What it's worth being frugal about?

HOWMUCH

Towser wrote: »

I found this list in the Daily Mail today:

Is this Britain's most frugal pensioner? Retired lorry driver reveals that she lives on just £2,400 a year by spending a £1 on each meal and telling guests to bring their OWN tea bags



Ask guests to bring their own tea bags
Spend no more than £1 on every meal
Layer up instead of turning the heating on
Make your shed from old pallets and wooden doors
Boil water in the microwave instead of a kettle
Only treat yourself to the occasional treat, like a pack of doughnuts (reduced to 15p) and a four-pack of pear cider
Cut your own hair
Go shopping after 7.30pm when prices are knocked down
Eat your food in date order
Don't use washing up liquid unless strictly necessary
Buy clothes from Primark and charity shops
Only buy pants aimed at teenage boys (they're cheaper and last longer)
Find household good like vacuum cleaners in rubbish skips


Sounds like it's worth being frugal?

I think this could Ilona

Ellidee

This is Ilona's blog too http://meanqueen-lifeaftermoney.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/a-little-!!!!!-will-do-it-o.html

Rowan9

Ilona has a great blog. I admire her - she has a lovely upbeat spirit, helps others and has a lovely family of cats and sweet dog.

Rowan9

Oops link posted while I was typing slowly!

Ps just read Ilona's take on the article, along with some of her regular readers' thoughts and it seems that it has maybe concentrated on a 'meanness' and maybe not captured her generosity and the reasons she lives in this way.

Towser

When do you go Charity shop shopping?

I am going today but it's a few days till payday so I am likely to be really frugal and only buy what I need.

Whereas after payday when there is a lot of money in the bank I am more likely to splash out and buy what I want. But buy all useful stuff and put by for a rainy day.

When you have more money than usual or less or doesn't it affect you?

Towser

50 ways to save money: Simple steps to cut what you spend that could clear your debts or seriously boost your savings

Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1591904/50-ways-save-money.html#ixzz4407Br0IJ

Spendless

Over the last 2 days my DD took part in her first dancing show. I thought £30 asked for the costume for the one class she does was extortionate:mad:but on hearing some of the other Mums pick up last night, one had paid over £200 for the costumes required. :eek:

I'm glad DD actually prefers Drama, after once when the teacher got a dress-maker in who charged silly prices for inferior goods (the chaperones spent the time backstage sewing the costumes back up) she lives it to parents to get what they need, just giving general guidance what's required.

Consequently for the next show DD's outfit has cost around £5 because I go to the charity shops for the items and then adjust. My favourite chairty shops to hit are Sue Ryder which sells the bulk of their items at £2 each (I don't know if this is just a local price, or if it's the same in other shops elsewhere?) and an Age UK one which has a £1 section in their 'attic'.

PenguinOfDeath

Towser wrote: »

50 ways to save money: Simple steps to cut what you spend that could clear your debts or seriously boost your savings

Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1591904/50-ways-save-money.html#ixzz4407Br0IJ

What a bizzare article. Funny how most of their tips save you exactly £100 each without any sort of evidence to support their claims

charlies-aunt

Buying from Charity Shops is definitely worthwhile frugal strategy for me - I keep a list of needs for household goods, textiles, clothes and shoes otherwise I get distracted by wants I find it helpful clothes-wise to be strict about colour range so new-to-me pieces co-ordinate with what I already have.


Being able to do basic repairs and adapting/altering clothes/items are also good frugal skills worth trouble of learning.


Thinking about what you already have that you can re-use or re-purpose before buying anything


Ilona rocks!

Lynplatinum

Hiya

When my tray for storing knives, forks and spoons fell apart recently I remember 3 white china matching pots which I had put hyacinths in one year. I found them up in the shed, gave them a good scrub and now use those instead!!

A beautiful shawl that my son gave me also acts as a cover for my 'bedside table' - in reality a box in which my hoover was delivered!! I have had this arrangement for some 15 years - I occasionally think that I ought to get a 'proper' bedside table but then I think 'no, it will just become somewhere else to store clutter!!'

I suppose this is frugal but TBH I really cannot be bothered to go round shopping. I hate the crowds and the pressure to buy.

I think that charity shops do a fab job of repurposing stuff - I too have a mental 'charity shop list' - I am currently looking for some side plates that I like. As I go round I note how easy and economic it could/would be to furnish an entire house from the furniture etc that is in there!
Nite all