2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

Welcome, @tiddles, I hope you enjoy being part of our challenge  
Not much to report here as I haven't been anywhere. The lemon and satsuma peel marmalade turned out really well and I've managed to get a couple of days of free meals so far from the Olio bits and bobs. Bread and butter pudding I made has now all been scoffed and I'm slowly working through use-it-up stuff in the freezer. As usual, however, every time I make one thing, it turns into 2 more for freezing.

CRANKY40

Good morning all. My payment for joining the cheap energy club was in my bank this morning so I cashed out the payments from Prolific, added the two together and made an extra payment off my loan. The loan schedule has been reduced by one month and I have saved £22 interest apparently. I'm happy with that. 

My son and his partner (teenagers) have decided not to buy into the overpriced shop based valentines hype so son and I are making a chocolate cake today for them to share over the weekend. Just a chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting. I bought a pack of small multi coloured marshmallow shapes which included hearts for £1 so we'll pick out some of the hearts and use those for decoration. We'll eat the rest of the packet watching something on tv in the week

willow_loulou

Payday! My main one 🥰 I’ve put the pennies where they need to go and am writing a shopping list for Lid! Later. Dd is coming to help. Having only spent on the veg box this week I’m hopeful of getting the rest of the months food tonight. I’ll not get the box again for a while as I still have plenty. I was going to get one of the other boxes but I need loo roll so makes sense to keep the carbon footprint down a tiny bit. 

@Frugaldom do you think you can build a hut from pallets? Or would it rot too quickly. I really want a garden room and I’m in love with some of the huts you’ve shared. 

willow_loulou

DawnW said:

willow_loulou said:

@DawnWvdo you know how deep your radish containers are please? I’m limited on options but want to get some in.

@willow_loulou I use mostly the cheap plastic trough things that are about 6-7 inches deep, but it doesn't matter if you use deeper containers. I put them on an old garden table .

Excellent thank you - containers are a must for me right now so that’s good to know 

Frugaldom

willow_loulou said:

...

@Frugaldom do you think you can build a hut from pallets? Or would it rot too quickly. I really want a garden room and I’m in love with some of the huts you’ve shared. 

Hi willow-loulou, 'Hut' is a definition within official Scottish planning policy so if plans get passed, ours will be a bit more substantial and professionally built to withstand the elements and last a long time. Our current pony shelter and hay store are partially made from pallets but I've included them in my planning app to make them more permanent/substantial. I've seen some really spectacular cabins, huts and shed conversions but had to have official plans drawn up for everything. Mine will hopefully be 8 x 3 inside with a covered verandah and wheelchair access for those friends who are a little less mobile.

willow_loulou

Frugaldom said:b

willow_loulou said:

...

@Frugaldom do you think you can build a hut from pallets? Or would it rot too quickly. I really want a garden room and I’m in love with some of the huts you’ve shared. 

Hi willow-loulou, 'Hut' is a definition within official Scottish planning policy so if plans get passed, ours will be a bit more substantial and professionally built to withstand the elements and last a long time. Our current pony shelter and hay store are partially made from pallets but I've included them in my planning app to make them more permanent/substantial. I've seen some really spectacular cabins, huts and shed conversions but had to have official plans drawn up for everything. Mine will hopefully be 8 x 3 inside with a covered verandah and wheelchair access for those friends who are a little less mobile.

That sounds amazing, I’d love a veranda on the back of my house with an outside room on one side if that makes sense. I’ll keep dreaming, if I win the lottery tonight I’ll buy your hut for you! 

We didn’t do shopping, dd felt dreadful this afternoon so I did a very small Iceland delivery of meat and eggs etc and will pop into home bargains tomorrow for the other 2 bits as I need to drop stuff to mum and dads anyway (same direction) and get petrol. I hope it gets milder soon, we’ve raced through the wood and electric this past 2 weeks. 

MazzieD

I'm staying in today, furry hot water bottle has installed himself on my lap.  Another really cold night with the frost setting activated again early this morning.  Think it's going to be a high gas bill 

@Frugaldom that's a really good point about getting out stuff from the freezer and it then turns into more portions.  I have a constant battle with this and it probably explains why my freezer still seems to be really full!.  Busy working my way through the F&V box, just as well I now like radishes as there were 2 bags included.  

@CRANKY40 I always love getting cashback from the Cheap Energy Club, been a member for years.  

@FrankieM I found it really hard to cut back on groceries but got monthly bill down from £100 to around £80 before I started concentrating on YS meat.   There are certain items I won't compromise or cut back on - I don't drink alcohol so my vice is ' 'proper' coffee, I refuse to drink instant now.  Cat has done his bit as his food and litter is included, no more pouches as discovered he loves tinned food and it's considerably cheaper and changed to the 'value' brand cat litter.  If something i normally buy jumps up in price  I try to find an alternative or just don't buy it.  Sounds similar to @Frugaldom but it really is just being frugal and sensible particularly now prices are definitely increasing.

Tanya12345

Me too MazzieD tis proper perishing outside ! Hubs is off to Morries for milk, seriously thinking of getting  a housecow we seem to get through so much dairy stuff ! Seed sowing and tidying today as the wind makes outside stuff a real chore.
 Aiming for a 10% saving on all bills as my  goal for the first quarter of 2021..... have seen a fab Electric Bike - trying to restrict driving in my ancient diesel van !! Whether this justifies the  potential spend on something new .... Still pondering that one !!
Have a  good day everyone, xx

skint_chick

Frugaldom said:I've seen some really spectacular cabins, huts and shed conversions but had to have official plans drawn up for everything. Mine will hopefully be 8 x 3 inside with a covered verandah and wheelchair access for those friends who are a little less mobile.

This sounds amazing - I'm obsessed with living in a tiny house/cabin and love watching YouTube videos on tiny living and thinking about my layout and being off grid. Working on minimising the amount of stuff I have so it can be a reality when I retire!

ancientmum

I went for a walk yesterday and nearly had my face frozen off in the icy wind. I miss my old cat Mazzie D, especially when the storage heaters don't cut it. He went to cat heaven last spring  and was a perfect furry hot water bottle being large and long haired.
I like watching George Clarke's Amazing Spaces on TV.  There are some ingenious and imaginative people out there.