2018 Frugal Living Challenge

PennyGrabber

Hi Frankie and Buffy,

I've been single for the last 11 years... The help of very good friends was crucial at the start, but they are all busy with their own lives and families too now. I think you learn to enjoy different things, and for me, I always know I'm better off (financially as he was a gambler, emotionally, etc) now, than I ever was with him. My children are at an age now (11 and 13) where they help me around the house which is lovely. I love the lack of stress from being with him, his deadlines, his requirements, his food orders, his (fill in the missing gaps!!).

It takes time and planning, don't get me wrong. I used to log onto online banking every day as I was scared of losing control of my finances. Once I'd created a system that worked for me, I felt so much better and more in control, and now I only log on once a week or so. I have several accounts... On payday, my bills amount is transferred to my bills account, £100 into my car account, some into xmas/holiday account and some to savings. Then I know how much I have for the month, and can budget accordingly. It has really reduced the stress.

Also, I try and contact a friend or two each month, just a text, to see how they are. This invariably leads to us meeting up for a cuppa, which fills up my social tank for a while.

Hope any of my rambling has helped, or at least not made it worse...

I used a fair bit of fuel yesterday going down to see family. I only spent £3.10 during the day, even though there were temptations to spend a LOT more!!

Today will be spendy, as we're out for the day. I'll pack a picnic, but it's still entry prices... It's the only day trip of the holidays though, and it's to see different family, so I'm looking forward to seeing them (ex sister in law, her mum and her three children - we still consider ourselves family and see each other six times a year - all the holidays!). I won't buy anything at the onsite cafe though - will take more than enough from home.

Have a good day everyone.

PG x

Buffythedebtslayer

It does Pennygrabber, I have pretty much always been single really, I am kinda ok with that (in fits and bursts) but I don't "do" anything and that needs to change. Somehow I still have a lot of good friends but my brother in law has been seriously ill and I haven't had the freedom I had to go out. It is funny I didn't go out much at all but once I couldn't I did seriously miss it.

Moneywise here things are confusing

I borrowed 5000 in a kind of car emergency (mine was broken) but then got a surprise tax rebate 3426 (I have spent almost a 1000 on the old car)

I also had 1300 in saving. So that would mean now I could pay off the loan. OR I could over pay the loan over say ten months, and keep the tax rebate money to start off all the pots needed for the coming year.

I have to wait till the cheque clears.....

spudsmum

Hi all,

Still here lurking - just got back from a very un frugal week in London and Eurodisney. It was totally brilliant but eye wateringly expensive - I'm so glad i saved before i went.

Also ended up having to put some stuff on CC as I lost DH's online banking smart key which means I'm locked out and so I couldnt access any of his wages while away (which I'd earmarked for some of our remaining spends). I will pay it back off as soon as I can get at his money but its so annoying when I have avoided using the CC for so long.

Nevertheless I'm back on the frugal wagon - cashed in some surveys and paid another £31 off my CC today taking my total overpayment in the last 9 weeks to £638 - really shocked and proud of that - thats money i would have wasted without it even registering.

Seems to be warming up here (no heating required for the last two days - woop!) so I've planted some veggies in my raised beds. Had to put some wire mesh over as next doors cat keeps coming and doing its business all over my garden which is really gross - dont suppose anyone knows an easy and frugal way to repel cats???

DawnW

spudsmum wrote: »

Seems to be warming up here (no heating required for the last two days - woop!) so I've planted some veggies in my raised beds. Had to put some wire mesh over as next doors cat keeps coming and doing its business all over my garden which is really gross - dont suppose anyone knows an easy and frugal way to repel cats???

Yes, and I got this tip from Foxgloves, who posts on one of the other DFW threads. Sprinkle a few drops of Olbas oil (for colds, you can buy it in pharmacies / supermarkets if unfamiliar) onto warm, used teabags (you can just save a few and warm them up in boiling water in a dish, but squeeze the water out a bit before sprinkling on the oil) and place the teabags at intervals on the area you want to protect. I find it keeps the wretched things off my tubs in my front garden, doesn't hurt them, they just don't like the smell. You need to replace every so often, but can just dispose in the compost. Definitely worth a try!

Small hound doesn't permit cats in the back garden, where I grow my veg, but he isn't allowed out the front, so this tip has really worked for me

Frugaldom

FrankieM wrote: »

... I need to get myself a social life but that seems to go against moneysaving and since I've been separated I feel like I have to start from the very beginning financially, which is soul destroying at 44. I feel a lot like life has and is just passing me by...

