2019 Frugal Living Challenge

little_green

over budget this month already

mumof3.12kindebt

Evening all, I did my first training day today at my new job. I can't afford to be unemployed right now with being in the process of buying a house but from the new house it's about 45 miles each way. I thought about getting a more economical car but it's still going to cost me a huge amount in fuel. So I have decided I will stay there 6-12 months to get the extra qualifications I want to get and then I will look for a job closer to the new house ideally a walkable distance. I'm happy to wait until the right job comes up and suck it up for the next year or two as I have a feeling I will enjoy the job it's just too much of a commute, and when I accepted the job I didn't really think that through. So for now I am continuing to save for the move. I will then save a decent amount in our emergency fund. And complete my level 3 children diploma with them and then look for something else. If I am closer to home I may also look at reducing my hours back down to part time. Alot to consider and think about but for now I just need to concentrate on one thing at a time

Hope everyone has had a nice frugal day

Hettyhound

Hello All, had a not very frugal time recently. Been without the car for a week and a half, got it back yesterday. This meant four days of bus fares at £4.40 everyday; it would have been cheaper to get a weekly ticket but I didn’t know on day one I would still be on the bus on day four! It also meant no weekly shop so was relying in picking up bits from a local supermarket (not a cheap one) that I could carry home so that cost more. As a result I’ve been to Ald1 this morning and gone £5 over budget as I was just so desperate for food that wasn’t beige! And let’s not forget the £500 bill for the car. Payday isn’t until 31st and it’s half term next week. Serious budget revision required!

So on to the positives. The 30 minute walk I had getting from the bus stop to work gave me the luxury of thinking time. I came to the conclusion that I really don’t like my new job which I started in March, but I also do realise that I didn’t like the old one either so no regrets about leaving it. I am also sure that I’m good at my work and it’s the department and it’s personalities/management that is the issue, that and the fact they are trying to get me to squeeze a previously 37 hour job into 30 with no training or support. So conclusion was I’ve come to the end of my time with this particular institution. Got on the job websites, applied for a job on Sunday, closing date Monday, was invited for interview yesterday therefore others think I’ve got something positive to contribute. It would mean going back full time but my boy is growing up and if I earn more the mortgage will be paid off quicker and then I can reduce back again. I would only take on my terms if offered and there are others I’ll be applying for, one I really want so probably won’t even get an interview.:rotfl:

So best make the most of my day off as they could be coming to an end. Going to plant up my tomatoes and peppers which seem incredibly small at the moment and plant some rocket seeds I’ve just got. Sort out my old cleaning schedule and start that up again and make some non beige food as I’ll need all the energy I can muster if full time work and single parenthood is on the cards

chocolatelover93

Hello,

tighteningthebelt - yeah it really does! My mind feels less cloudy and my depression, although I still get bad days, has been better too

crafty lisa - I used to make my own museli too, it was so easy, just oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruit whatever you wanted to add, and some maple syrup and coconut oil. All cooked together in a pan! I would need to keep it in the fridge but it kept for ages

little green - bless you I'm sure you can pull it back next month

hetty - good luck with the job!

Used another voucher for £5 at M0rrisons so I got some fruit and salad to keep me topped up until pay day.

Have got a free haircut tomorrow with a student at a local hair dresser so looking forward to that

Lost 4lb at SW this week so am over the moon

C xx

Frugaldom

tighteningthebelt wrote: »

Hi, how do you frugal people go on with plastic waste?

I buy as little as possible and recycle as much as possible but don't tend to buy many toiletries, and never buy cosmetics. Cheapest shampoo or shower gel does just fine or even a bar of soap. In the quest for minimum spending (especially for anyone clearing debt), sadly, there isn't any room for luxuries in a budget; it all boils down to cost and keeping things simple.

Good luck to those of you who are applying / starting / have started new jobs.

Welcome to newcomers, glad to see we still have a few new names joining us on the frugal living bandwagon :T

Lifeisforliving19

Just reading posts from the past few days/weeks as not been on line much. Life seems to have got busy, but trying to get more "me" time. From end of June I will definitely have that as I am losing one of my part time jobs.:( Only work one day a week at it now, but it is £240 a month that I will lose. Not sure I will look for anything else as I doubt I will find anything close to home that is as flexible as this and don't want to start travelling for 1 day a week, sort of defeats the object of earning. Also at almost 62 years old, I can't bear the thought of suddenly working for a large company again...(the job I have is in a small independent shop in local village). If something else falls into my lap ( as this one did), then great. If not, I will have an extra day to start doing baking, walking, gardening and all the things I keep saying I must do. I still have my other job, so we will just have to live a bit more frugally. Just got a good F&F deal on a couple of debts on our DMP, so that has helped a lot.
Got to go food shopping after work as got all 3 GS's coming for the night on Saturday and they eat a lot...lol. Hoping for good weather so we can go for a picnic to get them out of the house. I have written a list and will make sure I stick to it.

