2020 Frugal Living Challenge

[Deleted User]

My annual budget and full on frugal living starts today! 🙌 I had to get some shopping  (well dh did - I don't go shopping unless I have no options 😉) so less than £10 spent on bread, cow juice and soya milk which will see us through the week 😊 I've sorted the menu plan for the week, the house is clean and tidy and everything is going to plan!! 🙌 I'm on day one of being alcohol and cigarette free and it's actually not bothering me at all 🤔 I think it's because I am really determined to make this year work - it's changed the way I look at things so I don't feel resentful 😉

Frugaldom

smushesma said:

My annual budget and full on frugal living starts today! 🙌 I had to get some shopping  (well dh did - I don't go shopping unless I have no options 😉) so less than £10 spent on bread, cow juice and soya milk which will see us through the week 😊 I've sorted the menu plan for the week, the house is clean and tidy and everything is going to plan!! 🙌 I'm on day one of being alcohol and cigarette free and it's actually not bothering me at all 🤔 I think it's because I am really determined to make this year work - it's changed the way I look at things so I don't feel resentful 😉

How exciting for you! GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING! I quit smoking just before cigs reached £5 per pack and have continued with the same enthusiasm not to smoke ever since. It has brought really huge dividends that I could hardly have imagined possible back then. It trully was worth it. My whole ethos in life is to make everything work for me, not me having to work for everything, then the wrkload decreases as you realise how little 'stuff' means to you. Make it matter and it makes it worthwhile and enjoyable. I'm over 20 years into my frugal lifestyle and still learning, still enjoying and still love setting myself personal challenges and goals. Welcome to a happy and sustainable lifestyle.
I haven't totalled my annual spends, will do that for next month. I know I haven't blown the budget because I've been in the black all year and managed to keep up with my savings plan, mainly because I want to build a cabin next year.
Grocery savings - I have been extrememly successful with Olio recently, mainly because someone nearby has become a food waste hero. Yeah! According to my account status, I've already saved about £90 retail value of foodstuffs that could, otherwise, have ended up in the bin. OK, so it was mostly things that wouldn't be on my usual grocery list or meal plan but that's the beauty of frugal living and zero food waste - adapting the diet to suit what's available at the time. The multiple baguettes will be sliced lengthways and made into pizzas and the veggie sausages can be casserolled. To be honest, I was dumbfounded at the amount of foods listed on the app so to suddenly discover that it has reached our area is quite surreal. 
For anyone who hasn't heard of it, check out olioex.com  I registered a while back but my old mobile couldn't download apps and we have no signal at home but we do now have signal at Frugaldom.

ldee2111

I’m just a little bit late to the 2020 challenge but would like to join in please. I’m fairly frugal as it is but would like to get better especially with the world as it is right now: potential job loss in the horizon for us. Hopefully it doesn’t happen but I’d like to be prepared for it. 

Frugaldom

Hi @ldee2111, welcome to the challenge. This is probably a good time to join us as we are now gearing up for 2021. Here's hoping you don't have to incorporate job loss but being prepared for it, just in case, is wise. Hope you enjoy being part of our group.

FrankieM

I don't have any idea what my budget will be for next year yet so I'm just trying to spend as little as possible until I can put some figures together.
Last month was quite a spendy month. I'm not used to sharing my space with anyone and so to have been living with my mum for the best part of a year has been really tricky.
She rarely goes out and when she does, chooses days that I'm at work cause she doesn't like being on her own. I need my own space. That ended up meaning that I went out a lot and more money was spent than I was comfortable with.
And I still didn't get the recharging benefit of my own space cause I was out with other people.
So, all in all it wasn't great.
The house sale is still due for completion on Friday and I'm hoping that this new 4 week lock down won't get in the way of that happening or of being able to move, but I wonder whether removal companies won't really know until Thursday/Friday so I'll have to wait and see.

IzzyBee

I am going to be really strict this month so that I can continue in the new year know exactly what I need for next month got all Xmas presents wrapped so not worried about December but I want this month to be as normal as possible so that I can see what I’m working with starting January determined to crack this So that I can hopefully continue working the less hours I have been given which will be so much better 

mumtoomany

Hi @smushesma and @ldee2111, welcome onboard. Shushesma, well done on giving up cigarettes and alcohol. Many years ago I remember talking to my sister-in-law, as a family they never had any spare money. We worked out that since she and her OH started smoking, the combined cost of their cigarettes was the same as we had paid for our house! (houses and cigarettes were both a lot cheaper then) ldee hope the job losses don't come to pass. First spends of the year today. £10 to savings and £16.99 for Christmas presents. DD3 wants a wooden handled razor for her legs, she's trying to eliminate plastic and £8.99 for replacement parts for a lego game that belonged to DD3, GS1 wants to play it, but bits missing, he can have them as part of his Christmas. Off to adjust signature, mumtoomany.

LivingInTheBlack

Hi all.
Firstly thanks @Frugaldom for the Olio tip. Ive signed up and gobsmacked to find out there is 88 people in my little rural area! Although nothing listed so i will try and add to it as much as possible but what a fantastic idea.
This week i am going to try shopping from home. Never done this before. I dont have a big store but Im sure with a little imagination i can use up whatever i find at the back of the cupboard. The only thing i am permitting myself to buy is milk. I know i have some meat in the freezer and some veg left over from last week.

Kerry_Woman

Was a spend day. Did a decent food shop.  Will only have to do top up food shop when needed during the month.  Made a donation to a charity.  Also brought a good luck for new job card for my sister in law - she starts a new job in January.  Lit a candle at home as it is All Soul's Day today in remembrance of my Mum. Did voluntary work today. There are lovely people who work there on a permanent basis and they do other things for the local community.  

mumtoomany

Very expensive day! Bills have gone out £585.99. This is one months council tax, one months tv licence, one months electric, one months phone and internet. Also the annual buildings and contents insurance, water for six months and the gas standing charge. DD1 has also paid same amount, all bills are halved. Also paid half of the builders bill to fix the roofes, house and barn, £177. Christmas presents, £18, and shopping, big monthly shop, £91.94. The rest of the year needs to be cheaper I think. Mumtoomany.