2021 Frugal Living Challenge

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
I haven’t popped by for a while so I thought I’d check in. I’m pleased to see so many people reporting having the jab, I had mine last month with no after effects at all. OH didn’t either.
Our Lidl never has the veg boxes but I have seen the local food bank loading up with veg boxes a couple of times and their need is much more than me. I tend to get a weekly T*sco delivery midweek and pay £3.49 a month delivery fee for that, stocking up on tins and packets to bring it up to the minimum spend and then occasionally miss a week and stick that weeks money in the savings account.  Saying that this week I’m going a fiver over because recently the decaf t bags we buy have been out of stock and are back in so I’m buying 2 of those and ground coffee is on offer so I’m getting one of those. 

Lunch is going to be salad soup. Lettuce, half a cucumber, half a bunch of spring onions and some frozen peas, with two stock cubes and herbs. I’ve done a similar one with cabbage leaves and broccoli stalks in the past which worked out ok. You can stir a spoon of mint sauce too if you want.
The diet isn’t going well so I really do need to try harder. I’ve lots of lovely clothes that are a bit too tight 😫 and as it’s coming warmer and in theory we’re going to be allowed out soon I want to be able to wear something different. I’m looking forward to being able to visit but I’m not looking forward to the torrent of tourists that we’ll be getting. Before anyone says it I know the shops need people but it’s going to take a while to get my head round crowds. There’s a lot of people that still don’t want to wear masks and social distance. Anywhere enough of that.
Easter is near and so warmer weather with the lovely bits that come with that. DS1 and his partner were getting everything ready for lambing at the weekend. Lambs bouncing around really cheer me up.
Keep well guys

MazzieD

@-taff sorry, just catching up properly.  Thanks that's really helpful.  I suspect the BBC make it very vague to try and stop people giving up their TV license..  No idea how much their revenue has dropped but suspect it's quite a lot.  I was hissing and spitting when I discovered I could cancel, I used to watch a lot but had paid for two years worth and only watched a bit of national treasure Sir David Attenborough and a couple of other programmes.  I love BBC Channels but it just became an unnecessary expense.

I have decided I am developing two addictions, one is this thread and the other involves F&V boxes!.  I staggered back with a heavy one this morning, my arms are really aching so think I need to drive rather than walk

Need to see where I am with the budget, it's definitely been a really good month generally and particularly food.  The end of the month is approaching and then all the bills start going up

willow_loulou

@cuddlymarm
I’m absolutely with you on tourists. I live by the sea (3 streets away) and the growing influx of tourists in the season makes shopping in even normal times a challenge. I’m disabled and can’t deal with the buffeting in some shops. Add on the pandemic and it makes me feel quite sick. 

Im making the most of the nice weather and free out of season parking to walk the dogs on the beach whilst it’s relatively quiet. 

It’s quite incredible how busy it was last summer, I fear this year will be as bad! I don’t begrudge the visitors, we need them to survive but it is overwhelming and so so much busier than when I moved here 20+ yrs ago 

t14cy_t

joedenise said:

t14cy_t said:

will be collecting a box from the kent larder tomorrow, costs £7 per week....will let you know!!

Didn't know that existed!  Where is that - Kent is a big county!

im in the isle of sheppey. i heard about it from kent online. theres also same thing in ashford in kent. xx

joedenise

I'm on Sheppey too.  Will have to have a look at Kent online.

AskYouWillGet

Free Films that I keep forgetting about and is a good alternative to others is Rakuten TV (which my bank allows a free film every month). It seems a good contender but I have to play via laptop and plug into TV due to incompatibility with firestick. 
Today I ran out of wet cat and had stashed all the rejected pouches to give to friends.
But he thought that duck is the tastiest ever! Honestly. I can't believe it, he used to take one look and walk off! So, the cat is now part of the frugal gang 😹

StrawberrySuze

I live on the Norfolk Broads, it went absolutely crazy last year, at the start of the first lockdown everyone went to stay at their second homes and at the end of the first lockdown everyone seemed to descend on the boatyard in our village! Not looking forward to that this year, it was standing room only 🤣
Luckily there are still quietish places to walk the dogs but not in our village!

@MazzieD There are worse things to be addicted to!

Tightpants24

StrawberrySuze said:

I live on the Norfolk Broads, it went absolutely crazy last year, at the start of the first lockdown everyone went to stay at their second homes and at the end of the first lockdown everyone seemed to descend on the boatyard in our village! Not looking forward to that this year, it was standing room only 🤣
Luckily there are still quietish places to walk the dogs but not in our village!

@MazzieD There are worse things to be addicted to!

I live in the same area!  I know what you mean about the crazy crowds last year!  Never seen anything like it.  Mind you I am desperate for a drive to the coast with the dogs just for a change.
On a frugal note I have listed more stuff on V1nt3d and on FB market 😀   Reducing my clutter and hopefully a few extra pennies too.

Living_proof

@StrawberrySuze and @Tightpants24 We were in Norfolk in the camper van a couple of times last year and spent a few days at Wroxham and took a wonderful socially-distanced boat trip one day. The worst place for crowds was on the North Norfolk coast with cars parked bumper to bumper along all the little lanes. We took one look and fled inland for a bit of peace and quiet!

I am eating my way through the Morrisons box (Magic Bag) and tried the hot and sour Ramen last night. It is not for me but I am glad to have tried it. Today I will have to try something with chicory which will be another first.

MazzieD

Just been speaking to my water company.  I am NOT impressed, their website is rubbish, about the only useful bit is it tells you of any 'live' water leaks in your area and how to save water!. On most utility websites you can open an online account, find out what your balance is, change your bank account details and lots of other handy things.  Absolutely nothing on this one, what is there doesn't work moan, moan, whinge. whinge.  

Basically they bump my DD up if there is any increase in my (compulsory) water meter consumption, I then try and reduce my consumption which means my account is always in credit.  there is no way of checking your balance unless you ring them.  Meanwhile, they quietly sit on your money if you are in credit!.  I requested a refund of the £56 they owe me and the response was 'we don't issue refunds, it goes towards your next bill' so I have just cancelled my monthly direct debit and will now only pay for what I actually use.  Fortunately I can afford to do this as the bills are twice yearly.

 I will be making a complaint, I am so annoyed at their arrogance.

It's made me wonder why Water Companies are the only utility company left where you can't choose your supplier.  I would move if I could.