2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Onebrokelady

It's payday for me today so time for a new budget. I'm still struggling to lower my food money to under £100 so must try harder this month. I think it will be doable once my daughter moves out as she does share some of my shopping ( loo rolls, wash powder etc ) she buys her own food but does sometime eat the things I've cooked so that comes from my grocery budget,she pays me rent though so does contribute to the household,it's all swings and roundabouts I suppose
ive been on holiday this week so haven't really been anywhere,I've had one trip into town for supplies and an online delivery of shopping to pay for so three NSDs so far this week, I might get two more over the weekend but I do have a couple of things that are running out and I'm not sure they will last until Monday 

MazzieD

Thanks @AskYouWillGet and @Onebrokelady.  I'm genuinely surprised that I managed to get the groceries down as prices are going up everywhere.

Quite by chance I found out that OFWAT (water regulator) regularly fine and give my water board a slap wrist for water leaks and poor customer service - no surprise there then.

Just been filling out an email invitation from T*sco to give my views about my recent store visit.  They seem to send them every time I go to a local Express store or the big superstore now so they are must be very worried by more of us using them as a top up shop and going to the discounters for the main shop.  They seem to have benefitted from a huge increase in on-line shopping so not sure why they seem to be worried.  I'm a bit cynical about loyalty cards, I use them but am aware that we all pay a little extra on prices to get the benefits and am always aware that they are a marketing tool.  I shudder to think how much information they have about my shopping habits, judging by the number of surveys I get by email it's quite a lot!.

MazzieD

I've just seen the viewing figures for the 2021 Frugal Living Challenge so far.  221.9 THOUSAND views.  That isn't a typo!.  

Frugal Living seems to be quite a wide subject area.  Interesting as I have wondered about some of my posts being 'off topic', maybe I've just been lucky, none of my posts have been removed and I'm sill here!.

Anyway, I'm going to join the silent majority and will see what it's like to just read along or 'lurk' as I've never done that so time to try it, not sure how long for.   It'll be interesting to see how long I last without commenting as I've run out of anything interesting (or not depending on your view) to post about. 

Living_proof

@MazzieD enjoy your lurkdom! It seems desperately quiet on all the threads I follow, especially the Preppers and Waste Not ones. All the old names seem to have dropped out of the system so perhaps we are all frightfully well-prepared, frugal and less wasteful these days and have nothing more to say or to ask. Personally I am not quite as frugal as I could be and can easily live within my means and save each month, but the prospect of inflation in future puts the fear of God into me!

willow_loulou

@Living_proof I was disappointed by the prepping thread, really hoped for good ideas that I didn’t have to trawl back for. But never mind! I’ve learned so much this past year I’m sure I’m okay 😬 
I’ve had a very busy week, working in actual work as well as from home. I’m feeling a little run down from it so considering what healthier foods I can eat over my usual y/s or bargains. I’ve discovered M&S have more healthier food in their reductions but obviously even reduced can be not exactly cheap. 

Any suggestions of super healthy non lentil containing foods? 

My April challenge is finding ways of preparing foods for easy cook or slow cook for the days I’m in work. I have to admit I was so drained and in pain Thursday we had a well known burger chain food for dinner. Whilst I do enjoy it the expense and lack of veg make this less than ideal! 

Yesterday I was working from home til 12 then in work for around 12:30 so cooked jacket spuds for dinner during the morning. That’s great but I’m not keen on them reheated so need more options. I also pre made paninni, wrapped in foil and just oven cooked them. That worked really well,
need more filling options for those. 

I’m ending the month well in budget for food, would’ve been more had we not had burgers. 

I’ve decided to put that money aside to allow me to get a take away should I just not cope next month. Working when disabled is certainly a challenge. 

jak

Hi everyone, I’ve had to rush to see my Gran as she was poorly but I’m back and trying to be frugal again. To that end, I’m not getting a delivery this week. My mum stayed with my son and had bought food and dishwasher tablets. Yay. She also left the heating on 24/7 so the house is boiling which I’m a bit cross about. We dont have it on at all now. Hot water bottles are my friend. I got a New fluffy dog one for Mother’s Day and it saves me loads! Unfortunately I’m going to be playing catch up with money for the next few weeks as I had to spend £240 on taxis to get to Grans. Ergh! However, she’s ok now thank god. Frugal stuff: my son is doing a free science course this weekend. It’s online through elite medics if anyone has kids who Love science. He’s really enjoying it. It’s 5 hours today and tmr so quite good really considering it’s free! 

In better money news, as of Monday I will have enough saved for our move!!! Just gotta find a house now lol. 

Next saving goal: emergency fund!
Money saving frugal goal: find someone to get me cling film cause that’s all I need this week! 

elbree

Morning Frugallers! Feeling v proud of myself today, had to go to B*ots this morning to pick up a medicine and definitely the first time ever I've made it out without 'stocking up' on toiletries I already have at home! Also used my n*ctar app to play for the last top up shop of the month. Even resisted a take away coffee in favour of making one at home. So v minimal spend compared with my old bad Saturday morning habits! As of next month I'm paying my car balloon and will be officially debt free for the first time in 20+ years. I've set up some savings pots with my bank and am wondering how to allocate them...does anyone have any advice? Apologies if this if the wrong thread for this...

Bluegreen143

Hello all. Managed to get a washing on the line today and get out to weed the garden so I’m counting both of those as frugal wins (the weeding counts as free entertainment plus helps the garden be more productive!).

We aren’t sowing seeds as early this year as we’re in Glasgow, so a good month behind the south of England, and I usually do sow stuff far too early and nothing comes of it. But feels weird that there’s not much to do yet in the garden. 

Would like to grow potatoes again but haven’t got any seed potatoes yet, perhaps I ought to try normal sprouting potatoes from the supermarket?

My husband’s payday is on Wed so we are in the part of the month where there’s no discretionary cash left unless we raid our pots, so it’s all very boring budget-wise! Luckily our next grocery shop isn’t til Wed.

Have been getting the kids (5 and 2) to help a lot more in the kitchen this week - I always did with DS but am in the bad habit of not asking DD to help & preferring to ask DS as he is a genuine help. She’s really enjoyed being a bit more involved though and I need to remember that as she gets older there’s more and more she can help with. 

balabooberlies

I had my first success with ToGoodToGo.  Success and confusion.  It was for a Magic Bag at BP/M&S Express.  The chicken meal, sausages and beef lasagna all said 'Safeway's' (isn't it closed down ?).  It had the date March 26....but no year !

Totally confused.

bala

AskYouWillGet

Just thought would share some Frugal Breadmaking news. I try to buy reduced bread and freeze it but lately have been spending £1.30 per loaf and love the bloomer style but it is going to have to go into the treat pot and only buy it occasionally. 
Today have been given a jar of sourdough starter, which needs feeding, so now researching sour dough bread making tips & found a quick series on Pr1me called 'Introduction to bread making'  (presented by Steve Owen).
It is really great, as he provides options if don't have the equipment and starts off with how to make the sourdough starter.
Discovered the Sourdough mixture can also be used for pancakes and cakes too!