2020 Frugal Living Challenge

Siebrie

Apologies for nog posting for such a long time! Almost all of my harvest failed, but it wasn't much anyway, and I had the fun of sowing, planting and caring. We had some cherries, some strawberries, some redcurrants, plenty rhubarb, 1 meal of mangetouts and peas, no salad, no beetroot, no carrots, no coriander, no onions, no cabbages, plenty chives, plenty sage, plenty basil, ..... Ah well, I can't be too bothered, even if I prefer eating fresh from my backyard. I'm trying to just go with the flow.

Husband and I are still fulltime employed, working mostly from home. Those were long days for me, as I also had to support dds (9 and 12) through their schoolwork. Now they have their school holidays and I don't have to chase them so much, meaning I finish earlier, hurray! We still cook from scratch, although we have been buying our biscuits, so we will have to restart baking our own. I'm cooking more veggie recipes again, and have slightly more elaborate sandwiches for lunch. I've lost 3kgs during the coronacrisis, but I think it's mainly muscle mass.

I had started the lockdown wearing all my really old stuff regularly, happy to be given the chance to really wear those items out. And then, after a fortnight, I thought 'sod it', I feel poor and unhappy. So, I washed those items and put them in the fabric recycling bag in the attic. I'm wearing more skirts and dresses now, and look nicely dressed.

sashacat

Like Frugaldom, I am sick of lettuce .......and cauliflower and broccoli. 
Faced with a great pile of broccoli today I made soup...more soup...I now have enough for January.
I grew plenty of veg as I usually give lots away but because of lockdown most people in the village grew their own. 
I plaited my garlic and onions but my runner beans are nowhere near ready. I am impressed that you are eating yours nananibbles. 
I have butternut squash, please can you say what exactly you do with the seeds because currently mine go in the compost and I now feel as if I have wasted them.
i used up most of my basil today as I made a lot of green pesto and have frozen 4 portions. 
The idea is that in the cold, dark months I can more or less eat from the freezer. 

Dizzy_Imp

StrawberrySuze said:

Hi Dizzy Imp, popping out of lurkdom for a moment! 
Interested in your raw dog food comment as am planning on changing my dogs onto it.....How does your dog/dogs get on with it? Do they seem to enjoy and thrive on it and have you found any issues?

Hi Suze - I have six dogs, all raw fed and I'd recommend any dog owner try this diet for their pooches.  It's true to nature (no cereal) balanced with bone and offal, which has a massive positive impact on digestive and skin problems, and is very cost effective.  I'm a dog border, so see lots of different biscuits and kibble provided for holidays, but I have converted many of my visiting furries to raw and their owners are very pleased with the improvement in their dog's health.  Glossy, soft fur, increased energy, no tummy problems and no added, unnecessary extras or bulking agents, just protein and mineral--packed meat and bone.  There are lots of companies out there who supply raw pet food, but whichever you decide to use, introduce if slowly, otherwise an upset tummy will be sure to catch you at 4am, barefoot, in your dressing gown...

One of my girls is slightly fussy about added fruit and vegetable blends and another prefers the chunkier texture of meat, rather than the soft, slippery consistency found with some of the fish flavours, but otherwise, no issues.  Try to get an 80/10/10 blend, which means 80% meat, 10% offal products and 10% minced raw bone.

Dizzy x

StrawberrySuze

Dizzy_Imp said:

StrawberrySuze said:

Hi Dizzy Imp, popping out of lurkdom for a moment! 
Interested in your raw dog food comment as am planning on changing my dogs onto it.....How does your dog/dogs get on with it? Do they seem to enjoy and thrive on it and have you found any issues?

Hi Suze - I have six dogs, all raw fed and I'd recommend any dog owner try this diet for their pooches.  It's true to nature (no cereal) balanced with bone and offal, which has a massive positive impact on digestive and skin problems, and is very cost effective.  I'm a dog border, so see lots of different biscuits and kibble provided for holidays, but I have converted many of my visiting furries to raw and their owners are very pleased with the improvement in their dog's health.  Glossy, soft fur, increased energy, no tummy problems and no added, unnecessary extras or bulking agents, just protein and mineral--packed meat and bone.  There are lots of companies out there who supply raw pet food, but whichever you decide to use, introduce if slowly, otherwise an upset tummy will be sure to catch you at 4am, barefoot, in your dressing gown...

One of my girls is slightly fussy about added fruit and vegetable blends and another prefers the chunkier texture of meat, rather than the soft, slippery consistency found with some of the fish flavours, but otherwise, no issues.  Try to get an 80/10/10 blend, which means 80% meat, 10% offal products and 10% minced raw bone.

Dizzy x

Thanks Dizzy, that's really helpful, my last dog was actually called Dizzy 😅 
I am definitely going to do it, been thinking about it for the last 2 years! I need to get another small freezer so think I will change them over gradually in the next couple of months 🙂

nananibbles

Good Morning All,
Nearing the end of the month and this is typically when I start to slip. I've had a few none frugal days, mainly due to buying DS food shop for him which came in at £60 and in addition to this going for my first coffee for four months with by friend. Jeez the price of coffee has gone up. It cost me £6.38 for 2 coffees (though I did pay 12% service charge) as we sat in and took up valuable space for a good hour or so and I had to buy a pack of masks @ £2.50 as I had forgotten that the compulsory mask wearing started that day. I'm now finishing off all the food in the cupboards and fridge as I'm determined not to have to go to the shops again before the end of the month. 
NN

FrankieM

Morning

Redundancy pay came in today so emergency fund is now done and other money put into other accounts ready for the month ahead.

Other than that, it's work and organising that's keeping my days busy at the moment

willow_loulou

Morning all,
im still feeling rough, as is my daughter. I’m starting to think it’s lack of sunshine so I’m going try and find a vitamin she can take with D in it. We are still not going out much as we’re a holiday destination and the 3 camps are now open, so that Is around 3000 people extra from all over the place. 

We did go shopping for my birthday on Friday though, (with masks, makes me feel better) 
my Mr bought me some jewellery, a new 2 handled Pan and a bug zapper! I was really pleased as my pan was so old everything just stuck in it. 

I’ve started preparing for winter, I always find that a bit sad! I have to move my room around to accommodate wood, I’ve picked up some reduced eco logs to start with. 

Frugaldom

Good evening frugal friends, I hope you are all doing well, recovering, climbing back on the band wagon, feeling better, any or all of the aforementioned Weather here in sw Scotland has been mixed, ranging from blazing sunshine in 20's to blustery wind and torrential rain, so today was a day of road floods. Shame for the campers just beginning to get out and about but I guess that's part of the joys of holidaying under canvas (or polyester, as the case may be). We are still closed to the general public but have had a few visitors by appointment - no holidaymakers or volunteers staying yet, though. I suspect it is going to be a bit longer before things get back to normal everywhere. Still busy here with project taking up all of my time but am now able to start recruiting a few helpers

cw18

I've very unfrugally booked a meal out for OH and myself.

But only after checking the venue has signed up for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme the government announced for August

So when we go away next month we're having a late Monday 'lunch' (table booked for 2pm) at a place we've often talked about visiting - and not done because of their prices.   The discount makes it much more reasonable

I think it'll be the 6th time we've eaten out in almost 9 years of being together (including two Christmas events with his workmates), so it's not something we often do.

Frugaldom

I disagree, @cw18, I think you very frugally booked the meal and are  making the most of an opportunity to do something that you may not, otherwise, have done.Enjoy! It's what the frugal and debt free life is about - not spending on one thing so you can easily afford another.