2018 Frugal Living Challenge

spudsmum

Getting ready to come back to reality tomorrow as we fly back from Portugal at 9am We've had a lovely relaxing (fairly) frugal time. We've done fairly well money wise I think but today was a spends day as we found a lovely little old part of town full of the tiny quirky shops I really love - I was quite restrained, compared to how I would have been in the past, but I couldn't resist a couple of little wooden toys for the smalls (they are solid and good quality though and they had money from grandparents to put towards them) and a pretty new notebook and pen for me - but I needed a new one anyway to record spends, savings and general lists (I do love a list - or ten!)

As it stands at the moment I still have some money left from the !!!8364;500 I brought so I'm quite happy with that - how much exactly will depend on whether the smalls "need" snacks and drinks at the airport but I'm hoping they'll fill up at the free breakfast before we check out.

I also have £75 still in my purse from last weeks uk budget (DH gets paid again today) so that can go back into savings/debt repayments.

shish100

I've tried to convince OH not to buy he everything he wants, as he is nightmare to buy for at Christmas and birthday. I try and encourage him to make a list, so when family ask what to get him, he may end up with something he actually wants!! Not 100% effective, but it is a start.

Spudsmum - sounds like you have had a really good holiday. Well done on resisting the temptations! Have a safe flight back.

Pipsmum

Just trying to catch up after a few difficult weeks - I'm trying to close down and hand over jobs at work before I go into hospital, which is making for long working days, and my MIL in back in hospital again, and very poorly. My heart goes out to those of you who are also facing difficult times, and difficult decisions at the moment.

I have managed to keep to the frugal track, more or less, and finally managed to get my January figures added to my spreadsheet, and pleased that my grocery total was almost half that of last year. So my personal challenge now is to make Februarys totals less again. I'm still taking in my lunches and drinks to work, and cooking all meals from scratch, but know there is more that I can do.

I do have one question that is probably very silly, but I know you will have some great ideas. I have been inspired by Frugaldoms £1 a day for all meals, and think it would help me reduce my overall spend if I knew how much each meal was costing. But today my food shopping just gets put away, and I have no idea how much individual portions of things costs. I was thinking of working out the cost of say one ounce of flour/tablespoon of sugar/one stock cube etc, and writing this on the packet - but is there a better way?


Wishing you all a fabulously frugal weekend, and keep up the fantastic work.

indigowarrior

Pipsmum wrote: »

I do have one question that is probably very silly, but I know you will have some great ideas. I have been inspired by Frugaldoms £1 a day for all meals, and think it would help me reduce my overall spend if I knew how much each meal was costing. But today my food shopping just gets put away, and I have no idea how much individual portions of things costs. I was thinking of working out the cost of say one ounce of flour/tablespoon of sugar/one stock cube etc, and writing this on the packet - but is there a better way?


Wishing you all a fabulously frugal weekend, and keep up the fantastic work.

Hi pipsmum. Last night I went through mysupermarket and worked out my next next weeks shopping and made a meal plan. I also costed it using the weights.

indigowarrior

I will say that the meal plan is just for one person and I do live alone.

Frugaldom

It's good to keep budgets fluid - the main thing is that you spend within your limits while also setting aside enough to cover all the stand-alone payments necessary throughout the year if you have any - and don;t forget setting aside enough for repairs, gifts, unexpected events and replacing anything that may suddenly need replacing. It's definitely not frugal to buy stuff because it's cheap and then not get any significant use from it.

Well done keeping the holiday under budget, spudsmum.

Frugaldom

Pipsmum wrote: »

I do have one question that is probably very silly, but I know you will have some great ideas. I have been inspired by Frugaldoms £1 a day for all meals, and think it would help me reduce my overall spend if I knew how much each meal was costing. But today my food shopping just gets put away, and I have no idea how much individual portions of things costs. I was thinking of working out the cost of say one ounce of flour/tablespoon of sugar/one stock cube etc, and writing this on the packet - but is there a better way?

I have been doing this for so many years now that I don't count anything up - I learned that it is almost impossible to keep track when there is such a wide spread difference in prices everywhere we go. Instead, I average my grocery shopping based on people and days over the year. There are usually 2 of us, so that's approximately £60 per month for groceries. Getting the best possible deals whenever they are avalable and building up stores is key to success, as is having the ability to adapt the diet to suit current offers. Get the basics sorted out and then anything extra is a bonus

We have no dietary issues or special dietary needs - I avod processed foods wherever possible but do sometimes resort to jar sauces like curry or sweet & sour.

Porridge, homemade soups & stews, pasta, rice and stir fries are top of our menu and I find frozen mixed veg is usually cheaper to have then fresh veg, unless it's growing in the garden, but we dont have a shop here so nipping out to bu regular fresh fruit & veg is not an option when travel costs would wreck the budget.

Many people forget to factor in cost of drving or transport to/from shops so I keep a separate column in my spreadsheet for those costs.

Hope this helps.

Buffythedebtslayer

Quote from my Mum upon me buying Basics Weetabix...

" If you have to gone through eating Weetabix then eat the best "

Pipsmum

Thank you Indigowarrior and Frugaldom for the great ideas. I do check mysupermarket to see where the best prices are, and do buy larger quantities of the things I use regularly, if they are at a good price - but never considered taking the unit price from there to help with my sums. What is it about having information right under my nose, and I still don't see it??? Thank you both, and have a great weekend.

Buffythedebtslayer

Frugaldom wrote: »

FrankieM and Buffythedebtslayer

How are things going on your frugal fronts?

Hmm, I have quoted this and my page has become all distorted.

Hope this works.

I have had two lots of dental work to pay for, 437 X 2, plus two more fillings at 177 each (still to come).

I have bought stuff on Amazon as my Saturdays have been taken up with Dentists. But it has been pet stuff not waste of time stuff.

I have paid for one lot of treatment and used my savings for the next.

I also paid for some work on the garden. 175.

I do have a tax rebate coming which will help with the savings which are dwindling. But I have my plan to buy a house up north. for about 35,000 - 40,000. I can do that with a large bank loan I think but need to get more research.

I haven't eaten out or gone for a drink since before Christmas, but all of that seems slightly pointless with the huge dentist bill

Just got a quote to replace the shed roof - well it is a lean to, 320, including all materials and removal of rubbish and some other garden rubbish (it is 2m by 2m). Not sure if that is good or not. Trouble is he is an excellent gardener. Our garden drives him nuts as we have so much rubbish. Drives me nuts as well!