Siebrie

Hi Frugaldom, I am always reading along, hardly ever commenting, but I just wanted you and the other posters to know that you constantly inspire me to be more resourceful (in every facet of my life) and more careful with my money.

I became unemployed in November, and my employer paid me 11 month's severance pay, which we haven't touched yet. I will not be eligible for unemployment benefits until those 11 months are over. Husband is working fulltime and makes a decent (average) income. We should be able to make it on his income and child benefits, and we were making it, until husband decided to travel to his home country with his sister, on a plane ticket double the normal price. Now, suddenly, we have to pay proper attention and are sometimes scrambling a bit.

I am working my way through the freezer and pantry, eating 'weird' items for lunch; those are the items I am sure of my dds won't eat.

I am growing a bit of my own fruit and veg: raspberries, grapes, strawberries, cherries, kiwiberries (although I think we won't have a harvest this year, seeing the size of the plant), rhubarb, salad, chervil, sage, chives, radishes, parsley, cress, mangetouts, beans, courgettes, watermelon (if the snails leave the plant alone) and pumpkin. Now that I am at home all day, I am taking the time to enjoy my garden and work in it. It gives me a great feeling of satisfaction.

ETA: I just checked on the cherries and the redcurrants, and it seems the birds have eaten them all, even if the berries were only the tiniest really green ones still...

little_green

hello all. Well i might be over budge for the month but glad to report that i had a few no spend day's earlier this week. Today should have been one too but i made an unplanned purchase in my local charity shop.
It's funny hearing people talk about their jobs at all different ages & stages. I'm also experiencing a bit of a lull/disgruntlement re work at the moment. Starting to look apply for other things but always end up feeling even worse when all the rejections come through so it's a catch 22

mumof3.12kindebt

Hello everyone ,
We have a date for completion . 10th June.
We should have enough saves money wise for the move and first mortgage payment (it's nearly double our normal payment) and for an extra month's rent.
After its all done we will be saving as much as possible to build an emergency fund. And then I am going to save for another car to get me to and from work. And may possibly end the lease on our car to pay for the running costs of the new one. (Our lease has a maximum millage limit that I will exceed just traveling to and from work.). It's seems like the sensible thing to do. I will have to speak to my partner about it all.

For now we are concenttrating on moving and settling on a budget. Without accumulating any debt.

Hope everyone has had a lovely frugal day x

Frugaldom

Lifeisforliving19 wrote: »

Just got a good F&F deal on a couple of debts on our DMP, so that has helped a lot...

:beer: Well done on those F&Fs, definite proof that you are getting there. Enjoy your picnic and if it rains, take waterproofs and call it a muddy wellies adventure.

Siebrie wrote: »

Hi Frugaldom, I am always reading along, hardly ever commenting, but I just wanted you and the other posters to know that you constantly inspire me to be more resourceful (in every facet of my life) and more careful with my money...

ETA: I just checked on the cherries and the redcurrants, and it seems the birds have eaten them all, even if the berries were only the tiniest really green ones still...

Thank you for aking the time to comment and 'happy growing' with the fruit, veg and herbs. I only just noticed the first tiny cherries coming on our trees but we always leave those for the birds rather than net the trees.

little_green wrote: »

... It's funny hearing people talk about their jobs at all different ages & stages. I'm also experiencing a bit of a lull/disgruntlement re work at the moment. Starting to look apply for other things but always end up feeling even worse when all the rejections come through so it's a catch 22

Don't let it get you down! The whole system seems like a crazy one where we can be trapped into situations that can drag even the strongest people down. I think I would prefer to live in a hut and forage for berries than work in the city doing something I hated. You know where we are if you can get here for a break to experience Frugaldom for yourself - recharge the batteries, read a good book, write a story or just to escape for a few days. On the work front, perhaps you could find something close to your heart (and close enough to get there free of cost) and offer to volunteer.

Mumof3.12kindebt - 3 weeks and counting! :T You'll need to update your username after all of this.

All is quiet on the spending front here with as much going out as is coming in while we proceed with our project plans. Holiday weekend here so I'm expecting next lot of guests tonight and then next weekend I've organised a get together with friends for one of those 'girly weekends' of chatter and fun while we discuss the 'mun'. We all like to have contingency plans and often club together to help out others facing a bit of a crisis. Due diligence etc takes up a lot of time and energy that could be spent elsewhere but genuine causes don't mind so apologies for not posting here as often as I'd like.