2021 Frugal Living Challenge

mumof3.12kindebt

Good evening everyone, 
Happy new year to you all.

Our income has decreased quite alot due to working less hours (physically can't work anymore hours atm) and tax credits when I updated them of my new lower hours and lower wages slashed our entitled amount by quite a significant amount (due to working less and earning less)

Anyway it's now more a case of needing to be frugal not wanting too. 

I did the food shop today for the week. Went to al$i for most of it and then what I couldn't get from al$i we got from Mr t along with some yellow stickers of stuff that was on the list so I'm happy. Also got bacci for me and my partner for the week and filters for me £24.42 (not at all frugal I know ..  I am going to quit soon not sure about oh I'll leave that up to him) and I put £20 fuel in the car (not sure if it will last the week its more a trial to see how long it lasts as I use to just fill the tank every time it was on empty) 

Total spend £84.52p 

I have updated my spread sheet.  

Tumble dryer is broken so need to get someone to have a look at it. Currently using the airers which is definitely a more frugal option 

Have a lovely evening everyone 

Bluegreen143

I’m going to start today as it’s payday!
 

£73 spent in Lidl - £65 food, £2.50 beer for husband (he usually pays this himself but I treated him), £5.50 on random household stuff. I want filo pastry still but hoping that’s it for the week. No veg box this week as they are off over Christmas.

£44 on petrol (filling the tank from absolute empty. A tank doesn’t usually last a full month but hoping as nursery is closed until the 18th and we have nowhere to go it will!).

£2 spend by husband in the little Tesco corner shop.

Spendy day but payday usually is! Usually we eat with the kids but tonight we gave them pasta then Red made chicken wings, chips, corn on the cob and salad - was awesome and think of the savings on a takeaway 😆

skint_chick

cw18 said:

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!!

I've had exactly the same problem since the first lockdown - I was swimming 3 times a week then couldn't and was shielding so didn't leave the house and garden for 4.5 months. The only relief I got was from sitting up straight on a chair and putting the  ankle of my bad leg onto the opposite knee then lifting the bad leg towards my body while leaning forward keeping the ankle on my knee. Once the initial numbness and severe pain calmed down I started yoga with Adriene for back pain on youtube and it's enabled me to sleep through the night. I'm trying to go out walking as much as possible now, but I still struggle to manage distances with tight calves and hamstrings from not walking far for all those months.

Frugaldom

We're almost there.... only an hour and a half until 2021 and the start of our brand new, frugal living challenge.

Good luck and Happy New Year

cw18

skint_chick said:

I've had exactly the same problem since the first lockdown - I was swimming 3 times a week then couldn't and was shielding so didn't leave the house and garden for 4.5 months. The only relief I got was from sitting up straight on a chair and putting the  ankle of my bad leg onto the opposite knee then lifting the bad leg towards my body while leaning forward keeping the ankle on my knee.

That stretch is amongst several I've been given by NHS physio

As for walking - I have no choice but to carry on due to work.

Physio sneaked me in for a hand-on session a couple of weeks back (supposed to be seeing emergencies only).   Reckons I need hands on, which was what sorted it out last year.   But he may not be able to sneak me back in anytime soon.   I continue to chase my manager for access to Occupational Health, as my hands on last year was done by a sports physo they paid for.

I actually stopped taking my meds over the Christmas break, and slept like a log.   Started back on them on 28th (ready for return to work on 29th) and haven't slept well since.  Checked the side effects of the meds, and both have things listed that suggest they can cause problems.   I need to get off the meds, but can't see it happening before I get access to hand-on physio....

Viking_mfw

Happy New Year frugalers. Starting the year with a v low spend January foodwise as we have so much in the freezer. OH is on board, in theory, so fingers crossed. Fruit and veg only, and butter which is our major addiction; milk and eggs come delivered. 

stellata

Happy New Year everyone. Freezer and kitchen cupboard are full of food so I'm aiming for as many days as possible in January before I spend any more on groceries. Only me to feed so the slightly odd food combos wont hurt. I've also resolved to give up alcohol, and am continuing with my decluttering journey on another thread. Just hoping really that it doesnt prove too much at once. 

Frugaldom

Good morning! Welcome to 2021 and a brand new frugal living challenge.   
Let's continue to try and make each year better than the previous one and enjoy a more frugal lifestyle that allows for more fun, even if it is only virtual, for now. Stay safe, everyone!

Nonnadiluca

Happy New Year!
Doing this challenge a couple of years ago enabled DH to give up work earlier this year which has made for a much happier DH and therefore a much happier me.
Budget for this year is £11,400, the spending tracker is set up and we're ready to go.
Plans for 2021 -  enjoy each day and still be alive at the end 😊
Stay safe.

IzzyBee

Happy new year to you all budget set up and hopefully will stick to it as long as there is no surprises hoping to save a little bit for a holiday if things change drastically fingers crossed but you have to give yourself something to look forward to happy frugaling everyone