2019 Frugal Living Challenge

cw18

PipneyJane wrote: »

Good afternoon my frugal friends

I'm curious - why are you on this frugal journey?

- Pip

Change of financial circumstances for me.

I have a history of back problems, and when it last gave out on me I ended up being off work (well paid job in IT) for 18 months. 12 months of that I was on full pay (but without overnight on-call and related overtime I was used to getting lots of), and then I dropped to Incapacity Benefit as they called it (next to noting by comparison). While I was off my hubby (much lower paying job) was made redundant, and before he could find another job was diagnosed with cancer (which I lost him to almost 2 years later) so couldn't find work again.

Our income took a serious hit, and it was a struggle just to pay the mortgage. I'd been used to picking things up in shops purely because I liked the look of them, without giving any thought as to how much use I'd make of it (or whether the intended recipient would actually appreciate it), so I had to learn not to do that in a hurry. At least not being at work meant I was rarely in the city centre near the big shops that always tempted me



I was then made redundant 6 months after going back to work - at the same time as I lost my husband. I took a 'year out' while my youngest finished college and I thought about what I wanted (no IT jobs I could do in the area, and the few elsewhere were mainly short-term contracts that would have meant being away from home most of the week).

I then did a couple of years part-time in a supermarket bakery, which I gave up as I had a health issue with it. That was followed about a year later by a few months as a part-time cleaner in a gym, which I walked out of as it was leaving me stressed. After another year or so I ended up in a Subw@y store on minimum wage and zero hour contract - not ideal, but I managed to hold my head above water for the couple of months I was there. I had major concerns about some of the working practises there, so I was relieved when I got the job I have now (I'm a postie). I'm still part time, but on a much better hourly rate (I do 27.5 hours for more money than I got doing 40 hours making butties) and have the guaranteed minimum number of hours which allows me to budget better - and I get overtime almost every week which allows me to get some 'wants' as well as 'needs'

gien

Evening everyone. Lovely to read the thread - i've been busy listing some more things on ebay this evening and i already have a few watchers on my other items that i listed on Sunday.

Why am I being frugal? Well, change of circumstances really. We used to live a rich excessive ex-pat life abroad - earnt a ton, spent a ton but also cleared our mortgage and accrued soem capital. We came back to the uk 2.5 years ago and, much to our surprise, my DH has struggled to find a permenant position. I'm working full time but not in a high paid job and we are paying for children in uni. We don't have any debt or mortgage and so our 'capital' is really good and I am certainty not moaning. But, if we want to live within our income we need to watch our spending. So we are living a rather more simple and frugal life. I'm quite enjoying it in a funny kind of way....

Hettyhound

It’s been really interesting reading why people are trying the frugal life. I would love to overpay the mortgage more and get rid of it earlier than the bank want me to. My main reason is I want to give my son experiences rather than things; there are very few presents I remember from my childhood but I remember the places we went and the things we did. Having lost my dad when I was 14 and my mum in 2011 I know how important the memories are.

I adopted my boy as a single adopter when he was 10 months old; when he was still only 1 I was diagnosed with cancer (absolutely fine now). It wasn’t easy but taught me how strong I am and also how little material things matter. Three and a half years ago I sold the house I’d owned for 16 years to move closer to the little family I have meaning I had to take out a mortgage which was bigger as prices here are higher than there. My long term aim is to have some savings, be able to travel with my son when he is older and maybe reduce hours at work to have some more me time for the things I enjoy but that I don’t do now.

I’m up for this challenge and I thank you all for your inspirational stories and helpful hints and tips :j

System

I use boobalou soap, seems expensive but i get months out of it and my hair doesnt suffer split ends. I then use apple cider vinegar as conditioner which is perfect! I use the cork and salt crystal deodarant which is expensive but my only luxury, itsthe only thing that works on my nightmare BO, when i ue this i have no issues or smell and dont ned to top up, which in my job id a god send as i am very active in my job.

Nicki_Sue

@ChocolateLover93
Bulb has been great for us. I'm really reluctant to recommend services and so on to others, regardless of whether there is cashback, however, Bulb I'm happy to because:
They are committed to renewable energy. I believe we're using 100% renewable electricity and 10% renewable gas, and they are working on this.
They pay your exit fees back if you want to leave your current supplier.
If you want to leave Bulb there are no fees or contracts.
There is one tariff which keeps things simple.
I find them cheaper than the Big 6 (have a look and see what MSE Martin has had to say about Bulb)
And... they are a nice bunch and easy to deal with which in itself is a big thing for me.

