2020 Frugal Living Challenge

HoneyIShrunktheDebt

I'm in a different situation - I have been lurking on these boards for a while. Recently I have moved from UK to a country where living costs are very high due to hubby's job.
He did get a substantial pay rise, but I'm struggling to find work due to work permits etc - I don't live in Europe. All goods are imported and there are no discount grocery stores. Very little fresh local (cheap) produce is available. I'm looking for motivation to live as frugally as possible in the circumstances as our spending started to get out of control and we have got into a lot of debt very quickly. We are trying to reign spending in before it gets out of hand. I'm looking forward to reading ideas and then adapting them to the reality of where I am living!

[Deleted User]

cw18 wrote: »

When you say they weigh 2g, did you open them and weigh just the tea? If not, then there's not 2g in each. The St0ckwell (which I think are the Tesc0 ones you're looking at) are 200g for 80 bags - so 2.5g each including bag.

But it all depends on how strong you like your tea. I tried the cheapest from Tesc0 once (when they were still labelled 'value') and had to use 2 at a time. I always got the 240 bag box of their 'red' label - 750g box making them 3.125g and about 1.21p each (which is still cheaper than using 2 of the cheapest).

These days I get the red box from A!di. 160 bags (500g) for £1.15 - so 3.125g and 0.72p each, which is more tea than the cheapest Tesc0 for the same price. And Lid! come in exactly the same weight/price as A!di.

I'm loving all the tea chat on here at the moment:T:j Tea is my one 'vice', I'm a real tea addict:eek:

I don't buy expensive, 'posh' tea bags as funds don't run to that and I've found some of the supermarkets' own brands are perfectly drinkable. I like my tea quite strong with just a little milk and no sugar which means I really taste the tea itself. I don't know about anyone else but I find after a time I 'go off' the bags I'm using or they maybe change the blend slightly:(.


I've never tried Aldi or Lidl tea bags because I don't have access to their stores. We have very hardwater here too:(. My Mum lived in a soft water area and her tea was to die for. She used Yorkshire Gold and gave me a box to bring home with me but it didn't taste anything like as nice here:(. It was a bit expensive for my budget anyway but I might have treated myself occasionally if it had been worthwhile. I tried the regular Yorkshire Tea designed for hard water but it wasn't anything special considering the price:(. I'm currently using Tetley again, their 240 size packs have been on brilliant offer at various supermarkets recently:j. Otherwise it's Morrisons Everyday Teabags (red box).


Has anyone any other recommendations please? The only supermarkets I have access to are Morrisons, Co-op, Sainsbury online, Asda online.

jammydodgersandrhl

Finally_Solvent wrote: »

I'm loving all the tea chat on here at the moment:T:j Tea is my one 'vice', I'm a real tea addict:eek:

We have very hardwater here too:(. My Mum lived in a soft water area and her tea was to die for. She used Yorkshire Gold and gave me a box to bring home with me but it didn't taste anything like as nice here:(.

Do you use a water filter before putting in the kettle? - i know its an expense but it would definitely make a difference to the taste (and you don't need to change the filters as often as they recommend)

Missywissy

I'm making a veggie curry for my lunches this week but with mash instead of rice to use up some of my potatoes.

How does listening to audio books via the library work? How much is it aprox per book and how long do you have the audio for?

I don't know about tea bags, I am lucky and live near a Lidl and stock up on theirs when they are on offer, although they haven't been in offer recently.

I am trying out using soap instead of shower gel, so it's less plastic but it is also cheaper, I buy 2 pink dove bars for £1 and they smell lovely and last a longer then shower gel.

I also get milk from the milk man to help reduce plastic. It also stops me popping to the little Tesco to buy milk and then coming out with more than just milk.

