2018 Frugal Living Challenge

FrankieM

I'm glad to see I'm not here on my own!

It is the same for me, I've found my frugal groove and I'm just checking the boxes daily that I've done the things that are now starting to become habits.
It's taken me from when the challenge first started many years ago and I was a family of 6 to this last month of just me and a couple of children now and again to find it, but this month has generally felt far more relaxed.

I imagine as autumn /winter approaches I'll need to ook at things a little differently and tweek here and there but I'm getting a plan together of things I need to look at and that's a start (and more than I've done in previous years!)

In other news, I got home from work yesterday and my DS had left the lounge light on, all day...that's his bedroom at the moment. The mornings are that funny dark/light time where you need the lights but they aren't obviously on to turn off and I missed it as I was going out the door. He's away for the next 5 days so that won't happen again for a while and I'll have to check when he's back...kids!

littlesimplelivingcottage

Wow, thank you @frugaldom & @FrankieM, there are some really good suggestions there. I've gone through my budget and whittled it down as much as possible, I think the proof will be in the pudding as they say will be making sure we can actually stick to it! I'm also going through everything and making an E*ay pile. I've only bought from the site before never sold anything before so that will be an adventure and it will get rid of quite a bit.

We're generally quite frugal (in certain aspects) already so I'm excited to actually more forwards and be even more frugal!

FrankieM

You can do it littlesimplelivingcottage We're all behind you


Off to my 'Saturday job' this morning, earning money for my 'trips, treats and travel' fund. It's a bit like an EEK of RACK fund..lol

I need to find some money making ways that don't involve working, as such, but at the moment it's an easy way to get in extra money.


My DD was back yesterday/last night...so noisy! I'm quite ready for everyone to move out and have the house to myself, but I think she'll be with me for a while yet. I might just need to teach her how to be quiet.


Other than that I shall be plodding through the housework and general weekend chores

shish100

There have been some frugal habits that I have always had
- always take a packed lunch
- Batch cooking
- shopping list or the supermarket
- kept up with renewals and best deals
- takeaways are rare and a treat
- cashback websites

Joining this forum I have gained some extra habits and tweaks
- adding chick peas to some dishes. It'c cheap and healthy - mainly anything with chicken or pork.
- the spend tracker for every single penny has been enlightening
- using up all products in the cupboards first. Has been nice to get a bit of space back

The main thing I have learnt is, the importance of budgets and pots (real or virtual). I had always had a budget and what was left was free to spend as I wanted. But after a few big unexpected spends, I accumulated some debt. Setting up these pots has helped enormously, although it has taken me a while to adjust and settle in to it.

This has meant I have had to plan and prioritise my life more on what is important to me.

I still have my hobbies, I am just using what I already have. Gardening, I already have the tools, there is no need for anything new. Sewing, I already have a box of fabric and a couple of projects lined up. Reading, I am now a regular user of my local library.

Socialising has been the one that was awkward to adjust. Some friends were easy to adjust with and meet up in either house and entertain at home. Other friends were reluctant to meet anywhere besides the pub, but after doing a 'damp January' (not quite a dry January!), everyone got used to me drinking less and having the odd soft drink. It's now normal, and a couple of others are also doing the same.

My weekend now is catching up on the gardening - with the rain we've had the weeds have sprung in to life!

Frugaldom

It's a bit of a wet weekend here but the dry spells in between the showers allow for a 5-minute sprint around gathering weeds. I also managed to gather more blueberries, so I had them and homemade pancakes for lunch today. I'm still getting a couple of eggs each day from the moulting hens, so pancakes are cheap and easy to make. My herbs are growing like crazy no the rain's finally arrived so I have already started taking cuttings. I need to take loads more from the rosemary as I still plan on having a rosemary hedge one day but for whatever reason, I have failed, so far, to establish enough cuttings before someting ate them. (Last lot got scoffed by ponies poking their heads under the fence!)

spudsmum

I'm still here too reading every day but don't really post unless I think I have something interesting to say.

Everything just seems to be plodding on for me at the moment

FrankieM

I went to see a friend of mine in hospital this morning after doing all my jobs.

I'm not sleeping very well at the moment so I'm tired and grumpy

Another week of cash only for the food and fuel and all still in budget. Fuel was more than normal as I went for a bit of a drive last Sunday. It added an extra £13 to my usual spend! Why is life so expensive!
I'll have to rethink that.

I've also spent money 'treating' myself on takeaways last weekend. Or at least it felt like a treat at the time (sort of) but looking at what I've spent and realising that's money that I no longer have to spend on travelling has been a real kick. So, that's that. No more of that kind of spending. Time to prioritise.

It's also DS' 21st birthday this week and what with his present, cake and meal out, that's another chunk that will be coming out of my travel budget.

It's serious top-up time!

I was hoping to go away for my birthday at the end of September but with my depleted funds I'll be lucky if I can afford a cheapy get away somewhere.

It's all a constant learning curve for me...

Kerry_Woman

Hugs to those in need of them.
Just plodding along. Still managing to get NSD's. Have attended some free events local and in London. Food spending is doing ok, but general spending has slightly got out of control this month. Must try and get more a control on it for the rest of the month.

FrankieM

Morning. I'm back on it this morning.

A bit less grumpy too, I think

I'm making my lunch in a bit and I have dinner for tonight sorted. My purse is also firmly out of my handbag, no spending needed to day.

I've got more washing to do this week but the weather can't decide what it's doing, so the racks will be staying out til it's done.

I did a factory reset of my netbook cause it was very slow and I have now lost my excel and word. I can read documents but not edit, which is pointless. Does anyone know any free versions that I can download? I might need to do a bit of a google search and see what's available.

Frugaldom

Hi Guys, glad to see you are still here, Kerrywoman!

FrankieM, I use Open Office for absolutely everything, as it's all free to download - https://www.openoffice.org - I've been using it and recommending it for many years and never had a problem with it reading any of my documents or spreadsheets.

On the holiday side of things - FrankieM - where in the country are you located? If it's within travel distance, I can offer very frugal holiday accommodation if you don't mind holiday park mobile home. (https://www.frugalbreaks.co.uk or see @FrugalBreaks on Facebook) If you can make it here then frugalers only pay to cover costs but still get use of the facilities.