2020 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

@nannygladys I haven't been shopping this year and from what I hear of supermarkets, I don't think I even want to go back near one - ever! I visit the village store whenever things get desperate - that will be tomorrow, as I need to collect livestock feed from agri-merchant. The latter can't even source compost, let along supply any to local customers.
@FrankieM, I'm with you on things changing greatly. Personally, my day-to-day life remains unchanged barring having to fit a lot more work into my days and meet extra overheads with less income but adaptability is something we frugalers have always had to be good at, for our own sanity, as well as to keep things ticking over safely. 

No easing of lockdown for Scotland just yet so I'm having a complete rethink about the future of the Frugaldom project. I just don't think that a frugal living exprience, volunteering on a sustainability / environmental project, is anything that anyone will want after this is all over. I think there will be a massive spending spree as soon as lockdown ends.

willow_loulou

How will you diversify @Frugaldom? Most of us here are trying some sort of self sufficient lifestyle, a sea side town like ours is already high in deprivation so it takes little for many of us to struggle 

Finstickle

A few changes here, I'm now back to work (WFH) following Maternity leave but with DD still at home it's tough to get the hours in. There has definitely been more lazy meals and takeaway.

I've also just signed up for a weekly organic veg box - it's not cheap £25, but the veg has been lovely and it is helping me be more adventurous, plus organic isn't cheap in the supermarket either.  It feels like the right decision for us.

On the plus side some of those lazy meals have been bean stews which have lasted for days, I filled my car up yesterday for the first time in 2 months and am having lots of NSDs.  Plus no nursery fees!!!

So, ups and downs on the frugal front

Frugaldom

willow_loulou said:

How will you diversify @Frugaldom? Most of us here are trying some sort of self sufficient lifestyle, a sea side town like ours is already high in deprivation so it takes little for many of us to struggle 

I have been basing everything on frugaldom (frugal living / debt freedom) for over 20 years - the longterm plan was to have somewhere that like-minded others could visit and experience the reality of the lifestyle, but that reality is being imposed on people now by the Government so there is no longer a need to 'try before you buy' into this frugal lifestyle. My thinking cap is on. Frugaldom will always be there, I hope, as it's my life's work so far, but I'm seriously doubting many will need or want to learn about frugal living after lockdown. I worried about how to keep up on here but you can see for yourself that the vast majority simply vanished. I'm a bit dumbfounded by that, as it's the very opposite of what I would have expected. Perhaps the frugal living challenge has run its course.

[Deleted User]

I don't think it has frugaldom! I don't contribute much but lurk daily 😉 I think that while many people are having to live an imposed frugality now, there are also many people who are currently furloughed who will sadly have no job to go back to as restrictions are lifted due to the lack of financial viability of the businesses 😔 I also believe that many people will have a 'post-crisis' mentality - concerns about it happening again/re-evaluation of lifestyle and what's important/ desire for more self sufficiency/ less disposable income when mortgage repayments increase due to adjustments following mortgage holidays etc. 
I also believe that income taxes will rise quite markedly in the spring- it's admirable that the government have ploughed in so much money to try to keep individuals and businesses afloat but it has to be paid for in the long term and it will take a generation to get us out of the debt the country has and still is incurring...
I don't think that the challenge has run its course - I just think that at this stage of the pandemic, many people are concentrating on the here and now more than the future and as things change, so will the priorities. 

Nonnadiluca

Another daily reader but rare poster, I absolutely agree with squirrelgirl: I think a lot of people are re-evaluating their priorities and some lifestyle changes will be inevitable. Experience and advice like yours is invaluable and that won't change. 

Nargleblast

I think more people not used to having to be frugal will now be looking at threads like this for any advice or good ideas you can offer - for some folks, "frugal" has always been a bit weird and hardcore, but a reduction in household income concentrates the mind wonderfully. Although there are State benefits available, it is not always an easy process claiming them. Those who look to themselves first, and have a firm grip on the household expenditure, they will be better able to cope. Frugality to me isn't necessarily about living on bread and water, it's about deciding what is a need and what is just a want. By being frugal you can cover your needs and maybe have some of the wants fulfilled as well. I am lucky to have a regular income to support a comfortable lifestyle, but none of us should ever be complacent. Anything could happen, and, as we have seen, it does.

cw18

I wonder if some people are feeling guilty about NOT being frugal at the moment.   A fair number of people I know (and on FB groups I'm a member of) are saying that their shopping is costing them much more - partly due to not wanting to go to large supermarkets (so paying local shop prices), and partly because a lot of the cheaper lines seem to have disappeared (some just gone, some selling as soon as they hit the shelves).    And then they're buying lots of things to entertain children that they normally wouldn't be spending on (and don't have a budget for, meaning a lot of it is going on plastic they'll have to pay back with interest).

Frugaldom

Thank you for posting - I do appreciate that fewer than ever before want to post and since our relegation to 'debt free wannabe' section rather than good old-fashioned moneysaving a few years back, we have lost so many people who I think just cannot find us on here. Reactions from people have been surprising - perhaps it's a reflection on our previously normal lifestyles, which for many haven't changed, only brought extra work for less income. Frugal living - the lifestyle gets laughed at, scorned, viewed wih suspicion, the word 'frugal' gets banded like it's a bad thing but if you read through the old forums linked to page one, it has constantly explained the good - a means to an end by separating needs from wants.
I like this... I adopted it some time ago after various debates.

willow_loulou

I agree with all the sentiments above, I really think people will be desperate for your advice! You’ve helped me so much, just look at my sig for that evidence! I keep reading and keep learning because I want to retire early and enjoy my husband to be when we get to be together. Neither of us wishes to work long hours much longer, being frugal is giving me the freedom to plan for that. I know if things pan out I will be incredibly busy at work when we return, so getting things in place now and getting in the mindset is so important.  

So thank you and please keep going ❤️