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

KajiKita

DawnW said:

missymoo81 said:

With regards to the freezer, I’m looking at possibly replacing my fridge freezer and the energy rating even on a new one is about an E or F, they’re just not efficient. 

Energy performance ratings have been updated away from the old A-G system. They still use letters but in a different way. So a new E or Frated appliance may be as efficient as an old A+ one. The new system is confusing I think!  See https://energyguide.org.uk/appliance-energy-ratings/  for more information.

I had no idea @DawnW! Thank you so much for sharing this information. No wonder I struggled to find appliances with a ‘decent energy rating’ when buying a new integrated fridge recently! 

KK

Elisheba

MFWannabe said:

Ref cars; how many miles per year do you now drive, as you work from home now? 

That will make a difference reference petrol or diesel 
What age car would you be looking at? That can make a difference reference tax rates 

Difficult to say really.  This years mileage is confused by the fact I was driving to work for a while, and now am only driving to the train station, and not as often.  I am rural so need to drive to get anywhere.  It'll be between 5 and 10k per annum I would think, and I do enough 100 mile plus journeys that a diesel engine would get a good run, so either petrol or diesel would suit. 

I want to get as low tax and eco as possible, but a big car (ideally 7 seater), and for under £5k.  Just depends on what I can see on Autotrader that looks suitable really. If I do opt for diesel I'll try and get at least Euro 6 so will be getting a  pretty high mileage - but non Ulez cars are going to get more and more restricted where you can drive them in the next few years.  Even taking my Mum to visit the hospital in Glasgow Ulez applies now or I would get a hefty charge (although I do think Glasgow is being a bit optimistic with its low emissions plan, considering its got a blooming great motorway running through the centre of it and Ulez hasn't been applied on that, but there we are).  

Elisheba

missymoo81 said:

Hi @Elisheba I have just caught up on your diary! I was so far behind but it has been my evening reading over the last few nights. I’m so pleased you have your house with your garden and you’re so settled in. It’s weird isn’t it sometimes when we’re pushed and have to think outside the box sometimes, sometimes the best things come
from it! And I love your house buying plans! So exciting.

You’ve inspired me to go back to my MSE ways! There are a couple of things that we are so similar on! I also have a mass of curly hair, I’ve tried many shampoos and conditioners but have recently found a rhyme and reason one that was reduced in boots with no baddies in it and in recycled packaging and my hair has felt so much better. We are looking at selling my car to get one that we can sleep in that can also pull a trailer. What car do you have, trying to get an idea on size that would work. 

With regards to the freezer, I’m looking at possibly replacing my fridge freezer and the energy rating even on a new one is about an E or F, they’re just not efficient. 

Sounds like you’ll have a lovely time at your mums.
Right I guess I should really update my own diary now I’ve highjacked yours!

Hi @missymoo81 Yeah, these boards are really good for getting your frugal mojo back I find!  For me I am finding making my goals SMART works best for me - so for those of you who don't have Smart targets stuffed down your throat at work, teach target/goal should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.  

Yeah, I am still gutted Ethique and their curly shampoo and conditioner bars are puling out of the UK.  They last forever and don't irritate my scalp at all.  Its really annoying.

I currently have a Seat Alhambra.  Its a 7 seater, and one of the great things is all the seats fold down flat so easy to convert into a bed at night.  Fuel efficiency is about 45-50mpg on mixed driving.  Never had any problems with it so I can't complain. They come in at about £15-20k I think.  Not sure what I will end up with now I'm selling it though.  

Elisheba

DawnW said:

missymoo81 said:

With regards to the freezer, I’m looking at possibly replacing my fridge freezer and the energy rating even on a new one is about an E or F, they’re just not efficient. 

Energy performance ratings have been updated away from the old A-G system. They still use letters but in a different way. So a new E or Frated appliance may be as efficient as an old A+ one. The new system is confusing I think!  See https://energyguide.org.uk/appliance-energy-ratings/  for more information.

Thanks, @DawnW.  I knew there had been some sort of change, but didn't know the details.  Good to see it all summarised and written down, and that a current F rating would have been an old A or A+ rating.  I'll need to sit down at some point and work out if a new chest freezer and fridge would save me money in the long run and how much.

Elisheba

Afternoon, all,

Just a quick update as I need to take my Mum to an appointment in a bit.  A few spends this week - the middle aisle at L!dl is dangerous!  I bought a snow shovel (cheaper than any I can see on Amazon), and a wearable blanket which was the perfect colour for my living room.  Both of which I could have easily lived without, no doubt!  Ah well.  Also got next years Xmas cards more than half price, and a lovely jumper for £4 in a charity shop which I am very pleased with.

I have updated my s/s for the month with all the figures and know what I am heading into January with.  I can't finalise my 2025 budget until I get my January payslip and see what my wages will be with the annual increase, but I have a draft all filled it so will just need to plug in the correct figures.

I am going to write up some aims and resolutions for 2025 and when I am done I will post them here.  I think I will try and attached either monthly or seasonal actions to them so I know How I am doing at any given point. 

Right, I need to be going now.  Its grey and dreich up here in Scotland, and we have a snow warning for the rest of the week.  Hope everyone stays warm and dry!

Makingabobor2

I must be missing something when reading that link to the new energy ratings. Just don't understand how an E or F, can be equivalent to an old A?  I better read it again, more slowly.  We have been debating whether to buy a new freezer, as ours is a small 3 drawer one underneath the fridge and sometimes I could really do with more space. Especially when I see yellow stickered stuff, or want to batch cook or bake.  But not getting one if its going to cost £100+ a year to run. 

