2020 Frugal Living Challenge

willow_loulou

@Frugaldom thank you xx 
I hate feeling so low, It’s very unsettling and wearing. 

I have grown apple from pip 😀 my bonus planting of 2020. 

Any avocado growing tips ? 

mumof3.12kindebt

@Frugaldom I can't remember. They are all eating variety rather than cooking because they are for each of the kids. 2 of the kids wanted green apples and 1 wanted red. So we have 2 green variety and 1 green variety. 
I also managed to find a mixed bean seed set which produce 3 different coloured beans and a duo tomato plant which produces yellow and red tomato's so when they all grow the garden will look lovely and colourful. I've never grown so many different things. Previously I've only done a few fruit trees and tomato's and strawberries so we are all very excited. 
I want to get a composter, a water butt and a small greenhouse out the back next (out the back is all patio and a very small space that I'm not using for growing as the kids like to play out there dispite it being tiny) . 
 I have bamboo coming and I'm getting a cutting off a family member (she offered after I already brought one) which I'm hoping to eventually get bamboo canes off. 
The kids are also growing sunflowers at the end of the sunflowers life we will dry them out and save the seeds to eat 😁 

I've also watched yo!t-be videos on how to save seeds from our food so I'll be doing that with the kids too. 
I'm hoping by 2022 to have this small garden area producing at no cost  to us (apart from water if we run out from what we have collected) by producing our own compost, growing our own canes for the plants to grow up, having a water butt and saving seeds from some of the food we produce and some food that we buy that we are eating) for example peppers, instead of putting the core in our food waste or compost we will save the seeds first) 
Oh and we will use butter tubs etc cut up for plant labels.... You get the idea ! 
I'm also trying to work out what we can grow in the colder months so that's something to research in the coming weeks 

I think I'm going to create an album especially for this project so I can easily look back on how we did it .. ways to improve etc .. 

Have a good night everyone 

mumof3.12kindebt

I red variety sorry 

I saved some more seeds from peppers yesterday. They have been drying out over night and the kids will be planting them this afternoon. We also made some plant labels out of old milk bottles. 

Eldest is currently helping middle son with a peice of school work and then we will be out in the garden doing some planting and labeling.  

I'm going to take photos and put it on a separate album so all the photos are kept together.  Something. For the kids to look back on too . 😁
No spend day today as we don't need anything. 

Have a good day everyone 

Frugaldom

willow_loulou said:

Any avocado growing tips ? 

This is something I have never managed to grow. I tried saving the giant seed, pushing the cocktail sticks through either end and suspending over a glass of water so it was only partially submerged but it took ages to split and even look like it would grow. I never buy avocados as they are so expensive here so gave up on the idea.
 
Mumof3 - bamboo grows huge, I do have that here and it's quite invasive if you don't keep on top of it. I think for a garden, I'd restrain it in a big pot rather than risk planting it straight into the ground. If you manage to get cuttings to root, let me know, please, as this is also something I haven't been able to do, despite following horticultural guide to the letter. 

I've taken semi-ripe cuttings from raspberry bushes to transplant elsewhere. They are soaking in a bucket of water just now, along with a tiny fruit tree that had no label on it so I haven't a clue what it is. I think it may be a plum of some sort, so will transplant it into the Frugaldom orchard soon. I have a wormery that also needs restarting so that is this week's job - that and finishing building what I'm calling my equi-snack bar. It's like a big compost heap of manure for planting horse-safe stuff to help keep them healthy without having to buy commercial supplements or fancy foodstuffs. 

willow_loulou

I saw the cocktail stick method but have none so have one wedged in water and one on soil that’s flooded. I’m going to just plant them as they’ve been there 2 weeks and I see splitting and starts of Root’s. Will be potting up my peppers, toms and cucumbers tomorrow too. Hoping the wind we have passes so they can go in my little greenhouse. 

Wish I could find my grow from pip book .... 

welshspendthrift

Hello I would like to join in with this frugaldom! Being in lockdown has made me realise I’m spending way above my means and struggling to stay in my overdraft so time to sort it out! I want to retire in the next few years but won’t be able to if credit cards and loan not paid off. 

