2015 Frugal Living Challenge

nyg123

Hi all.
I have read various threads on here but have never posted or joined. I have looked at this thread as I need to live more frugally. Although I am good with the utilities and so on my other spending can be too much. I have very poor health and doing anything including cooking is very difficult and often impossible so the food bill has gone up. I have gained weight so I have bought new clothes but more than I need - all in sales or with coupons and cash back though! And I have bought too much make up as it cheers me up and I have a very bad habit of stockpiling toiletries. So for the rest of the year my aim is to buy no more new clothes for myself except bras (unless my boots get a leak or something), to use my stockpile of toiletries and only buy something when I NEED it and to eat the food that is already in and then buy more instead of adding more to what I already have. My son starts college next month so there are extra expenses with that and I need to save up for things to do with my mobility scooters eg. Services and new batteries. I also want to go and visit my sister next year. She lives in Berlin and I can't stay with her because of there are loads of stairs and it will have to be in the Easter holidays because of my son. So I need to find some money from somewhere! I also have stuff that I need to sell. Last year I did sell 4 pairs of shoes but I have loads of stuff. eBay is difficult for me because of my health. I'm not up to keeping an eye on it and often am not well enough to go out to post things so I am thinking of trying the local paper.

Frugaldom

Welcome to the frugal living challenge, nyg123, I hope everyone here can help make it fun saving money and stretching the pennies into pounds. Not spending on non-essentials eventually becomes second nature and no longer represents such a challenge so you are off to a good start in seeing your goals and sharing your journey with like-minded others.

cw18

Welcome aboard nyg123.

Having looked at the challenges you've set for yourself, you may find the following threads of some use as well - they're all related challenges I've signed up for to try and keep me on the straight and narrow

The Completely Crazy 2015 Clothes Challenge
The thread for this challenge runs for the whole year
No More Buying Unnecessary Toiletries Until...August 2015
There's a new thread for this challenge each month
August 2015 Grocery Challenge
And a new one each month for this one as well

nyg123

Thanks frugaldom and cw18. I've looked at the clothes challenge but not the others so I'll head on over to them. I definitely need some support. I'm very organised with my money, and not spending too much of it, in many ways and I have a budget on excel but this year things have gone awry. I've got a bit depressed about my very poor health and have been spending to cheer myself up. I haven't got any debt or anything but I can't carry on spending the way that I am because I need some saving for things as said. So I'm hoping the support will help with that and will be a positive thing so could even help with the depression. I am doing things about that as well.

nyg123

Sorry if this is a really stupid question but how do I do a 'signature'. I can't find anything that tells me and I can't figure it al myself. TIA

quidsy

go to the UserCP at the top of this thread, then on the side you will see a Signature option

MMCG_2

I'm in for the rest of the year! Have overhauled finances this week! Clearer view of where we need to tighten our belts!

nannygladys

Hi all, I'm joining in again for the rest of the year if you'll have me. I've been through a lot of changes this year, retired from work, weddings, marriage break up (not mine, that one happened years ago!!) and father dying so although I still have my frugal ways I'm sure I could do a bit better.

I will work out a new budget over the next few days , I don't have debt or a mortgage, but there are things I would like to save for so I can do them next year.

Nannyg

nannygladys

Just been thinking, dangerous I know but I have to work at zero food waste as one frugal thing, I am getting a lot of veggies given to me, and as I have no room in the freezer at present some of it is going soft and mushy, so I will investigate chutney etc to see if some can be used in that way. I will also do another cupboard inventory to see what I have in and see if any needs using before winter. And I must switch the TV off when I'm not watching it, I do that a lot leave it on that is!!!!!
Nannyg

Frugaldom

Welcome back and welcome here to our newbies!


When it comes to being given free food, I find that soup, stews, curry or some jam, lemon curd or cake shared among the friends and neighbours who contribute goes down well. I tend to have a giveaway a couple of times each month and people really appreciate it.


Berry picking & jam making here soon... keep on frugaling, folks!