2018 Frugal Living Challenge

shish100

I had a good day Thursday. I was on a days on training that involves a two hour train journey each way - normally I end up buying some food for me tea on the way as I don't get back until 8pm. This time I applied some frugal-thinking! I claimed some fruit from the lunch that was provided, and from home I had bought some snacks that were robust and could stand a day in my rucksack. It worked as planned I made it home without buying any food!

I am now running that happy feeling of successful frugalness

Yesterday the weather was dry and windy - so I got two lots of washing on the line. It didn't dry fully, but enough that it didn't take much to finish off.

We had a free trip to the cinema through vouchers last night and only had to pay £2.50 for parking.

Also listed a few items on an auction site, continuing with the decluttering, and a couple of items have already been bid on!

I am keeping hold of this happy frugal feeling!

Pipsmum

The first full week back at work, and things have gone reasonably well - although Christmas and New Year feel as if they were months ago now. I still have loads of room for improvement though, but I've made a start. So far, I'm still within my budget.


I've taken lunch into work each day, and resisted buying any additional biscuits or coffee - until Friday, when crumbled, and found myself with a very nice coffee, that very definitely did not come from home! I wont be doing that again. All meals have been made at home, and I am now getting into the habit of thinking about dinner the night before, which is saving a lot of cash, rather than popping into the shops for something for dinner on the way home. I need to be able to menu plan for longer, but I struggle to keep to any plan beyond 48 hours at the moment.


We also have lots of eggs to use at the moment, as the hens are laying well, and I can understand why. They had a large area in the garden to live in, but with all the wet weather it turned into a mud bath, so dh decided to let them out into the garden to give them so less muddy ground to explore. After three weeks, they have completely trashed the garden, The grass is virtually gone, all the planters have been emptied, and the compost spread across the place the grass used to be. On the plus side, there is not a single weed out there now - or a single plant come to that - but we do have some very content ladies!


My plan for this week, it to look through some packets of seeds, and try and plant up some tomatoes, and anything else I can sow undercover now. I'm going to make a casserole later today, for dinner tonight and enough for a couple of portions for the freezer for dinners during the week, and then make a cake for treats during the week. I am also sewing a small cross stitch picture as a birthday gift for my friend, so need to get that finished this week - I just hope she likes it.


Wishing you all a successful and frugal week.

peony40

Hello All,

I am still here! Sorry for not posting but I have had one bug after another and it is only now that I have felt well enough to think about budgets, posting etc.

I will work on my 2018 budget tomorrow when I have the house to myself. I will read back on everyone’s news this afternoon, I hope you are all keeping/doing well.

Treasurequeen

A NSD yesterday, I’ve just earnt £2.50 cashback :jjust for doing an insurance quote. I’m going to stick with my current insurance company as they had better cover for less money. I’ve Paid annually so no interest to pay. I’ve changed energy provider so have it now fixed for 2 years. Electric bill is due in 2 weeks time but am in credit so should be ok.

Ive got to do some food shopping next week but will have a free cake and coffee in JL which is frugal.

Tanya12345

Hey all, tardy to the party !! Signed up a while ago but had a mad few weeks, for one reason and another have spent like a loony and now need to restore the savings pot from a decreased income...... Budget will be worked out and posted but is year the aim is to save, minimise waste and use all of the resources available to me. Jobs for tomorrow are to work out budgets for Jan/Feb/ March, inventories of larder and freezers, menu plan. I have vouchers various to add to this months food budget - good job as its looking like almost zero budget for food. Loving reading everyone's journey, hoping to keep it up this year......

