 5 of us we have to have 2 rooms even though they are just 2,5 and 7, its about £160 with overnight stay breakfast and 2 day park entry in thier hotel. To stay in a £29 travel lodeg (2 rooms) with breakfast and park entry is about £30 cheaper ..so not sure what to do.

Thats it our bigger outlays for the year. Its our frivioulus things have the most basic of every thing and use secondhand till it falls apart so this is our treat.

quidsy

Have a potato and leek soup in the slow cooker and a parsnip and bacon soup on the hob, one will go in the freezer till later in the week and one will feed me and oh lunch for the next 2 days with a sandwich.

mummy2threeboys

Oh yes forgot , did monthly meter reading and we are now £300 ish in credit ..so our dd is shrinking had a new boiler installed as our last one died , and we had to save 4 months to get a new one ..thankfully it was over early spring so wasnt too cold..boiling pans of water to wah up and 3 boys was fun lol..oh and had a digi wall termostat installed ..so this is the rewards we are seeing of more efficent boiler