2020 Frugal Living Challenge

BelleBaluu

Just found out today that I’ve received the £140 warm home discount. I applied for it after reading about it on here, wouldn’t have known about it otherwise! Also signed up for new bank account, so £175 in its way to me for that too! 

Frugaldom

willow_loulou said:

Just needed to tell someone.., I just paid off my store card! £88:15! I’m so happy. 

I might have to dip into other money before Friday if something comes up but I’ve cleared it all before the statement date yay! So happy 😀 thank you all for keeping me frugal. On to the credit card now!! 

WELL DONE! Here's to the next big achievement with the credit card. 

Frugaldom

BelleBaluu said:

Just found out today that I’ve received the £140 warm home discount. I applied for it after reading about it on here, wouldn’t have known about it otherwise! Also signed up for new bank account, so £175 in its way to me for that too! 

That's great news, BB!

On the frugal front here, Im  stunned that panic buying is affecting our shopping. I usually stick with the absolute basics brands from supermarket and order online, as we don't have a supermarket within 10 miles of us, so imagine my dismay at seeing simple things like pasta, spaghetti and porridge oats completely unavailable! I'd to move up a brand but managed to compensate with the pasta as the 3kg bag worked out at ;ess than 6 x the cheaper 500g bags. I also notice that a 2kg bag of sugar costs more than buying 2 seperate kilo bags so stay vigilant and keep on checking the prices.

ancientmum

I managed to get return tickets to London on National Ex for £10. This is for a family wedding in the summer. Rail fare is just over £30 return. The journey time is the same, so well pleased with that.

willow_loulou

Frugaldom said:

willow_loulou said:

Just needed to tell someone.., I just paid off my store card! £88:15! I’m so happy. 

I might have to dip into other money before Friday if something comes up but I’ve cleared it all before the statement date yay! So happy 😀 thank you all for keeping me frugal. On to the credit card now!! 

WELL DONE! Here's to the next big achievement with the credit card. 

Thank you! It’s wonderful to be making headway finally 😁

willow_loulou

Quick question- would I be better paying my credit card when I’ve saved day £50 or putting the tenner in when I have it ? I’ve been paying £10 a fortnight on top on minimum whilst paying the more expensive store card off. So if I was to double that and have 40/50 every 4 weeks would that be more effective? Or doesn’t it matter ? 

Frugal job of this week has been to re use a4 paper for printing things for work. My boss approved! I just used a thickish pen to cross through the other side. 

I’ve also bought some yellow sticker bits when shopping for my mum. I filled a feeezer tray for under £5 with fish ❤️

cw18

willow_loulou said:

Quick question- would I be better paying my credit card when I’ve saved day £50 or putting the tenner in when I have it ? I’ve been paying £10 a fortnight on top on minimum whilst paying the more expensive store card off. So if I was to double that and have 40/50 every 4 weeks would that be more effective? Or doesn’t it matter ? 

Better off to pay as soon as you have any spare, and that saves you a few days of interest

BUT

You should throw every spare penny at the most expensive debt (providing it doesn't have any early repayment penalties), as that saves you more in the long run.    Once that's paid off you then throw every spare penny at what was the second most expensive - that's then become the most expensive you have.


Having said that, I'm aware there's been a change which means only paying minimum can have your card cancelled on you.    I'd be trying to find out how much you HAVE to pay to stop that happening, and paying no more than that to the cheaper one.    It sounds like this is the way you're currently playing it, so just pay the small extra amount as soon as you have it to save the pennies on the interest.

2Scratters

Morning Peeps,
Does buying a new to me jumper from CS and getting my son to pay the purchase price for my mothers day gift count as frugal?? I think it is a 3 way win. 
 Carrying on using my stock of soap bars of which I currently have over 20(for no particular reason). I have a generous quantity of HM soups in the freezer when doing a stock check. This seems to have accrued due to working part time otherwise I was quite happy having the same each shift at work. Have also decided to give up on SW, not that it doesn't work, it does. So will put that towards a treat every 2-3 months, I have enough material to do better too.

2Scratters

willow_loulou said:

Quick question- would I be better paying my credit card when I’ve saved day £50 or putting the tenner in when I have it ? I’ve been paying £10 a fortnight on top on minimum whilst paying the more expensive store card off. So if I was to double that and have 40/50 every 4 weeks would that be more effective? Or doesn’t it matter ? 

CW18 gave good guidance too, I would add that paying when you have it is better, just in case depending on the CC how it uses the  overpayments. If you happened to put enough in and it was above your minimum payment it can stop your direct debit going out.
Hope that helps too. How good does it feel to get rid of one? Enjoy your sucess

willow_loulou

Thank you for the advice ❤️ I’m paying it as I get it. Whilst trying to avoid stopping the minimum dd coming out. That’s budgeted for so want it to keep going. I’d up it but being on a very low income I can’t risk it just yet. Need a buffer so I don’t have to rely on cc in emergencies. When I’ve £100 saved (currently £20.60) I’ll look at upping it. Or maybe keep saving my odds and then add it in when it’s at £10 .... hmmmm lol