2020 Frugal Living Challenge

willow_loulou

Off to our new eco shop today to check out the refills 😁

PipneyJane

Evening All

I’ve just caught up with the thread, having lost touch when the new forums launched.  Thank you, everyone, for sharing your stories.

In my news, this week my employer announced that they’re putting my division up for sale.  We’re right at the start of the process; it’ll probably take a year.   Several members of my head office team are devastated, frightened for their jobs and worried that they’ll end up unemployed, struggling to make every penny do the work of 20, without reserves to fall back on.  

Twenty years ago, that would have been me. Frugality has given me a degree of freedom.  Not only do I still have virtually all of the money from my last redundancy (in 2016), but I have saved quite a bit of money since then.  My budget is based on me earning less than I’m actually paid so that, if the worst happens and my current job goes south, I can accept a pay cut if necessary.  As it is, the biggest impact on me is that I don’t know if the permanent job they promised me last year will actually happen.  (I’ve worked there since 2016 but as a contractor, not as an employee.  It wasn’t my choice.  Goal One was to ensure I had over 3 month’s salary in the company bank account, as well as getting to the point where I could take paid holidays and fund my pension.)

- Pip

Herbyme

PipneyJane said:

Evening All

I’ve just caught up with the thread, having lost touch when the new forums launched.  Thank you, everyone, for sharing your stories.

In my news, this week my employer announced that they’re putting my division up for sale.  We’re right at the start of the process; it’ll probably take a year.   Several members of my head office team are devastated, frightened for their jobs and worried that they’ll end up unemployed, struggling to make every penny do the work of 20, without reserves to fall back on.  

Twenty years ago, that would have been me. Frugality has given me a degree of freedom.  Not only do I still have virtually all of the money from my last redundancy (in 2016), but I have saved quite a bit of money since then.  My budget is based on me earning less than I’m actually paid so that, if the worst happens and my current job goes south, I can accept a pay cut if necessary.  As it is, the biggest impact on me is that I don’t know if the permanent job they promised me last year will actually happen.  (I’ve worked there since 2016 but as a contractor, not as an employee.  It wasn’t my choice.  Goal One was to ensure I had over 3 month’s salary in the company bank account, as well as getting to the point where I could take paid holidays and fund my pension.)

- Pip

Pip, bravo to you. You've summed up why it's worth being as frugal as needs be to give you the freedom to sleep at night, to withstand the financial storms of life. And not only have you explained it, you've lived it, done it and are reaping the reward. Respect 

Scrimps

I echo the above Pip.  Thats really good, I hope things work out OK for everyone.
I am going to try and get the washing on the line today, yesterday I didnt because of the forecast but could have got a couple of loads dry if needed!  Weve got the shopping to do and DH has done a list,  Ive asked that we dont do 'big shops' and just buy we need as others do on here. We usually fail to meet our budget in the first few weeks due to big shops, I'd really like to try and stick to it this month!  I think Ive finished my freezer stores of food that I take to work.  Ive eaten frozen/reheated/batch cooked meals for lunch at work for such a long time, im actually just going to get rolls, crisps and a little chocolate bar and have a regular packed lunch to take in.  I kind of miss it them and end up buying them at work, if I can manage no spend at work I will be very happy with myself and much better off. 
Im off to do a bit of a declutter, we have some baby stuff to get rid off.  I have been giving a lot of quite expensive things to the charity shops as we decluttered but Im going to try and make a few pounds and put it into the kids savings.  Even if it doesnt go for much it will help, as long as I dont squander it and my conscience is clear as the charity shop has had quite a lot in the last 12 months.  
We're also going to list our runaround car as a spares and repair on ebay, it has fault but if we scrap it we only get £9, even though its less hassle to do that rather than sell, again, it will be helpful to get some additional income

stirchleygirl

gosh PipneyJane what you've done is incredible and as you say being able to sleep well rather than worrying about money is priceless
Scrimps hope you get a buyer for the car - might be worth trying Faceb00k market place first as no fees = before xmas I asked one of my PAs to put stuff of faceb00k market place for me = my old dining table that I had second hand from my parents that is about 35 years old as I got a new one last year; lots of wooden folding chairs that Ive had for years and used when I entertained they no longer get used as im no longer capable of entertaining; and a wooden garden gate as ive had a new one they all sold so worth a try 

stirchleygirl

been a busy week for me as I had a meeting at work (only 2nd trip out the house since last august due to my relapse) to discuss if I can do a staggered return to work .due to my worsening cognitive state they advised to get another 2 weeks doctors note as I have an occupation health appointment on Tuesday and they want to wait for that report before making a decision. im really having to face the issue that this is very possibly the end of work for me. Im hoping for the best (being cognitively capable of doing my job) but preparing for the worst (being dismissed on capability grounds due to my disability) ive known for the last 3 years that this would happen at some point but the possibility of it being now is a different kettle of fish.


