2019 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

In preparation for my ration challenge, I tried making plain floyr & water crepes today. They cost about 2p each to make but oh dear, how I missed having syrup or sugar & lemon on them!

cw18

Frugaldom wrote: »

In preparation for my ration challenge, I tried making plain floyr & water crepes today. They cost about 2p each to make but oh dear, how I missed having syrup or sugar & lemon on them!

I don't like them much even with toppings

The best I ever had were savoury ones in Brittany, filled with a creamy chicken and mushroom mix (a bit like chicken supreme but soooo much creamier than anything I've had here - I suspect there was a splash of white wine in there too )

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

Had a disappointment this week. I found out on Wednesday that my holiday I booked at the beginning of January (the first one I have booked in an age) has been cancelled. Not enough places were sold. They tried to find me something else but because I am a lone traveller they couldn't find anything at a place I hadn't been to before. I will be getting a full refund but I was so looking forward to that holiday.


On the plus side, once I get my refund I will be able to buy a new washing machine. I may look again later in the year for another holiday.

sinkorswim2018

Crafty Lisa... That's a shame about ypur holiday, but a washing machine is important too. Are you buying new or second hand? I got a fabulous dishwasher for £30 recently though I did have to pick it up. Some charity furniture shops will deliver for a small fee. Just a thought.

I've managed to accidently save £16 a month by being disorganised with my money! Forgot to switch my mortgage and got a reminder I would be paying new higher amount (we are talking an extra £215 per month). Went online quickly to change with my current mortgage provider. When I'd looked a month ago I could of got one for the same fixed amount I am paying now (at 1.99% 2 year fix) now I can switch to an even cheaper one! (At 1.74% 2 year fix). Let's hope it all goes through smoothly.

FrankieM

Sorry to hear about your holiday Crafty Lisa

I'm back on the frugal band wagon today.

I've downloaded the spreadsheets to see where my money goes.

Also going to try to eat out of the freezer as much as I can for the rest of the month and stop taking my purse with me to work.

I've never been a fan of 'no spend days' but I think I might have to put them in place in the short term to be stricter with myself.

Shopaholic_no_more

Hi All

Just a quick update...

I have found an app on the App Store called Fudget ...it is a budget planner and it is so easy to use!! I think I am going to move all my expenditure onto this app because as much as spreadsheets are great for budgeting I personally don’t like them that much haha. For any others out there who not fans of spreadsheets I recommend you try out Fudget,... I don’t think you will be disappointed :T.


Sorry to hear about your holiday Crafty Lisa x

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

sinkorswim2018 wrote: »

Crafty Lisa... That's a shame about ypur holiday, but a washing machine is important too. Are you buying new or second hand? I got a fabulous dishwasher for £30 recently though I did have to pick it up. Some charity furniture shops will deliver for a small fee. Just a thought.

I tend to buy my kitchen appliances brand new so that I can make sure I get the warranties, I can get it delivered, they take the old appliance away, it gets installed properly and I can be sure I get exactly what I want in respect of features etc. Everything else I get second hand if I can.


Checked my money last night and its going to prove tricky to stay in budget until the end of the month. I have another 8 days to go before I get paid and I have a booked night out this Saturday and a dinner on Sunday with the extended family. I also am running low on petrol so will have to buy some of that before pay day. I had a weekend away at the beginning of the month which seems to have scuppered things even though I had thought I had kept within budget. I need to try harder next month. I need to make some soup for lunches and I need to bake some bread. The freezer has got stuff in it so I won't starve completely but may have some unusual combinations of food for breakfast.


To aid me I am staying out of town at lunchtimes - I don't need any temptation. Also I will now be getting the cleaning done as I will not be wanting to go out unless already planned for. I am reassured following this post that I am not the only one that seems to be in this position this month.


A positive thing this weekend though - I found a recipe for a homemade multisurface cleaner that seems to work. It is made up using all ingredients I have at home so I now don't need to buy the mass produced stuff. One less product to worry about adding to the shopping list and one less spray bottle to add to the recycling pile.

FrankieM

I've paid off my credit card with savings...it's sad but it puts me on an even keel for when I get paid next week.

I've also reinstated not taking my purse to work and no spend days.

MS Money is downloaded onto my laptop and I'll be tracking every penny (though I'm keeping my savings 'hidden' so I don't find things to spend it on!)

And I'm no longer using my credit card. It seems that I don't see as real money so back to cash and the debit card.

I'm looking forward to the new month and fresh start.

sinkorswim2018

FrankieM- well done for clearing that credit card, you know it's the right thing to do. Hoping to pay a chunk off mine this month, I've been doing a lot of overtime.
Now that I've moved to another 2 years fix rate on my mortgage I've arranged to overpay by £50 a month. My future me will thank me. ��

FrankieM

The last shop for the month has happened and I don't think I'll need to spend anything now until next week.

Payday on Thursday and I can't wait!