2015 Frugal Living Challenge

Wombatchops

Thank you cw18, icontinuetodream and quidsy for your tips. I'll give them a go.

Happy new year, and good luck everyone on the challenge.

Mrs_Cheshire

youngmummy wrote: »

^^^ im on this fb group along with lots of others including one called feed yourself for a £1 a day which i am going to try to aim towards for 2015

me too, all very helpful groups

Mrs_Cheshire

Happy New Year everyone!
Had a pretty frugal day, took the kids to the park this afternoon to feed the ducks with stale bread and for them to have a play. Popped to the shops to catch the YS bargains, my freezer is full to the brim now so won't be buying anything to put in it for at least a week!

ThriftyFox

Hello Everyone. May I join in please? I have just finished reading your posts and I think this thread is just what I need to be my 2015 New Year Resolution. I am so impressed already with your ideas about things. I am new to this so please bear with me. My aim for this year is to save as much as possible because I want to downsize to a smaller home. I have been following the tips on MSE and have cut my energy and water bills dramatically. I am living out of my freezer and pantry so not buying anything till every last scrap is used up and I also have a fair stash of toiletries to use up. I'm not driving as I have a broken wrist (in 3 places). So I think that January will be a very frugal month for me. I am really looking forward to learning more from and you all. Happy New Year everyone.

happybird71

Happy New Year! Hope everyone has a great start to this year of opportunity.

Thanks Quidsy for the YS info. My wee brain is going into overdrive as to how we can save money. My party last night was great. Very relaxed and with good company. I provided home baked goodies and a few soft drinks (who needs alcohol?!) Most of our friends were either parents or driving. Our chinese takeaway for 9 came to £72 which we paid but after everyone left we counted the money everyone had given us and erm - oops - we had a free dinner and a £3 profit! We were also given bottles of drinks, a tin of shortbread, crisps and a huge box of chocolates! Looks like we need to host another party to use everything up!

I buy most things on Ebay or Amazon since it's easier than a trip to the shops with 2 tiny people. Should I use a cash back site? I've never tried one. Also, we took out a Tescoh CC so we'd get something back for our huge £6000 expense for DH's dental implants (Little boys should never trip when playing football!) but should we consider another CC option?

Sorry - so many questions! I'm excited for this New Year! :j

maria3104

Morning frugal people.

Got up and decided today I will declutter 1 draw and tidy yard of rubbish. Also had to go out and buy bread and milk and carrots and onions as proper food stuff not coming until sat. Done the yard and the shopping, trying to decide which is the easiest draw to start on. May procrastinate for a bit.
My normal 1st jan is watching the meet, followed by a spin round the sales. So I have already saved around £120 this year!!! Feels logical to me.

Bambywamby

Happy New Year all you lovely frugal people.


A new year and a fresh frugally start.


*I plan on menu planning all the food contents in the house; I should be able to make enough meals to avoid to going the shops for a good seven days bar milk and dog food.
*I am taking the tree and the decs down. I love Christmas but I want my sitting room back. It is also the start of a January long declutter.
*I am making a healthy lentil soup in the slow cooker which should cover several lunches this week.
*Myself and the wee one will be getting wrapped up and taking the pooch out for a good walk, exercise and fresh air in one.
*Rebook a parcel delivery I missed yesterday. I bought 100 Christmas cards for £1 plus free P&P a cple of days ago. A bargain I must say.
*Find at least three items to Ebay. I know things don't sell well in January but I need to seriously slim down the contents of the house.
*Bath little one using no products other than a mild organic shampoo.
*Start cutting back on coffee and drink more herbal tea and water. I normally have seven cups a day and ideally would like to get it down to one or two. Aiming for six cups today.
*Putting all important dates and meetings on my new day to day planner that some lovely thoughtful person gave me for Christmas.


Anything else frugally I shall report back later. Have a lovely New Year's Day, wherever you are and whatever you are doing. xx

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Maria, as far as I know, Amazon and ebay are not on any cashback sites, BUT Ebay are part of the nectar points scheme...


I don't shop at sainsbobs as its too expensive, plus its too far away.. but I might sign up to have a home delivery with a first order code, and scroll through their offers to see if I can gain lol..


This Christmas I had £10 worth of nectar points.. which I used, when I went into sainsbobs when I was coming home from town..


You can sign up on line for a card, and they will send you a card etc..


you got nothing to lose, as you are buying from ebay anyway.


Amazon..codes... might be worth you signing up for swagbucks ( I can send you a referral link if you want to) as you can buy amazon codes with your swagbuck points...

Penny2myName

Totally failed last year, but have decided to take my budget from the 2009 £4000 a year challenge and update it to changes that have happened since. I am not including my Debts, Council Tax or my Rent for either house or business.

£89.49 Balance 1st January First Direct
£1841.74 O/D 1st January Halifax

Projected Normal monthly income is
£218.12 Child & Working Tax credits (This may change next week)
£82.00 Child Benefit
£498.55 Basic Wage
£200.00 Partner's Board
£998.67 Grand Total

Each month I have

Utility DD's £1800/£150.00
Household Insurance - £100.92/£8.41
Internet + Telephone access - £360/£30.00
Water - £246.80/£28.90
Mobile phone - £258.00/£21.50 (son's til contract runs out)

Leaving £1234.28 for
Animals - £00.00
Groceries - £800.00
Everything else - £00.00
Travel - £00.00
Toiletries-£50.00/£00.00
Cleaning - £50.00
Clothing - £00.00
Gifts - £00.00


£4000.00

Any savings made from groceries will go into the everything else pot.

timetrade

Happy new year everyone! I'd like to sign up for this. My frugal resolutions this year:

• Pay off my full debt before Christmas (see signature)
• Get grocery spending under control (had spent £450+ for 2 people in December )
• Bring lunch to work instead of buying it every day
• Declutter and sell any unwanted items so that we can make our new house (moved in July) really nice
• Stay on top of housework

I've set a generous £200 grocery budget for January - I only tallied up December's spending at the end of the month, so I think it will help to track it as I go in January.