2018 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

indigowarrior wrote: »

I have also fallen off the wagon big style. No excuse really. I am not sure how I am going to approach next month. My friend has given me notice to move out two months earlier then I expected. I have 3 weeks left here and then will have no where else to go. I am going to have to be tighter then scrooge really.

Have you any money to get elsewhere and take part in a work-exchange project where you get room and meals in exchange for a few hours voluntary work? I, and thousands of oters all over the country/world host volunteers throughout the year so there should be some near you who could help out as long as you don't mind putting in a few hours to cover the host's costs.

Frugaldom

HAPPY EASTER!

This weekend marks the end of the first quarter of our annual frugal living challenge. If you are still here reading and/or posting then congratulate yourselves! You may have fallen off the frugaldom wagon but our road is made from rubber.. a few bounces and you can easily get back on board.

indigowarrior

Frugaldom wrote: »

Have you any money to get elsewhere and take part in a work-exchange project where you get room and meals in exchange for a few hours voluntary work? I, and thousands of oters all over the country/world host volunteers throughout the year so there should be some near you who could help out as long as you don't mind putting in a few hours to cover the host's costs.

Frugal unfortunately I am disabled and very mental unwell. I struggle to leave the house never mind work. Its just not an option for me at the moment.

lindez

Hi am I to late to join in this challenge, I have read all the posts and would love to start paying off my debts, get into good habits and have an emergency fund. I would greatly appreciate support and ideas. Thank you

cw18

Never too late

FrankieM

Morning

I spent my Good Friday batch cooking. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy seeing meals in the freezer that I know I can just grab when I don't feel like cooking.

I'm going to see my son at Uni today so it's a spend day for me. It's been quite a spendy month since payday on the 27th. I'm looking forward to updating everything next week and seeing where I'm at but I'm thinking it might be a spend as little as possible til next day day kind of moment.

I've discovered that I have a good half a dozen books on simple living etc etc. Given that I live quite simply, they seem a bit pointless.
I thought having left so much behind when I moved I wouldn't still have things to declutter but I'm finding that's not the case so I think tomorrow I'll be going through things and getting it all to one side to get rid of.

Lots of rain here so no chance of getting the lawn mowed but I'm ready to go once it all dries up.

shish100

Good morning!
The spend tracker has been maintained and I am reviewing critically by category. I have bought a couple of lunches at work - but these have been £1 sandwich from supermarket.
Have spent more than I intended socialising, but this includes supporting the local scout hut and a drink and curry after work for a someone leaving. Need to improve balancing my socialising spend and find alternatives that are not so purse dependent!
Fuel spend seems to be up - so I need to keep an eye on where I am driving too.

My food spend has been well within budget. I have been batch-cooking and eating from the freezer. I have made Friday tea feel more of treat by having simple additions, for example homemade curry I would buy-in poppadoms or naan bread to go with it. rather than buy a takeaway.
I have also been good at cooking extra tea to have for lunch the next day.

For my hobbies, I have managed to avoid the fabric shops and finish off a couple of projects with existing supplies. My garden is being tidied and weeded and I have only needed to buy some seed potatoes and a bag of compost for my tomato seeds, I checked the date on some of my other seeds and have seen they have expired Rather than bin, i have decided to plant them and hope for the best - surely some of them will grow. Finger crossed!

PennyGrabber

Hello everyone,

I managed to hit my March target of paying off an extra £150 on my credit card. I have reviewed my finances, and I need to sort out my mortgage. Everything else is ok, but I could save about £160 a month on that, so that's my main job for the hols.

I've bought three bags of the aldi spuds, as I've just about finished to ones I bought at xmas.

Partner and I were supposed to be visiting two local towns today to mooch around the charity shops and take in some local culture, but I'm not doing that in the rain!! If it lets off a bit, we might visit some charity shops in our town (6 on same street!). He's taking me out for dinner tonight, so no need to cook - I have fed him the last two nights, so no guilt!

I'm going to try to spend as little as possible on food in April, as a mini challenge - even more so than normal. I'm hoping this will help me to use up some of my stock mountain.

I have a few food items to bin today. With this being the last week of term, I took my eye off the ball a bit, so I need to put plans in place to make sure that when I'm this tired/busy, this doesn't happen again.

A friend offered me their seaside chalet for the second week of the hols - we're able to use it sunday to weds, given when the children are with their dad. It'll be nice to chill, swim, go crabbing and generally just hang out the three of us with nothing to worry about. Partner will keep the dog, so just me and the children. Shouldn't be too costly, as I'll shop for food from my pantry before we go! Just a few icecreams if the weather holds out...

Have a great Easter weekend everyone!

PG x

Kerry_Woman

Added up the totals for each category for the month. Will try and plan the next month tomorrow. Went to the Elvis and Big Bopper tribute act last night and really enjoyed it. Got home about 1.10am. Grateful for the bus driver waiting for me at the bus stop until I got there. Went out this morning to do a couple of things. Now in for the rest of the day. Will try and do a few things around the flat. Also will have rest and chilled out day/evening.

shish100

Happy Easter!
I had a moment of realisation last night! I had started to take going out for granted. Now that I am consciously choosing what I do to go out, I am looking forward to it more. I have started to put more effort in to my appearance before heading out (Not that I was scruffy before - just stopped at 80% effort). Putting the last 20% effort in, that last accessory, changing handbag, more make-up than just concealer and mascara. And most importantly, putting some music on and enjoying taking the time to focus on me.