2021 Frugal Living Challenge

YORKSHIRELASS

@willow_loulou my default product for cleaning upholstery, rugs and spot cleaning carpets is a little biological washing powder in warm water.  I have an imitation suede sofa and every so often I tip a tablespoon or so of washing powder in a bowl with some warm water, get a cloth into the water, wring it out really well and really go at the sofa very energetically!  You dont want to wet it too much but its amazing how quickly the water changes colour!!  I use the same approach for the rug in front of the fire that the dog lies on.

DH found out yesterday that a contract he has had for over 15 years with a local company is going to end because they are selling the business.  It's a bit of a blow, not just because it will leave a big hole in his work schedule, but also because they are lovely people to work for, good payers, and the job is close to home.  This is the downside of being self employed I guess.  They will recommend him to whoever they sell to, so you never know.  I am trying not to worry, I know he can find other work if he needs to, but its not always that straightforward.

My plan for the next couple of weeks is to clear out the freezer and use up the contents.  I have some sweet chilli flavoured chicken thighs that we got for a BBQ last summer and DH said they werent very nice, so they went in the freezer and stayed there.  I am thinking about cooking them, stripping the meat off and mixing with some mayo, then feeding them to DS in his sandwiches.  Need to have a rummage and see what else is in there that I can be creative with.

Living_proof

I have started off my challenge well today by NOT getting up early and chasing all the bargains at Lidl. There is enough in the freezer for months and plenty of dried stuff I could rehydrate, and anyway it is throwing it down here. We may get the odd snow shower on Monday but it seems like it will miss us, thankfully.  My live-out partner will blow in shortly with all the goodies for a home made curry tonight. Already have a tarka dhal and dough for naan breads out of the freezer, so a very economical meal for us. Tomorrow will be a pie made a couple of months ago with various veg which are at hand. I will definitely look at Olio this evening to see whether there is anything unmissable there, but anything free is a bonus. The heating is on because it is dreich rather than cold, and I have decided I didn't work all those years to be cold in my old age!
@mumtoomany you are making tired just reading your chores this morning.

willow_loulou

Couldsavemore said:

@willow_loulou
Could you give it a blast with a steam cleaner? 

I did think about that, I’m just worried about the fabric as it’s an old chair! I think I might try the Back out first 

Hope you’re okay, take it easy xx 

willow_loulou

@YORKSHIRELASS how long does it take to dry? I may try both approaches lol as I need to do my car too and there’s no way I’m wrangling the steamer in there ☺️

flossyblog

We have cancelled travel insurance for this year, should have done it last year , €143 wasted. Final statement for water bill came in at €322 that's €42 more than anticipated.

I've always kept a note of clothes spending and decided to do this for toiletries and cleaning stuff as well just to get an idea of much I spent.  Last year cleaning came in €109.95 which included 2 doormats. Toiletries total was €101.21, I won a voucher for €10 which takes total down to €91.21,  clothing was €63.  I don't wear makeup or go in for elaborate skin care regimes, keeping it simple with nivea face cream. everything is bought when on special offer having worked out how long an item lasts .  I've became a dab hand armed with master list for reference, as to the cheapest offer and how many to stock up on. 

Frugalista

Hi everyone!
I was a member on here some years ago but let my membership lapse.  I have been reading this particular thread for some weeks now and have decided to "come home".  Was never much of a poster anyway - but will try to be more pro-active this time.

MazzieD

Been reading all your posts but haven't posted as it's been a very strange week.  Awful neighbours have kicked off again with some really bizarre behaviour, so I'm just ignoring it at the moment and getting on with my life.  

Weather has been rubbish all week, did manage to have a quick look at the garden, tulips are coming up.  Haven't really touched the garden since moving here, been looking at what's already there, thinking about digging up a couple of plants as they really are in the wrong place and I don't actually like them. 

 Haven't got any seed trays so am going to re-use some plastic containers you get with pre-packed veg and meat to start off my seeds rather than buy trays.  Makes sense to start off successional sowing in them as growing space is so limited in my garden that I don't need to sow many seeds.

