Frugal, thrifty, make do, mend! Let this debt come to an end!

SuzeQStan

Hey there yes walk in centres are a bit like a&e but for less urgent things.  

Good idea to take the bug spray - I have never experienced a more ‘bitey’ season then this year!

Elisheba

Morning, all, 

I joined a new frugal FB group and got a bit overexcited putting together my top frugal tips. I thought I'd share them here as well - in typical me fashion though, it's not a short list! They are all from on here or books I've read and likely people will know some or all of them already but I found it useful to consolidate them, and I think it would have been useful for me to see them all together when I started this journey. It's all stuff I've tried, so things like grow your own veg aren't on there as I don't have a garden. 

Frugal Process

Create a budget (I use a s/s my ex created on Google sheets, but a note book will do) 

Stick to your budget 

Reassess and adjust your budget every month (or week if you are paid weekly) 

Write down everything you spend as soon as you spend it. Break it down into the categories in your budget. (I used a notebook app on my phone for ages, now I use a free template on the Notion app) 

Look for communities you can share your struggles and wins with. MSE have forums, and FB has communities

Challenge yourself and make things fun where you can. 

Set little targets you can achieve - the big picture is too hard. 

Have long term goals so you can remember why you are doing this. 

Think of being frugal as a lifestyle rather than a burden. 

Get out of the mindset 'I work hard, I deserve such and such'. You work hard and you deserve to be debt free. 

When you aren't making ends meet you'll have to do everything you can. Once you have a little leeway, think about investing money in products that will save you money in the long run. Decent flasks, or camping gear, or instant pots. Do your sums though and make sure you will use it. 

Find frugal role models, even if they are online or on You Tube. It's much easier to model good frugal behaviour when you see and hear it regularly. 

If you can at all avoid it stay out of more debt. 

Pay less

Most importantly, if you are not making ends meet - if you don't need it, don't buy it. Once you have a little slack in your budget you can very carefully consider optional extras, but not before. 

Don't impulse buy. Shop around, look for deals, discount codes, wait at least a month before you commit to buying a product you think you need. 

Seriously consider buying second hand for everything you need. I did a year's challenge where I bought nothing new unless it was vital and I absolutely couldn't get it second hand. It saved me hundreds if not thousands of pounds. 

Unsubscribe to all the adverts to your email box

Delete your card details from Amazon etc everytime you use them. This has saved me a fortune. Just going to get my card puts me off buying most impulse buys. 

Limit drinking alcohol to going out, or at least to one night a week. 

Stop smoking, and if you can't then start vaping with a rechargeable and refillable vape instead. It's probably not any healthier but it is a huge amount cheaper (vape liquid is 99p in Home Bargains). 

Get rid of all your subscriptions. There is loads of good TV for free, and you can listen to music on You Tube. Read free papers. Buy a puzzle book. The only thing I think it's worth paying for is cloud storage, which is less than £2 a month for me on Google 

Use your local library - books, audio books, papers and magazines are all available online and on your phone now, and well as the hardcopies at the library itself 

Make your own home cleaning products. Nancy Birtwhistle has a book called Clean and Green which has recipes, or find them for free online 

Turn off all your switches at the wall - vampire energy is a real thing

Meal plan based on what you have in the house. 

Go food shopping as little as possible. Fortnightly or monthly is best. 

If you can, go to different supermarkets to get things as cheaply as possible. It's not as easy as it used to be, but compare prices online. 

It's not a good deal if you don't need it - beware special offers. 

Downgrade to shops own brands wherever you can. 

Cut your own hair - lots of videos on You Tube. 

Dye your own hair, or go natural. 

Eating in is cheapest, but if you are going out choose cheap places, and find offers. 

Home cook quick and easy meals rather than buying microwave meals. 

Takeaway is a waste of money. Bulk cook meals and freeze them for when you don't feel up to cooking. Or have beans on toast. 

Limit treats, puddings and sweets 

Put the dates in your diary for every utility and car renewal, and shop around for the best deals. 

If you are going on a journey or a trip, pack all your own picnic food and drink. 

