2019 Frugal Living Challenge

PipneyJane

Good afternoon my frugal friends

I'm curious - why are you on this frugal journey? I started because I got buried in debt by my now-long-time-ex-husband and spent the entire 1990's living hand-to-mouth. I had to be frugal just to keep within my overdraft limit. Dumbo believed that what he earned was his, while what I earned was to his too. It's 20 years since I asked for a divorce. Engraved on my brain is a day a couple of months before then, when the 6-monthly grade increases were announced at work. I remember kicking the cupboard under the sink in the Ladies because I didn't get the grade increase - and subsequent raise - that I'd been hoping for, and telling my friend "I'm trapped!".

Since then, I've been rescued a couple of times by pay rises; married a bloke who is frugal and with whom I've bought a house; spent a few idiot years with my flat not rented out - now tenanted - and going into overdraft to pay the bills on it (I didn't have the energy to get it ready for renting out); got out of debt; spent a fortune renovating the house and going back into debt; played the balance transfer game to get out of debt again... (I think I've done the debt merry-go-round 3 times.) Both my husband and myself have been made redundant twice in the years we've been together but we've somehow managed to pay for £40k of renovations to the house, build an emergency fund, build healthy pension pots, build other savings and investment accounts, travel and live comfortable, contented lives. We both take home less pay now than we did 3 years ago, but it doesn't seem to have impacted our day-to-day lives or our savings, thanks to frugality.

Anyway, that's my story.

little_green wrote: »

bit of unnescessary spending today but also a bargain so not sure how I feel about it ...
got fluffy PJ set (jumper & trousers) & a t-shirt for £1 each at local chartiy shop so total spend £3. Did I NEED them? No .... it was a luxury... but would I get the same things cheaper elsewhere? also no.
meh

But then, you've posted a couple of times about warm PJ's, so you've obviously been quite cold at night, so maybe you do have a need? £3 is good value for PJs and a t-shirt.

Do you set aside money each month for a Clothing Allowance? Even a Fiver would help ease the pressure you're putting on yourself.

Nicki_Sue wrote: »

Thank you! Still waiting for the confirmation. So many hoops! I won't breathe or relax properly until we get confirmation and can put notice in on this place.

Fingers crossed.

Fingers and toes crossed for you.

- Pip

Working_Mum

PipneyJane wrote: »

Good afternoon my frugal friends

I'm curious - why are you on this frugal journey? I started because I got buried in debt by my now-long-time-ex-husband and spent the entire 1990's living hand-to-mouth. I had to be frugal just to keep within my overdraft limit. Dumbo believed that what he earned was his, while what I earned was to his too. It's 20 years since I asked for a divorce.
- Pip

I too have had to be frugal after getting divorced from a complete Walter Mitty who lead a double life for two years on MY credit card and left me with £90k worth of debt!

I rationalised a lot of things during the early stages of splitting up....friends....family....old habits - I made a conscious decision to only have what I love in my life - I got rid of a lot of my ex-husband's kelter, he was such a hoarder and slowly I brought the beauty back to my 1920's home from under a pile of stuff!!

I love budgetting and living my life how I want to live it and this includes food shopping, cooking from scratch, DIY, working hard, socialising etc. I have set a good example to my 2 children - now on the cusps of leading their own lives! And I have a great guilt free life which won't change too drastically when I retire in (potentially) 3 years time

I strive to leave things nicer than when i found them and have learned to prioritise long term goals for short term wins. All of this is because I have a rich, powerful mindset but on frugal purse-strings - I get to exercise my creativity which is good for the soul!

I love this thread and read every day but don't always get chance to post but definitely find one post can ignite a thought which has positive consequences...THANK YOU!!

little_green

PipneyJane wrote: »

Good afternoon my frugal friends

But then, you've posted a couple of times about warm PJ's, so you've obviously been quite cold at night, so maybe you do have a need? £3 is good value for PJs and a t-shirt.

