2020 Frugal Living Challenge

LivingInTheBlack

Hello everyone

Did a few things today. Signed up to both yolt and plum. Yolt gathers my spending info in a much easier to way read (and shock/shame) than i have seen it before, and plum auto saves money based on my spending habits. So that beneficial. Plum decided to put 10 quid away for me 😁

I also signed up to 20cogs and have made about 35 quid on that so far but I've taken a break for the rest of the day. Surveys are mentally draining! 

I broke my dogs food dish and managed to get cashback on his new one (just shy of 2 quid). He needs one of the slow feeder bowls as he will eat quickly and make him self sick so that made the £12 spend less painful. 

I also rewore jeans today that i would normally have added to the laundry pile. I'm ashamed to say i have many bad habits and I'm trying to break them. These are small wins for me. 😳 

LivingInTheBlack

Just to add:
The real 'frugal' ways of living like how you food shop, grow your own etc dont work for me and my living position atm (no space, no freezer) but i hope to change this soon.

sashacat

Good evening. I have batch cooked a pile of leek and potato soup using ingredients from the garden so the only cost was the cooker.
i am slowly coming to the end of the garden produce and will soon have to start buying food. I need to buy fish and bread. Apart from those I am good for another month.
spent the day with the grandchildren yesterday and spent far too much money and are my body weight in cake. Really fed up with myself.
Still, can’t be helped. 

Frugalistamama

Jbkmum you can find clothes bundles in age groups on ebay for a really reasonable price. Just keep your eye out for a few weeks you should find a few bundles that will suit you. Type in boys clothes bundle age 9-10

Kerry_Woman

 Bluegreen143 -  Thanks.  I am feeling better.  Thankfully it did not get worse.
Got a part time temp job for this week.  Totally different work to what I am used to(transport assistant for children with additional needs), but am grateful for work. 2 shifts in a day - 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon.  Will know by end of week if I am required after half term.  Did some voluntary work at a food bank in between my shifts - it was very close to where the place I have to report to for work. Planning to go back next week to help out.  Did bring my own refreshments for today.  Still be very careful about my spending.  Did have to buy safety boots for my temp job, but managed to get them for half price.

CraftyLittleLisa

Just catching up with everyone and its good to see people are still making progress.  Welcome to the recent joiners.

I haven't done much in the way of "new" frugal habits but my mindset has changed so I really think before I spend or get rid of stuff and I am glad that's now got into my DNA.

I have finished making for Christmas presents (although I haven't finished getting Christmas presents).  I finished making the bits for my friend's pamper hamper and I finished making the dolls clothes for my niece's Christmas present.

Other frugal successes are I have made oatmilk myself which tastes good so I won't be buying it anymore, I will just be making it, I got some vouchers for doing surveys.  I have also made some reusable make up remover pads and a scarf out of fabric remnants and my stash.  Tonight I realised I needed to use up some veg before they get past usable so I have made a veggie shepherds pie and I transferred some of the mixture to another bowl so I can have a spaghetti bolognese tomorrow.  I should be able to portion up the shepherds pie into at least two meals so one for tonight and one for the freezer.  I have also used up some apples by making some muffins and I had a go at making some tortilla wraps this weekend.  Not sure whether that was a success or not.  I may have to give it another go before I decide on that particular recipe.

Have fun and stay safe.

Frugaldom

Good evening, fellow frugalers.
Preparations are underway for the 2021 challenge and there needs to be more belt-tightening here, plus some financial wizardry in order to continue caring for all the livestock we now have - 10 ponies, numerous hens & ducks, a cat and a rabbit, plus we like to be able to feed the wild birds their peanuts. I run a car, pay site fees for a holiday caravan (normaly rented out but cancelled bookings during Covid-19). We don't socialise, don't have expensive hobbies, don't smoke or drink and don't 'do' holidays, shopping, takeaways or eating out etc. I'm a home-bod who spends almost all my time outside looking after animals and planting trees & herbs.  With interest rates being next to non-existent, any savings go into premium bonds, 'just in case'. If I include the cost of keeping all the animals, a household of 2, plus running cars, which are needed owing to there being no public transport between home and work, it amounts to quite a substantial sum each year, but we are still trying to do all of that on one basic minimum income. Here in UK, it is currently £8.72 per hour; we are both self-employed, so it needs to cover National Insurance and Income tax. There is no holiday or sick pay and we don't claim Government top-ups. My Frugal Living challenge budget for 2021 is going to be for groceries (including cleaning products & toiletries), electricity, gas (cylinders), insurance, clothing & footwear, TV licence, my car, telephone, mobile, internet, gifts and miscellaneous extras. We don't have any debts and Council Tax is non-negotiable so no options for making any savings there. If we can do everything on a single income, anything else is classed as savings. I haven't worked out the exact numbers yet. We run the Frugaldom project voluntarily, so the constant aim is for financial self-sustainability.  I'll post my 2021 Frugal Living Challenge figures soon.

IzzyBee

I love reading these posts and have decided I am going to join in I have been furloughed since end of March and going back to work on 2nd of November have been told my hours are reducing from 23 to 16 big drop as my husband is not working now as he has a long term illness I was just happily getting used to my hours as I have never in my life not worked two jobs and to be honest I have quite often had three jobs but family now grown up and left home mortgage paid so that’s a blessing I know I am luckier than a lot of people but I just thought at last some time to my self and not have to work so hard and we get tripped up never mind I’m used to being frugal but any hints and tips I can pick up from you lovely folks will be most welcome 

LivingInTheBlack

Hello all. 
I love reading all your posts too. Even if all your tips aren't doable for me right now its so good to be encouraged to stay in the mindset.
I got an application for a 0% credit card approved today so balance transferred my old CC bill. 
Also, day 3 no smoking 🙌 i had stopped for 7 months there, then had a weak moment and bought a packet. I smoked all of those but couldn't bring myself to spend the money on another pack. This was more important than any craving and i haven't been bothered the last 3 days 😊

willow_loulou

I look forward to your 21 plan @frugaldom I’ve literally just been trying to figure out where to start for next year. 

I’m very worried about rising food costs so my pay rise will be invested in some dried goods. 

I’ve finished my Christmas shopping. I’ve spent £40 of M&S vouchers I’d pre bought and £24 on other things. Quite pleased at coming £16 under budget. 

I’ve just cashed out another £9 something from prolific, I’ll put it towards some eco logs