Aim in next 12 months to pay off next card and overdraft while still paying as much off credit cards as possible. 

I do grow some herbs and vegetables but on a small scale, going to sort out some tubs while off tomorrow 
sorting clothes for selling-where’s the best site? Is it Ebay? 

I do work full time but currently working from home so at least no fuel spending! 

Do tend to use Amazon far too much- aim to stop now! 

Will be reading threads for any helpful hints
Need to do budget later, scary as credit card / loan repayments could mean in debit 😩 

Herbyme

Well done to everyone for hanging on in there in these tough times. It sounds like we are all finding our different ways to cope with some things, and we are struggling with some things too. I think a lot of people (not here specifically, just generally) are underestimating how much impact the whole situation has on wellbeing, physical and emotional.  I suspect we are all too aware of the impact it has on our financial wellbeing. One bit of free support I can suggest (I'm a counsellor so I come across such things in my work) is to search 'nhs northumberland tyne wear self help' and you find a website with an array of guidance in the form of booklets, audio, BSL video etc, for lots of topics eg anxiety, low mood, stress, health anxiety, OCD etc. 

I like free resources, and because it's from an NHS source, it's 'legit' unlike a lot of online materials.

I know it's easier said than done but we have to be kind to ourselves as well as to everybody else. Have a good evening everyone

willow_loulou

I’ve started using empty plastic bottles to grow seeds in. I had run out of small but deep pots, it works well just sawing them in half with a bread knife! Found my pip book online for £3-99 so ordered it,I think it’s a worth while investment.  Tomorrow is all about potting on and new seeds. I was gifted a few established toms so will pot them on, no idea on variety but they will get used either way. Just hoping my neighbours give me some peace tomorrow 

Must google how to make a bottle watering system. 

Frugaldom

welshspendthrift said:

Hello I would like to join in with this frugaldom! Being in lockdown has made me realise I’m spending way above my means and struggling to stay in my overdraft so time to sort it out! I want to retire in the next few years but won’t be able to if credit cards and loan not paid off. 

Aim in next 12 months to pay off next card and overdraft while still paying as much off credit cards as possible. 

I do grow some herbs and vegetables but on a small scale, going to sort out some tubs while off tomorrow 
sorting clothes for selling-where’s the best site? Is it Ebay? 

I do work full time but currently working from home so at least no fuel spending! 

Do tend to use Amazon far too much- aim to stop now! 

Will be reading threads for any helpful hints
Need to do budget later, scary as credit card / loan repayments could mean in debit 😩 

Welcome onboard the frugal living ship, I;m sure there will be plenty of help and support for you to get you through the next couple of eyars of paying down your debts and getting to grips with a new way of spending (and living). Congratulations on making the decision to join us on our money saving journey.

carolinerunner  - thank you for your helpful advice and recommendations

Willow_loulou, I'm glad you found your pip book at an affordable price.

May got off to an ok start here with a couple of small wins (£50 and £1.50) so that is equivalent to about a year's supply of pasta and rice, if I can get the cheap packs. Or, it gets me a big bale of hay delivered for the rescue ponies, who would eat it in a week!   My seedlings are coming along really slowly cmpared to those of you growing stuff in the south, despite the great weather we have been having over the past 6 weeks. I'm glad that I'm not entirely reliant on my own ability to grow food or I would spend my life eating herbs while waiting for the fruit to grow. I just never seem to have much luck with spring veggies.or things like tomatoes and peppers.

Hope everyone is staying healthy and safe!

mumof3.12kindebt

@Frugaldom yes we are going to pot it as I heard it can take over.  

We planted dwarf sunflower seeds today. 

Did a food shop as I forgot to get ours delivered. We won't need much next week.  

I'm hoping to stick to no spend going forward. I would like a compost bin and small greenhouse for the garden at some point. 

 we are still frugaling along here. I should have enough fuel until at least the middle of next week.  

I have a video call interview on Saturday. If I get the job I'll have to rejuggle the budget. And for now while there is no school , hospital appointments or clubs I'll take as much overtime as I can to try and boost the savings. I'm hoping to have £12k saved by the end of the year.  

I'm hoping for a 3 day no spend streak over the weekend

Have a good evening everyone. 

Take care