2021 Frugal Living Challenge

ldee2111

@Frugalistamama we are a family of 3 - one is a toddler - and we’re around £70 a week. Usually £50 on main shop and then £20 on top ups. OH isn’t frugal and is usually the one that takes us over budget.

cw18

FrankieM said:

 and we've just been moved into tier 4

Me too.   Means my workload will probably increase again !!

Other than that, the only difference it makes to me is that they gym has to close again - just as I was about to unfreeze my membership and try to get back to the pool   I'm off work next week, and the physio and I are pretty certain that my 'sciatica' (actually piriformis syndome) flared up shortly after the first lockdown because I lost my swimming.    I'm still dosing up on meds (Naproxen and codeine) which are only taking the edge of the pain, so I desperately need to try something else to ease it off again!!

FrankieM said:

I need to book my car in for it's mot, but don't think any garages will be open until after the New Year so will have to wait until next week. My insurance is also due in January, but I've put some money aside for these from last year's budget so hoping that will cover it.

My MOT is due end of January.   It was due July, but I got a 6 month extension because of Covid.   When due in July it hit with my car insurance, now it hits with my road tax !!!    I need to play piggy-in-the-middle between the garage and DS1 to sort out when it can be booked in for, as DS1 uses it for commuting and I get to steal it back for recreational purposes and anything that involves a bill......

DawnW

cw18 said:

I'm a swine for picking up reduced to clear things without really considering when I'll use them!    I have two overfull freezers that I really need to work through in 2021, so hopefully by this time next year they'll be organised in such a way I can knock up complete meals rather than pulling one ingredient and having to try and find 'something that will go with it at a push' or going shopping for the rest of the meal.
I also have rather significant stockpiles of random long-life items (many of them being impulse purchases when on promotional reduced price offers or multi-buy offers) - as well as the less random things I bought earlier this year in case I ended up having to isolate for a period of time.    Those also need working through to bring them down to a manageable level of items I know I'll use / rotate on a regular basis.
And as for stockpiles of toiletries and cleaning items (other than laundry powder which I'll have to get in the next couple of weeks, washing up liquid which I'm likely to need in a couple of months, and toothpaste by the summer), well it's a case of least said the better

For 2021 I'd like to 'shop from stocks' on a regular basis, and then use the money from my grocery / toiletry / cleaning budgets to invest in something significant.    I've set myself a target of using up stockpiles in the past, but without a good incentive to do so I seem to give up very quickly!

Same here! I will definitely be 'shopping from stocks' - though I will continue to keep a good larder, as far as possible via special offers etc.

BelleBaluu

Hi all, I would like to join in this year please.  I followed last year's page and found a lot of other people's ideas very helpful.  I am a single mum and through adapting to a more frugal lifestyle, I have managed to turn my finances around in 2021. My goal for this year is to boost my savings and, if allowed, hopefully take my kids away on holiday towards the end of the year. 

Some of the things which have helped me are:

• I use a cashback CC for my grocery and fuel shopping, Topcashback for any online shopping and the cashback goes into my savings at the end of the year.  Using the CC also helps me see what I have spent so far each month, which helps with budgeting.  The CC is paid in full at the end of each month. 
• I use receipt scanning apps (Shoppix and HuYu) for scanning receipts and usually make about £40 off this too, again, into my savings.  I set myself budgets for the spends I have control of (food, fuel, luxuries, etc) and try to stay within them, transferring any leftover funds into savings at the end of the month.    
• I meal plan and try to shop for three/four days in advance - this saves me buying "just in case we run outs", but also stops me being in the shops too often.
• I follow the "do I need it/want it" principle and have been trying to make use of items which I might have already, before I buy new.
• Where I can, I try to borrow items (e.g. garden tools, etc) rather than buying new, when they are seldom used. 

I can't think of anything else off the top of my head, but I would be interested to hear of other people's frugal ways, which help them save the pennies.  

Frugaldom

Hi fru-guys and gals, welcome newbies and welcome back existing challengers.  Happy Hogmanay to you all and good luck to your new challenges in 2021.  After the year we have just had, this could be a great year for getting back to basics and becoming more frugal. I'm not done over on the current thread so I'll catch you all back here over the new year weekend. Stay safe, stay sober and stay solvent.

KatyLovesCats

Hi everyone. Just re-evaluating my budget for next year so I will post it tomorrow. I've had to re-jig a few things so I want it to be something I can stick to and be alright if an emergency crops up. After being a bit of a spendaholic in some areas for a few years, it will do me good to frugal myself up and get back on track. I need tough love right now haha. 

Kerry_Woman

Have sorted out my budget for the year.  January is an expensive month as I usually pay full amount for the year for the service charge for the flat, annual prescription card and some other costs planned to be going out as well.  Have been offered some temp work for January, which I am very happy about, just waiting for what days I have been offered.
Am looking as to what I want to achieve next year, but may do this on a monthly basis.  Not want to plan too much at the moment as it will help with my mental health issues.  
Wishing everyone a Happy and frugal New Year.

CraftyLittleLisa

I hope everyone had a good Christmas.

I haven't got any specific goals as such for 2021 as I am debt free but I would like to get an emergency fund up together.  This year my spending increased on hobbies due to Covid (not much else to do as I live on my own) so I need to rein that back in.  I would also like to see if I can shave a bit off my food budget.  Last year I did try to bring it down to £175.00 per month but it just didn't work.  I do try and buy more eco-friendly things which means a little more expense I suppose.  Currently my budget is £200.00 a month so I will see if I can bring that down.

Welcome all newcomers and Happy New Year.  

wishus

Hello, please may I join you this year? I have downloaded the sheet, and added in everything I can envisage us spending if modest, and if the dreaded C-word recedes in the latter half of the year. I aim to shave off about 10% on the variable items. I cleared my personal debt in February last year, and hubby is in track for clearing his by April. After that, we really must get on with repairs as the house is crumbly and full of holes. Let's get that sorted before I am crumbly and full of holes! Ah, too late, too late...

Happy New Year!

willow_loulou

@wishus I know how you feel! Crumbling house and me too!