2021 Frugal Living Challenge

willow_loulou

DawnW said:

willow_loulou said:

So I’m sitting here writing a shopping list and I’m trying to decide between delivery and actually going shopping. I lurch between the 2 because I hate my deliveries coming not in bags. It’s such an effort for me as I can’t lift or bend well. I wish they would just use paper bags or boxes or something if you need it. Sigh. So I’m thinking maybe a click and collect instead so I can pack my bags at the collection point. I’m just so tired I want it delivered 😂 honestly I need to get a grip! 

So who do you all use for delivery options? 

I agree @willow-loulou it is such a scrabble at the door when shopping deliveries arrive, trying to unload crates on the ground while attempting to socially distance from the invariably unmasked delivery driver - especially if it is raining as well! I am not disabled, but not as good at bending and lifting as I once was.

Iceland still deliver in bags if you have one in your area, and are good value too. Sadly their range is a bit limited, but it is less of an effort just picking up the 'extras' at another supermarket if most of the bulk stuff is delivered.

I think that says a lot it if you struggle with it too. They need to consider a little more about the actual point of delivery. I’d rather not use plastic obviously, but sorting it on the doorstep is beyond me if I’m alone. 

Wraithlady

Deleted_User said:

Thanks for your comment; Bulb only have one tariff. It is worth looking into though as you say and is something I will endeavor to do over half term x

We're on Octopus, and I can recommend them - you have to take your own meter readings, but apart from that it's fine.

QueenJess

willow_loulou said:

Ahh @QueenJess I feel your pain, my daughter couldn’t lay flat and I had to carry her. I ended up putting her in a car seat so I could sleep as she would eventually rock off in it. It’s not ideal, but the longest she slept in it was about 2 hours so it wasn’t bad for her. It just gave me a chance to sleep between night feeds. I hope you get it figured out soon! 

My DS was a complete nightmare with reflux and it went on for about a year. I coslept and I hated it as I never slept properly. Then he refused to sleep on his own and we hired a sleep expert in the end to fix it.

DD is totally different. If I hold her upright for 20-30 mins after a feed she's fine. She often refuses anyway and wriggles herself to be lying down straight after. Reflux isn't really much of a problem with her, but she just prefers to be cuddled. That's why I think she should be able to sleep happily in her cot on her own with a little persistence. We went a bit backwards recently as she turned on her side a few times, so I had to stop swaddling her and swapped the basket for the cot. She's ok with that now, so I'm thinking she should be able to sleep in there at night... I did manage 2 hours once (pre her vaccinations which just derailed any progress).

A dummy helped with her (DS always refused one) and so hoping a closer cot will help further. It's confusing to have two children who are totally and completely different! So need more than 3 hours of sleep a night...

QueenJess

Thanks for everyone's messages 🙂

Sallyp2

Deleted_User said:

Sallyp2 said:

Deleted_User said:

I had an email earlier from Bulb, advising their standing charges are going up (again). I will stay with them as I like their ethics and policy on renewable energy, but I'll need to find ways to reduce our usage even further to offset the cost increase. 

Are you on a variable Bulb tariff? If you want to stay with them see if they do a fixed rate. BTW lots of companies use renewable now, might be worth checking the energy club tariffs on here for a better deal so you don’t have to reduce what you use and can stay geeen

Thanks for your comment; Bulb only have one tariff. It is worth looking into though as you say and is something I will endeavor to do over half term x

I religiously check monthly The Martin Lewis energy club. The filters mean you can get it down to exactly what you want very easily. Very well designed!
You should find a green deal at a lower price. Its awful you feel that you need to cut your energy usage to keep your bills low. 

elbree

Deleted_User said:

Evening frugal friends, 
I have been checking in less on here due to work commitments (I teach in a large secondary and we have been on the assessment merry go round these past couple of weeks). I got paid last week and can proudly say not a single penny has left my account. The odd bits I've had to buy have been funded by egg sales, and we had two great hauls at the food waste shares which have meant very little food shopping has been needed. I am glad I collected lots of free wood recently as I've had the wood burner lit a few times this week. 

This weekend I have lots of plans, including my first vaccine, but they are all nice ones and free! A friend has done me a lot of favours this week to help me keep the plates spinning, so I've given her some eggs, a courgette plant and baked her a Yorkshire tea loaf in return. I regularly joke with friends now that eggs are the only currency I trade in, and they are all more than happy with that it seems! 

I had an email earlier from Bulb, advising their standing charges are going up (again). I will stay with them as I like their ethics and policy on renewable energy, but I'll need to find ways to reduce our usage even further to offset the cost increase. 

I moved from Bulb to Pure when they put their prices up last year, still 100% renewable but a better offer. Maybe check out the comparisons. 

elbree

QueenJess said:

Thanks for everyone's messages 🙂

I had one that needed reassurance rather than being upright and found humming really helped her go back to sleep, she knows you're there and doesn't need a cuddle every time. Good luck!

Frugaldom

I've fallen behind again but want to say that there are no imposters in here, we are all individuals wanting to make better lives by controlling our finances.   Percentages are all the same across the board, it's only the actual amounts that are different. Some ask why I live debt free on the equivalent of minimum income and others are downright rude, casting aspersions over the integrity of my lifestyle, going as far as suggesting that anyone in my situation shouldn't keep horses or do any fundraising for our rescued animals. I do this because I can. It allows me to focus on other things without the worry of debts running up unchecked. It allows me the freedom to take on animals in need and t help raise funds for keeping them safe and for helping others who need that help. Everyone and anyone is welcome to join us here, no matter what their financial status. It costs nothing to share helpful tips and morally support one another, especially through these very strange and troubling times. Sudden changes can hit anyone at anytime. WE WELCOME YOU ALL -  FRUGAL LIVING ROCKS! 

willow_loulou

Well said @Frugaldom x 
I need some June motivation, I need some sun actually lol 
So I think my June motivation will be trying to save for gravel bags for the garden. They’re £2.50 a bag. It would be cheaper to get a tonne bag but I can neither afford it, have it delivered anywhere nor move it once delivered. But I doubt I need that much anyway in my tiny garden. 

Frugaldom

@QueenJess welcome to the group - I hope baby settles into a sleep routine soon as it's totally exhausting. My beloved youngest was 7 months old before he slept a decent night and his first night of doing that was Christmas Eve, when his sister was up at the crack of dawn!  We had to laugh. Good luck with the cot by the bed, I hope you get some decent sleep soon.
@willow_loulou I'd always opt for the grocery delivery, wouldn't care if it was rolling around the hallway floor for an hour as long as I got the fresh and frozen stuff into the fridge and freezer. I absolutely hate shopping. I had Asd@ delivery and the only food I have been out to collect has been whenever I bag some 0lio produce.
Leccie bill paid up to date and it wasn't too bad at just under average £38 per month through the winter months. Gas was averaging £70 a month but has halved since the warmer weather arrived. Biggest spends now go on communications as we have the landline & broadband plus 2 lots of mobile data, all because we can't get broadband at the project and there's no mobile signal at home.