2021 Frugal Living Challenge

roblou27

I used to use orange/black builders buckets that I got from B!Q years ago I think they were £. Great for tommies. I also made some raised planters with scraps of wood that were foraged or found. They lasted years till they rotted. For seeds, the inside of loo or kitchen rolls are great for beans, peas etc, yogurt pots, things like that can also be used as long as you put drainage in. For those that watch frugally type content on YT I have just discovered a channel called What Vivi did next.....I found her very interesting. An ex paediatric nurse who had to give up work, living in a small flat in London with an allotment, she grows most of her own food to last all year including freezing and drying beans. Her playlists are from her garden, kitchen and she sews so shows how to mend and make. I found it warm and gentle as well as positive and uplifting. Might be worth a look.

roblou27

marionmgcars said:

roblou27 said:

  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.   

How kind, but oh the calories.  I have the motto that there are no calories in gifts or treats, I always said to the girls I worked with, that if someone has spent their hard earned cash, and bought a thoughtful gift, the least I can do is enjoy it.  So I always do, and worry about the calories later.  They still quote me on that, ha ha....

ps I wish someone would order me afternoon tea, yum yum xxx

It was delicious...I was good apart from the little finger sarnies I did divide up the rest into thirds so we all got a bit.😇

Tanya12345

Yay for sowing seeds ! Despite the howling gale outside spring seems to be hovering in the wings..... We actually saw a couple of our Bees flying, at least they made it this far !! All ok here, grocery budget down to pennies rattling around in the purse but everything crossed we'll get there. 
Stay warm and safe everyone xx

Shopaholic_no_more

Living_proof said:

@OLaney I was only informed that the pick up by courier would be between 1030 and 1230 after I had been up at 6.30 to make sure I had done everything properly by 0800. I think it is terribly unreasonable to expect people to stay in all day, or maybe cancel plans, when morning or afternoon notifications would have been acceptable.

I did the same....up at 5.30 (DOH gets up at this time so thought may as well get up with him) did everything by the time requested and they came at 11.30am.
Luckily, for me I am not starting work until 2pm this week so it worked out ok.
It is a bit much to expect people to stay in all day for them to collect , I agree.
 Maybe, they are assuming everyone is furloughed? 🤷‍♀️

Shopaholic_no_more

roblou27 said:

I used to use orange/black builders buckets that I got from B!Q years ago I think they were £. Great for tommies. I also made some raised planters with scraps of wood that were foraged or found. They lasted years till they rotted. For seeds, the inside of loo or kitchen rolls are great for beans, peas etc, yogurt pots, things like that can also be used as long as you put drainage in. For those that watch frugally type content on YT I have just discovered a channel called What Vivi did next.....I found her very interesting. An ex paediatric nurse who had to give up work, living in a small flat in London with an allotment, she grows most of her own food to last all year including freezing and drying beans. Her playlists are from her garden, kitchen and she sews so shows how to mend and make. I found it warm and gentle as well as positive and uplifting. Might be worth a look.

Will check this lady out on YT. Thanks! 

[Deleted User]

roblou27 said:

I used to use orange/black builders buckets that I got from B!Q years ago I think they were £. Great for tommies. I also made some raised planters with scraps of wood that were foraged or found. They lasted years till they rotted. For seeds, the inside of loo or kitchen rolls are great for beans, peas etc, yogurt pots, things like that can also be used as long as you put drainage in. For those that watch frugally type content on YT I have just discovered a channel called What Vivi did next.....I found her very interesting. An ex paediatric nurse who had to give up work, living in a small flat in London with an allotment, she grows most of her own food to last all year including freezing and drying beans. Her playlists are from her garden, kitchen and she sews so shows how to mend and make. I found it warm and gentle as well as positive and uplifting. Might be worth a look.

Thanks for the recommendation @roblou27, I'll definitely have a look at this.  I love this type of content on YT.  

[Deleted User]

Hi folks, I have - again - got out of the habit of posting on here regularly.  It's partly due to the fact that I am hardly ever on my laoptop in the evenings now and trying to post on here via my phone is a nightmare.  I am working from home today so am on the laptop and have a little time during breaks to post on here.  I feel like I need to get back to frugalling basics.  I was great when I had a clear goal like getting out of debt or paying off my mortgage but I've lost focus since achieveing those things.  I've been thinking about early retirement which would be in about 7 years and I'd love this but it will only be possible if 1.  I save for it as I'd need to fill the gap between finishing work and getting my pension and 2.  I adopt frugal lifestyle as the norm.  I actually enjoy living frugally so once I reestablish some good habits it should be fine.  I'm going to have a think about it tonight and formulate my plan but any advice gratefully recieved.

tryingtodobetter

roblou27 said:

I used to use orange/black builders buckets that I got from B!Q years ago I think they were £. Great for tommies. I also made some raised planters with scraps of wood that were foraged or found. They lasted years till they rotted. For seeds, the inside of loo or kitchen rolls are great for beans, peas etc, yogurt pots, things like that can also be used as long as you put drainage in. For those that watch frugally type content on YT I have just discovered a channel called What Vivi did next.....I found her very interesting. An ex paediatric nurse who had to give up work, living in a small flat in London with an allotment, she grows most of her own food to last all year including freezing and drying beans. Her playlists are from her garden, kitchen and she sews so shows how to mend and make. I found it warm and gentle as well as positive and uplifting. Might be worth a look.

I've just started watching her within the last week too. Her videos are really interesting and informative on lots of different subjects to do with living a frugal lifestyle.

MazzieD

roblou27 said:

I used to use orange/black builders buckets that I got from B!Q years ago I think they were £. Great for tommies. 

Just been having a look, both are 97p each!.  Got a B!Q superstore not too far away and they open at 7am so an early morning visit might be in order.  

Thanks, I'm really grateful for all the suggestions.

Popped into L*dl before work as needed to cheer myself up a bit, got 3 hyacynth bulbs in a pot.  Was on my way out when I nearly got run over by a woman dashing through the No Entry door with a trolley.  As I walked past the front of the store she was loading F&V box number 4 into the trolley.  No wonder they sell out so early......  

willow_loulou

That explains a lot @MazzieD - I’ve always thought that sort of thing should be one per shop. But of course you could be shopping for others (or say you are) 
Had my vaccine this morning, it was such a brilliant thing with so many lovely volunteers. Everyone was super jolly and the whole thing was so organised.