2019 Frugal Living Challenge

sinkorswim2018

ploppy57.... I buy Renova green (recycled) toilet roll. I'm happy with the quality, there's an embossed pattern on it.
It's a money saving £21.99 delivered from amaz0n for 84 rolls. Comes in packets if 6. I put them in the loft and bring down as I need them. I buy twice a year. They work out cheaper than Ald! paper. Ironically they come in a big plastic which you could reuse as a bin liner. Each 6 are plastic wrapped too.

never_too_old

Morning all and Happy New Year: beer:

I really need to sort myself out.I always have such good intensions and always think I'm good. I was proud of myself that I didn't buy much for Christmas but went through my fridge Saturday and ended up throwing lots of meat away because I and forgotten to freeze it.I could have cried.:(
My daughter is expecting a baby in the Spring and I will be helping with childcare when she goes back to work, So I have at least 18 months to sort myself out and use the money I'm currently throwing in the bin to go to more important things.

Frugaldom

Welcome and good luck to all our newcomers and thank you to everyone posting their money saving and waste reducing tips! As expected, we do as much of the 'reduce, reuse, recycle' here and every week H does beachcleaning nearby while I recycle and mess clean at the Frugaldom end of the planet. We now have an entire ecoarts project ging on, with environmental artwork being created from the trash that gets collected!

For anyone just joining us, post one contains the links to all of the previous challenges and some additional ones that many of us still do. I realise that reading so much takes time but if you plan on being cpletely frugal as a lifestyle choice, which is what it is for me, then it's all free reading and it's all helpful, even reading about some of the less successful attempts. he goal is to achieve debt freedom and live a simpler life, enjoying rather than stressing about money.

Last night I emptied out all my change tubs, so I now know exactly how much 'extra' I have at the start of the year. Income is sparse and I have more (unpaid) work to do than I have hours in my day so I can't always respond to individual comments on here. I do read as much as I possibly can and as always, I welcome anyone who would like to come and visit the project that this challenge affords us to develop. Volunteers welcome

Like others, I'm forever trying to clear out 'stuff' and declutter. Having done this for so many years and still finding 'stuff' accruing, I made it a general rul to ask people not to buy my any gifts at all, instead, everyone is asked to contribute to Frugaldom. I request their free time but few have any to donate - it seems to be even scarcer than money. :eek:

Now on a serious note - I genuinely am looking for volunteers over the summer and normally I use sites like wwoof, workaway and helpx then have work exchange students, but if anyone on here is interested, please get in contact. You need to be fairly fit, or at least willing to get fitter working outdoors helping create a self sustainable land project - growing food and fuel. Its more of a lifestyle experience than a holiday but gives you the opportunity to find out if it's what you'd like to do yourself in the future.

Jabeezah

Hello there,
I'm new to this site but have too much debt £6k approx. I would like to cut it down.as I would like to go on holiday and get a new kitchen eventually Out of interest do you think I should come off Facebook and unsubscribe all my emails (too many temptations to spend if you know what I mean)????

System

Jabeezah wrote: »

Hello there,
I'm new to this site but have too much debt £6k approx. I would like to cut it down.as I would like to go on holiday and get a new kitchen eventually Out of interest do you think I should come off Facebook and unsubscribe all my emails (too many temptations to spend if you know what I mean)????

Hi Jabeezah, I think we are all different in how much we can resist temptation. For me personally, I am on FB but I use it for keeping up with friends and family and groups I am interested in. Whenever I see a FB post come up that is just an advert, I go into it and hide it and say I don't want their stuff again. I also go through my emails every so often...in fact it is on my list for new year ..and I unsubscribe to all of them. As far as I am concerned, I want emails only for when somebody says they need to email me a confirmation of something. Once I have done with that company, I do not need their emails so best to unsubscribe. Good luck in your debt free journey.

Nonnadiluca

Another vote for 'Who gives a crap'. DD and I share the box: there's two of us and a roll lasts a week and DD uses three rolls every two weeks for a family of four so it works out quite economical.
I tried solid bar shampoo and conditioner but couldn't get on with it and DH didn't want to know, so I have bought 5 litre bottles from Suma which I decant into used liquid handwash bottles, ( we now use bar soap). I feel ok about it as instead of throwing away 20 X 250 ml plastic bottles I have 1 X 5 ltr bottle which DH uses for making comfrey fertilizer for the garden and allotment, and uses over and over again. I also buy ecover wul in a 5 ltr bottle. We also both use Lush solid deodorant which is great. All of these things last for ages so it saves money too.

Living_proof

Nonnadiluca wrote: »

I tried solid bar shampoo and conditioner but couldn't get on with it and DH didn't want to know, so I have bought 5 litre bottles from Suma which I decant into used liquid handwash bottles, ( we now use bar soap). I feel ok about it as instead of throwing away 20 X 250 ml plastic bottles I have 1 X 5 ltr bottle which DH uses for making comfrey fertilizer for the garden and allotment, and uses over and over again. I also buy ecover wul in a 5 ltr bottle. We also both use Lush solid deodorant which is great. All of these things last for ages so it saves money too.

I already use a crystal rock deodorant and have done for years and was really interested to hear of the soap and conditioner bars, but I have hardly heard a good report of them. I understand they are quite expensive so I would need to try a sample size first. I don't use much shampoo anyway as I go to the hairdresser once a week and wash it at home in between. I never use shower gel as I find most of it goes down the plug hole neat and bars of soap last forever in comparison.

System

Living_proof wrote: »

I already use a crystal rock deodorant and have done for years and was really interested to hear of the soap and conditioner bars, but I have hardly heard a good report of them. I understand they are quite expensive so I would need to try a sample size first. I don't use much shampoo anyway as I go to the hairdresser once a week and wash it at home in between. I never use shower gel as I find most of it goes down the plug hole neat and bars of soap last forever in comparison.

I like soap bars for in the bath and shower. However I can't decide about going back to soap for just hand washing. Something in my brain is telling me that hand soap in a container is more hygienic. I worry that you are putting germs back into the soap...lol

Aaleigha

I like hand soap
I have liquid soap in the annex in the house it's liquid at sink and downstairs clack room solid in bathroom and ensuite

Frugal dinners
Tonight left overs
Tomorrow eating with friends I just take some desserts and make proper custard while there

Then until next Tuesday at least all out if freezer cupboards etc

elly68

hi late to the new year frugal party .we spend way too much on meals drinks and takeaways cut down massively but its spiralled again .so hoping to reduce this drastically good luck ev1