2021 Frugal Living Challenge

AskYouWillGet

I've found a new trick for tgtg magic bags which may suit larger families... I did a last minute order with a half hour window, (just because was in the area). Got a full basket, duplications and would have been thrown. Also, the other shop visit had a four hour collection slot, as was passing it. Only spent £7.09 in for 2, they included: raspberries x 2, grapes, milk, muller yoghurts/rice pots x 3,  single and double cream 3 of each small pots, 4 iceberg, large mixed salad, bag of veg   4 beef burgers, 2 pizzas, wholemeal hovis, ready to eat chicken strips x 6, picnic eggs, sandwiches (sub roll), 4 pasties, microwave meal chilli and rice.  
Bought compost and bark from 3 for £10  B&mm which was best deal could find.
Been offer some free tomato plants and a budlheia. Did a bit of wombling and found 7 discarded hanging basket moulds of soil, while clearing a dumping area and used them for another  hugelbed. Plus, growing in them was 2 sturdy plants, too early to identify, but think it is shrub and a tree.
Rather than buy a net to protect kale, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, i used an old net curtain to cover the hugelbed to protect plants from pests. 
This month I never ended up in ODraft and have £200 still in separate acc. which will now save as Premium Bonds. That is amazing as my goal was £50!

MazzieD

Just wanted to mention something from your post @Tightpants24.  Being frugal means different things to all of us, it depends on your circumstances, lifestyle, finances, where you live and what is available locally.  As an example, I was on the Grocery Challenge for several months last year and found it didn't work well for me and noticed that some other single people were the same.  

The other important point to remember is this is a personal challenge and not a competition, it is human nature to compare yourself to others but I suspect most of us are moderate rather than extreme and try a variety of ways of cutting back then pick the bits that work for us.  No point in setting yourself up for failure and being miserable if something doesn't work for you. The great thing is if you fall off the wagon (we all do at some point) you can climb back on as tomorrow is a new day and you can always start again!.

The other thing I wanted to mention is when I joined @Frugaldom suggested reading through the Frugal Challenges from previous years on Page 1 of this thread.  Lots of great information and suggestions, think it took me about 8 weekends on and off but well worth the effort if you have any spare time.

balabooberlies

Mazzie, totally agree.

When I first started reading this thread I thought that it was all beyond me.  Have no focus and can be impulsive.  As I am a person that fervently believes there is always a solution to a problem I carried on reading.  Soon enough I was saying to myself 'I can do that, I can do that.....'.  Am nowhere near where I want to be (huge debts, no money) but I am further than I was.  And I have plans....(insert evil chuckle  ).

I have become brilliant (even if I say so myself  ) at writing lists of needs, checking the supermarket for cheapest price and sticking to my list.  As I am technophobe I take paper and pencil with me and actually add up my spend as I go along.  This has made me very happy and put me in a position where I am counting my successes, not my 'can't do's'.

On a different note completely I have always resented paying for bras !  As I am well endowed in that area (always always wanted smaller boobydooos) I have always had to pay ridiculous prices for bras.  Thankfully the menopause has reduced my cup size but this last year I have gained so much weight that my bras don't fit underneath and are really uncomfortable.  Last week I bought 3 bra extenders from M&S at 5 pounds.  I can now wear 3 almost new bras and don't have to fork out 30 quids for a new one !  Am thrilled.......

Happy frugaling

bala

x

Siebrie

@balabooberlies : does the NHS offer breast reduction? I know in The Netherlands it's free if the lenght between the hollow between your clavicles and your nipple is more than 27cm.

willow_loulou

Totally agree with Mazzie as usual. I’ve read some of the threads in moments of nothing to do. It’s very inspiring to read others journeys. I’m not overly frugal in some ways - I won’t be cold or go without good coffee. But I am focused on other things and have halved my debt in the year I’ve been here and always look for things second hand or free where possible 

I had a lovely surprise this morning. I thought my Apple tree I grew from pip had died over winter, it’s started a lead and then died back. I left it on my windowsill in hope - I went to give it its 3 weekly water and it’s got 3 lots of shoots of leaves! One from the base and two on the tree. I’m so pleased! My lemons are also twice their height so going to plant them up. I need more soil again first so it will have to wait until payday. 

MazzieD

@balabooberlies What a lovely post.  A positive 'can do' frame of mind is really helpful and breaking it all down into small steps really is the key.  When I joined I was worried that I wasn't frugal enough as I live in a city, now have a tiny garden, couldn't keep chickens or grow much veg!.  Ironically my previous garden was huge and the veg patch was bigger than my current garden!.  I moved because I didn't have time to look after it all and wasn't working at home at the time.

@willow_loulou I'm exactly the same, there are things I won't compromise on or stop buying - good coffee is essential and it's worth paying for.   I'd much rather find savings elsewhere than sacrifice the small pleasures in life,  we all have to have something to enjoy and look forward to.  

joedenise

Absolutely agree - if I'm going to drink coffee it needs to be a particular brand!  I also only drink "real" coffee and DH and I treated ourselves to a bean to cup machine and we spent months finding a bean we both absolutely love!  Unfortunately it's only available online so generally buy 6 months worth at a time - which is one of the reasons I save something every month into a Bulk Fund!

Another thing we refuse to cut back on is our short breaks away in the motorhome.  We saved for many years to buy it and now enjoy it as often as we can although the last 18 months haven't been easy in that respect.  It's only since the beginning of last month we've been able to get out and about in it.

Being on pensions we have to cut back elsewhere in order to achieve these things but for us it's worth it.

balabooberlies

Siebrie said:

@balabooberlies : does the NHS offer breast reduction? I know in The Netherlands it's free if the lenght between the hollow between your clavicles and your nipple is more than 27cm.

Hi Siebrie

When I had my first Mammogram I was in my late 30's.  Slimish (always had curves) with larger than me (IYSWIM) boobs.  The lady saw the grooves in my shoulders and said I was absolutely in frame to have them reduced on NHS.  I was too afraid to have what I considered to be an elective surgery.  She told me I would have back problems and she was right.

With things the way they are this has to stay on the back-burner.  The pain in my hip that has reduced considerably my activity is the one operation I would grab with both hands.  I can cope with the boob situation but my hip depletes most of my energy and I hate not being able to whizz around.  My dog doesn't like it either ! 

Thank you for advice, will research.

bala

x

willow_loulou

I’m large chested, I now only wear soft bras that pull on - like sports bras as I can’t do clasps up. Honestly I no longer have grooved shoulders and no back pain in those muscles that ache from being larger chested. I had to shop around for the right fit but oh I am a convert. They’re also about a 3rd of the price of a bra. The uplift is not as high as underwired but it’s definitely up! 

wort

I'm pretty certain that boob reduction on nhs was stopped. Plus it's a very big operation! 😉in more ways than the obvious.
I know a couple of people who tried to get it and we're told it's no longer available, they paid privately instead. I'm too scared to do it.