2021 Frugal Living Challenge

nannygladys

Well done everyone on all the frugal saving.
I have been on childcare duties this week and I know I have over spent but will claw it back over the next couple of weeks.
It is so easy to drop back into old ways no matter how long you've been frugal! I suppose it's good to realise your mistakes early but I should have known better and been better organised!! Back to eating from stores and freezer next week and only using the car as/when necessary.
Nannyg

Tightpants24

mandy47 said:

 
Trimmed the dog today, I'm defiantly improving, not that the dog complains. Saves me £20 a trim at the groomers. If it wasn't for lockdown I would never have  attempted it. Clippers  have more than paid for themselves. 

I would like to try clipping the dogs but I am scared.  What clipper do you use?  Thanks 😊 

[Deleted User]

nannygladys said:

It is so easy to drop back into old ways no matter how long you've been frugal! I suppose it's good to realise your mistakes early but I should have known better and been better organised!! Back to eating from stores and freezer next week and only using the car as/when necessary.
Nannyg

I've fallen off the frugal wagon this week.  With both me and OH on holiday we've overspent - takeaways, beer for OH, not planning food in advance etc.  Back on the wagon today.

Today is a beautiful day so I plan to get up to date with washing before going back to work on Monday.  I can get everything hung out to dry on the line.  

Food today will be from stores - Tomato soup for lunch and HM pizza for dinner.

I need to plan for food next week do i'll get a food plan done today.

Other than that I'll spend time in the garden enjoying the sunshine, doing a bit of tidying but also just relaxing.  This is when OH and I normally think of having treats/beer/takeakway but today we will use up only what's in the house.  

mandy47

Tightpants24 said:

mandy47 said:

 
Trimmed the dog today, I'm defiantly improving, not that the dog complains. Saves me £20 a trim at the groomers. If it wasn't for lockdown I would never have  attempted it. Clippers  have more than paid for themselves. 

I would like to try clipping the dogs but I am scared.  What clipper do you use?  Thanks 😊 

It's called "Professional electric dog clipper", very original. Once charged it lasts ages. Very similar to hair trimmers. Comfortable to hold and very quiet which is less scary for the dog. It comes with scissors, comb, 3 different size attachments for various hair length and cleaning brush.
I watched a  youtube video then away I went. First attempt wasn't brilliant but it just takes practise.
Good luck.

willow_loulou

@[Deleted User] 
I think being frugal allows us to do more so enjoying your holiday is absolutely not falling off! 

I bet it was still less than going away and less by a mile than a holiday abroad. We are allowed treats. 

I’m becoming a little fixated on weed killing without hurting the wildlife- you should see the slow worms we have! 

There is a killer you can brush/spray on and is then inert when dry. Any opinion or experience please? I think if I rake around the area and disturb most of the critters I can use something like that if I trim it low first. 

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

Hi everyone, Not much to report from me. I'm feeling really down at the moment and dont really have much motivation to do anything. I havent fallen off the frugal wagon too much but don't feel like I have been as good as I could be. I really don't know how to pick myself up at the moment. I'm still reading along though and enjoy reading what you are all up to.

Tightpants24

@mandy47 Thanks a lot.  I might be tempted to give it a go.  Poor dogs look very bedraggled 

Frugalista

willow_loulou said:

@[Deleted User] 
I think being frugal allows us to do more so enjoying your holiday is absolutely not falling off! 

I bet it was still less than going away and less by a mile than a holiday abroad. We are allowed treats. 

I’m becoming a little fixated on weed killing without hurting the wildlife- you should see the slow worms we have! 

There is a killer you can brush/spray on and is then inert when dry. Any opinion or experience please? I think if I rake around the area and disturb most of the critters I can use something like that if I trim it low first. 

I have just read about making your own weedkiller by mixing equal amounts of vinegar, washing up liquid and topping it up with water.  Spray on the offending plants and (apparently) they die off in about 3 days.  Disclaimer - I am not a gardener in any way, shape or form - but I do have a lot of dogs, so try not to use chemicals.  Hope this helps.

[Deleted User]

Frugal update from me, of my 14 day challenge I have successfully not spent on 12 out of those 14 days. That was on saw blades (essential to chop free wood), and we spent some egg sales money on a fish and chips supper which was delicious. Not bad going for two weeks of Easter holidays! We are quite down on stocks, I am going to meal plan tomorrow for the next three days and hope we can make it to Thursday (market day). We can get all we need from the market in our village, and it saves the faff of supermarkets. That's a job for tomorrow morning. 

I am awaiting our TV licence refund cheque. It has been warm here so no heating on and no fire lit. I am waiting for the hens to go to bed, then I will go up too. Take care all xx

willow_loulou

@Frugalista

thanks! That’s the second suggestion of it so it’s gotta be with a try! Will do it on a section to monitor it and report back!