Really noticing grocery prices going up now, I'll be happy if I can just stay in budget.  The F&V boxes at L*dl are really popular, I went in at 11am a couple of days ago and saw the last two boxes being snapped up before I could get there.  I don't understand the logic of putting them behind the checkouts though, I would have thought at the front of the fruit and veg section would be the obvious place or in front of the checkouts!.

Had a day off yesterday and all next week off.  I'm meant to be away on a long weekend at the moment, but I'm at home for obvious reasons.  Still, I might have time to post a bit more as the weather forecast isn't looking good.  

CraftyLittleLisa

Hello everyone.  There has been quite a bit to catch up on since I posted 6 days ago. 

I have checked my budget this morning to see where I am on my spending this month and it is all looking good.  I have this week edited my milk delivery so that I am only getting certain things every other week to minimise spend and having to find room in the already full freezer for items I can't use up in time.  I also did an inventory of the freezer food and did my food order Wednesday (via my friend) who bought it round last night.  My Oddbox delivery also arrived this morning.  I have plenty of food to keep me going for at least a couple of weeks if not longer.  My food budget is all good and nearly all my monthly bills have gone out of my account.  I'm still waiting on the energy provider switch to be finalised but hopefully I will get a refund in a few weeks.

I have decided to give myself a bit of a challenge this month as it is a short month and I still can't really go anywhere (toe is still healing but getting there).  I'm only going to allow myself to spend on food (other than the bills).  I'm going to try and do projects where I already have the resources.  I have wool to use and material so I should be able to keep myself busy.  I may even try to learn some things by watching some YouTube channels.  I am hoping this will be get me back into the frugal frame of mind which I started to lose a bit before Christmas as I was getting totally absorbed by a current project which I just kept spending money on instead of thinking about whether I could justify it/afford it or not.  I don't want that to get out of hand.

Stay safe everyone and have good weekends all.

YORKSHIRELASS

willow_loulou said:

@YORKSHIRELASS how long does it take to dry? I may try both approaches lol as I need to do my car too and there’s no way I’m wrangling the steamer in there ☺️

I have done it on a morning and the sofa has been dry enough to sit on in the evening.  You need to just have the cloth damp rather than wet.

2 loads of washing over the airer with the dehumidifier on.  I can get washing dry in about 8 hours this way.  DW on, snow is forecast here, we have plenty of food in and I dont need to go out to work so other than worrying about DS driving backwards and forwards to work it doesnt bother me.

Shopaholic_no_more

@roblou27 glad to hear you are out of isolation and DF is improving well 😊. I’m thoroughly enjoying FrugalJo! Have you seen her bobbin winder hack yet? Genius...I would never have thought of that. I am going to try the boot leak hack as well when mine get to that stage. Please let me know how you get on with yours when you do it.

@zafiro1984 @patentgirl @mumto2cheekymonkeys I hope you enjoy the channels. I follow quite a few sustainability channels and they are very similar to frugalling as in the long run it works out cheaper to do things the sustainable way I have found, especially for cleaning and toiletries. 

@Couldsavemore wow that was a great buy from the pet food warehouse for your cats! 
I hope you haven’t contracted COVID 😳 and you are ok. Still a worrying time indeed.

I have never noticed the fruit and veg boxes in Lidl before so will definitely be looking out for these next time I’m on my late shift as our Lidl is literally 5 minutes walk away so will be able to get up there early....so no excuse. I don’t think Aldi do this do they?

Not sure if we are going to get the snow or not...we are right on the very edge of any weather warning belt they show on the maps. A case of wait and see....I don’t mind this weather if I don’t have to drive in it.

Been selected for another round of £1 max selling fees for a week so tomorrow back on it and see what else I can sell! Have found a few more things from the kitchen. Definitely got the bug now as quite enthused about how much I’ve sold already! It is very cathartic having a clear out as well. I don’t how I accumulate so much stuff as I’ve moved a fair few times over the years and always need to have a massive clear out before each move! 
The difference this time is though I am selling it instead of throwing it away or taking to the charity shop (as can’t do this at the moment anyway sadly). 

Have a peaceful weekend everyone x