2021 Frugal Living Challenge

[Deleted User]

Day 2 of 17 NSD Challenge

Afternoon frugal friends,
Day 2 - no money spent! We have been for a big walk, sown yet more seeds, cleaned the hens out and I had a cheeky nap whilst the children watched a film. Tomorrow we have lots of home jobs planned including an egg hunt and Easter crafts using things we already have in. 

Tightpants24

Hi Frugal People 
I wondered if making bread would be cheaper than buying it?  I have made it in the past but didn't get into the habit.  I was thinking about getting a 2nd hand bread maker or borrowing one.  What's your thoughts on this?

willow_loulou

Tightpants24 said:

Hi Frugal People 
I wondered if making bread would be cheaper than buying it?  I have made it in the past but didn't get into the habit.  I was thinking about getting a 2nd hand bread maker or borrowing one.  What's your thoughts on this?

Depends on the bread I think, it could be cheaper but I’ve not yet found a decent reliable recipe in a bread maker so lots of waste. Flat breads however most definitely, quick and easy.  

mandy47

Got loads of reduced meat today. Supermarkets arn't opening tomorrow so they reduced  2 days of fresh products.
2 legs of lamb
3 large chicken
4 packs of chicken thighs
4 packs of beef mince
1 turkey mince
1 large beef joint (cut into 3 now)
3 steaks
Filled the freezer which was looking rather empty. 
Also got reduced bread, potatoes and stir fry. No meat shopping for a few months. Did spend £71 but  saved almost £90 on the full price. Very pleased.
I've always been a bargain hunter but today I found out I was loosing 28 hours work a month and no more overtime. So belt tightening time and I will need to rely on offers and markdowns a lot more. 
luckily we have no debt, just a mortgage and that should be paid off this year.
Happy easter to you all.

Annies_too

joedenise said:

Annies_too said:

I have been lurking for far too long...  my April intentions: 1) to get selling online (money towards a holiday) and freecycle more things. I have far too much clutter but I can’t just throw good things away. I’ve been an avid recycler/make do and mender for many years. 2) this will stretch into May... empty my chest freezer to make space for this years allotment produce. Anyone got any recipes for gooseberries (apart from crumble and fool)?

Check out the BBC food website  - there's 36 recipes all together.  Just google 'gooseberry recipes'!  You can do tarts, pies, jams & chutneys.  I'll need to be doing the same thing from next year hopefully (having just bought gooseberry plants!).

JoeDenise: Thanks, I’ll take a look.  I’ve only got 2 gooseberry bushes but get really good crop from them so am sure you will too

[Deleted User]

Day 2 check in
Free exercise session done this morning. Sausage rolls made,  no spends today and last bit of food shop being left until later in the week.  Spend most of the day enjoying the weather in the garden.

joedenise

Annies_too said:

joedenise said:

Annies_too said:

I have been lurking for far too long...  my April intentions: 1) to get selling online (money towards a holiday) and freecycle more things. I have far too much clutter but I can’t just throw good things away. I’ve been an avid recycler/make do and mender for many years. 2) this will stretch into May... empty my chest freezer to make space for this years allotment produce. Anyone got any recipes for gooseberries (apart from crumble and fool)?

Check out the BBC food website  - there's 36 recipes all together.  Just google 'gooseberry recipes'!  You can do tarts, pies, jams & chutneys.  I'll need to be doing the same thing from next year hopefully (having just bought gooseberry plants!).

JoeDenise: Thanks, I’ll take a look.  I’ve only got 2 gooseberry bushes but get really good crop from them so am sure you will too

Only got one plant as the moment - it's a red one and says it's a heavy cropper so hope it is.  Planning on buying another one but when we bought this one this week they only had one other and it didn't look very good so left it there.  Will look again next week when I go shopping to see if they have any new ones in.

StrawberrySuze

Hi all and Happy Easter 🙂
Frugal fail today, I really fancied sticky toffee pudding when I saw it in the shop, so bought that and extra thick double cream and wine! I would usually make a pudding myself. I only went in to look for ys, well that and wine.... I can justify it by saying that it came to less than a take-away, not that I buy take-aways and it is Easter after all!
Finished my trellis and started staining it, it is very large, like the Forth Bridge, once I get to the end it'll need starting again 🤣
Will try and carry on with it tomorrow, still aching though!
That was a good haul @mandy47 🤗 28 hours sounds like quite a lot to lose but it must be a lovely feeling having your mortgage nearly paid off.
@Tightpants24 if you time it right, reduced bread is cheaper than making it but not nearly as nice, at least if you make it you know what's in it. I think I would eat even more bread if I made it!
@balabooberlies I use basil and oregano with chicken and indeed with almost anything else at all 😆
It's good to see some more people posting 😊

balabooberlies

Thank you 

I ended up using thyme and slow roasting my £2.55 chicken (still really thrilled at that).  It was lovely.  And plenty left.

However, checking my store cupboard am very low on herbs.  I use a lot of basil (will try basil and oregano next time) and have completely forgotten what tarragon smells/tastes like.  On my list.

Happy Easter

bala

x

MazzieD

@Tightpants24 I used to make a lot of bread, I'm not sure if it was much cheaper but it was so delicious and fresh!.  I spent one morning or afternoon each month literally making one batch of dough after another by hand, baking and freezing enough for the month.  I have to agree with @StrawberrySuze, I did tend to eat a bit more as it was so tempting!.

It's really cold but sunny this morning, noticed a layer of ice in the car windscreen.  Might take a look at my spreadsheet later to assess the impact of Council Tax and another couple of higher bills kicking in (how sad am I?!).  A couple of really noticeable things on there last time I looked, I filled the car up with petrol just before Christmas but haven't bought any petrol so far this year as not using my car much but will need to soon and no haircuts so a frugal Lockdown bonus I suppose!.  I really do need a haircut now, was just about to get it cut after Christmas and then Lockdown 3 happened so it's getting a bit desperate!.  Not too long to wait (hopefully) until hairdressers, charity shops etc re-open.

 I don't do a special Easter Lunch or a roast dinner so just a normal menu today apart from an Easter Egg which is a real treat!.  

Have a lovely day whatever you are doing and enjoy your Easter Eggs or whatever you are eating