2018 Frugal Living Challenge

debtaghh

My frugal achievement for today is that I fancied a McDonald’s tonight but resisted!

shish100

Sending everyone big hugs! The strength and determination everyone has to continue being frugal, despite what life gives you is amazing.

I have recently re-discovered the library. I have borrowed a couple of craft books to try and get ideas for some left over pieces of fabric. Trying to get a head start for some handmade gifts for Christmas. I can make one item a month I will be over the moon.

There are still three days left in January, but I am doing my review of successes and room for improvements (not failures!) ready to start to February with ideas and motivation.
- I managed to take lunch to work everyday apart from one day - Success!
- Crumbled and went off-list in the fabric shop - room for improvement. Need better will-power
- Socialising with friends, have switched one of the two drinks for a soft drink - success! Soft drink is cheaper and better for my health
- Decluttering has been happening - Success as most items I have listed have gone.
- Lost my weekly train ticket - only lost the last day going home - I am hoping someone handed it in at the train station or office. Otherwise I need passport photos.

LittleGingerFox

This page and you all have been such an inspiration- Thank you all! I am doing my monthly round-up and reflection as I am working long days for the next three days so no chance for spend days (or to do my reflection) and so far this month I have paid an incredible £642 extra off the first credit card, had 22 NSDs and spent £144.77 on shopping (includes food, cat stuff, toiletries, household, one prescription)when my budget for that was £100. There are definitely some unnecessary purchases but for one month in and no planning, I am so impressed with myself. It also makes me feel a teeny bit guilty for wasting my money in the past but hey ho, that's not useful thinking and it's good for spurring me on in February ��✋��
I'm wishing everyone the best! Hammer away at those debts now and reward yourself and your family with a bit more financial freedom in the summer when we will all be spending a little more ��

Tanya12345

Afternoon frugglers, been absent a couple of day -apologies- hugs for all those who need plus a huge round of applause for everyone !! Seems like a great start to this year, a real inspiration. Still limping along here, spent £2 yesterday ( my contribution towards transport) but other than that took lunch, coffee and water to get me through the day. I've got enough to get through to the end of Jan if I am organised and mindful. I struggle the most when I get tired, it seems to take not only my physical energy but any mental strength as well. Sitting by the wood burner this afternoon, planning, wrestling with the knitting and generally recovering from a very physical day yesterday. Keep warm and dry folks, I can see the end of Jan on the horizon. X

Kerry_Woman

Did the usual walk in the park and some decluttering.
Have started doing cross stitching again today. Am finishing off a cross stitching project. I have other kits/projects to do. Am glad to start this hobby again.
Did some self care also today.
Did not spend anything today.

PennyGrabber

Oh did my weekly shop for me again today, but I shall pay him back this time. It came to £25.96, of which £7ish was food for DD's cookery lesson!!

I also spent £15.86 online, on some cotton yarn for trial Christmas presents. If they work, then I shall mass produce for family members, at a fraction of the cost of bought gifts. Starting now means a) the cost is spread through the year, b) I have something to do with my crocheting, and c) I'll have time to do them all without rushing.

Dd will be off school with me tomorrow as she is now poorly (luckily it with what I had), so oh will do the school run for me. He's very good bless him, as he doesn't live with me and they aren't his children!

Managed to do a little decluttering in the kitchen (about ten things), but anything is better than nothing.

I feel I've turned a corner and am starting to feel better. Long way to go, but really feel an improvement, so I'll build up gradually this week, ready to return to work next week.

PG x

Moll

The week seems never ending , but its been a productive week .My old car died on me a long time ago , but I couldn't part with it ( Daft I know ) but as im decluttering etc ,its now gone , and I got just over £100 scrap , I never expected so much . Also I don't know if anyone knows , but you get £5 for a car battery at the scrap merchants, so always take the battery off and weigh that in seperatley , or better still ask if any of your mates has any lying about they don't want , and take a batch in ,,,,,,,,,,,, youll be quids in . I drove a friend into town to do her weekly shop . and we loaded the car up . ....id got quite a few staples , like bread, milk , toilet rolls , and she insisted on paying for them for taking her , so ive had a help with the grocery bit that we cant really cut the cost of , ( Foods easy) but you cant do much about toothpaste etc, Ive had bids on a lot of my bits that's ive decluttered , it doesn't sound much when you only sell for £1 etc, but its added up to £13,,,,,,,,and someone else can enjoy the things I don't want anymore , I have a lot of craft stuff here, that im going to really pare down as I don't use it anymore , so that might be next to go on the bidding site, all helps towards the holiday pot , Love reading what everyone is doing , its so inspirational , thankyou everyone for keeping me going . Spend day tomorrow as we are at a funeral and will need money for the donation , also ive got to buy a book of stamps for my pen palling hobby,( Love receiving letters) think everyone is getting 2nd class from now on lol , Made a nice cheap pudding for after dinner , if anyone wants to give it a go , Sugar free jelly and a yoghurt, Make HALF the jelly up with boiling water , and then half with cold water ( Have to do it this way , not all boiling water or it doesn't work ) Add the yoghurt,and mix it all together As it sets the yoghurt goes to the bottom , and sets with the jelly , Looks like blamange, but tastes nice , You have like a two tier pud in the dish , set , jelly on top yoghurt below , hope you know what I mean , its lovley , weve had it topped with cream and strawberries tonight as weve had visitors,

DawnW

Moll wrote: »

Made a nice cheap pudding for after dinner , if anyone wants to give it a go , Sugar free jelly and a yoghurt, Make HALF the jelly up with boiling water , and then half with cold water ( Have to do it this way , not all boiling water or it doesn't work ) Add the yoghurt,and mix it all together As it sets the yoghurt goes to the bottom , and sets with the jelly , Looks like blamange, but tastes nice , You have like a two tier pud in the dish , set , jelly on top yoghurt below , hope you know what I mean , its lovley , weve gad it topped with cream and strawberries tonight as weve had visitors,

I used to make similar for my children when they were little, but using milk instead of yogurt

Frugaldom

Hi fruguys and gals, glad to see progress for many of you already and a few more converts to logging all the spending. I love spreadsheets! They tell me so much from one year to the next, as I complete each challenge. I've done a bit of spending this week, milk and veg etc, an outfit for DS's wedding and 3 lots of gifts for grandchildren but dd everything through TCB and paid using cashback CC.

Can't believe we are almost into February already!

Moll

Another thing im determined to get In the habit of doing , is using all the "Stuff" ive got around the house lurking , For instance ,one of those hand held steam cleaners, , I use it very occasionally , im going to use it regularly , clean the washing machine draw with it , around the loo and sink taps , plug holes , oven . hob etc etc , I have a soup maker that I don't use enough ,,,,,,,,slow cooker and pans to make soup I use regularly ,,,,,but not the soup maker which would make it easier, Im not being frugal if ive bought things and not using them for whatever reason ,,,,,,,,