2017 Frugal Living Challenge

kb_soma

Bought the bike, I am now training myself to bike to work. My train pass runs out on the 17th, so I *hope* to be cycling to work every day by then. It took me 35 minutes yesterday, hopefully I'll get fitter and be able to cycle faster soon!

Kerry_Woman

Still trying to plod along. Added what I have spent this month as I am not planning to spend today or tomorrow. Managed to spend less in general spending and food/household this month as compared to May last year, which I am happy about. My health issues has affected some of my spending this month sadly. Did have a 2 week temp job which ended last week. I have 2 temp jobs both in the morning next week. Still looking and applying for temp and perm work.

WeeMidgie

The month has gone well, and I'll be finishing with about £104 surplus in the food and other cash spends budget of £320.

A couple of longer term items have now cropped up and offer savings:

1) Laundry powder - I had borax and soap flakes which moved house with me 5 years ago, but were inaccessible in one of many packing boxes just when I needed them. So at the time, I bit the bullet and bought two giant boxes of Fairy detergent (2 4 1 offer), which have taken till now to be used up.

Today I made approx 7kg laundry powder, using the soap flakes, borax and soda crystals, which should last me a very long time. The only current cost was for 3kg soda crystals = £3.

2) The car insurance notification has come in and tomorrow I'll be following MSE guidance to find the best quote for the cover I require. Last year's premium was £221, this year's is £289, I don't think so! :rotfl: I'll update with the final result.
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...*Added one day later*.... And having gone through Martin's recommended route to get the best price, I've got a deal for just under £158, which includes protected no claims, courtesy car, legal cover etc. It took a while, but well worth doing! Very happy! :j:j

Jazee

Hello, still not living very frugally here. The overspend for May was £343 and nothing really to show for it. We have now spent 6 months budget in only 5 months and I'm not sure that I'll be able to pull it all back.

mumof3.12kindebt

hi . im new to the forum. so glad ive came across this challenge as i have a challenge for me and my family

to live off £100 a week for the rest of the year (after all bills)
every Monday i will transfer the £100 .
lets give it a go

Kerry_Woman

I had to sort out my mobile phone contract as it had to be renewed. Managed to get more minutes, more data and money off the monthly bill. Should have cost £15.99, but got it for £9.99. It is less than my last contract payments. Of course there will hopefully slight increases as they normally do.

Saved money on some supplements. Have not used the company I usually pay them from and they offered me them for half price.

Have been diagnosed with anxiety/depression and now on medication. Seeing my GP again in 2 weeks time.

Had a some hours of temp work last week.

nannygladys

Hi everyone
I haven't been on here for months, and even though I'm fairly frugal I'm finding I'm having to go into savings each month to exist, so this month (nearly two weeks ago) I decided to live within my oap pension. I haven't done too badly so far but that's due to having quite a lot of food in my cupboards and freezer. I've been careful with fuel and not been on any unnecessary journeys, but I will have to rebudget fuel as I have a little very old caravan on a site that is my sanctuary and I'm missing my stays there. So that's me at the moment, trying to keep my purse closed!!!!
Nannyg

Kerry_Woman

Still trying to be careful with spending. Up to June spending is still less than up to June 2016. So happy with that. Have still work on some areas of spending.

Still decluttering things in the flat. Taking things to charity shop, recycling centre, putting things into the communal recycling bin. I have had to bin somethings as well. Used up one cream. Not too many creams to be used up now.

Went to have an eye test yesterday. Found online a voucher for a free eye test. Had to get 2 new glasses - distance and reading ones. Managed to get free lens included. Cost of lens were £45 for each glasses. Only had to pay for the frames. So saved £111 altogether yesterday. Both frames total cost £138. Really happy about that.

Have had a few hours temp work in the past few weeks. Temp work for a few hours on the next 2 Wednesdays.

Went to Clacton on Sea with my Mum during the week. Booked through a disablement association, so minibus picked us up at flat and dropped us back at flat at end of day. They also picked up other people for the trip. Enjoyed the day out.

Jazee

Morning all. I have to admit that I stopped filling in my spreadsheet at the end of May. Must reign in my spending but finding it difficult with holidays etc. Got some good bulk bargains in f@rmf00ds yesterday though.

[Deleted User]

Haven't been as active on the forum over the past wee while. I really need to get back on here regularly as it does help keep me focussed.

Kerry, well done on getting 2 pairs of glasses for that price! I went back to the opticians as my distance glasses I got about a year ago weren't doing the job anymore. My eyes have got worse so I needed new distance glasses and now I also need reading glasses. I reused old frames but it still cost me £100 for the lenses. It is a relief though to be seeing clearly again!!

On the frugal front I haven't been very good. Now that I am back working again the spending has crept up so I need to keep a check on this. July is main holiday month for me so spending is pretty high this month. I will look to reign it in again from August onwards.

Yesterday OH and I spend a while clearing out the loft (only partially done, still got lots left to do) and I discovered some old journals and some books so I will spend some time today going through them. Already went through some of the old journals and it is really interesting to reflect back on things and see how much I have changed in terms of my priorities and values in the past 10 years.

Frugal plans today are:
1. Today will be a NSD
2. Finish off food from the fridge/freezer in food plan for next few days.

Have a great day everyone.