2020 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

@MazzieD I'm so glad you chose to return here as we all need as much moral support as possible. As a rural frugaler, I find choices very restricted and prices for many things out of reach. Our spending choices are hugely restricted in terms of shops but the Internet has proven to level the playing field. Work choices are limited and work outdoors in all weathers, 7 days a week, can become soul destroying. However, at the end of the day, the lifestyle and our spending priorities are all similar -  needs before wants and aiming for the life we love living. Then doing whatever we can to sustain that. 😊

[Deleted User]

Evening all,

Managed a NSD today, spent a small amount on groceries yesterday but that's it. Aiming for NSDs all week now until Friday, when I have an online shop coming. It has been carefully considered though and is nowhere near as much as I would have spent in previous years on my pre Christmas food shop. 

I have a raging sore throat and generally feel very run down. Work is hard going at the moment, but I think I'm just feeling world weary - what with Covid, big chance of a no deal Brexit, all the Christmas fuss that advertising still tries to ram down our throats - it's sensory overload sometimes. I do suffer from crippling GAD (generalised anxiety disorder), which has been heightened somewhat this year but has settled down a lot in recent months. I have a telephone appointment with my GP tomorrow to discuss some tests as there are some other things that aren't quite right health wise and I have to stop pretending I can pour from an empty cup, because I can't.

anyway, I digress 😊😊. The hen house is ordered, I have found a fab local supplier of feed and wood shavings for bedding and am generally incredibly excited to get them. I can't wait to see the children's faces ❤️

Keep on frugalling all xx

welshspendthrift

hello hello everyone , picked up a magic bag from Sainsb* to go today, got a great bag including 3 big boxes blueberries, chicken Kiev’s , sandwich, box of 12 mini quiches, white toaster loaf, chicken curry and rice meal and 3 boxes mr Kipling cakes! Lunches and meals and snacks yay

Frugaldom

Pace yourself, @asparklyblonde, you don't want to burn out before the year is out. Hopefully you can get some decent down time over the holiday period.
Wow! @welshspendthrift that sounds like a fabulous magic bag, are they the £3 ones that I have heard people mention? 

welshspendthrift

Wow! @welshspendthrift that sounds like a fabulous magic bag, are they the £3 ones that I have heard people mention? 

They are £4 have had about 3 from sainsb to go and all good! They do have Morrisons on the Too good to go app too but I’ve never been lucky or fast enough to get one of those! 

MazzieD

Having a few days off this week as I normally work between Christmas and New Year so that colleagues with children can take time off.

I think this year in particular has made me realise that being frugal is very much in the minority.  I don't judge other people but noticed my next door neighbours (both sides) buying so much 'stuff', most of which has already been abandoned or plants have died and since been replaced with other more expensive items.  Such a shame but it's their choice on how to spend their money,  They are 'challenging' neighbours anyway so I don't say anything.

@Deleted_User perhaps you could lengthen your timescale for reducing your mortgage.  I paid mine off over several years without the benefit of Olio or reducing my income too much, aiming for a significant birthday.. Your health is far more important than an Olio pick up or overdoing things.  I've been there, done it, got the dvd and the t shirt!

Bluegreen143

@MazzieD I hear you on that. I have a friend who has just put her house on the market for £650k. It’s 4 bed/3 public rooms (formal living room, dining/casual room and large conservatory), in the best school area around, large garden and garage etc. She has two small kids the same age as mine. When I asked why she was selling she said that as they now both work from home the place isn’t big enough, they can’t have a playroom anymore. Now each to their own, and they seem able to afford it, but this brought up two thoughts for me.

Firstly, if your home cost £650k and you aren’t happy in it, throwing more money at the problem is unlikely to help.

Also, how will I ever face the accusing faces of my children when they reach adulthood and realise the intense deprivation they faced growing up in a playroom-free home?! 

joedenise

I don't think you'll have any worries there @Bluegreen143!  You are giving your children the one thing they really want - time!  Your children will remember the amount of time and the things you did with them when they are older - they won't certainly won't think they were deprived in any way!

I was brought up in a very poor family but I know that my mum loved me and spent time with me which I are things I remember and cherish - in fact I didn't even know we were poor until I grew up and realised that there was never any money for extra treats.  Our only treat was a holiday at the seaside because my aunt and uncle lived there so dad saved up all year so we could go there as it didn't cost much (my aunt and uncle didn't want anything for board but dad always left money hiding somewhere to pay for our board) and we used to go for the whole summer holidays, so 6 weeks so it couldn't have been cheap for them but they couldn't have kids and loved them and they treated us like we were their own.

willow_loulou

@Bluegreen143 my kids played in their bedrooms - can’t see why they need another! Sounds very frivolous to me when they already have so much. Each to their own I guess! But £650k really. That’s quite literally the value of 5 of my home. 

I think things are nice, homes and extra rooms are nice but memories are made of much more than stuff and things. 

Not spent anything this week and no plans to other than posting a card (birthday) and petrol. Was really pleased to have a distance chat with my mum today who popped round with a bag of logs for me! Bless her. 

I get paid Friday from my second lot of income, thinking of investing in a heater cooler thing from D7son. Any experience or suggestions please? 

Viking_mfw

Reading books this morning with DS1 I found the perfect motto for reducing food waste and being frugal!