2020 Frugal Living Challenge

sashacat

Just realised that I don’t know what gram flour is? Am I being daft? 
Please can someone help? Thanks. 

willow_loulou

@sashacat it’s Chickpea flour hun, usually in the free from isle here 

[Deleted User]

Good evening frugal friends,
It is incredibly hot here and I am no good in heat! Currently laid on the bed upstairs with a cold flannel on my head attempting to cool off.

I have had loads of frugal wins recently. As you know, I paid off my credit card in full and am now totally debt free apart from the mortgage. Also built up a savings pot of £500 👏🏻👏🏻

I've made a good start on prepping DDs bedroom ahead of decorating it, and have also saved ££££ on sorting out a long standing drainage issue myself. Very proud. 

It is payday on Friday, and I still have £20 to last me until then, which won't be touched as we are fully stocked with food. One thing that keeps cropping up when I crunch the numbers is whether I actually need a car or not anymore. Aim to make a decision on this by the end of the week, so I can empty my brain of this before going back to work in September - one less thing to have to think about and pay for is always good, I just need to go through some 'what if' scenarios in my head before making a final decision. 

Off to re read some old threads now to keep my motivation up xx

cw18

Deleted_User - don't forget to factor in the fact that after a couple of years your NCD disappears, and you have to start rebuilding from 0 if you decide you want/need a car again after then.   This is one factor in my decision to keep mine on the road for now.   But the main one is the health of my parents, and the difficulty of getting to them on public transport - especially on a Sunday or Bank Holiday.   This is even more of an issue since my Dad was diagnosed with liver cancer in the middle of last month.  He's not fit enough to undergo any treatment, so it's pallative care only.   Diagnosis is 3 months to 3 years, but my Mum and I think he had it before the start of 2019 so he's already about 20 months through that

Frugaldom

@cw18, I hope you have recovered from your mystery illness / food poisoning.
@asparklyblonde, well done with the waterworks savings!
I still have salad leaves, lettuce and cabbage coming out my ears here and still aven't even looked at the potatoes to see if any grew in their buckets, nor have I picked the courgettes - I forgot all about them as they are out of site, behind the barn. Ceap veg box from last week lasted all week and I still have peppers and sweet potato left to use. The hens are laying aplenty so the veg box was swapped for eggs and I gave other eggs to a neighbour and received a lovely jar of lemon curd. 
I read the update from Martin Lewis mentioning the end of Tesco cheap deliveris - we don't get them here but I have noticed likewise with Asda and a fast demise of many of the basic non-branded saver products. I managed to get a delivery slot from Morrison for Monday so will be stocking up on the store cupboard basics like rice, pasta and lentils. Food shopping has become very expensive for those of us used to maing the most of bargain basics and yellow stickers - there is no other way for our costs to go other than up.

sashacat

Hi folks and well done sparkly. I too had a minor drainage problem. A blocked sink upstairs. I was thinking about getting the plumber out but bought a £2 packet of "stuff" which cleared it. 

I have made courgette soup, courgette cake and courgette chutney and grated and frozen quite a few. They will go into soup in the early spring. Now need some gram flour to make those buns. 

Bubblesmum

I have done a courgette and lemon jam which was lovely ......

Well done to all who have used up the courgettes 

Elisheba

Hello lovely people,
There are plums growing everywhere near me just now.  Does anyone have any ideas what I can do with them?

[Deleted User]

I had an email from NPower saying your average monthly use is £71, you're £75 in credit, so we're increasing your direct debit from £76 to £96!!! 😳😳I think not! Long and annoying message conversation later and it's sorted, and staying at £76.

Lots of offcuts of wood collected from a neighbour for the burner, NSD achieved. Payday tomorrow and I actually have £600 in savings, woop! 

Frugaldom

Elisheba said:

Hello lovely people,
There are plums growing everywhere near me just now.  Does anyone have any ideas what I can do with them?

Plum time of year here, too. I have stewed a load for freezing, I make fruit crumbles with them, eat them fresh, serve stewed with custard (or without) and if there are enough, make plum jam. The skins soak off quite easily if you don't like them in your jam.
Car had to go for MOT today so I was hoping everything would be ok. Thankfully, it sailed through and the MOT was £49, so I still had change out £100 even after completely filling the tank with petrol. Phew!