2018 Frugal Living Challenge

little_green

Hi all I'm new here. This thread sounds right up my street!!
Though I wouldn't say I live frugally at current I'd love to try so I can work towards savings.
I love the thrill of shopping a charity shops and car boot sales !!

Sometimes though I do wonder how/why my life become reusing a smart-price tea bag!! (How do I insert smileys on here using mobile?)

mumof3.12kindebt

Afternoon everyone.
2 school runs done - walking
Still got to pick ds1 up at 3pm

Went to town today I've logged my spends in my diary .

Popped to town this morning (a rare thing these days. We only go If we NEED too and generally try and wait and do a few things in one go.

Got a library card for ds1
Also got him some new shoes which were like new . A top for ds1 a coat for DD and a dressing up dress for DD all for £6 from a charity shop

My £4 ski coat from eBay arrived and fits perfect. Paid £4 including postage . It's so warm I'm very happy with it.

My jumper for £3 off eBay also arrived today. It's lovely and nice and baggy just how I like them.

Ds2 is napping. DD is watching some TV.
I've Hoovered every room this morning. Need to empty the bins and do a bit of other housework bits.

I have until a few days after Xmas planned out with free things to keep us busy.

Film popcorn and snacks tonight

Have a good evening all ❤️

skint_chick

Although I didn't put my name down for this year's challenge I've been doing this since 2008 now and paid off all our debt (£26k) and last year finished a kitchen extension so now we can have more than one person in our kitchen at a time and have friends over. Since 2009 I've reduced my work from full time employed to part time to finally fully self employed since September. We live on £5000 after mortgage and holidays. Next year the focus will be on rebuilding savings after the home improvements, reducing the mortgage balance, and growing more of our own veggies while reducing my stress levels and working on my health. Oh has a job he's finally happy with and works 3/4 days a week, I am working 4 days at the moment but once one of my freelance projects finishes in June 2019 this will be 2/3 shorter days. We've focused on being greener this year with buying reusable kitchen towels, straws, bottles, wrap. 2019 is using the car less and feet more to reduce stress and get more exercise

sinkorswim2018

Skint_chick - you sound like you need to change your user name now.
Spudsmum, congratulations on the mortgage free life you now have.


I had a NSD yesterday and a 67p spend day on Thursday.
Today (in my lunchhour) however I finished my Xmas groceries and spent a whopping £39.05. Did use a £6 off £40 spend voucher (was £45.05) so essentially I got a free bottle of wine!


Earlier in the week i got a zip on my coat repaired, instead of the expect £40 bill (which I was prepared to pay to keep an otherwise perfectly good coat in an age of waste and consumerism) it was £12.


I'm working on a realistic budget for next year and should post soon.

sinkorswim2018

Got my budget sorted quicker than I expected. Here goes:


Monthly Yearly


Clothes £50 £600


Eating out £100 £1200


Groceries £200 £2400


Gifts b’ & xmas £470 x1 (xmas) £800


£30 x 11


(£66.66 per month ave)
Hols £50 £600


Toiletries & hair £20 £240


Days out £25 £300


Fuel £100 £1200


MOT, Tax &
probable repairs £40 £480

Home improvement £80 £960


Total £731.66 £8780

This will allow me to both pay off may interest free debt and start some savings. I'm saving for home improvements but I've allowed a bit in my budget to

Frugaldom

skint_chick wrote: »

Although I didn't put my name down for this year's challenge I've been doing this since 2008 now and paid off all our debt (£26k) and last year finished a kitchen extension so now we can have more than one person in our kitchen at a time and have friends over. Since 2009 I've reduced my work from full time employed to part time to finally fully self employed since September. We live on £5000 after mortgage and holidays. Next year the focus will be on rebuilding savings after the home improvements, reducing the mortgage balance, and growing more of our own veggies while reducing my stress levels and working on my health. Oh has a job he's finally happy with and works 3/4 days a week, I am working 4 days at the moment but once one of my freelance projects finishes in June 2019 this will be 2/3 shorter days. We've focused on being greener this year with buying reusable kitchen towels, straws, bottles, wrap. 2019 is using the car less and feet more to reduce stress and get more exercise

:j:beer::T That is fabulous news, skint_chick! Well done! Next stop, mortgage free? Whatever you decide, it's good to have you back and sharing your frugal journey.

nannygladys

Hi everyone
Well put off the main Xmas shop until Friday, went through the cupboards etc and made a list, spent just over £43 which I was sooooo pleased with, as it was a lot less than I thought it was going to be. I just have to go out for extra milk tomorrow and some bread and its all done and I can relax!!
Mind you I will still have some cleaning and washing to do but it shouldn't take long as I did it a couple of days ago and I haven't really been in much the last couple of days.
So just incase I don't get on here before Xmas I will wish everyone a happy Christmas and I hope Santa visits all the little ones.
Nannyg

Frugaldom

:santa2: Merry Christmas to everyone reading this, hope you all have a frugally festive time.

Whippet1

Hi thanks for your recent post in which you said there's a new challenge for the coming year, 2019. I haven't done it before but I'm really excited about it and so hope it can help change my bad habits! Thanks again. X

Kerry_Woman

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.