2020 Frugal Living Challenge

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
Today has been a NSD. Yesterday wasn’t due to succumbing to the online sales. I ordered two evening dresses ( we’re going on a cruise in March) and since I finally got to SW target need some new bits and pieces. They arrived today but one will be going back but I’m keeping one. The one I’m keeping is lovely and only £27. If I leave it I could end up still needed a dress but have to pay full price for something else so I decided to go for it. I don’t follow fashions so I wear the life out of my clothes so if see a bargain I go for it.
We’re still eating from stocks, working through the freezer veg now.
I’ve ordered my first online shop for this year and was ruthless going through and knocking off anything I didn’t really need.
I’m determined to be as frugal as possible this year.
Well done and good luck to everyone joining in.
Cuddles

BelleBaluu

Hi all, I’ve been reading through posts but have been unable to comment as I didn’t realise my user name was case sensitive! Figured that out tonight 🙈
I’m following the thread with interest and liking some of the tips I’m picking up.
My goals this year are to try and get an EF put away, then I’d like to start putting some money into my mortgage, if I can. I’m also wanting to make a dent in decluttering my house/garage, while hopefully making a few extra pennies into the bargain. I am also going to try really hard to focus on only buying needs, as opposed to wants, as this is an area where I let myself down on occasion.
Looking forward to following everyone’s journey 😊

FrankieM

Morning

Yesterday was groceries and fuel day.

Both quite low due to only 2 days at work and only one batch meal required for the freezer.

I'll be making Farfalloni con Funghi from the PoN website - enough for 6 people and portioning and freezing.

I portion for 2 and have one portion for tea and then the other for lunch the next day, this seems to be working well for me.

Batch cooking also means that I only buy ingredients that I'm going to use, so no 'using things up' for me, though I do miss that kind of creativity!

I've had 2 birthdays to buy for ( my Mum and my Grandson - who's 1!) and these were also less than I expected.

I'm keeping a reign on the social spends at the moment as my car insurance is due at the end of the month.

I'm finding that it takes a little while to feel your way into a new budget so I'd rather be 'tighter' now rather than trying to scrape money together later.

I'm loving reading about everyone's plans

Hettyhound

I’ll be doing a food shop tomorrow which I’m hoping to come in under my weekly budget. Back to work and school on Tuesday so establish a new routine as I’m starting a full time job. Will be making a bean chilli today for the freezer and as I’ve got 5 tins of chickpeas :eek: I’ll get some stuff for a chickpea curry when I shop so again that will freeze. I’ve got my meals planned for the next three weeks but I can substitute one freezer meal for another. We will be having left over macaroni cheese for lunch and chicken with veg for tea. The chicken was a half price bargain I roasted, carved and froze:D

lessonlearned

My plan is to get creative in the kitchen today, making some delicious meals out of odds and ends and fresh air. :rotfl: so another NSD.

Speaking of "con fungi". I did a fab mushroom risotto yesterday. Cost pennies. Today I have some leftover cooked lentils so will make a base for a shepherdless pie.

I'm not vegetarian but I think if I can do a couple of vegetarian meals each week it might help me reduce the grocery bill.

Anyway I've still got £15 left for my grocery challenge and don't need anything for a few days.

It is quite mild here so I'm managing to dial down the CH too. Every little helps.

Frugaldom

Finally_Solvent wrote: »

Thanks very much for the explanation and link:T. I'll go over there and have a good read when I get a bit of uninterrupted time. Congratulations to you for completing it:beer:

EDIT: Just tried the link but it doesn't seem to take me to anywhere relevant:eek:. Might be just me being dense:o so I'll try again later and have a good explore of the site.

SORRY! I copy/pasted the link and seem to have missed out part, the url should be https://www.rationchallenge.org/ I have now corrected my original post. I never take the tme to proofread when I shuld but am always in such a hurry. Oops!

sausageelza

Yesterday was very productive!

I put three things on FB market place and sold them within hours so £30 will be going into savings tomorrow. I also did some batch cooking. It's amazing how much leftover food you can bung in a pot of mince when the OH isn't looking hee hee

Also cracked on with some artwork, so need to sort out making prints and greetings cards with the images I have. This should keep some money rolling in while I concentrate on larger work for fairs during the year.

Note to self...do tax return!

Frugaldom

Five No Spend Days (NSD) here so far and hoping to make it at a few more, not counting direct debits, as they are incorporated into the budget automatically. Communications costs are a major cost here with few options available to us wo dwell 'out in the sticks'. My one consulation is that I now have mobile signal at Frugaldom so was able to source a cheap handset (£14.99) and opt for a 12 month contract providing unlimited texts and calls plus 15gb data for £21/month via my Topcashback account, which then paid me £100 cashback to offset the additional costs. It means we have internet almost everywhere, as I can connect laptop by using the mobile as a wifi hotspot. (Yes, I am a bit behind the times as where we live still has zero mobile signal.)

My friend referral link for TopCashBack, for anyone interested who hasn't already joined this great page. (I opted for the free membership several years ago and can highly recommend it.)

I haven't got around to doing my annual budget breakdown based against last year's spending but will get around to that at some point, but I do know it is still below minimum UK wage because Everything Else Kitty (EEK) is still being added to regularly, helped along by a £25 Premium Bonds win - woohoo! Last of the big spenders here!

FrankieM

My landline phone isn't working (parents in Australia so it's required) and after repeating myself for 2 hours, Talk Talk have decided it's a faulty front plate where I connect my phone that's the issue...that'll be £40 please, cause it's in your home.

Can't begin to tell you how cross I am!

I'd almost rather be in your position Frugaldom

3secondmemory

Another NSD - not by choice though! Succumbed to a lurgy.

No strength to do anything so will try to ‘absorb’ maximum frugality by reading this entire bit of the Forum.