2020 Frugal Living Challenge

Tanya12345

Thanks General_Grant, off to the cauldron now x

Frugaldom

Tanya12345 -here's a link to the old blog post with the laundry liquid gloop info
Siebrie, I can't use my postbox as an honesty box as I don't live a the project, only work there. I seruously wish I could luve there!   Maybe one day, if I had to win a huge cash prize. 
CW18 hope you are feeling ok, don't run yourself ragged or get worn out before your holiday time off.

Petrol prices, in the wake of the collapse of the oil prices... last month I paid £1.169 per litre and tonight it was £1.139 per litre, a whole 3p per litre less.     The village store had the better offer with their Warburtons bread at 50p per loaf so I treated myself to two. 

Only just realised that May bank holiday weekend here in Scotland / UK has been moved. It's usually first Monday of May but this year it's moved back to the 8th. I've forgotten why. 

cw18

CW18 hope you are feeling ok, don't run yourself ragged or get worn out before your holiday time off.

Only just realised that May bank holiday weekend here in Scotland / UK has been moved. It's usually first Monday of May but this year it's moved back to the 8th. I've forgotten why. 

Feeling much better for having had two days off in a row.   And today was a lot lighter for both post and parcels so it was a pretty good day, even though I was on a round I don't know so well.    In again tomorrow, then off for a day, in for a day, and off for two days over the weekend.   Pretty sure I'll end up working some of my holiday week too.  I want to see if I can convince my manager to let me have my holidays back rather than overtime pay if I do (money would be useful, but so would the holidays even if I carry them over to next year), but I'm not sure how that'll go as they're not supposed to be cancelling leave OR paying us overtime - whether that be for working when we're officially on leave, when we're supposed to be on a rest day, or even for extended hours on a day we're meant to be working!!!   Not quite sure how they expect us to deliver everything with those rules in place!!   (I need to double check my last few payslips, but there's been some healthy overtime payments on them.)

The bank holiday was moved for VE day.   75th anniversary on 8th May, but all parties and such have been cancelled now anyway!

But as I said elsewhere (on a FB post) some time ago, I'm pretty confident that those we'd be honouring would much rather we be around to honour them at a later date than not around to ever honour them.

Tanya12345

Lovely to read some of the previous posts. Am back to Frugal Life now, doing our best to be self reliant. Budgets went haywire as we muddled through the last few weeks so it's back to proper planning and control. Started to use up everything we have and learning to use home made cleaning and laundry products as I never want to rely on the supermarkets again. Stay safe, well and upbeat everyone x

mumof3.12kindebt

Morning everyone, 
We have had 5 no spend days in a row. Food shop coming today. (I brought an annual delivery pass for midweek delivery at the start of the lockdown) it enables us too book a recurring slot. So we have a weekly slot 5-7 on a Wednesday. I booked it for this time because when normal life does resume oh will be home from school runs if I'm at work. As financially it's worked out much better for us to do one weekly shop a week. I just hope partner doesn't keep popping to the shop when life returns to normal.

I really need to go through all my direct debits and see what can be canceled and see if we can save money anywhere. I try to do this every few months as it soon adds up when you don't realise the things you are paying For or still paying for and no longer need or use. 

Off to get stuff crossed off my list ... 

Have a good day everyone 

nannygladys

Hi all,
Yesterday I pulled my big girls knickers up and went to the lottie, oh dear the weeds!!!. Anyway cleared one small bed and started on one of the bigger beds, put some potatoes in ( not many as I don't eat that many) and ventured into the polytunnel! Got half of that sorted so when I go back down there in a couple of days I will take the broad beans that are begging me to put them in, and one tray of onions (I have three). Im not growing as much this year so as long as I clear a bed at a time I should get everything in. I start everything off at home and take in down when its a decent size and acclimatised. And do you know what I thoroughly enjoyed it, I don't know why I kept putting it off!!!!!!

I have been cooking today, main meals and putting them in the freezer but I still cant get any flour of any kind from the SM I use, Im  still ok for a couple of weeks but ….. where has it all gone, Ive never had this problem before. I will have to look into using alternatives. 

Also my mot is due tomorrow and I have phoned around several garages to no avail and the tax is due next month, so I may be carless for a bit, save on fuel though!!! 
Keep safe and well
Nannyg

cw18

Also my mot is due tomorrow and I have phoned around several garages to no avail and the tax is due next month, so I may be carless for a bit, save on fuel though!!!

nannygladys

The government announced about a month ago that they're extending MOTs because of the problems getting them done at the moment.    If you use the on-line checker a few days before it's due (so you'll be fine now) it should show that you have 6 months on it still

Mot on line checker here
Government information here

Tanya12345

Evening all,
been making lists !! Made soap ( investing in future as it won't be ready for 4 - 6 weeks!). Made laundry gloop, dishwasher powder, and toilet fizz.
Various payments stopped - amongst other things  will have to make my own fitness plans ! ( sounds lame but I got caught up in the hype!)
Hatches battened down, bring on Merry May.
love a new month ! Xx

cw18

I cancelled my car breakdown cover today.   It dawned on me yesterday that I've had a courtesy car for almost 5 weeks, and will have it until such times as the garage reopens, get the parts it needs for mine, and has time to fit them - but I had no idea if my cover could be transferred over.   Answer was no as it's not my car.   They can't pause my cover either, but because of the virus they're allowing people to cancel without the normal £10 cancellation fee.  I decided to take the refund and restart the policy once I get my car back (and try not to kick myself I could have done this sooner).  Not sure what to do about my road tax though.   Not sure how I'd be fixed with SORNing as I'm told it's locked in a garage compound (haven't actually seen it for myself) because I've no idea when they may put it out on public land.   Annoyed I didn't think of it sooner though, as it's been locked away since 30th March so I could have had a refund for April!    Interesting thing is I don't have a contact number for them, so if we have a problem with the courtesy car I can't get hold of them unless my insurance company have an emergency contact for them (approved repair shop).   And I wouldn't be able to warn them if I did decide to SORN it, so I guess I'm stuck not being able to???

Treasurequeen

I am thinking of investing in a soap making kit so I can make my own soap. But I buy this French soap in my local eco shop in bulk so I am weighing it all up. Ordered my cats food today and got free delivery which is good as its heavy, as I had some money left over from last month. I bought it in bulk as its a specialised food. It should last around 3 months or so. With my illness I am a  free member on a support group and they are offering next week a free 1 hour Pilates class on zoom. its something to do as long as I can figure zoom out first. 

Hugs to anyone that needs one x