2019 Frugal Living Challenge

CapricornLass

:T Well done, OLaney!

Shopaholic_no_more

Thank you CapricornLass


By the way we use Bulb too and have done for over a year. They are by far the best company we have used four duel use. We pay a set amount each month of 108.26 but during the summer months last year we had an excess in our account and there was no quibble at all about them returning the money. We are still at that same level of payment and it seems to be working out very well and, of course, the energy is 100% renewable which for us is a massive plus. And as always we are trying to get that figure down

bustiblondilocks

Phew found you again! I closed the tab and couldn't find this thread again.

I'm loving this frugal living!
I've been able (for the first time in years ) have a whole month where I have NOT used my credit cards! Although I'm working on clearing my overdrafts, so I don't use them either, at the moment I just can't, not entirely although they are very minutely going down

I feel as if I'm getting some control back!

I too was in an abusive marriage and he left me in tens of thousands pounds debt. 10 years of marriage ended 10 years ago and it's screwed me up in so many ways but .....calculations correct I should be debt free in 5 years tops.

Work is slow so income is restricted but I'm selling lots to boost finances and pay towards debts. The house is looking bare but I'm getting rid of clutter and negative memories. It's quite cathartic! I highly recommend it

I'm cooking lots of fresh homemade soups so eating healthier and cheaper too.

I'm loving life again and feel I can do this!

Igamogam

About £3 under budget this week for food shop - would have been more but bought some stewing beef on offer at butchers counter....flummoxed them again by taking my own container * roll eyes*. Have a beef in beer whatnot bubbling in slow cooker. Enough for tonight and again in the week when OH and are ships that pass in the night and some for freezer Also made Flabby Parsnip Soup for lunch. Made with milk being thrown out at work because the date on is 12/2 even though on Monday it would be still in date and in my experience last a few days longer....but hey my gain! Bit of curry powder and a swirl of creme fraiche - yum! Enough for my lunches this week too

My frugal journey.....well I want to take early retirement and would like to be as much out of debt ( all CC as mortgage paid now) as poss at that point so I can spend my hard earned pension on Part Three of my life

Kaylataste

Bustiblondilocks of course you can do it,well done x

gien

Good evening frugalers, nice to read all your news. I've been unwell over the weekend so I will have tomorrow off work. 3 of my ebay listings sold so thats a few more pounds into paypal and then onto my savings.

Hettyhound

I’ve done a SOA which has been a bit of an eye opener and explains where money disappears to. Currently deciding which pot to fill up first as house needs stuff doing so should I use my spare money for this while I’m still on my fixed mortgage deal and therefore paying less interest. Anyway first task is pay off CC bill by Easter, then work on savings pots. We have added a new favourite cheap meal to our list; mince and onions in a giant Yorkshire pudding. We all loved it and the dog was very accepting of the spare gravy on her dog biscuits.

natnat13

Morning all
I've been a bit of a lurker, I'm trying to finish my degree and with that and 2 jobs it's a bit manic.
Well done Nikki_Sue on your bungalow, new beginings :-)

I'm not sure why I'm frugal, I just think it's a better way to be, I hate consumerism, keeping up with the Jones etc. Funnily enough I'm with a man who is very much the opposite but he is slowly coming round to my way of thinking! I had a breakthrough yesterday, he actually checked and compared prices in the supermarket, I was so chuffed. I've never forced my ways upon him because our finances are seperate with a joint billing account.

I'm another Bulb fan and customer.

January was a good month, apart from a trip to London where I only bought 2 coffees and train parking and fare (competition win) I haven't really spent a lot and the bank account is looking better. I have a little bit to pay on my credit card, then that will be clear too. My aim is to get rid of that totally.

I work in education and am moving to another job in September but my current contract ends in July, my plan is to create a buffer so I don't have to get a Summer job. I have a second job but that only earns me about £100 a month.

I have the car's first MOT next week and it's half term, I'm going to try and do lots of free things, walks etc. It's also valentine's day, we are going to get an M&S meal deal as a treat rather than going out. Do others celebrate valentines?

Frugaldom

PipneyJane wrote: »

Good afternoon my frugal friends

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

Originally, to get out of debt, then to save to buy a house without a mortgage (I had to move to a completely new - affordable - area), then to afford a piece of land to turn it into Frugaldom and offer others te chance to learn about this lifestyle. I now live in debt freedom and have the house, the land and holiday accommodation, which I let out to like-minded others in the hope of letting them see there isn't only light at the end of the tunnel but also a whole new world of financial freedom. I have been doing this challenge for 20 years this year and those 20 years have flown in unbelievably quickly. It has been extremely difficult at times, with many huge sacrifices having to be made - marriage, family fallouts, extreme frugal living to the point folks think you're insane :rotfl: - but I wouldn't change anything and will probably continue to live like this forever, just affording more luxuries along the way. I now also have rescued & rehomed ponies to pay for so there's no let up in the frugalising everything. Ultimate aim is to have enough passive income to concentrate on what started my journey in the first place - writing for my income and pursuing sustainable & environmental projects as a lifestyle.

NEVER GIVE UP - ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

Frugaldom

Congratulations, Nicki_Sue! Hope you can get moved in soon and that you'll love your new home. No splashing out on unneccessary housewarming gifts for yourself, mind. Start the way you mean to go on and enjoy every minute of the moving chaos! :beer::j:T

WELL DONE to those of you who have noticed spending differences - for the better- on credit cards and thank you to everyone for sharing their reasons for being on this frugal journey. I know sme of you have been here for quite a nuber of years so it's great to see the challenge being taken up by newcomers and continued by old-hands alike. One of these days ewe'll have that meet-up! (Quite a few of us over the years already have. )