Do you set aside money each month for a Clothing Allowance? Even a Fiver would help ease the pressure you're putting on yourself.

- Pip

Hahah yes I did resist he unicorn onesie from the other day & had been saying I should get another pair of fluffy pj's as my current pair were in the wash. They are more for lounging about in the house in as opposed to sleeping in (got normal pj's for that). the flyffy ones are just comfy house wear lol. Now technically, yes, I could just use an old hoody & sweat pants that have seen better days & are no longer suitable for public use but sometimes it's nice to curl up & be cosy.
I don't have a set allowance per month to spend on clothes. The biggest problem is I dont really actually need anything but can't resist a "bargain". Especially when carboot sale season comes :T I love the thrill of second hand shopping, I more fun that going to an actual store with new clothes!! I buy the odd clothing item new online but few not too often.

I budget a certain amount of money per month on what I consider "luxury items" - things I want but dont need. It includes anything from clothes, footwear, videogames/tech gadgets & eating out, so I do monitor what I spend.

lovely to hear your story on what led to your frugality. Personally I think mine stems from one of my parents, the fact I like to be in control & that I am aiming to grow a nice (then very nice, then amazing!) pot of savings.

chocolatelover93

Pip - Interesting to hear why you started to live frugal.
For me I've decided because over a year I got myself into 4K worth of debt and have nothing to show for it. I am a single mum to a 2 year old (his dad does see him and pays maintenance). My rent is quite steep and I could move out (would be very hard to find a rental or would be a housing association and I wouldn't want to take a house off someone else when I already have one). I love the area we live in and love the house so would rather be frugal and live there than move somewhere I am not happy. I want to teach my son the value of money and want to teach him early so he knows we have to work for things and hopefully he won't develop my bad habits of getting into debt.
I am going to be going through a divorce soon (just waiting for ex to decide he has the money to pay his half). Luckily we didn't have any assets and have sorted out child maintenance for DS so it should be a fairly "cheap" and easy one.

C xx

[Deleted User]

chocolatelover93 wrote: »

I have cancelled my Amazon Prime (£79 a year) hoping this will stop me buying random carp off there that I don't need plus hardly use the TV on there anyway and have NF.

I went to B&Q on Sat and got some herb pots and planted them so can't wait for them to start sprouting this should save me quite a bit because I buy fresh ones and don't always use them, this way I can just take off what I need.

Anyone that does gardening I am considering buying one of the little heated mini green house things you keep in doors (not a clue what they are called) are they worth it?

Have decided I am really serious now about reducing my plastic waste too. There are too many articles and stories about how it is destroying the planet and that makes me sad for my 2 year old so any tips on that would be good! I have a shampoo bar on the way (my friend lives 15 mins from a lush so she is getting me one to save on postage)
I have started using my composter - no idea what is in there just looks like mulsh to me so will take that out and start putting it on the ground where I'm gonna grow my fruit and veg.
The next thing I am looking at changing is my washing powder/liquid I love things smelling nice but it doesn't last long and I can always spray perfume on them. I have heard the ego eggs are quite good?

Sorry about the long post!

C xx

Hi Chocolatelover, I am planning to cancelling my Amazon prime too. It doesn't come up for renewal until later this year but I have cancelled already so it won't autorenew.

I have a goal to reduce plastic use too. I will swap over to bar soap once my current hand soaps and shower gels are used up - it will take a while though as I got quite a few for Christmas. I did get a lovely Neal's Yard hand soap in a glass bottle so I might look into reusing that and make my own.

Crafty_Lisa_Hampshire

Hettyhound - Thanks for the tip I will stay well away from there just to make sure I am not "ambushed".


