2020 Frugal Living Challenge

ldee2111

ldee2111 said:

I've spent this afternoon looking at our budget for 2021. Anticipating a job loss mid-2021, so our budget for next year is based on one wage, but emergency savings, mortgage OP, and non-essentials will be covered by second wage until it's lost. This will hopefully make the transition to one wage less of a shock.
For now, our non-essentials add up to around £6.4k! I think I can get this down to around £6k without causing too much upset with others in the house. Possibly £5.5k depending on choices we make when it comes to house improvements and holidays. If/when job loss happens, this list will be vastly different. 

Sky TV 

Netflix 

Disney+ 

Home improvements 

Bin cleaning 

Leisure/fun 

Holidays 

Gifts 

Decided to start living on one wage from this month rather than waiting until January. 
Had to keep myself in check today when visiting T3sc0 and put that unnecessary Christmas jumper and slippers back. I only went for a small top-up shop but there were so many shiny temptations! Quite proud of myself for getting out of there with only the things I went for. 
Been keeping to homemade lunches/dinners, and using up food so there’s less waste, but tomorrow I’ve budgeted for a takeaway pizza (an annual tradition alongside putting up the tree and watching Home Alone).
Aiming for 20 NSDs this month. 2/20 so far.

YORKSHIRELASS

Morning all

Annoyingly I didnt get to the Foodshare this week ASB as it only opens for 2 hours on a Wednesday morning and I had a work meeting.  Will try again next week.   I am lucky that I can go during the day, its not great for people who work.  So jealous of your hoard!

It seems that there is one person giving things away on Olio 3 miles away from me, and there is currently half a pack of organic oats available at the moment.  Lets hope it can build over time.

Asda shop coming today, with a few carefully chosen Christmas extras.  As we have scaled back the Christmas presents this year I want to wrap the ones that we do have really nicely, and I am not crafty, so I will be having a go at that tomorrow.  Oh and DH has finally sold the rowing machine that he bought off Ebay and that ended up in my LR when DS moved back home, it has been gathering dust for a year.

Right, need to get on with the paid stuff.

ldee2111

Bluegreen143 said:

I can understand it being quiet in rural areas @mumtoomany. But I live right in the middle of Glasgow, walking distance to the west end, surrounded by supermarkets, so I don’t get how there is not much being given away here?! Very strange.

I live just outside Glasgow Bluegreen143 and have seen very little on Olio. Also, I had a chuckle at your post saying you’ll attempt to sneak away savings - this is me too! My OH is not a fan of frugality! 😂

willow_loulou

My Mr thinks he’s frugal but actually he’s right in somethings and spends without thought in others! Drives me nuts but all the time we live apart it’s up to him as we have separate money with the exception of wedding funds. However has been laid off now so will need to be more frugal, I’m going to drop a few suggestions occasionally. 

Feeling a bit sorry for myself today as I over did things yesterday, I need to reorganise my kitchen really as I’ve started shoving tins and things all over the place! Am putting storage shelves under the stairs. 

ldee2111

After saying I’d seen very little on Olio, I had a quick look and someone was offering 2x 2 pints of milk less than a mile from me! Usually I’d have exactly that arriving tomorrow in my weekly shop costing £3.10. 

Frugaldom

@Bluegreen143 The slots around here are all evening ones so the listings are seldom on before 8 or 9pm. Keep watching and sharing the link to the site or app as I'm sure it will catch on soon.

FrankieM

And I'm back....house move done and broadband in so I feel like I'm back in the land of the living!
Is there a thread for next year yet? I had a little look but couldn't find anything.
I'm another one who has nothing posted on Olio, though I imagine it's because there are alot of food projects in the city I live in and I guess it goes to them. A shame though cause I love the idea of 'free' anything

willow_loulou

By the time I got to the food share there was only a salad bag left, it has already been eaten. I will go earlier next week, it’s a toss up between getting it and not being in a crowd. 

I’ve found the olio hero, I will try and factor in the travel with usual trips as it’s a little out of my way and I’m physically struggling right now. 

Treasurequeen

Ive joined the olio app but there doesn’t seem to be much in my area. It’s been an expensive few weeks my mobile died, my iPad died and my printer stopped working. Luckily I buy my phones outright and am not in a contract, I used some of my emergency funds for it. Same with the iPad again used savings. Luckily I emailed hp support and they rang me back with help. I managed with their help to fix the printer and it’s ok for now. So managed to save a bit there as a new printer would have eaten up the rest of my emergency fund. I’ve replaced the money for phone back into EF. 

ancientmum

I got my first stuff on olio today,  some croissants that are now in the freezer after having one with cheese and tomato for lunch.  I'm not keen on going after dark to areas I'm not familiar with, or when I have to take the car just for this one journey so I'm limiting myself. Now I know where this person is I will be happier to go again.  I've also seen a food hero who is near a bus route  and as I have a bus pass may try here in future.  Any road up  I helped save something from the tip  and got myself a few treats.