ive got my PIP tribunal hearing the following Wednesday as last January after my reassessment they down graded my benefit I have this fit every time they don't argue over points that I have medication or equipment for but always make out that having PAs help me is my personal choice rather than a necessity. the last tribunal upgraded part of my payments and im hoping that they will upgrade me this time as the extra money would be good as ive been on half pay since the end of January (we get six months at full pay whilst ill after that its six months at half pay then after that  no pay).

stirchleygirl

yesterdays food was the smoothie for breakfast thay my PA left in the upstairs fridge
lunch was the last of the sweet and sour veg mix and rice portion from my PAs batch cooking a couple of weeks ago
tea was indian starters (samosas bhagis etc) with salad(lettuce cherry toms and chopped spring onion)  and some chutneys
suppers was toast and marmalade

there will be no breakfast today as I woke late and not starving so ill wait until lunch

yesterday I went online to start the food delivery shop order. ive got money of shop vouchers from wait r0se and sainsb
i know wait r0se is more expensive but it is an £18.00 off a £90.00 shop sainsb is £15.00 off a £100.00 shop. 
i open multiple tabs and had wait r0se sainsb and as da open comparing items and deleating from wait and adding to as da only leaving in wait when better value (i go by price per g or ml as i have the money to be able to buy larger sizes to get the best deal on the non perishable items - as only me unless the fresh can be frozen or cooked then frozen it is wasteful for me to get too much)  today i need to compare as da with sainsb as i dont have a voucher for as da. 

we will see where it can get the best prices from and if it will be a big enough spend to use the vouchers or not as i can no longer add loads of loo roll or cleaning products as i am lucky to have the money to be more environmentally friendly and now get my loo rolls fro wh0 gives a carp and trying to get cleaning products from zero waste shops im in brum so my PA used clean kil0 in the city centre last year they recently opened another shop in bournville which is nearer to me so ill be sending her to that one instead. we did have one failure the dishwasher powder didnt get stuff really clean even when completelt filling the compartment so not buying that again. i had a look and found sainsb do a dishwasher gel ok its a plastic bottle but that can go in the recycling were as all those little plastic packets that each tablet comes in have to go in the bin my pas havent mentioned anything so i assume the gel works well
i need to look at clean kil0 price list to see what to get from there or elsewhere    

stirchleygirl

a totally non frugal way to save money https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-51678850

lcc86

Hi all
Took a break from forums in Feb and am just catching up. Feb was so non frugal it beggars belief! I booked two holidays (only short breaks but still...) and then realised I completely messed up my budget which left me short for the rest of the month. Far from ideal but we got through it. Have decided I need to be extra frugal this month as a result!

I also bought some new clothes last week as I got rid of loads of stuff that doesn't fit any more. All paid for with savings and most of it was on sale. Had £16 worth of tesco vouchers which I used for weekly shop. Had to buy some expensive emollient cream so the vouchers help towards that. Have been batch cooking for both lunch and dinner. Also been getting lots of expenses at work as I've been driving loads so I've been putting that towards the credit card.

I've had to pay out for physiotherapy, am currently waiting for some scans as I may need surgery. Am really annoyed that I've been dismissed by medical professionals for two years and have probably spent at least £500 on paying for various private treatments during that time... But hopefully will be able to get it sorted soon.

Have to pay for a repair to the toilet, one of the house rabbits chewed a cable at the back of it! And I just discovered today he's also chewed a hole in my gym leggings! So will have to replace those at some point. Note to self - don't have pets! 

Whippet1

Hi Folks,
Here are my February 2020 spending figures.  They are rounded up to the nearest pound and they are not pretty. 
Travel (includes Car Tax, also car repairs) 577, Council tax 160, Groceries 154, Water (6 months) 129, Snacks 108, Communications 65, Health and Beauty 56, Home Maintenance 50, Gas Service Insurance 47, Electricity 32, Dog 30, Hobbies 14, TV Licence 13, Gifts 12, Account Fee 12, Charity 9 and Social 8.
Regards, Whippet1