What it's worth being frugal about?

WantToBeSE

Cooking from scratch is definitely frugal for me, so is not eating meat (but i do that for ethical reasons, the fact that it's frugal is a big bonus!).

It's not frugal for me to shop around at several supermarkets, because i live semi-rurally and shopping around means at east a 20 min drive- not frugal when you factor in petrol costs.

[Deleted User]

It's worth being frugal in every area that you can I think, anything that can save you from having to part with more hard earned cash than you have to is worth doing. Having said that to spend on things that will enable you to actually save cash in the long run is actually frugal too. The best frugality is waiting and finding the good quality item that you would like to have at a good price in a sale or in a charity shop or at a boot fair. Frugal living is by necessity a choice and also a waiting game as your 'items of choice' sometimes take a little while to come your way but it's very satisfying having had the wait when they do finally arrive at a reasonable price.

Living_proof

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

It's worth being frugal in every area that you can I think, anything that can save you from having to part with more hard earned cash than you have to is worth doing. Having said that to spend on things that will enable you to actually save cash in the long run is actually frugal too. The best frugality is waiting and finding the good quality item that you would like to have at a good price in a sale or in a charity shop or at a boot fair. Frugal living is by necessity a choice and also a waiting game as your 'items of choice' sometimes take a little while to come your way but it's very satisfying having had the wait when they do finally arrive at a reasonable price.

I completely agree Mrs. L. It's rare I buy anything new and when I do it's something I would be very unlikely to find second-hand in good condition. When I do buy new I buy the best. But almost all my purchases these days are from CBSs or CSs and I am prepared to wait until that little object of desire comes up at a bargain price. That way I can afford pretty much all I want and have great fun in acquiring it. It is staggering what people buy (or are gifted), never use and sell off for peanuts, still in the box. Today's example is being able to use four of the six large Sankey terracotta saucers I bought for 30p each at a CS to place under my chilli plants which I am going to bring indoors to overwinter. New these saucers are 2.99 which I would find unreasonably expensive. Dinner last night was cooked in a #3 slow cooker and the remnants of the joint will be sealed for the freezer using my vacuum sealer, bought completely unused for #5 at a car boot sale. New still available at #75. I get so much fun out of the anticipation of these inexpensive additions to my household!

Towser

It's not frugal for me to shop around at several supermarkets, because i live semi-rurally and shopping around means at east a 20 min drive- not frugal when you factor in petrol costs.

Me too, I have done my research/shopping around online and found the cheapest shop for me (which happens to be Aldi) and stick to that one. So I am very loyal to Aldi. I can't wait until they do an online service but I think they are only starting with wine.

I get so much fun out of the anticipation of these inexpensive additions to my household!

Me too, I have decided to cook a Cottage pie this afternoon instead of going to the CS's as I don't have anything on my need list.

I'd love to know what I can bulk buy that would be worth it. I have done rice, potatoes and oil so far.

Towser

It may not be an ethical choice, but cash-and-carry giants like Costco.co.uk and Booker.co.uk can be money-savers. Costco charges a fee (approximately £25,) but membership is open to many employees as well as business owners. Booker is free but only for business owners and the self-employed.

Bulk buys of rice, pasta, fruit juice (and meat, frozen vegetables and cheese if you have the fridge-freezer to store it) can knock your shopping bill down by half, but the downside is storage.

Again, not one for ethical shoppers, but Amazon sells bulk buy groceries. Savings vary but can be small: currently, 24 cans of Heinz baked beans are £16.08 (RRP £20.48), whereas they are on offer at Costco for £7.89. Delivery is free but can take a while.

There's also online wholesaler Shortersclub.co.uk. There's a wide array of groceries and it's free to join. Large households, which can take advantage of economies of scale, should save money. The minimum order is £40 and delivery is £5.99.

At Shorters Club, Tilda wholegrain basmati rice costs £17.27 for 10 500g packs, or £1.72 each. A single pack costs £2.49 at Sainsbury's. Amazon sells Tilda wholegrain in packs of five for £9.70 (£1.94 each).

Don't overdo it
A box load of anything isn't a cheap deal if it's days away from the best before date. Check before you stock up and be realistic about what you'll actually eat.

