2018 Frugal Living Challenge

FrankieM

Morning

Another day, another dollar

DD3 came home last night and gone again. It seems her boyfriend keeps missing his flights for his holiday...lolol She's back tonight and it'll be lovely to spend some time with her.

Lunch and tea planned for today.

I've got a lady coming to wax my eyebrows and also 'do' my eyelashes. She's putting extensions in., though no longer than my natural ones.

I've always wanted to see what they look like and as I've got a couple of birthday celebrations this month, I thought I'd give them a go now. If they look ridiculous then I won't do it again and if they look okay, then I may need to figure out how to budget them in.

My friend came over last night for an hour before tea. It was just a quick catch up.

I get the feeling everyone around me is concerned by my lack of a social life (far more than I am) and keep asking me about it. I'm going to have to start making things up!

Happy Wednesday Hump Day

[Deleted User]

I know what you mean about the social life Frankie....it's amazing how people think that you're life is incomplete if you're not 'doing' something!! :rotfl: When I took time out from work, I socialised once every four to five months or so (even then it was under duress ) and was told that I was turning into a hermit - I have no idea why, I've never been one to willingly socialise! The last 18 months has just been a whirlwind of things I've needed to do or places I've had to go and it's been a nightmare!! :eek: One of the best things about doing the frugal living is that I have an excuse not to have to continue with it!

I've had to throw food away which I am not happy about, but I'm still feeling ropey so had no choice I've got some veg left in the fridge that I really need to use this week so if I'm still dodgy tomorrow, I'll try to cook something freezable with it.....

I've also decided that once I am over whatever this is, I really need to start taking better care of myself - I was meant to quit smoking last week but haven't, it may sound strange but fags are the only thing that gives me relief from the nausea - I drink like a teenager and my eating habits are so bizarre that I've had many people think I have an eating disorder!! :eek:
Thankfully, I'm surprisingly healthy considering but as a more than middle aged woman, I know that I can only rely on genetics for so long! I need an overhaul!! :rotfl:

Anyhoo, enough of my rambling....hope everyone has a fab day!!

FrankieM

Morning

I drink like a teenager You made me laugh with this squirrelgirl I have no idea how old you are but I sometimes have weekends like this.

Speaking of which this coming Saturday will be, but after that it all calms down again.

I get quite enough interaction while I'm at work!


Not feeling quite as organised this morning. I didn't get anything out of the freezer last night so having to defrost something in the microwave to make lunch. Not sure what happened there.

I also gave money to my DS to get some food yesterday from the food van at work cause he was hung over. Not sure if he intends paying that back but I'll mention it tomorrow on his pay day.

I need to buy some more salad stuff today, but that should be all the spending needed.

I'm very pleased with my eyebrows, so they're a keeper and the eyelashes...well...they are just so ...noticeable. Though I'm not sure what I expected. So, the jury is still out as to whether they become a regular thing.

Looking good was so much easier when I was 20 years younger!

FrankieM

This month is costing me a fortune and I'm not even half way through it yet. I'll be glad when it's over

I've made some extra money but it's going out as quickly as it's coming in. Thankfully the extra spending isn't causing debt payment issues but it would be nice to see my money sit in my account for a little while longer than it currently is.

Lunch is made and ready to take to work and my DS is buying us tea on the way back to taking him to uni. I'm not sure it covers the fuel but it's a lovely thought

Frugaldom

My word! How the other half live! :rotfl::beer: Drinks, social outings, beauty treatments. :eek: My daughter has a beauty therapy business and I have never, yet, tried any form of therapy, beauty or otherwise. I simply don't care what people say or think and love being a hermit. :rotfl: OK, so this hermit has quite a few visitrs and manages an occasional trip to the pub but I'm a 'cheap date'. :dance:

Aside from that, all my spare cash goes on hay. :rotfl::o

FrankieM

I imagine your hay still costs more Frugaldom I can't manage to shave my legs consistently so I can't imagine these things will be a regular occurance.

I've checked my Spark energy statement this morning and I'm still going well there.

I've noticed a few friends have started to put there heating on with the temperature dropping a little, but I haven't even thought about it yet. I need to get some lovely thick curtains up at all of the windows first so will talk to my son in law and see if we can get some job swapping happening so he can help me.

That'll be another spend...I can't wait for this month to end!

I came home from work yesterday and DS had cut the grass and cleaned the house.
I drove him home and now I have my house back, well apart from DD3 who is prone to clomping about. lol.

FrankieM

A good night/day had on Saturday and I spent yesterday feeling terrible and being pathetic on the sofa.

On the plus side I only spent the cash I budgeted and came home with money.

Lunch made and tea planned for today and I'm at DD1's babysitting for a couple of hours tonight.

All in all, I'm back to some kind of normal, frugal life.

*little.squirrel*

I am so glad I found this thread! I've just spent the last few days reading through from start to finish and I feel like this is definitely the place for me. :j

My DH and I sat down at the start of the year and tried to plan a proper budget. We did well to start with and then majorly fell off the wagon during the last few months. Incredibly frustrating because we are trying so hard to save but I'm still hoping we can get back on track and meet our targets by the end of the year. I guess we have justified the overspend because we have been living abroad for the last few years and this was our first proper summer being home and so we've had lots of visitors and trips planned that cost way more than we intended.

In terms of successes though, I have challenged myself to buy no brand new clothes this year, only charity shops and eb@y allowed and so far I have managed really well. My spends are lower and I'm making very considered decisions before purchasing anything. I also said that I wouldn't spend any money on make up, which I have also managed so far. Mainly because I've pretty much stopped wearing it! (which I actually find quite empowering).

I am loving all the frugal tips and encouragement. It's so nice finding like minded people. I know it's late in the year but I am going to follow along

[Deleted User]

Welcome little.squirrel!! :wave:

not even vaguely frugal yesterday!

dd's birthday went according to budget but then i had a blow out on the grandbaby!!:rotfl: Must admit, that is the one area of spending I have absolutely no control over whatsoever!!

oh well, not to worry, I can't change it so I will just accept it and stop shopping with the baby there!!

Hoping to get the elderberries picked at the weekend - I also have to decant the ginger whisky for the sil so will use the ginger to make a jam ... nomnom!! I still have to sort the freezer with dil....life just seems to be getting in the way at the moment - hopefully, by the beginning of next week I will have things a little more organised and will be back on track! :laugh:

Frugaldom

*little.squirrel* wrote: »

I am so glad I found this thread! I've just spent the last few days reading through from start to finish and I feel like this is definitely the place for me. :j

Welcome to the frugal living challenge - I hope yu have fun and make huge savngs along the way. I shall add your name to our challenger list and look forward to hearing of your progress.

FrankieM - hay is costing an absolute fortune this year! :eek: It certainly doesn't help that so many farmers have decided not to sell any just in case they run out and nor does it help that we have just agreed to take on more rescue ponies, but friends have been fab helping raise the funds to help feed the local rescue centre ones. It costs around £1,000 per year per per pony unless you have a herd and can buy & store feed in bulk, so it means forking out several thousand pounds per year, but I do everything as frugally as possible. We stick to a budget of £5,000 for cost of living (my frugal living challenge plus council tax) and £5,000 for everything else, then anything over that went into the savings pot. Now, however, the most of it gets eaten by ponies. :rotfl: But I think we have done not too badly with investing our savings. :cool: