2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Bluegreen143

@willow_loulou that makes sense and sounds like you’ve thought your situation through well given your own circumstances. I’m 32 so appreciate it’s very different as I could still be working 30+ years so I need to be really wary of interest and look to invest in different areas. The state pension age for me and husband (he’s just turning 37) is up to 67 I think now! And I’d imagine there’s every chance they will put it up to 70 before we get there. So I want to make sure we’re not wholly reliant on state pension so we maybe have the option to retire by 60 not 70!

the_cross_rabbit

Hi we’ve had rats climb up bird feeders too. Ours are metal poles, so we cut  a hole in a take away salad bowl we kept from a meal we had from m and s. we then cut a slit up to the hole and then gaffer taped that to the pole. Not sure if I explained that very well. Will take a photo and post if I’ve not explained it very well. It stops the rat climbing up the pole. You can buy bird feeders with trays on to prevent droppage.
CRx

Bluegreen143

Just checked and it’s 68 not 67! 😬

Living_proof

I recently took swab tests for the Imperial College survey, assessing the Covid infection in the population overall. The worst part, by the way, was constructing the box required to send it back - like something out of the Krypton Factor. One of the questions on the survey asked that if you found you had an unexpected but necessary expense of £850, would you have the resources to pay it? It has bothered me that the specific amount was mentioned - do you thing the Government is going to slap us with some sort of bill in the future and they are trying to assess what sort of amount would be reasonable? Or maybe I am just cynical.

willow_loulou

@Bluegreen143 I just wish I’d had the ability to be as constructive as you at 32! However divorce really messed with my head for a long time, so I just consider my wake up call as a blessing as I’ve time to get things together. 

@Living_proof I understand your questioning that and I jolly well hope it’s not the case! I couldn’t find it though I could take a small dd. I suspect many couldn’t find more than a few quid really. 

patentgirl

Thank you  the-cross-rabbit will try that and could remove after certain time too thank you will try the pole adjustment first not sure most of you to young but all I have in my head is "The old colonel saying to Basil Faulty it's Vermin with his gun out of very old episode of Faulty towers lol.

roblou27

Living-proof....I agree about the boxes when we did our postal tests mine was a nightmare the folds were just out so nothing fitted into the slots. Took me ages to try to re fold them😂 something to do I suppose. 

Not doing as well on my NSD this month but think I will still hit my 20 especially as from Saturday we all have to self isolate again! Hubs is having his cataract op on the 2nd and we all have to isolate for 10 days. This makes total sense but blimey am I hoping for some good weather so at least we can get some things done in the garden. Looking at the long range it doesn’t look bad so 🤞. The garden is quite water logged in places but with some sunshine hopefully something can be done. I Have ordered my seeds as had used up what I could last year and also Charlotte seed potatoes coming as they did so well last year in my small partially shady veggie patch. It has made me feel a bit better just knowing that soon I will be getting something in the ground. Sadly I lost all my geranium cuttings. It has been so cold this winter I have just got away with it on previous years. I have a little mini plastic greenhouse within my summerhouse, no heating but sadly not enough protection this year.
 A chilli has been made with half a pack of mince, the other half being made into lasagna a few days ago. The chilli will be for whenever. It was going to be for today but one of our lovely neighbours ordered myself and another neighbour an afternoon tea delivery as a surprise. Lovely but oh dear the calories. So I shall be grazing that today as already had pancakes for my breakfast.
Interesting chat about the premium bonds, I may have to look further into it. We did transfer out litter bit into NS&I last year as at the time it was the best rate but then they promptly dropped it. It is still slightly better than our bank savings accounts. The only premium bonds I have are £6 worth that I accumulated when I was very small as I had an Auntie and Uncle that used to buy me one for Christmas, those and postal orders! 

tryingtodobetter

Annual leave week   

Today I have made peanut butter and used some of it in a lentil and nut roast. DS2 has been talking to me about investing in Bitcoin but I'm very wary and don't really understand it!

I have been thinking about container gardening and growing some veggies, what would people recommend that grows well in containers please?

Off to make pancakes for DS3, he has requested American style pancakes with bacon.

joedenise

I grew cherry tomatoes and courgettes successfully last year in pots.  I also grew some butternut squash but they do tend to spread out across the ground so you need to keep moving them so you don't trip over them!  I only had a couple of plants but grew 5 decent sized ones.

willow_loulou

I grow tomatoes, pepper, spinach, kale, spring onions, carrots and peas very well in tubs. Doing radishes this year (normally do in raised bed when I bother) and giving sweet corn a go because I can lol