2015 Frugal Living Challenge

[Deleted User]

Had a bit of a lie in this morning. It's lovely lying in bed with the sun coming through the wooden blinds and listening to the sound of the birds outside.

Should be a NSD for me today. I am volunteering this morning at my local BHF charity shop. I have been there around 6 weeks now and really enjoy it. Other than that I have the day to myself so I will be out for a walk later in the sunshine.

I do need to spend some time planning next month but I am not sure what days/shifts OH will be working. I want to plan a few days out which will be free apart from petrol costs as we will take a picnic with us.

Azzzaa

Morning all, Work for me today then I'm being a good son and keeping my Mum company as she wants to go a charity shop near me, which is great for me as it means i can hopefully get some 99p clothing bargains and sell them on, also she's driving so i'm not paying for petrol.

Apart from the £10 float i'm putting aside for the charity shop today should be a no spending day!

JustStartingOut

I am still shopping about to find a good deal on summer clothes for myself. I have full 'baskets' in about four different places :rotfl:
I'm happy that I have not impulsed buy, and am really thinking about it so I don't buy anything that I will only wear once then throw it in the back of the wardrobe!

Trying to get some Saturday overtime in (I get time and half at weekends). I've put in a few weeks worth (apart from the bank hol weekends ). They only confirm the overtime a couple of days before, but let you put your name down in advance, so not so great when you forget you have requested it like I did last week!

Frugal_life

Hi all,

Have been reading the posts in this thread and would love to join in and really get into the spirit of living frugally!

Currently trying to save up for a deposit on a house with the OH and decided that our deadline for having what we need would be the end of the year.

Whilst we're not too far off, it's taken a complete shift in mindset for us to realise that we were overspending in so many ways and, if we really try, could actually save approximately £5K more than we had initially planned to!

As it currently stands, we've stopped buying lunch at work and, knowing that we prefer those extra 5 minutes in bed in the mornings, have made the conscious effort to make our lunches the night before.

We now batch cook and freeze (getting home late from work often led us down the path of "fancy a takeaway...?") and, with the exception of a few household items and cat food, we have moved over to doing our weekly shop with A*di.

So far, we have definitely seen a difference in what we've been able to save on a monthly basis but I think it's now time to step it up a gear and start budgeting properly: taking and sticking to a shopping list is the next step and we're excited to see how that pans out

Will make sure I keep everyone updated on our progress throughout the year and look forward to reading how everyone else is getting on with their frugal lifestyles

lynnejk

Hiya everyone

Sorry not been on but had a couple of probs which are now nearly sorted and not so pressing.

Life trogs on apace and it's great to see some sunshine and my daffs on the balcony have been such a cheery sight every morning and lifted my spirits. They have definitely been worth the pennies.

We spent a bit more than expected on our hols but had a wonderful time all the same. We have now booked our next two and managed to get discount and cash-back on both.

I am about to do a reckie for the first four months of the year and see where we stand with expected spending.

Meanwhile I'm on a serious de-clutter of the freezers and stock cupboards to have a chance to get them cleaned out properly. Will start to make lists of supplies and try to mark off as I use them. This way I should be able to see what I use and how much stock I should be carrying as I think I could open a stall with my stock. This is an area I must tackle now and stop buying on offer - even when I know it's stuff I'll use eventually - I just don't need so much.

Frugal_life wrote: »

So far, we have definitely seen a difference in what we've been able to save on a monthly basis but I think it's now time to step it up a gear and start budgeting properly: taking and sticking to a shopping list is the next step and we're excited to see how that pans out

Welcome to the thread. I think you have had some serious thoughts about this and are doing really well.

You might find it helps to make a menu plan for a couple of weeks at a time, check what you have in stock and then make your shopping list from that. It takes a bit of practice but gets easier as you go along.

Good luck and just ask on here or other threads if you need any help - it's all really friendly.

Hope everyone is enjoying the weather and finding plenty of bargains.
Lx

[Deleted User]

Morning All. I didn't have that planned NSD yesterday - £2 spent on a tub of filler for the wall in the kitchen.

I am looking after my sisters kids this morning so I am really glad it is another beautiful day here. My plans are to take Olivia (2yo) to the park, we have a great Country Park on our doorstep so we will go there. Once home she can still play outside in the garden. Planned spend today is zero so I will take any sacks etc to the park with us. Emma (6yo) only needs dropped off at school.

Shortie

Morning all. Keepig my fingers and toes crossed regarding some roof tiles that someone offered up locally yesterday. We *think* they are what we have on our main roof now and if so these would be great as they'd blend in well (they are used and therefore aged like ours are), means they would be reused rather than skipped and would save the chap who has them from dumpig them in his skip and us some money on the cost of tiles when we come to putting up the new roof

Likewise re the reuse of building materials we kept all the good bricks from the building we had knocked down. Initially I wanted them reused for the rebuild, even if just for the front wall as it wouldn't save much money but the bricks are weathered the same as the main house so would blend in perfectly. There were nowhere near enough good bricks though unfortunately so we've kept them to make a bbq with instead, lol

Got everything crossed that they are the same tile as what we have though. Wish us luck!

cw18

lynnejk wrote: »

Meanwhile I'm on a serious de-clutter of the freezers and stock cupboards to have a chance to get them cleaned out properly. Will start to make lists of supplies and try to mark off as I use them. This way I should be able to see what I use and how much stock I should be carrying as I think I could open a stall with my stock. This is an area I must tackle now and stop buying on offer - even when I know it's stuff I'll use eventually - I just don't need so much.

I can soooooo relate to this

I'm trying to use up long-term stocks this year, but it'd definitely be easier if I were just feeding myself as DS1 is even more of a fussy eater than I am :eek:

I did really well with using up in Jan & Feb, then lost the plot in March when I bought way too much in the shops (spent more than in Jan & Feb combined - and loads of what I bought still hasn't been opened, so I clearly didn't need it). Clawing it back a bit this month though

JustStartingOut

Received my muscle food order today :j
I got the introductory offer and my freezer is well and truly full now! The offere included 5kg of chicken breasts which turned out to be 24 in total!! :eek: had to separate them all in to pairs as only the two of us! :rotfl:
Had some of the lean mince in lasagne today and it was lush! Having stirfry tomorrow with the diced turkey. Will still be trying to get through it all next year:rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Doing well since OHs pay day. We did a big shop at Lidl yesterday to stock up on various meat that was on offer and we also had a £5 off voucher to use. That's the freezer well stocked with mince, beef and chicken.

Today's dinner will be a ham salad with HM potato salad. It's another lovely sunny day here so I am planning a walk later and some cooking and housework this afternoon. Also got a washing in which will go out in the line.