Cheery_Daff

Makingabobor2 said:

I must be missing something when reading that link to the new energy ratings. Just don't understand how an E or F, can be equivalent to an old A?  I better read it again, more slowly.  We have been debating whether to buy a new freezer, as ours is a small 3 drawer one underneath the fridge and sometimes I could really do with more space. Especially when I see yellow stickered stuff, or want to batch cook or bake.  But not getting one if its going to cost £100+ a year to run. 

It looks like all the new appliances would count as at least A rated under the old system, as energy efficiency has got so much better, so it was becoming hard to distinguish between them. So they've introduced a new rating to make it easier to distinguish - but the new F is still as good as the old A. Using A-F for both hasn't helped in my opinion, it would have been better to switch to numbers or something but hey ho! 

That was my reading of it, anyway 😊

Elisheba, do you NEED a 7 seater car? We've had a Berlingo and a Kangoo in the past - and in both we've been able to lay the back seats down and both of us sleep in the back (although we may have REMOVED the seats, can't remember...). Just something to throw into the mix. I loved the Kangoo 🥰

Elisheba

Afternoon, everyone and a very happy New Year to you all,

Mine started on the phone to the vet because silly dog had found and eaten a big bar of chocolate over night.  Thankfully the vet says the amount he ate combined with his size should mean he is okay without any treatment.  So although I am keeping a close eye on him I am not expecting any problems.  What a panic to start the year though!

@Cheery_Daff No, I don't need a 7 seater although it is useful when I am with my family.  That's not enough reason to get one though.  I would be happy with a Kangoo or Berlingo, but it just depends on what's available within my budget.  

I am off to my sisters later for dinner.  It is traditionally steak pie on NYD in Scotland, but there will be a Quorn roast for me. 

Now I understand the energy rating of freezer better I have looked up some figures.  A specific massive double/triple (509 litres) chest freezer I looked at rated E says it will use 290kw per annum.  A normal chest freezer (95 litres) I saw also rated E says it will use 167 kw per annum.  I am currently fixed at £0.2377 a kwh, so that would be £68.94 per annum for the massive freezer, and £39.70 for the normal one.  I imagine most other ones fall in between that.

A modern under counter fridge rated E I looked up uses 90kw per annum, so that would be £21.40pa to run.  So if I had a modern version of my current normal size chest freezer and undercounter fridge they should cost about £61.10 per year to run.  Looking at my current energy readings on my smart meter (which if you will recall, should only be showing me the energy the freezer and fridge are using as everything else is turned off), the electricity use is between 1.84 kwh and 1.56kwh a day.  Say 1.75 kwh per day on average, that's 630kwh a year, or £149.75. 

That's £88.65 extra a year in electricity for my old less energy efficient appliances, so not insignificant.  Doing the sums with a rough calculation of how much a new fridge and freezer would cost, it would take just under 3 and a half years for them to pay for themselves. Its definitely something to think about.  The only reason I am not immediately deciding to buy new ones is that I am obviously hoping to buy a house in the next couple of years, and it may turn out I need different sized appliances then, so it may be worth waiting.  

Inspired by Cheery's diary I have worked out my annual spending figures for 2024, and I am going to post them separately following this post.  In the meantime, I hope you are all having a lovely and relaxing NYD.

DawnW

I would definitely wait to replace appliances if they still work ok. Throw the money at your deposit fund instead.

Elisheba

Okay, drum roll!  The 2024 annual spending figures are in.

Rent - £8750.28 (Will go up in November. Fixed, nothing I can do about it)
Food, toiletries and cleaning products - £1946.18 (want to reduce to £1200 in 2025)
Various debt repayments - £6783.59 (about £4.1k of that is the bank loan and not much I can do about that just now.  The rest is interest free c/c which will be paid off when I sell the car)
Water - £420.32 (should be £144 in 2025)
Council Tax - £1121.60 (fixed cost with annual increase in April)
Broadband - £317.73 (fixed until 30.11.2025)
Electricity - £691.00 (now on a fixed deal and have some credit on there.  Should be £660 next year)
TV License - £164.28 (fixed)
Mobile phone - £203.40 (fixed until 16.10.25)
Pet food - £327.28 (half of black cat's food and litter is paid for by ex or it would be more)
Dog Insurance - £563.12 (Will go up in March.  Happy with company as no copayments after a certain age unlike most of them)
Dog vaccination - £85 (will go up next year)
Cat Insurance - £246.81 (half paid of ex or it would be more)
Car Insurance and recovery - £626.68 (All next year's car costs will depend on what car I buy)
Car Service. MOT and other maintenance - £671.73
Car Tax - £190
Diesel - £981.43 (Will be roughly the same next year depending on the cost per litre at the pump)
Work travel (trains and parking mainly) - £564.97
Personal pocket money - £1688.75 (This will be cut in 2025.  Have budgeted £1200)
Clothing - £988.50 (Ridiculous.  I don't need anything now and have budgeted £100 in 2025 for absolute essentials)
Christmas - £508.21 (£300 budgeted for next year)
Birthdays - £263.33  (£150 budgeted for next year)
Adventure Budget - £993 (this included a lot of new camping stuff, a wedding and various Scotland trips.  Have budgeted £550 for 2025 but might be subject to change).  
Various subs and charity - £354.49 (have budgeted £120 for next year as being super frugal)

So I think those are all the interesting ones.  There are a few bits and pieces I haven't bothered including, but the majority are there.  I didn't buy any oil last year so there is £800 in the 2025 budget for that.  And I've only spent about £50 on wood and coal so far this winter, and there is £700 budgeted for that in 2025 for this winter and next winter.