And while most people are unlikely to gorge on porridge oats, the same can't be said for chocolate, nuts, biscuits, cheese and ground coffee. You might find that having more in the cupboard results in you using more, so unless you have good willpower stocking up could prove costly.

kboss2010

PasturesNew wrote: »

Well, I look for curtains every time, size 90x90, not seen any in that size at all, never mind at a mind-numbing £5/pair!

You anywhere near Aberdeen? I've bought loads of fully lined 90"x90" curtains over the past few years for rental properties for between £10-15!

The trick to finding large curtains is to try to shop in charity shops in affluent areas where they have large Georgian/Edwardian houses with big windows.

kboss2010

For me, being frugal is about knowing where to shop and being flexible.

I know which local charity shops are the best value, which ones generally have the best quality stuff, buy my clothes in charity shops as I see them so I rarely need to rush out and buy anything at short notice. Any good brands that are nearly new in my size I'll generally buy even if I don't need it at that time because, as I throw away well-worn clothes, I have a stash of "new" things.

Same goes for bargains in the sales, gifts etc.

The things I've found are worth spending a bit more on are:

Ground coffee and tea (the cheapest stuff tastes like dishwater!)
Reusable coffee mugs
Pillows & cushions
Electronics (washing machines, fridge freezers etc.)
Mattresses

Towser

Backpacking and camping are awesome frugal activities. It costs nothing to take a hike. It costs a bit more to camp overnight, but even that can be done inexpensively.

We have upgraded to a caravan but still a fairly inexpensive holiday.
Caravan breaks in both the U.K. and beyond are becoming an increasingly popular form of getaway. From full summer holidays, to short breaks and long weekends, the caravan breaks offered by operators like Park Resorts provide an inexpensive accommodation solution that doesn’t require giving up the comforts of home.
One of the best ways to find out more about the great outdoor is to go camping and get out there amongst it. From the smallest tent to the biggest caravan or motorhome there is something about pitching in the middle of a field that puts you more in touch with the outdoors. You don't need to spend a fortune to get that pitch and to enjoy what the outdoors has to offer.
You can find many inexpensive holidays on campsites in the UK particularly on the smaller caravan sites out of season, but also consider the benefits of a seasonal pitch where you want to take regular breaks. Seasonal pitches or long term bookings can give you the chance of major discounts on the average pitch price, especially if you can use more than the average number of nights in that period. So if you are looking for a high use pitch, regular breaks away or a few long term breaks with the caravan then a seasonal pitch may offer you a good price. Negotiate your price with the owners, if they have spare capacity they may well be happy to offer you a big discount and don't forget the fuel you will save not having to tow the caravan back and to.

Caravanning and camping definitely worth it.

fatpiggy

Towser wrote: »

My favourite hobby is charity shop shopping. ooh I think I am going today

Currently I am wearing my brand new pyjamas I found in one shop for £5

Can someone tell me where to go and what to look for I need a challenge/inspiration? Not just clothes because I can only wear one set at a time. So more than three outfits is a waste, but still I cannot resist.

I have 5 hunting grounds all in areas of least deprivation according the the National Office of statistics. I call my shopping "buying trips" because I usually manage a good haul for all the family.

This is definitely worth it as it is so much fun.

I'm much better off financially than I was but I still hunt in charity shops. But then I grew up in hand-me-downs so its nothing different to me. Last week I bought a fab pair of long leather boots for the winter in a local charity shop. Cost me £49.99 but they are in mint condition and made by Gabor. I looked them up and new they were £160 so I'd call that a pretty good buy. They are butter soft leather so wearing them is bliss. I rarely pay more than £5 for a quality piece of clothing in a charity shop so £20 will kit me out nicely for work. One of my other best buys was a Musto fleece which I knew at the time was £79 new. I paid £3 and 20 years later it is still being worn and is in perfectly good condition.

Caterina

Towser wrote: »

.....

There's also online wholesaler Shortersclub.co.uk. There's a wide array of groceries and it's free to join. Large households, which can take advantage of economies of scale, should save money. The minimum order is £40 and delivery is £5.99.....

I looked up Shortersclub and it appears to have closed its business. Pity, because it sounded good.

There's always Approved Food, I suppose...