2018 Frugal Living Challenge

FrankieM

Morning

Sorry to hear you're struggling Mooloo

It was great to hear about the marathon cw18 I'm in awe.

I'm another card only kind of person because otherwise I have no idea what the money has been spent on. I think that's where my budget tracking went wrong a few months ago. I'd received cash from a few different things and I didn't have the opportunity to gt it in the bank and it just went. I tried to off set it and transfer money around but it's just ended in a mess. So lesson learned.

The only time cash is a good thing is when I go out to the pub. I'm much better at sticking to my budget if I take the cash out and leave my cards at home. Otherwise I end up swiping all over the place!

Pay day for me here and I've got another slightly adjusted plan for the month. I'm sure eventually I'll find the plan that works!

Frugaldom

FrankieM wrote: »

... Pay day for me here and I've got another slightly adjusted plan for the month. I'm sure eventually I'll find the plan that works!

Plans are evlutionary processes that adapt to suit our financial climate. Climate change is a very slow and gradual process, so enjoy the experience rather than rush it along. As long as you know the end product will ultimately be debt freedom then you're on the right track.

Glorious sunshine in between rain, hail, sleet, thunder, lightning and did I just see some more snow forecast?! :eek: Anyway, we managed to get loads of seeds sown over the past few days and potted up some tiny cabbage seedlings, among other things. They parsley and spinach are ding well and my sweet cicely seeeds have germinated

I have now received my latest 'big spend' - 325 little trees to add into our edible hedging project at Frugaldom. 25 of them will become actual trees - Alder for our 'Legacy Woodland' - but the others are all hawthorn (haws) with a few blackthorn (sloes) to plant among the briars (rosehips) that we've already planted. Hedgerow jelly will be the jam or jelly of choice once this lot grows. I also have some hazel, rowan, crab apple and elder planted, with a few blackcurrants and rasps for good measure.

Neighbour handed me in some bananas, so those are handy for snacks while working out at the field.

spudsmum

Hi all!

Payday today for both husband (weekly) and me (monthly)

Time to reset the budgets and take stock as I do every month on my payday. Its not been the best month as we've had lots of expenses to pay but I've tried my best to stick to frugal principles as much as possible.

I've managed to knock another £209 off my debt in extra payments and my debt free date has moved forward by another month which is nowhere near as good as the previous two months but still heading in the right direction but the best news is that my total debt figure is now under 20k - that just feels like a massive milestone to me. I'm pledging to myself to NEVER let things get to that level again.

On a frugal level I've come in under weekly budget every week this month by at least £45 per week (£65.13 this week!) so thinking ahead I will definitely be looking at reducing my budget next year by at least 2k.

Hoping that May is a slightly kinder month and I can make more headway. I'm enjoying frugality though and finding more and more that frugality sits easier within our daily life and fast becomes just normal life rather than an added extra.

Oh well best go - this meal plan wont write itself!

Robi90

Hello,

Can I join you all please? I've lurked on the thread for long enough. :rotfl:

Spending beyond my means got me into debt in the first place and trying to get out of it before we enter 2019. I've got £4,583 left to pay off. Luckily my rent is quite cheap and bills are included plus I don't own a car. I just want to change some of my habits :j

FrankieM

Morning

That is exactly how it is frugaldom A cnstant tweeking of things as I find things that work or don't work. I like that it's not failure until you give up completely and that I'm finding out new things about myself regarding money and 'stuff' every month.

Welcome Robi90 The moe the merrier, I'd say!

I went out last night. Lots of laughing, dancing (and drinking) was done and I stayed in my budget. Taking a little purse with just my cash worked a treat and I'm pleased that I managed to enjoy myself so much without the over spending that usually happens.

My daughter came over yesterday to use my washing machine cause hers is broken and my grand daughter was poorly so I've got a bit of extra washing to do but sadly no sun to dry it so that'll be over racks and radiators.

My son is over today, I was going to pop out to Aldi and pick up a few things to make a chilli for tea, before my big shop next week when I remembered that I've got 2 tubs of chilli in the freezer that I can use. I might need to pad them out with extra beans or tomatoes but that's saved me spending.

I took note of my NSD in April, mostly...I'm a bit hit and miss with these things, and I found that quite helpful and made me think about whether I really needed to spend that day or whether I could push through with what I had for a bit longer.

