2021 Frugal Living Challenge

CraftyLittleLisa

Hello all.  I trust you are all enjoying the little bit of sunshine we are getting today.  It certainly makes things seem a bit better when the sun is out.

My main focus this month is to do the spring cleaning and the decluttering and I started this Easter weekend.  I decided to paint the lounge as it was looking really grotty compared to the rest of the flat and as I am sitting in it for most of the day whilst working from home I thought it may cheer me up a bit.  I already had paint for the ceiling and my Dad had paint for the woodwork so I only needed the paint for the walls.  Thankfully Dad is in the trade so he got it for me with a little bit of discount.  I have to say it has really brightened the room up. I also gave the lounge a thorough spring clean and declutter and have been able to clear a CD rack and empty lots of drawers.  The CD rack is being collected later today.  All the other stuff is in a pile for me to get rid of either on Facebook or when the charity shops open.  The loft has also had a declutter.  I didn't have a lot up there other than momentos so I am going through all that and if I can't find a home for it in the flat I am being ruthless and it will be going out.  What is the point of keeping stuff in the loft that never gets looked at.  I did find a jumper up there that I knitted when I was a teenager but I didn't really wear it because of lack of street cred.  Nowadays I don't care about things like that and it still fits me so I have gained a jumper to wear.  This weekend is the kitchen's turn although I doubt there will be much to declutter as I use most of it but there may be a surprise or two.

I have also been up the allotment quite a bit recently and have started to sow some seeds.  There are tomato seedlings in my window sills at the moment and leek seedlings in the greenhouse.  The other seeds haven't germinated yet.  I have seed potatoes sprouting so I have collected some soil from a friend who has had some work done on her garden and I am going to put it in some bags to start growing the potatoes in them.  I don't have a lot of luck with growing potatoes in the ground for some reason.

I can't really think of anything else to report at the moment.  Happy frugalling all and enjoy the weekend when we get there.

mandy47

My work canteen as closed down and today they were giving away individual jam portions, sugar and tea bags. I had a bag of each. There were sweetner tablets but we don't use those. Also grabbed a couple of copies of the local free paper to use in the bird cage and woodburner. 
No spend day.  

MazzieD

@tryingtodobetter my heart goes out to you, that's a lot to cope with, one or the other would probably be more than enough.

I hadn't intended to post again today as I'm sure you all get fed up with reading my ramblings.  The HM cake was delicious and it's so nice to read your posts. 

marionmgcars

Lovely to read everyone's posts, and very motivating.  Today I went to the supermarket with my partner for the first time in a month following an operation.  spent over £50 on a few extras we did not need, but then I never usually go shopping without a list, and not usually in Mr.T's.  Moral of the story - go alone and with my list.  

I am usually very frugal, and lucky to add to my savings if anything left at the end of the month.  I always think that it would be more fun and more motivating to aim at a goal.  So I have decided to start a plan to remodel my bathroom to remove bath and have a walk in shower, planning for years ahead when it is what we all need.  This will be an expensive job, as also have a felt roof above bathroom, so will look at having roof replaced and a more permanent fixture.  It will not be for a few years, but excited about planning it now.

I don't post very often, but thanks to all the members that do, as I do enjoy reading the posts each day.
 

joedenise

@marionmgcars - we did exactly that with our bathroom last year.  We put in a shower cubicle the same size as the bath was so quite a large one so there's plenty of room to move in there.  The only thing we didn't do which with hindsight I wish we had was to put a seat in it because as we get older it seems to be more difficult to wash our feet - I'm not very good with standing on one leg to wash the other foot IYSWIM!  I don't know if we can put one in at a later date but will have to investigate that.

It made sense for us to change to a shower as neither of us ever used the bath and it was a PITA climbing in and out of the bath to use the shower!  Really glad we made that change.

balabooberlies

Tryingtodobetter

a thankful hug for your service

a warm hug.....just because......

bala

x

Skibunny40

@tryingtodobetter - I have no idea what you and your partner must have gone through in the last year, I only know it must have be hell and probably still is. If you possibly can bear it, please give yourselves at least 6 months once things have calmed down to decide whether you really need to separate or if it's just a reaction to everything you've both been through. Apologies if this sounds patronising, it's honestly not meant to, just aware you (understandably) may not be thinking straight at the moment. Huge hugs and thank you for all you have done for others during this crisis.

nannygladys

Hi everyone, it's a long time since I posted but my laptop is still not working and I lost my password - until about 20 mins ago!!!! So back on the kindle. I haven't read many posts and will go back to them after this short post.
Trying to do better : I hope it works out for you whatever you decide and a big thank you for all you both do, my eldest dd and her hubbie are front line workers so I know how difficult it has been for you all.
Life has been trundling along very quietly for me, I'm trying to reduce the grocery budget even further than it is, not sure it will be doable but it's working so far. My council tax has shot up this year, so I'm hoping we will see more bin emptying etc done in the future lol!!!
That's it for now, oh by the way frugaldom I really enjoy your ponies racing in for their food etc, cheers me up to hear them
Nannyg

elbree

Not a very frugal day! Obsessed with garden and seemingly unable to not spend on plants! However have budgeting a certain amount for spring plants and still within that (although it's only the 9th!) Did get cashback from Sw@gbucks though and nectar bought food top up today. @tryingtodobetter I've been where you are and it's very sensible to take stock. You will be absolutely fine whatever happens, you're already more organised than I was simply by asking the question! Tried to get to the new L@dl today, couldn't even get in the car park! 

MazzieD

Forgot to mention this in my post yesterday, I've noticed a lot of 'tinkering' with food prices.  I reckon they all know what the 'essential' items are that feature in the 'Cheapest Supermarket' surveys, leave those prices alone and hike up the prices of other items instead.  I don't know if this is the same at A*di or the big supermarkets but L*dl put prices up and then sometimes they come back down again so I wonder if they are testing the market to see what they can get away with!,  Probably not the case but I know if something I buy regularly shoots up in price I buy less of it, try and find an alternative or try and get it as YS if it's fresh food.