sinkorswim2018

NSD today, though I need to update my signature as I'm a few days of spending out on that. I've just signed up for the 'Bean' money thing where they look at all your accounts together and work out if you have any direct debits you didn't realise you had and cancel them for you . You get a £5 Amazon voucher through Martin's link for joining up and adding your accounts. I've put all but my main account on which I need my log in details for, it's on my phone app but I haven't a clue what the details are so will have to follow that up tomorrow. I know there is a mystery Amazon £5.40 ish that comes out every month. I guess I will still need to contact Amazon myself about that though as I but other tuff form there too and don't want to cancel altogether. It's also made me think about the £14.99 I pay per month for Spotify for family membership...does anyone know a cheaper, as good, alternative?
In putting my credit cards on I chased up Nationwide as I've not had statements for a couple of months and having used it in November to keep my Xmas spends separate I had a balance to pay and was not sure when it was due - have paid the min. Found out I've accrued some interest this month and also found I haven't changed address for the card, hence no statements after the redirection stopped! So it's my own fault. I paid £100 directly off the card and moved a couple of hundred onto a 0% interest card (with a transfer fee) as realistically it will take me at least couple of months to pay. So I feel in control again now. Worked out my monies yesterday, will probably keep within my budget of £800, giving me £200 extra to pay off cards. I've also got extra coming in over the next 3 months for overtime and banks holidays and weekends so perhaps I'll clear them within the year. I'll make a plan when I've seen how much I can pay this month I think.

sinkorswim2018

Just cancelled sky cinema on talk talk tv. Wasn't using it, have and use Netflix. £8 saved, no hardship.

Frugaldom

Sorry to hear about your son's mishap, pennygrabber, I hope his arm mends quickly.

Sinkorswim - I'm not even sure what Spotify is, so am no help there.

Well done to all posting here, as total awareness and acknowledgement of your own spending habits is the biggest step forward in harnessing the frugal lifestyle. Congratulations to all who are making savings and changing habits to drive down the costs of work (and survival) and afford to live a little.

Nothing much to report here - usual start of month payment into savings bond and total spends still under £10, as all I have needed so far are 2 cartons of milk and some cheese. Hens here are laying, too, but we gutted out the 'chicken shack' yesterday in preparation for any lock-down in the wake of the first confirmed caes of Avian Flu having reached the UK. The hens hate being closed in but I am very fortunate that I am able to let them out into the barn for a run around and scratch about the place if the restrictions are imposed. I always have foot baths at the gates but trying to get people to realise they NEED to use them before entering the property is a whole different kettle of fish.

nannygladys

Hi everyone,
Just a quick one today as I feel like my head is going to leave my body. I think I have caught the dreaded lurgy from my dgd3, I babysat her at the beginning of last week and she hadn't been very well for a couple of days, shes OK now and I'm not!!
So yesterday I only bought a paper for the token holidays that I try to use each year as a short cheap break down south, and today I'm not going through the front or back door, luckily I batched cooked in the week so I have enough food. Not much money used this week. Oh just remembered I did buy something yesterday, one bag of seed potatoes and I will need more at some time.
Anyway signing off to make myself a hot juice drink.
Nannyg

Moll

Still going strong on the savings, Yesterday was OH birthday , id already bought his gifts and card last week , but we took the family out for an eat all you can eat meal ,,,, cost around £150 ouch , but it only worked out about £12 a meal including unlimited soft drinks , and OH got his free for his birthday ,. I expected to pay or at least half of it as I told everyone it was my treat, , but OH payed it in full ,,,,,,,,,,,so NSD for me , yippee , totally uexpected , So OH is officially a pensioner now , so we'll have to see how we go with pensions ?????????
Bought a bag of Marris Piper potatoes from Farm Foods , as they only cost £2.49. for a 7. 5 kg bag and I can make loads of meals with those , ( Don't know what id do without Farm Foods) we are very lucky as all the cheaper supermarkets are close by , Get my beans ( 4 tins for £1) and tins of tomatoes ( 27p) from Lidyl. bread from Heron £1 a loaf etc ,
Have spent a few £'s today on "Stuff" but got bargains . From our local facebook bidding site, I got a brand new Next Long cardi for £1. , and also ( Don't laugh ) as its for me , a Thomas the tank engine teeth set , 2 toothbrushes , cup and toothpaste, no I haven't gone mad, I only use soft childrens toothbrushes, and I needed a new one , I only payed £1 for all this so a bargain . I go to the dentist for checkups , and have never needed anything doing for truly over 40 years , so the soft brushes work for me , Enjoying reading everyones posts and getting ideas from everyone x