I hope that helps x

Nicki_Sue

Drumroll please.....

We got the bungalow! We move at the beginning of April and I am so incredibly happy! It is only a few streets away but might as well be a world away. It's a 1930's build, solid but beautifully renovated and modernised. There is a lovely garden and a huge workshop for the husband. It is closer to both schools (my boys are thrilled)and a little closer to Aldi (walking), has a driveway (which should reduce the car insurance a little), and still only a few streets away from my parents if they need anything. It's a brilliant house and we are just thrilled.

Now.....
Work like a mad to get some extra pennies in.
Continue decluttering.
Make a list of things to do/people to inform and so on.
Be as frugal as possible!

Have a great Thursday all!

tighteningthebelt

Nicki_sue, I'm so chuffed for you. X

tighteningthebelt

Why am I being frugal? Sterling question! Several answers!!
-I've not been well for a few years, and used up spare money while working less. So, I'm building up rainy day money. (when I had more energy I called it running away money!)
-I enjoy it, the daily microchallenges are satisfying.
-the consumerism thing just isn't me, doesn't fit with what I've experienced as quality of life, and is ethically unpalatable. It's nice to feel you're living lightly on the earth
-I like giving a bit of money away, it makes me happy.
-and I don't give two hoots about the Joneses! There's a part of me that likes being countercultural and a bit disruptive... I live poor in a posh place and talk about it too!
-all that said if I do make a spending move I will get good quality stuff, often second hand, and look after it.
-the forums are great for like minded people, and I'm enjoying reading everyone's motivations.

Jabeezah

Been continuing on with my making beauty products. Just by not throwing old jam jars bottles etc I really have accumulated quite a stash of containers. Shocking really! But at least i will be using them again and again instead of throwing away. So far made Face oil, Face Mask ,Foot cream,Hand cream for Hubby and Face Moisturiser for teen daughter.(cost less than a fiver whereas if bought from Neal's Yard,Lush or Elemis would have been substantially more). It's as easy as baking a cake! ! Next I plan to make bath bombs ,body spray and deodorant stick. The thing is all the ingredients are safe and I'm making as I need them as when they are preservative free they don't keep as long as shop bought products.. I did have to laugh as fam were both getting excited muttering 'Dragon's Den' etc and I had to bring them back down to earth again ! lol . However some of my friends have been asking so I may do a few for B'days etc and I found out one of my neighbours plans to keep bees so I could source some beeswax !!! Hmm maybe make candles next too ! Ha ha !

I'm keeping my Prime tho as it's cheaper than Itunes (£9.99 pm) and the cost of an extra Virgin box (£20 pm) & Netflix (£8 pm) for my TV and I often use them for ordering my DIY beauty ingredients without carriage so it is a good deal for me !

Shopaholic_no_more

hi everyone

I have been having trouble getting on the forum so have had to re-register so just so you know I used to be MarineBee. I am now OLaney haha 😁. Sorry for any confusion in advance!

Thank you Chocolatelover. I am finding the same tbh. The only veg that seems to last any length of time fresh is carrots! I buy my blueberries in powder form. It can seem like you are paying a lot up front but it lasts for absolutely ages so I think it is worth it. I put it in my yoghurts and in my porridge. You only need half a teaspoon as it is very sweet.

As to how I came to be going down the frugal route....well, about 10 years ago now my marriage (after 23 years) came to an end. Ex decided he wanted to be elsewhere so that was that. There is a lot I could go into on here but it would take me forever and quite honestly I have been there and done that lol. So.... while I was on my own getting used to being single again (I have no children ...maybe if I had have things wouldn’t have got so bad!) I kind of went off the rails a bit where money was concerned. I had seriously hit rock bottom as regards my confidence and had a very low opinion of myself. I can see that now it was a very bad phase I went through as I needed anti anxiety tablets in the end to get me through. So, while all that was going on I went a bit mad, shall we say, and thrashed the credit card (s) and suffice to say things spiralled from there and I am only now, 10 years later 😕 realising I need to sort this out. No Excuses.
I am now in a fabulous relationship with a great new man and I don’t want this hanging over me any more. Hence the joining of this forum and all you lovely people. It is MY debt and not my new OH so I need to get to grips with it and coming on here has already helped me start to get my finances in order. But poor OH is having to eat frugally but he is ok with that thankfully!

So there we are...looking forward to kicking *rse and getting rid of the CC’s!