2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Shopaholic_no_more

Back on it!!
Hi All
Thankyou @Frugaldom for setting up another year. I have been very lax the latter half of this year and so I would like to get my finances back on track. It’s doing ok and I am slowly paying off the debt but yet again totally unorganised regarding Christmas and presents and have ended up spending more than I intended because (and some of it ended up on my credit card I’m frustrated to admit) yet again, I left it too late and I didn’t budget properly for it. Ho-hum.

Keeping in touch with this forum and reading everyone else’s ideas and thoughts (thanks guys) most definitely helps me so 2021 is the year I get super organised with my money and my time hopefully.
I’m liking the idea of doing an annual budget as opposed to a monthly budget so I am going to sit down with that thought over the weekend and see what I have to work with.

Happy and safe New Year everyone 🌻

Blackcats

This is an inspirational thread.  I'm working on a month at a time and in honour of the clock ticking into 2021, I've set myself a target of reducing my January spends by 21% from last January's spends.  Don't be too impressed though because I spent quite a lot last January 🤣.  My January runs from 5th January to 4th February as I use a credit card for most spending which is paid off in full each month.  Mind you, there were many years when I used the credit card but overlooked the paying off in full part of the equation. 

Wishing everyone success in all of our individual frugal aspirations.  

joedenise

I've been reading along during 2020 but not actually posting.  I'm going to continue reading and getting some hints.  I've checked out Olio and Too Good To Go but nothing near me so far but I'll keep looking, although things like cakes and pastries are no good to me as I don't eat them!

I'm trying to cut back in some areas as when we had our boiler serviced in the summer our plumber said that we should start saving as he doesn't think it's going to last more than 2 or 3 years but will keep it going as long as he can so obviously I'd like to be able to save up for that so we can pay cash.

There's a couple of others things I'd also like to get done over the next couple years which will need saving for:  new double glazing for the front of the bungalow; new soffits & guttering to the front.  Would also like to get our bedroom finished - needs new carpet, wallpaper stripping and then possibly plastering before being painted.  Also want to get some blackout vertical blinds.

Think that's enough to be saving for over the next couple of years as we also want to enjoy some time away in our motorhome which obviously hasn't seen much use during 2020!!!

I can't think about annual budgets so I, too will be working on a monthly budget!

SeekingFlight

Hi, 

May i join you again this year ?

willow_loulou

Hello,
for those that were on last years I’m pleased to report the money I was waiting for loan wise has come! Phew! It’s lovely seeing an almost paid off cc account. By paying off less than the whole amount with the loan and paying the rest this month £97 I’ve saved 2 payments and interest was £25 less oh and the interest rate was .2 less too. I even got cash back! Nuts. So I feel much more in control of my out goings. 

I’ve spent the day looking at seed catalogues and how to make things from pallets. I’m wondering about staple guns ... 
I’m popping in A!di tomorrow, am taking the other half home as I’m working from home now and it’s harder when he’s here. He’s been here before any announcements about tiers, I need to check about bubbles once he’s home. 

willow_loulou

Oh I’ve also ordered a hand washing machine, it’s a crank handle thing. For smalls, masks socks etc. This is mainly to see if it would be useful long term and maybe for dd to take to uni. It’s like a large salad spinner. I had a refund on eBay so with that and prolific it’s cost £8 from this month’s money. Fingers crossed it’s usable 

balabooberlies

willow_loulou said:

Hello,
for those that were on last years I’m pleased to report the money I was waiting for loan wise has come! Phew! It’s lovely seeing an almost paid off cc account. By paying off less than the whole amount with the loan and paying the rest this month £97 I’ve saved 2 payments and interest was £25 less oh and the interest rate was .2 less too. I even got cash back! Nuts. So I feel much more in control of my out goings. 

I’ve spent the day looking at seed catalogues and how to make things from pallets. I’m wondering about staple guns ... 
I’m popping in A!di tomorrow, am taking the other half home as I’m working from home now and it’s harder when he’s here. He’s been here before any announcements about tiers, I need to check about bubbles once he’s home. 

Hello

just lurking and learning.

Willow, I looked at Groupon today.  The had bundles of veg seeds.........and a staple gun.

bala

willow_loulou

Thank you @balabooberlies I shall look 

joedenise

willow_loulou said:

Oh I’ve also ordered a hand washing machine, it’s a crank handle thing. For smalls, masks socks etc. This is mainly to see if it would be useful long term and maybe for dd to take to uni. It’s like a large salad spinner. I had a refund on eBay so with that and prolific it’s cost £8 from this month’s money. Fingers crossed it’s usable 

I had a lightweight twin tub which I bought originally for camping but didn't use it very much so when DGD went to Uni she took it with her as the launderette was costing her over £5 a week so now she can do her smalls, socks, t shirts etc in her room and only needs to go to the launderette to do things like bedding and the heavier stuff like jeans.  So yes, it probably is worth it.

Frugaldom

KatyLovesCats said:

Sorry for the ramble, I just needed to get it all down. My calculations are as follows:

Incomings (as it stands) - £8088.72
Outgoings (as it stands) - £8665.72
Which equates to a deficit of £577.00
It's terrifying to look at (and think about) but I will work my behind off to get through it and hopefully very soon I'll be strong enough to come off ESA and earn more money to help me through this financial hell pit.

You just made the biggest leap of faith into what we all hope will bring about the changes you need to help balance your budget. It is a brave step to take but you have confronted the problem and can now get to work turning those numbers around to become financially self-sustainable. We've probably all been in similar situations (I know I have) so you aren't alone. First things first, though - Happy New Yea and very best of luck with your challenge.   Have you listed all your essential spending so you can see how possible it is to shave a little off it, even if only a few pounds each month off the food budget? Or the other way to look at it is you only need to raise an extra £577 (average just over £11 per week). What have you included in your outgoings?  (I usually cut the shopping budget to enable some extra saving and am still focussing on £1 per person per day for all meals). Hopefully, your DD understands the situation and is fully onboard to help support your money-saving endeavours. There's always someone about here on the forum to offer moral support. Good luck and try to enjoy your new, frugal lifestyle.