2021 Frugal Living Challenge

fionaandphil

@Kerry_Woman have your looked on your local college website to see if they offer something remotely?  Lancashire Adult Learning are doing a lot of online free courses lal.ac.uk  I've done a few of their in-person courses in the past any they are very good.  Their online newsletter has lots of ideas - good luck!

wishus

Hello everyone - I have been absent for a couple of weeks because I had Covid. Got through the month because brother helped with groceries and we ordered some bits from Amazon and Milk and More. So, we managed to underspend last month.
Starting March a bit weaker and with less of an appetite, so hopefully won't bored-eat my way through the money we don't have coming in!

[Deleted User]

Kerry_Woman said:

Am looking for things to do to improve my mental health which do not cost anything in March as I have been struggling.  I already have mindulness colouring books in which I have had for a while and wordsearch book. I have to cut back how much time I spend on social media.

Hi @Kerry_Woman, have you looked at Open Learn?  There is a range is interesting courses all free and online.  I've done a few for personal and some for work and they are good quality and well laid out.

Update:  Editied ,thanks to @-taff.  It's not Open reach, it's Open Learn!!  Link is https://www.open.edu/openlearn/

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

Grocery spend has been totalled up for february and came in at £153.89. Really happy that i've managed to keep it well under the £200 limit i set for 2 months running. Quite a chunk of that was nappies as well. I need ro get in the kitchen and sort out the fridge and make sure nothing will go to waste but I had my covid vaccine on saturday and have barely left bed since.

patentgirl

Morning all March already I am hoping to continue no spend days had 22 in February I need to lower food budget currently allowing myself £75 per week for 3 adults but after watching Frugal Jo need to get this lower will try for £50 per week to start with problem is DH and DD3 who still at home both like meat based meals need to get them to go with more veggie meals going to try Frugal Jo version of Jack Monroe Rainbow Dhansak tomorrow they both like pasta meals too so will work on meal plan for shopping tomorrow after my vaccination jab.

roblou27

wishus said:

Hello everyone - I have been absent for a couple of weeks because I had Covid. Got through the month because brother helped with groceries and we ordered some bits from Amazon and Milk and More. So, we managed to underspend last month.
Starting March a bit weaker and with less of an appetite, so hopefully won't bored-eat my way through the money we don't have coming in!

Hope you feel better soon wishus.

MazzieD

wishus said:

Hello everyone - I have been absent for a couple of weeks because I had Covid. Got through the month because brother helped with groceries and we ordered some bits from Amazon and Milk and More. So, we managed to underspend last month.
Starting March a bit weaker and with less of an appetite, so hopefully won't bored-eat my way through the money we don't have coming in!

Do take care of yourself, hopefully you are over the worst of it.

-taff

[Deleted User] said:

Kerry_Woman said:

Am looking for things to do to improve my mental health which do not cost anything in March as I have been struggling.  I already have mindulness colouring books in which I have had for a while and wordsearch book. I have to cut back how much time I spend on social media.

Hi @Kerry_Woman, have you looked at Open Reach?  There is a range is interesting courses all free and online.  I've done a few for personal and some for work and they are good quality and well laid out.

Have you got a link? All I'm finding is stuff from BT

roblou27

Morning everyone. Got my 20 NSD this month and an extra one which looked touch and go but think I will stick to the 20 next month, see how it goes. Pay day on Friday and up to press looks like there should be a nice little surplus to divvy up. I am doing the 1p challenge and think I will perhaps start putting some bigger amounts away this end of the year rather than at the end so may use some of the surplus to do that. The rest will go to pay off the CC with perhaps a small amount towards the EF.  DF staying over the lockdowns has helped with the grocery budget as his contribution has been going towards that. 

We will be getting a greenhouse this year but not sure when, it’s from our neighbour and it’s free which is great but we will have to get rid of one of our numerous sheds first. This is Hubs tool shed which is full of toot really...my fault as I always think stuff will come in handy. Any way there is loads in there that can go to either CS or the tip and then it’s just making space somewhere else for the essentials. We will be a bit restricted for a while as Hubs has his eye operation tomorrow and is restricted as to what he can do for about 10 weeks so I don’t think it’s going to get done before the summer but will be great. I used to have one but gave it away when I was working shifts and got very little time to use it. It’s one of those little decisions that you think damn why did I do that. Any way hopefully it comes to pass this year ready at least for some autumn sowings.

MazzieD

Did a little bit of veg shopping last week to tide myself over but need to do a proper shop fairly soon.  This month should be quite low as don't need cat food, tea, coffee or store cupboard essentials.  So just meat, veg and eggs.  No luck with F&V boxes or YS meat when I've been wandering past the shops. Apart from that I'm just going to try and spend as little as possible in March. 

I always forget about Y*u Tube so might have a look at that.  

Large flower/plant pots are definitely not a frugal option to buy!. Bit shocked by the prices as have never bought any.  Will see what I've got lurking in the garden shed and around the house and try and be creative (not my strong point)   Still mulling over all the helpful suggestions on here.