2019 Frugal Living Challenge

Igamogam

Ending the month with a third of my salary intact............unheard of for years! Not spending it. Going to tuck it away somewhere Still got big CC debts but all on 0% and over paid every month so going to carry as I have been Meeting a friend later for a catch up coffee and cake.....will take money from the ENTZ envelope to pay for it

Looking forward to March - bit a spring in my step despite being told today I am too young for knee replacement op which is YAY being too young but BOO as more pushing on through the pain

Kerry_Woman

Managed to achieve 22 nsd's this month.
Had to submit my meter readings for my electricity use. Was high this quarter. Had to sort out a new tariff as my current one ends in March. The new one will start in April.
Have sorted out what needs to be done tomorrow, eg food shop list and general spends. March is going to be expensive, due to paying balance off for retreat and sorting out spending money for holiday which I go at beginning of April.

Lifeisforliving19

Came in well under budget on grocery this month,:T so going to try and lower it by another £10 next month. Hoping that a lower figure will make me be even more careful and think and plan even more. 16 NSD's as well, so going to try and increase that to 20 next month...Lets see what happens.
Decided to look into buying a shopping trolley. OH laughed when I told him, but my reason is that when I buy a lot of fruit and veg or a sack of spuds from the greengrocer in the village, I always have to take the car as I can't carry them. Sometimes this is not a problem as I am passing anyway, but if not, I would rather walk down as it only less than 10 minute walk. So as well as saving petrol it also means I get to walk more, which is something else I am trying to do more. So I think it is a saving in the long run, even though I will have pay out for trolley in the first place. Pity the car boot sales haven't started in this area yet, bet I could get a decent one there. Will have to have a scout around

Living_proof

I don't know how many on the thread are on Universal Credit or Tax Credits but there's a scheme where you can save and get rewarded for it. You don't have to save the maximum amount and you can withdraw in and emergency. Here is something from the Mirror but you can also look at the gov.co.uk site for any clarification.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/34million-people-missing-out-benefit-14068508

I hope some of you can benefit, even if by a little, it's a good incentive.

Treasurequeen

My electricity usage this month has decreased and I’m in credit by £169.00 (winter warm scheme got paid last month). My mobile phone is pay as you go and I still have £12.00 on it which should last me another month. I only use it for texts. I topped it up in December so doing well.

Only one birthday in March and have money put by.

I’m putting in a savings acc £7.00 a week for gifts including Christmas. I’ve got my safety net/ emergency fund sorted this month 3 months worth of money for bills and a bit for emergencies.

My washing machine was leaking but all it was, was a pipe was cut wrong and the water kept backing up and leaking. Its now sorted so I don’t need a new machine. I’m in a new build council flat and the amount of problems I’m encountering is awful.

I’m disabled stirchleygirl I buy in bulk for most things and store it as it lasts a good while. Toilet roll, kitchen roll, cleaning stuff.

TryinToDoItRight

Got to the end of February! We had a voucher day last weekend...all the gift vouchers we got for Christmas were used on the one day...cinema, coffees, dinner etc etc. A full day of stuff for nothing..just before payday too. We felt like we were living like kings!

Payday came and as usual I moved as much as possible to try and clear the debt. Down to £13.5k remaining now (from roughly 24k) so getting there.

Still haven't used a credit card since last November. Very happy with myself.

Have to live super frugal this month as I need to put money away for new brake pads for the car as well money for a landmark birthday for a family member. Ill be glad I set money aside each month when both come round in a few months.

Still a long way to go and sometimes it feels like I'll never get there..but can't stop or it'll never be cleared!

[Deleted User]

Today is the start of my really frugal living for the remainder of the year!:j The renovations are still ongoing but the 'fiddly' bits of it are done now so no more 'few quid here and there' days are expected which gives me the chance to really keep control of things The birthdays are out of the way now (more to come but the main ones are done), the insurances have all been paid for the year and there is only one more MOT to be done so hopefully, things will quieten down!! The first few months of the year are always expensive for me so I'm always pleased when they are done!

Starting the 'self-care' part of my challenge today too....it's soooo necessary....I'm going to make sure that I drink less, eat better and get a bit of exercise as well as do a bit of body care such as Epsom salt baths, exfoliation etc.....no additional expenditure required thankfully - I have job lots of Epsom salts and I'll be making any bodycare 'products' from my cupboards:D It will be nice to spend a bit of time on myself, like everyone else I'm always doing something else!!:rotfl:

FrankieM

Hi All

I've been reading avidly for the last couple of months but not posting. All my concentration has been on getting rid of the debt....and here I am...heading into March debt free

I'm so pleased and it's like a weight has lifted.

But now it's about finding a 'frugal' life balance and not going crazy 'treating' myself

[Deleted User]

Well done FrankieM!! :T

PipneyJane

Igamogam wrote: »

Ending the month with a third of my salary intact............unheard of for years! Not spending it. Going to tuck it away somewhere Still got big CC debts but all on 0% and over paid every month so going to carry as I have been Meeting a friend later for a catch up coffee and cake.....will take money from the ENTZ envelope to pay for it
(

Congratulations on your savings efforts! That's very impressive.

Igamogam wrote: »

Looking forward to March - bit a spring in my step despite being told today I am too young for knee replacement op which is YAY being too young but BOO as more pushing on through the pain

Sorry to hear it. Have they given you any guidance or physio to help mitigate the problem with your knee?

- Pip