The batch cooking in April was also helpful and I'm going to do that again too.

I've also moved money around in my accounts slightly differently, so we'll see how that works this month.

I hope you all have a good day.

datlex

FrankieM wrote: »

Morning

The only time cash is a good thing is when I go out to the pub. I'm much better at sticking to my budget if I take the cash out and leave my cards at home. Otherwise I end up swiping all over the place!

The pub is one of the few times I use cash too. I take an amount which covers what I need for that evening.

Kerry_Woman

Added up totals as to what I have spent this month. Shocking. I really need to get this under control. I think it is emotional spending and not thinking before I buy. I know that over the last few days I have thought about a few things before buying. Having not too time with my depression recently and also being really tired. Did manage to rest quite a bit today. Have managed 19 NSDs this month so far. Hoping tomorrow will also be an NSD.

Robi90

Spent around £15 on food shop today. I should have quite a few NSDs this week as I definitely have enough food to get by. I have already committed to going to a pub quiz Tuesday evening with some colleagues which is £2 entry and I normally get one drink for myself. I think there's also a team lunch on Tuesday as my manager is leaving and we're welcoming a new member of our team. Hopefully we go somewhere that's reasonably priced!

Frugaldom

Robi90 wrote: »

Hello,

Can I join you all please? I've lurked on the thread for long enough. :rotfl:

Spending beyond my means got me into debt in the first place and trying to get out of it before we enter 2019. I've got £4,583 left to pay off. Luckily my rent is quite cheap and bills are included plus I don't own a car. I just want to change some of my habits :j

Welcome onboard the good ship 'Frugaldom' :beer: I will get your name added into the challenger list on page 1. Good luck with your quest and here's to you managing to clear your debts and then maintain your financial freedom.

Final day of the first third of the year! I;ll need to tally up and see how little I have spent on the cost of living and how much I have spent on living life the way I want. I know my hedge fund has taken a whack because I had already bought 325 hawthorn, alder and blackthorn before splurging out last night on a further 500 mixed mini-trees to add another strip of edible / foraging hedgerow around Frugaldom.

Frugaldom

THE 2018 CHALLENGER LIST

1. *Jellie*
2. 1Saver
3. AdventureofMemories
4. Allie23
5. Angelicious
6. Anniee88
7. Arc2014
8. Aruba
9. Bebelles
10. BroadwayBaby71
11. Buffythedebtslayer
12. Bustiblondilocks
13. Buttonnose
14. CheshireCat
15. CosmicZebra
16. Cybertortoise
17. CW18
18. Datlex
19. DawnW
20. Debttaghh
21. Elly68
22. EmergencyNurse
23. Evuka
24. FairyPink
25. Fishcake_Random
26. Fizzyisbusy
27. Florence J
28. FoggyFroggy
29. FrankieM
30. Frugaldom
31. Frugalish
32. Frugalsazzle
33. Frugalwannabe
34. Gien
35. HazelIsOK
36. Igaveupnowimback
37. Indigowarrior
38. KB_soma
39. Kerreh
40. Kerry Woman
41. Mumof3.12kindebt
42. Lessonlearned
43. Lindez
44. LittleGingerFox
45. LynneJK
46. MadamMim2013
47. Merle
48. Milly-Ann-Molly
49. Miss D Meanor
50. Moll
51. Moneysavingmadgem
52. Moneysavingmonkey85
53. Mooloo
54. Munchin
55. NannyGladys
56. Need an answer
57. Nonnadiluca
58. Patentgirl
59. Penny2myName
60. PennyGrabber
61. Peony40
62. Pipsmum
63. PlayJay
64. PlaysNicely
65. Poppycat1
66. Robi90
67. RosesandRainbows
68. SarahC74
69. Saver-upper
70. Shish100
71. SimpleLivingIslandLife
72. Sinkorswim2018
73. Smijil
74. Spudsmum
75. Squirrelgirl
76. Steve1097
77. Supersaver2018
78. SusieG
79. Tanya12345
80. ThePennyFarthings
81. TreasureQueen
82. TrueBlueMummy
83. Unicorn101
84. Unicorn-ASJSD
85. Welshsaver
86. Wit40iwtwan