[Deleted User]

jammydodgersandrhl wrote: »

Do you use a water filter before putting in the kettle? - i know its an expense but it would definitely make a difference to the taste (and you don't need to change the filters as often as they recommend)

Thank you:T. I do use a water filter jug for our drinking water as we drink a lot of plain tap water every day. I use the kettle so frequently during the day that I think the expense of any more cartridges for the jug would be a cost too far:o. I always buy the supermarket's own cartridges, never Britta, to keep the price down but am finding the type of cartridges we use in our old jugs more and more difficult to find any more:(. My kettle has a filter in the spout and probably keeps a lot of the nasties out of the teapot though.

sinkorswim2018

Missywissy, yes soap is SO much cheaper. I'm still using some body shop bars I picked up on a charity shop last summer...goes on forever. Much better for the environment (ie less plastic, even a wrapped bar is better as it must last at least 6 times as long as liquid soap).
I also use shampoo bars and find them cost effective also. Bought a readable teabag yesterday (60p) and am using it to put all the little.leftover pieces of shampoo bar in, tried it this.mornig in the shower, works really well.
I've been toying with a gym membership - yeah I know, huge extravagance - I have talked myself out of it and surprisingly really enjoyed my run in the rain this morning. I did have a trial at a gym before xmas, was £14 for 14 days... ONLY £95 per month after that :rotfl:, clearly that membership was never a consideration. I did enjoy it, however it took a massive chunk of time out of my day. I'll stick with free.
Went to a large shopping outlet yesterday... and returned a dress. Did not buy a coffee while I was there or make any other purchases. Nearly got tempted by some wheeled hand luggage, but decided I can slum it next time I'm at the airport with my current one...saving £49.
I do need to buy okra today for a recipe, but think I can get it frozen at Iceland so shouldn't break the bank.

jammydodgersandrhl

sinkorswim2018 wrote: »

I've been toying with a gym membership - yeah I know, huge extravagance - I have talked myself out of it and surprisingly really enjoyed my run in the rain this morning. I did have a trial at a gym before xmas, was £14 for 14 days... ONLY £95 per month after that :rotfl:, clearly that membership was never a consideration. I did enjoy it, however it took a massive chunk of time out of my day. I'll stick with free.

Have you looked to see if there is a local parkrun event? I'm not much of a runner (i do it because its good for me) but its a great way of keeping motivated as it is aimed, but not pressure and free! Lots of people there to motivate you as you go round and you might make new friends too! Its every saturday morning at 9am.

natnat13

Hi all,

Re soap, we always use solid bars, although the DS's got enough lynx sets for christmas to start a shop :rotfl: so we'll be using that up too. I tried shampoo bars but they made my head itch so I've stuck to own brand anti dandruff shampoo.

I have sold a few more items on ebay and listed more.

On a negative note I realised I'd been scammed by a phone text:mad:. I'd been getting texts about different deals from the number 87070, I just blocked them so they went into my spam texts, little did I know that they were charging me £1.50 a time to RECEIVE them!!!! I looked at my mobile bill yesterday and noticed it was high, £30 they've had out of me. I phoned my provider who gave me the company's email and said they will refund me and to email them, telling them to stop sending them and refund me. When I googled it, it looks like it's been going on for years. Why it isn't illegal I don't know. I've not signed up to anything, I'm really careful about my data.

Apart from that i've been doing well, I have more money in my account than I normally would at this time of the month. I'll need fuel this week but that's all I'm intending to spend. I'm off to make some leek and potato soup for work lunches this week.

AJ_Scotland

Missywissy wrote: »

How does listening to audio books via the library work? How much is it aprox per book and how long do you have the audio for?.

I’m not sure if all libraries operate the same way but where I am audiobooks are free, whether they are borrowed from the actual library (CD/mp3 etc), online using the Libby website/app or the spydus library catalogue. The app ‘loans’ the file for two weeks and the other methods I think are 4. Check with your local library service for their offerings. Also check out the BBC sounds app, where you can download some fantastic radio plays, podcasts and books.

lcc86

Just popping in with an update, have been good for the past week. Only spent what has been needed on shopping and fuel. Bought lots of frozen veg to have for lunch to bulk things out. Have sold an unwanted Christmas present and given another away, I feel like I'm being a bit ungrateful but it's better that these things go to good homes rather than sit unused for years.

I've also started a list of things I think I'll need on a month by month basis, stuff like toothbrushes (quarterly), reminders for my toilet paper subscription (also quarterly) etc. It's helping me plan my spending better as I know what's coming up.

I do have two holidays planned this year, which I know isn't very frugal, but I'm not a person who holidays several times a year normally so I figure if I can be frugal on an everyday basis then I can treat myself.

I also have a health cash plan as I need semi-regular physio and osteo treatment. I get 50% of all costs back, and also get money back for dental and optical treatments so although it doesn't sound frugal on the face of it I worked out it will pay for itself over the course of the year.