2019 Frugal Living Challenge

Shopaholic_no_more

PipneyJane wrote: »

Firstly, O'Laney, I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. My condolences. Big hugs to you.

Secondly, congratulations to you for not using your credit card. You've had a crappy month so far and yet you've been strong enough to resist the urge to spend. Well done,



Thankyou Pipney Jane ...yes it is amazing how quickly your mindset can change when you really want to do it. I even do the sun supersavers and now get £5 a month for just putting a few numbers in the app every day. £60 a year...not to be sniffed at! A family member buys the paper and gives me the numbers so a true freebie!! At one time I wouldn't have bothered with it but now...


Sashacat
Autoaid are worth looking at as well. I used to be with RAC and they were the same as the AA totally inflated prices. Mine went down from £179.00 a year to £28

supersaver1000

Thank you Earthgirl and Pip. It has all been a huge effort. And it makes perfect sense that overspending is linked to ego and possibly abuse/control. Its pretty mean when you think about it.

Can I just send some hugs to OLaney and I hope the month gets better for you. Sorry you are having a rubbish time x

On motoring cover - I've got RAC through my bank account - it includes some other benefits which is the only reason I've got it. My DD has Greenflag though and it is very reasonable.

On frugality I think I've managed a very frugal week food shopping. The fridge is now almost bare and only one crust of bread left for my lunch - beans on toast maybe (Aldi beans of course).

A QUESTION FOR YOU ALL

In 3 words (or less), what does the word 'frugal' mean to you?

Frugaldom, I saw something on this site somewhere about 'having elastic money' and I think those three words some up what it means to me. Stretching your money ...... as far as it will go

sistercas

sashacat wrote: »

Sister, I finally went with Greenflag.
I looked on their website and opted for the top scheme which came out at £41ish. I thought this can’t be right so I rang them and went through it with them.
I didn’t want and don’t need the European cover because I never take my car to mainland Europe, although I do go the the Republic of Ireland. I also don’t need to be personallyg covered in other cars because the only other car I drive is my partners ( he lives 120 miles away) and he is in the AA.
So the fellow on the phone answered all my questions and said £38 something. And the cover is the same.
What really annoyed me is the AA just saying they can reduce the price by 40%. This shows me that the original quoted price was a rip off.

Thank you sashacat, I agree it’s an absolute rip off, I am trying to find breakdown cover for my mum , she needs things like home start and recovery back to home but the prices quoted are extortionate. I will look into green flag and auto-aid , thanks olaney

Frugaldom

Hello to all and apologies for being absent, I do read the posts and get here as often as possible.

Sorry to read about your cat, O'Laney

As for hijacking the thread, the whole ethos here is about living within means and learning how to balance the household books so everything mentioned is relevant. Thank you for sharing with us! I am sure we can all recognise something there that affects or has affected our own lives so please don't apologise. So many people are in similar situations that it is frightening, especially when it crosses the generations to affect the mental health of entire families. It's a shame there is no magic wand but as othets have said, until that lightbulb moment, bad spending habits can all too often be ignored and controlling or dictating the finances can become a vicious battle. My only suggestion is to be there for those affected and try your best to lead by example without preaching. I, for one, have definitely had to stand by watching others spend on the most ridiculous luxuries while struggling to handle their debts but learned the hard way that they will abuse any help given.

sashacat

I agree frugality about giving money to family members to waste.
My son is like this. He earns a good wage as does his DW. Somehow it goes out more quickly than it comes in. I am constantly bailing them out when they have a bill that needs paying or they have no money for shipping.
But treats, magazines, Sky every channel....but I am told these are needed. Hey ho, I am still waiting for him to,grow up, he’s in his 40s.

sashacat

Sister, my cover includes home start and recovery back home or wherever I want within the UK.

earthgirl

Thanks - glad it wasn't a hijack, and it sounds rather bad but it's good to know others have similar family situations. Thanks for your advice it was good to get my worries out there!

I'd also agree with 'STRETCHING YOUR MONEY'. I want to do more of this.

parsniphead

I really enjoy following everyone's journeys on this thread. Thank you so much for the inspiration.

How on earth is it march already? :eek:I've really slipped with this challenge while dealing with my illness. This has been so stupid as I'm at a time when I need to be as frugal as I can possibly be due to sick pay shopping and not being eligible for any benefits. I will not go on about this, I've done enough.

Anyway AGAIN I've been looking at budgets. I just need to find out what will be coming in when I return to work. It's initially going to be less than normal but I need to look after myself and not overdo it initially. I have a massive pile of seeds to get started for my large veg patch and would like to get some fruit bushes to grow up the fences.

I also have a big stash of food which I'm going to work through to save a few more pennies for a while.

If only I could get the debt paid off this year too. Is robbing banks still not allowed

Onwards and upwards.

CapricornLass

Sorry to hear about your cat, OLaney. Haaving to put a beloved pet to sleep is so hard, even when you know in your head its the right thing to do.


Parsniphead, don't be so hard on yourself. While you are ill, you need to concentrate more on getting better again, ready to enter the fray again. Growing your own does help, I think, especially if what you are growing is expensive in the shops. I planted a little row of lettuces and another of radishes while it was warm in February, in the cold frame, more a case of optismism over practicalilty. There's been no sign and I thought that the soil must have been too cold for them after all. But I looked into the cold frame today, and there's a little row of radishes, poking their heads through....

Shopaholic_no_more

Thank you everyone for your condolences regarding my cat. He really was a lovely ol boy but it definitely was the right thing to do .

I hope everyone has a lovely stress free and spend free weekend!! Xx