Often frugal values will align with environmental values, but if you are skint go with the frugal option where they don't. Once you are debt free and in a good financial position you can then mindfully and intentionally decide if you want to spend more money on products that meet your environmental values 

Use less

See if you can cope with fewer showers, and a sink wash inbetween days. 

On hot summer days try cold showers

Only wash clothes if they are smelly or have dirt you can't wipe off. Clothes do not normally need washed after one use 

Only boil the amount of water you need, or put extra in a flask so you don't need to boil the kettle later

Use the microwave/instant pot etc instead of the oven/hob.

Always use lids when cooking on the hob. 

Try to cook as much as possible when you use the oven to get value for money on the energy you are paying for. 

Line dry or use a clothes horse. Tumble drier should be avoided wherever possible. 

Bulk out bolognaise, stew, chilli, casseroles etc with cheap healthy ingredients like lentils 

Buy reusable products wherever possible when you can afford them - face wipes, batteries, sanitary products, etc. 

Use it slower

Consider watering down milk - if you buy full fat you won't lose much flavour 

Don't drink milk when you are thirsty - water or squash are much cheaper 

Use soap rather than shower gel (I use Dove as normal soap can dry your skin out) as it lasts longer 

Use flannels instead of a shower puff - they last a lot longer. 

Can you walk or cycle rather than drive and use petrol? 

Wear makeup less often - save it for a night out or a special occasion. 

Wear slippers round the house so you are not wearing out your shoes 

Elisheba

@winterWarrior I still haven't remembered what I thought I needed from Tesco! So it definitely couldn't have been a yummy treat as I'm sure I would have remembered that!

@weenancyinAmerica we do have Avon over here so we probably do get that range. I confess the only think I ever use is Jungle Formula Max, and as it melts sunglasses I'm pretty sure it's not super healthy so I tend to be very sparing with it. I had a bad experience with an insect repellant I bought for a trip to Uganda years ago. It actually got all the insects following me! Albeit they were killed when they touched me, but it was a nightmare, so haven't felt minded to experiment since then! 

Elisheba

SuzeQStan said:

Hey there yes walk in centres are a bit like a&e but for less urgent things.  

Good idea to take the bug spray - I have never experienced a more ‘bitey’ season then this year!

The bugs and flies are so bad! Think. I'm going to buy some citronella candles which should hopefully discourage them from the house a bit. 

Elisheba

So in complete contrast to my very frugal list, today is going to be very spendy!

I have my new walking boot fitting at 11am, so that's going to be £150-200 for new boots. The map shows some sort of lake nearby so I'll take my dog with me and take him for a walk afterwards.I'm almost certainly going to get some coffee and cake when I'm there as well 😳. 

Then later on I'm out on the town with friends for dinner and drinks, which will no doubt end up very pricey. I'll try to make sensible decisions, but it all adds up! 

Other than that I'm going to dye my hair this morning, and I need to do a few house things like change the cat litter, put the dishwasher on, and maybe a quick hoover. 

So busy, busy, busy! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, whatever your plans are 😊. 

Cheery_Daff

Sounds like you're in for a nice day! 😊😊

Makingabobor2

That's a brilliant frugal list, thankyou.  Don't feel bad about buying the boots, I bet they will last for years and walking is the one thing I think we should all do, it is good for the soul as well as the body.  I recently bought a new back pack (although it was only £3,50 in charity shop) and have also bought walking poles, 2nd hand. But when it comes to new walking boots I definitely need brand new ones.
Enjoy your day 

Elisheba

Yeah, I've never been able to get suitable boots secondhand @Makingabobor2 . Always turns out to be a waste of money. Even buying online without trying then on has been a disaster. 

Anyway I have boots now! £148 reduced from £185, and guaranteed for 3 years. Also paid by Amex so get 0.5% back. Money from the clothes pot, and as they are pretty much all I wear in Winter and I'm out on all weather's I don't begrudge paying the money. 

Makingabobor2

They look like good ones. Not heard of that make actually, I will have to investigate. 

Sunshine_girl2

Just delurking to say, I have my feet measured properly for walking boots, up in the Lakes . I have the same make of boots and have had mine since just before Covid. Happy walking in them and glad you got sorted. Liking your frugal lists as well.