2015 Frugal Living Challenge

daydream_believer_2

I'd love to join this challenge please.

I've given us a budget for the year of 3600, for food, personal spends, car fuel, trips, and presents etc, for 2 adults and 1 doggy.

I've not included living expenses such as rent, utilites, car expenses (except fuel), and vet bills (these won't be skrimped on if required, he's too special!)

The idea is to keep everyday living expenses as low as possible, to throw more at debts!

I love looking for a bargain, and am keeping a tight hold on the pursestrings, so hopefully will keep in the budget

miss_try_to_save

today ds came in with 3 bags of potatoes from tes 25p each looks like this saving money thing is rubbing off lol this year I plan to do some veg in my garden I already have a raspberry bush a rhubarb plant and a cherry tree that never fruits do u need two to help produce any fruit any tips would be appreciated

DawnW

miss_try_to_save wrote: »

today ds came in with 3 bags of potatoes from tes 25p each looks like this saving money thing is rubbing off lol this year I plan to do some veg in my garden I already have a raspberry bush a rhubarb plant and a cherry tree that never fruits do u need two to help produce any fruit any tips would be appreciated

Do you know what variety of cherry tree? Some fruit trees are self fertile (ie you don't need 2) but yes, others require another cherry tree that blooms at the same time.

Just a thought but it IS a fruiting cherry tree, isn't it? Many are purely ornamental, just for flowers.

[Deleted User]

Hi, I love being retired and find I can manage better than I thought although I would not be without my car. May I suggest you get a slow cooker (Freecycle nearly always have one or you can place as a wanted) I do a load of veg then can add as the week moves on - packets soup/pasta/Instant noodles/Pot noodles and even - when I decide - meat. It can start off with meat as a stew and end up as a veg soup, leave it on low all day or on warm after cooking and you can just have a bowl full as you like. I have also had breadmakers off Freecycle. Happy and Frugal New Year.

cyberthrifty

My year officially starts tomorrow due to early pay day. I plan on using my slow cooker much more often, and I am thinking about getting a halogen oven to do whole chickens etc as I think it will be cheaper than putting the main oven on. Although if not please tell me before I buy one! I am buying a chest freezer as we currently have our fridge freezer on HP so need to replace it so I will finally have somewhere to store bargains, if I can ever find any. Luckily I have extra money coming in January so can afford to do it then or never! At the very least I can batch cook.

I planned on making everyone's gifts for next Christmas but my aunt made us jams and other food gifts this year, and after the response of 2 ungrateful family members I may be able to cut down my gift list! They didn't say anything to her but did nothing but moan and one of them told me he had thrown it all away!!! So they'll get nothing from me next year and I will save myself time and money!

quidsy

You can cook a whole chicken in a slow cooker, can also cook veg at the same time in foil parcels. I would save your money & just use the sc instead.

Mrs_Cheshire

Spoke to someone about my phone contract as it was due for renewal in October, got a new phone coming and a discount on my monthly bill so win all round!

happybird71

Hi everyone,

Please count me in I started last year and definitely tried harder than I had previously. I've got a hubby and 2 little boys at home. Just went back to work in October. Trying to juggle being a Mummy with working 3 days a week and starting a Masters dissertation in January :rotfl: Little bit crazy and a little bit of stress predicted! Hubby gets dental implants in January and so ends our £6000 expense for that! I don't begrudge him. He's too young for sallies so it's a lifelong expense paid.

cyberthrifty

Ooh thanks quidsy! Do I stick the chicken on top of the parcels of veg or put the veg down the sides? I use my slow cooker for stew and chilli, I really need to get more ideas to use it!

quidsy

You can sit the chicken on them but of course gets a bit greasy so can either sit it all on a trivet or put the veg parcels around the side of the chicken. I actually have a small 1.5lt sc as well as my 6ltr biggun so do the veg separately.

I'm on a facebook page called "slow cooker wonders" it can get a bit mardy as surprisingly many people find arguing over how to slow cook food to be fun but if you move past the drama llamas there is a fab index of recipes.