PipneyJane - Thanks for sharing your story on why you started this journey. My story is not like a lot of people as I have never been one for getting into debt. The main reason for me starting on this occasion is that I am literally spending money on just the "essentials" even with saving every month to deal with car expenses and the like. I have the odd trip to the theatre or cinema but I am not extravagant. Even though I am not extravagant I have not had a proper holiday in years. I have also had to find the money for a new cooker, a new fridge freezer and soon a new washing machine and I just don't seem to have the buffer to deal with these. I am also very conscious of waste and the environment at the moment and thought that if I try to live frugally this will help me to have some "fun" as well as being good for the planet. I started on my reducing waste journey last May and it was quite easy to begin with so this is why I joined this challenge in January as I felt it would kick start things again.


One surprising bonus I have felt since May last year (and noticed even more since January) is I feel happier with myself and with my life. I don't feel I have to compete with people who are getting new this and better that. I am just more at peace with things. I also find that you guys are really supportive so I don't feel so alone on my "hippy" or frugal journey.


Thank you everybody

chocolatelover93

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi Chocolatelover, I am planning to cancelling my Amazon prime too. It doesn't come up for renewal until later this year but I have cancelled already so it won't autorenew.

I have a goal to reduce plastic use too. I will swap over to bar soap once my current hand soaps and shower gels are used up - it will take a while though as I got quite a few for Christmas. I did get a lovely Neal's Yard hand soap in a glass bottle so I might look into reusing that and make my own.

Mine is the same think it runs until May.

I got some nice bar soap for xmas I'm doing the same with my liquid soap, I sometimes use old showergels and things in my soap dispenser to use them up

C xx

ma-ri-ella

Hi everyone . re amazon i got rid of this and my netflix end of last year and dont miss it. i might in future pay for the odd month of each as there are some shows i want to watch on both - maybe keep a list then do the odd binge watch month.

Ive always enjoyed the bargain side of being frugal - getting yellow stickers , apg, tescos double the difference etc . I had thought about a flat deposit but tbh im leaning more towards the trip of a lifetime

So todays spends were quite high- trip to another city was 31 quid on train . There was also a costa and pret a manger trip . On a mission to use less plastic /other waste so i popped into lush - 22 quid later but i got a sample of the hair dye to try (no packaging) deoderant bar and a body wash - i took no packaging on anything not even the a sticker and i got my receipt emailed to me . Ive stuck the deo in a container at home to stop it going dry. Theres so much more i wanted to try but the prices are scary . A few years back i can remember bulk buying out there and being 100 quid plus per time how my spending has changed. I also walked past the shops i would splurge in ie forbidden planet , superdrug ,fancy makeup ,etc

Igamogam

Got £33.50 back via HMRC re union subscriptions. Going to update the spreadsheet and 'gift the gain' to a CC

6/7 items listed on Eb*y have watchers....fingers crossed.

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
Normally I’m a lurker but today I thought I’d join in with the why you are frugal. I’ve always been frugal to an extent but it really was needed when we went bankrupt in 2008. We had two small businesses, both dependent on people’s spare money and when money started getting tight we went under. When things were getting tough OH got a job and I carried on until we couldn’t do it anymore. Money was very very tight and it was a relief the the judge signed the bankruptcy order. We were given an allowance and the rest of OHs wage was handed over every month for the next three years. Then we started to rebuild. OHs work was down south and I moved down there and got a job too. It was a difficult time but we’ve come out of the other end.
On to now, a couple of years ago OH became ill and took early retirement at 55 and we moved back up North. We bought a tiny tiny one bedroom flat at auction. Frugal is normal. We live cheaply but well. We eat quite a lot of veggie meals because they are good for us and the planet, also I requested bar soap as part of my Xmas present and my boys bought me half a dozen bars from the body shop. I’m lucky we have lots of nice charity shops near and they are a source of some beautiful clothes and bits and pieces.

Anyway life goes on and anyone struggling now please know that it does get better.

The only after effect is that I never have empty cupboards or an empty freezer. But no waste and I don’t buy what we don’t need (well apart from Christmas)

Anyway enough from me.
Keep well frugallers.
Cuddles