2020 Frugal Living Challenge

Finstickle

The balance between supporting local businesses and saving money is such a tricky one to navigate!!!

lcc86

January worked out okay, I ended up with about £30 spare at the end of the month, which is unusual for me! I made a list in December of things I think I'll need to buy each month and this has really helped keep my mind on track as well as my finances. Was also under budget for food and petrol. Renewed my breakdown cover using a link from the weekly MSE email which saved me about £6 for the year but is also better cover than I had before.

My biggest expenses have been health wise, I've had to pay for a couple of physio sessions, but I try not to beat myself up as I'm in a lot of pain and it helps. Going to ask the GP for a scan, they've refused previously so I've decided if they say no again I will bite the bullet and pay privately. Not ideal but need to know what's going on.

Counted up my loo rolls and I still have 31!!! The next subscription delivery is due in March but I think I'll still have plenty left so can delay it.

Has anyone tried soap nuts for laundry? I was thinking of trying them but not sure if they are any good or financially worthwhile?

[Deleted User]

Hi folks, I am loving the February fitness challenge. Health and wellbeing are a big part of my priorities just now. After years of decluttering here and there I fully decluttered last summer and decided to follow a minimalist lifestyle. After decluttering stuff I decided to minimise other aspects of my life - commitments and a tendency to overcommit and then feel overwhelmed, how I spend my time (too much of it in front of the TV), some attitudes that needed changing etc, and moving towards a healthier lifestyle.

I've returned to a Yoga class I do with some friends from work. I'd had an extended break from it as I'd hurt my wrist and it took ages to heal up. I have signed up to do a Clubercise class which is local to me, which will start on Tuesday. I have been to Clubercise before but not to this class so I'll see if I like it. I'll also do some Yoga at home.

These classes aren't the most frugal option. I am paying for them over and above my gym membership. But I love the Yoga class and Clubercise is such a laugh and a great stress reliever that I think they are worth it. This is why I love the fugal lifestyle. I minimise spending on the things that don't matter to me so that I can spend on the things that do.

Siebrie

Has anyone tried soap nuts for laundry? I was thinking of trying them but not sure if they are any good or financially worthwhile?

I have used soapnuts and they work fine if you have soft water. I didn't and every so often had to wash with normal laundry soap to lift the greyness.

CJRyder

Hi everybody,


I'm a long-time frugalier (although not usually a posting one!) but wondering if anybody has found dried essentials (pasta, rice, cereal, etc.) packaged in readily recyclable material at reasonable prices? I am a big fan of 20p spaghetti, 45p rice etc. but I am trying to be more conscious of the packaging they come in. In one supermarket the only cereal that had truly recyclable packaging cost £4 for a single box! I have found 75p porridge oats (1kg) in paper packaging in one german discounter, but nothing else in any of the mainstream supermarkets or german discounters.


Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Whilst I am just trying to be more aware, SWMBO has decided to try and do Plastic Free February!

willow_loulou

Very pleased that my Aldi shop was £8 less on Friday than last week. We still had food at the end of the week!
I had 2 nsd this weekend, that’s unheard of but I’m not buying the local paper anymore so had no reason to go to the shop. My mum always buys it so is now saving it for me, along with what ever magazines she buys. Bonus!
Charity shop trip tomorrow as I need a document sized bag with zips or something, had a small disaster with some paperwork falling out of my work bag into a puddle! It’s not exactly a need but I do need to look professional at meetings I have this week.
I moved over to a Filofax this year, it was an expensive outlay really but has proved invaluable already as it survived the puddle, my usual £1 diary would’ve been ruined.

willow_loulou

CJRyder wrote: »

Hi everybody,


I'm a long-time frugalier (although not usually a posting one!) but wondering if anybody has found dried essentials (pasta, rice, cereal, etc.) packaged in readily recyclable material at reasonable prices? I am a big fan of 20p spaghetti, 45p rice etc. but I am trying to be more conscious of the packaging they come in. In one supermarket the only cereal that had truly recyclable packaging cost £4 for a single box! I have found 75p porridge oats (1kg) in paper packaging in one german discounter, but nothing else in any of the mainstream supermarkets or german discounters.


Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Whilst I am just trying to be more aware, SWMBO has decided to try and do Plastic Free February!

Aldi do porridge in what looks like a recycling type bag, will try and remember to check the weight and price for you.

CJRyder

willow_loulou wrote: »

Aldi do porridge in what looks like a recycling type bag, will try and remember to check the weight and price for you.

Thanks for that. I found the 1kg 75p bag in Lidl. The same bag in Tesco was made of non-recyclable plastic. Aldi is certainly closer to me though!

Frugalistamama

Oh my goodness, I need help or at least some accountability! I'm usually so frugal but since Christmas have been going on a spending rampage! Particularly going overboard on groceries, stockpiling stockpiling.... but it's getting ridiculous now I need to start using it. Also went mad in the sales buying clothes as I haven't bought anything new in about a year ( since stopped this) but also going a overboard stockpiling toiletries. I know this food hoarding has a lot to do with our financial situation a few years ago where I struggled to feed the family but the stockpiling right now feels a little OCD as I can't seem to stop. Considering a week's spending freeze to get out of the habit and following this forum again. I've set up a new username to reflect my intention! Any advice for me to keep me on track?

Siebrie

Frugalistamama, maybe you can have a look at some of these Mormon women's websites? They stockpile food for a year on a very low budget, and are very good on giving tips on how to keep this stockpile fresh. I like 'the prudent homemaker' and 'a working pantry'.