2019 Frugal Living Challenge

lessonlearned

Belated happy birthday Allie. Your notebook sounds good. I do something similar. My project book. Lol.

Hello everyone.

Well I have done my monthly review, so far so good.

My major spend has been having new windows fitted. A planned expense and hopefully a good investment. They look great and the house certainly feels a lot warmer. Should also help reduce energy bills.

Food spends a lot better this month. And my big win .......I haven't bought any clothes this month. I've set myself a challenge of no buying clothes until next summer, ok maybe a chazzer shop bargain.:rotfl: but so far I have even been able to resist.

So all in all quite a thrifty month. Even sold a few bits and made £25.

Hettyhound

lessonlearned a really good investment with the windows. I paid out to get my loft insulated last February and I’ve seen massive savings in the gas bill already and I thought I was quite “tight” with the heating!

I’ve had some real bargains clothes wise from the charity shops and have a pile of my old clothes I need to alter which I really must get round to doing; mainly making dresses into skirts or tops.

I buy a note book each year and use it for my diary, notes, budgets etc so each month I have a budget page so I can see if I’m on target with my projections. I also track the amounts I put by for childcare, presents, clothing, hair cuts, my son’s activities etc to see how those pots are doing. I also have a mortgage overpayment page to track all those transactions; seeing how much interest is charged focuses your efforts! The note book was ordered yesterday as one of my Christmas presents

lessonlearned

The loft is next on my hit list.......:rotfl: it's actually a third bedroom which was converted way back in the 60s but it's not really fit for purpose because it is so poorly insulated. It's currently used as a junk/store room.

The master plan is to get it cleared, insulated properly, decorate and set it out as a nice guest room. That's for next year though. In the meantime I'll just seal it off for now.

I am currently going around draught proofing and sorting out door curtains etc. And making sure I wear plenty of layers. Lol.

It's all in the project book. :rotfl:

BelleBalu

Hi, I am new to these boards, just signed up today. Maybe the wrong end of the year to join but I'm looking to take part in the 1% Challenge and plan to read through these pages for ideas to live more frugally to help me with that. I think I live pretty frugally anyway but am sure there are others out there with tips/ideas I haven't thought of.

I'm debt free (apart from my mortgage). My plan is therefore to add £1000 to my emergency fund. I separated from my husband of 27 years last year so have had to change a lot of my ways but am actually finding it all very empowering.

Once I've boosted my savings, m next plan is to start paying into my mortgage.

Barbeduk

Hi all and hi BelleBalu - I have only just joined the challenge/way of life too. I think this is a perfect time of year to take stock.

I've had a thrifty week. I've managed to sell a few bits and pieces on marketplace bringing in £42 - none of it is stuff I will miss so why I kept it goodness knows. I needed an iron, found one second hand for a fiver, got a free ironing board on gumtree. I very rarely use an iron but am starting to sew so thought it might be useful!

Had a lovely couple of days planting bulbs so am looking forward to having a beautiful front garden in a few months time. I had bought them in late summer but life ran away with me so I am so glad to finally get myself organised.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend

[Deleted User]

BelleBalu wrote: »

Hi, I am new to these boards, just signed up today. Maybe the wrong end of the year to join but I'm looking to take part in the 1% Challenge and plan to read through these pages for ideas to live more frugally to help me with that. I think I live pretty frugally anyway but am sure there are others out there with tips/ideas I haven't thought of.

The 1% Challenge sounds intriguing. I love a good challenge!

Is it a MSE one or something from elsewhere? If you have the time to tell us more I for one woud be very interested:T

Welcome to the MSE forum, by the way. Wishing you success with all your financial plans:beer:

[Deleted User]

Morning folks, I had a wee weekend away form technology so not posted in a few days. I am still setting up my home organisation binder but am feeling more organised for the month ahead already.

This is the start of our month as it's OHs payday today and we have already done an inventory of freezer and pantry and have a list of things we need. We have planned a 'stock up shop' at the start of each month to stock the freezer with meats, YS bread and the pantry with various ingredients. Tonight we will do a meal plan for the month ahead too.

Welcome Bellebalu, I'm sure you will find lots of inspiration of this thread.

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] wrote:

Morning folks, I had a wee weekend away form technology so not posted in a few days..

I hope you enjoyed your weekend away. Always good to escape technology once in a while:j. I had a nightmare Sunday trying to get my laptop battery to charge. It isn't a removable one and I didn't want to have to take the laptop to a repair shop. It worked when tethered but that was problematic with all the to-ing and fro-ing of visitors in the house over the weekend and I had something I needed to do urgently. Sadly, all the visitors were very elderly or young children so no useful tech knowledge could be offered:(. Managed to get it sorted about midnight, more by luck than any flash of enlightenment. It's till working so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

Well its pay day tomorrow and I did a quick reckie last night of my finances and I seem to have £2.59 left at the end of this month. Not bad considering I had a bit of an expensive month this month. I had to get my car service and MOT done and pay for my car insurance, I have also bought all my Christmas presents (I always try and get it done in November as I really do not like how busy it gets in December) and I had a few "nights out" planned weeks ago that I had to find the money for. I did have money put aside for the car and Christmas but not the outings. I am really chuffed with myself. I am going to sit down tonight and work out what money I have left in my accounts after the big expenses and see whether I can save any into my emergency fund, which I need to grow, and my holiday fund.


As this was the last weekend before pay day I spent it catching up on chores around the home and doing my volunteering (which I do once a month). I did take my nephews out for the day yesterday to give my sister a break (and so she could get some DIY jobs done) but I used a voucher I won at a raffle to go to the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop. Entry was free but I did buy them a dinner each but it was all within the budget I had allocated.


What with catching up at home, sorting out Christmas and the car and surviving another month without overspending I am feeling in control again for the first time in a while and it is a nice feeling. I can hopefully now really enjoy the run up to Christmas and the New Year.

SummerDays

What an inspirational thread!

I'm half way through reading the 2019 challenge, and fully getting on board with lots of fantastic ideas. Thank you. I'll join you for the rest of the year and into 2020 if that's ok