I was fas approaching 40 and yes, it is soul destroying starting again. However, I have no regrets and have stayed on the same path I had always been pursuing. Stll single, but hey! We can't have it all ways and I do have someone sharing the bills and savings goals, which has always made things a whole lot easier. Hang on in there, your new life has the potential to start every day.

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

Frankie, I am a similar age and a lot has happened recently that makes me think ermm.......ok. This isn't what I thought.

Snap! :beer: (Probably for very different reasons to your own, though. )

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

...I borrowed 5000 in a kind of car emergency (mine was broken) but then got a surprise tax rebate 3426 (I have spent almost a 1000 on the old car)

I also had 1300 in saving. So that would mean now I could pay off the loan. OR I could over pay the loan over say ten months, and keep the tax rebate money to start off all the pots needed for the coming year....

Going to copy and paste here, as it's something I was talking about n our FB page:

"What is your ultimate goal as a result of frugal living?

I would always, always, always recommend ditching the debt as quickly as possible and recalibrate your budget to allow for what I call 'real savings'.

A) It gives you a proper feel of achievement being debt free and It gives you a brand new start with new perspecive on what you really can achieve when all money you earn is yours (aside from the obvious costs of living in a regular house).

I chose to house share right from the start of becoming single, although I did try renting my own place in the beginning. It did not take long to work out that living alone and working purely to pay the rent was not for me, so when friends invited me to relocate and stay with them for a while, I did! It was still quite expensive, as it was to a fairly expensive part of the UK, but it gave me the wherewithall to over pay debts and start the 'real' saving.

Housesharing (or perhaps I should call that homesharing, as not everyone chooses to live in a conventional house ) may not be for everyone but I enjoy company and I enjoy socialising in a way that doesn't break the bank. It means not having to worry about how long my projects take to complete, as long as they are all developing along the right lines, totally free from the constraints or worries of debt.

Minimising the overheads is what works for me because fewer overheads = less pressure to earn more money. I'm not one for the rat race or hamster wheel living. I'd rather do without than do what I don't want to do.

What are your ultimate goals in life? I'd love to hear.

I think mine is simply to love my life! !!!128512; "

Hope this helps somene in here.

PennyGrabber

I found out today that my children have merlin passes at their dad's house. Any ideas for places within 50 miles of Wiltshire where I could use them? I'm off to google now, but wondered if you guys had any ideas.

PG x

spudsmum

DawnW thanks for the tip about getting rid of cats - just sick of having to inspect the garden every time I want to let the kids out to play - I will give anything a try at this point - plus DH has really bad allergies so we always have loads of Olbas oil hanging around - bonus!

frugalish

Hello all - Is it too late in the year to join in here? I've just come back to MSE after quite a few years away, and need to get back on track! I don't yet have a household budget, but signing up to this might make me actually sit down and do it, rather than procrastinating

DH and I are both self-employed, and atm our income isn't covering our outgoings :eek: - hence the need to get back into frugal living, sharpish! We are doing all we can to reduce outgoings and stop the build up of debt, but we really need to boost income too... which we're working on!

Just reading through some of the boards has helped me stop panicking and start to plan in a more productive way - I wish I'd come back sooner!

FrankieM

Evening

Thanks for the wise words Frugaldom Most of the time I'm not bothered at all but then sometimes it gets me. It's helpful to be reminded that I'm not the only one and to keep myself facing forward (the direction I'm going)

Welcome aboard frugalish The more the merrier, I'd say.

Another NSD. I'm enjoying keeping track. And a day of resting. I need to catch up on my sleep and deal with my constant tiredness. I've tidied up my diet too and I' hoping that helps.

The weather was still overcast today and my grass is still wet but I've put my new lawn mower together so I'm ready to go.

I've also organised the selling of a load of books and taken some photos of dresses I no longer wear to try to sell on ebay. I've got to get them loaded on the site now.

Frugaldom

frugalish wrote: »

Hello all - Is it too late in the year to join in here? ...

DH and I are both self-employed, and atm our income isn't covering our outgoings :eek:

Welcome on board, I'll get your name added to our challenger list on page 1. Now let's get off on the right foot and help turn your finances around. Fist of all, let's turn around the wording and try, "atm we are spending more than our income" and see where you can stop spending to bring it all within your income bracket. That's the first goal - prioritising your spending to bring all the essentials within budget.

Good luck!

Good luck also to you, FrankieM, I hope you make some speedy sales to help you with the declutter/clear out.