2020 Frugal Living Challenge

Siebrie

jammy_dodger wrote: »

thanks Siebrie yes i keep track of tyre pressures work is 100
mile round trip so the cost mounts up just that ive never taken note of the amount I spend a month
i drive economical car and try not to make unnecessary journeys picking up groceries on way home i live 10 miles from nearest store

Hi Jammy Dodger, what does '100' mean? 100%? My tyres have to be inflated to 180; it says so on the sticker inside my door.

[Deleted User]

Siebrie wrote: »

Hi Jammy Dodger, what does '100' mean? 100%? My tyres have to be inflated to 180; it says so on the sticker inside my door.

jammy dodger said:

''…. i keep track of tyre pressures work is 100 mile round trip....''

The 100 was miles driven not the tyre pressure:)

Frugaldom

Looks like everyone is doing not too badly, aside from a few ailments, minor setbacks and some sneaky luxuries that can catch us all out at times.:) Well done to all who are still with us as we approach sme sort of momentous occasion this Friday (UK) and welcome to our latest arrivals. The next couple of days may see some exceptional news stories - I have just been told of supermarkets running out of toilet rolls and basic medication/pain killers so here's hoping tomorrow doesn't see some war-is-coming, last minute dash to empty shelves in case Brexit deadline means it's doomsday. No panic buying here, thats for sure.

Good luck to all over the next 48 hours leading us to the end of our first month of the challenge and don't forget, if you budget to a daily expenditure, February has an extra day this year.

willow_loulou

i Have to admit I have a pack extra of loo roll, just 12 rolls of cheap stuff. I bought them in October just before which ever deadline that was. I can live without many many things but loo roll! I really hope that is just scare mongering.

Paid off another £18 today as I got a £30 rebate from a membership I’d cancelled, the rest went on tickets to something I’d decided against doing with this frugal life. I figured I paid that last year so I could justify a fabulous treat as the money had already been spent. Very excited �� and as I know the chap that runs the event he won’t mind me taking a bottle of water rather than buying any there. Yay.

Siebrie

I made a swap with my neighbour I gave him a €2,99 bunch of orange roses for his 92nd birthday (it was last week) and an hour of my time, and he gave me 2 chocolats for dds and 6 eggs from his free-roaming, bio hens With this soft winter, the chickens just continue laying and he and his family have to many eggs!

jammy_dodger

good afternoon
been organised about the house today having a good clean that has saved me putting the heating on
made a shopping list and meal plan for the rest of the week and planning on a supermarket shop tomorrow when I am out anyway
Im making bread rolls again today I,m finding living alone this works out better than making /buying a whole loaf and they are easier to freeze and take out as needed
Ive had a sort out of the greenhouse too and made a raised bed along one side to plant into for hopefully an earlier crop this year when the weather starts to warm up hoping to grow carrots and courgettes a few salad crops n chillis in it
ive also sorted through my seeds am onlygoing to sow n grow what i actually like to eat rather than "they look pretty"
have great day JD

lessonlearned

Hello everyone.....

Well that's January almost done and I have to say I am delighted with my new extra frugal lifestyle. I have substantially reduced my food budget - about £80 less this month and I've still got lots of food in the cupboards and freezer. I think I can take it even lower. Going to have a go, try for another £30 off.

The car sailed through its MOT, so no big bills there. The mild weather has meant that I haven't used as much energy as I expected so I am well in credit with EDF. Might even have enough for a refund at some point - it all depends on Feb and March.

I have used the library rather than buying books. I did splurge on a much needed haircut and I did treat myself to two new to me dresses - £1 each from the Chazzer, so didn't break the bank.

So all in all a good month.

The money I've saved will go towards the kitchen revamp. I would love a new kitchen but can't really stretch that far. I've currently got the joiner here repairing some of the cabinets and moving them around to improve the layout. They are solid dark pine and make the kitchen look rather dark so I'm going to paint them.

It will save a small fortune.....

Siebrie

I have to report a fail Last night, I made hasselback potatoes and chicken-in-a-parcel. For the hasselback potatoes I followed a recipe from a reputable website, but they were neither tasty nor done, even after extending the oven time. As for the chicken? The leeks and carrots were done and tasty, but the chicken was grey and rubbery. I have made this recipe before, and have put 'tasty' next to the recipe, but this was not nice at all.

Husband and I have decided to not buy regular chicken anymore, only occasionally a whole chicken which has been ethically reared, when we fancy chicken. We are lowering our meat consumption on the whole, and moving to ethical meat more and more.

lessonlearned

I am going to try a local farm shop for my next lot of meat. It has a good reputation for ethical treatment of the livestock and it doesn't seem to be much more expensive than the big supermarkets.

I really want to use more local shops and businesses this year, as well as employing local tradespeople, like the joiner, to repair and make things for me.

He has made a fabulous job sorting out my kitchen and even did a an extra little job in the bedroom. He worked solidly for over 4 hours and only charged me £90, including materials.

He has Also promised me some pheasants........:rotfl:

amber03

Well finally decided when I am going to retire from work. Mid June just before I go on holiday. So until then I would like to change my ways and become more frugal also save as much as I can. Will definitely be using more of my local shops . My biggest problem is that I stockpile food "just in case". Stopped using the car for short trips and have been walking instead. Will be looking and reading this thread for more frugal tips.