2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Blackcats

MazzieD my cats are the same - they refuse to downshift from their gourmet brand but have been moved onto own brand cat treats (a la dreamies) without protest.  They snaffle them so quickly that I'm sure they don't even chew them so probably haven't even noticed.  

Hello Bargainhuntress - it's lovely here, everyone is so nice.  I did a freezer inventory today too - lots of potential meals in there.  For some reason there are numerous partially used boxes of fishfingers .... 🤷‍♀️
 

Sallyp2

Couldsavemore said:

Well... food shop came in at 27 this week... not bad! As budget is 40. Am counting january as 5 weekends but still expecting a saving.
Mam's bathroom window (upvc) broke..she got a company to come and fix it. Apparently you should oil the hinges etc twice a year! Who knew.. So dad bought 2 cans and gave 1 to me. So have been round and oiled all the hinges and catched... first time in years I can lock my patio doors...(they lead into the conservaotry which has a door which locks) so am pleased with my diy today.. it'll fend off repair bills hopefully

Hello, what oil did you use?
Think this might be a top tip

bargainhunterss

@Blackcats we’re forever finding half-used boxes of fish fingers in the freezer too! I swear they hide in the depths when you’re searching for them.  

Thanks for the lovely welcome ☺️

Sallyp2

Oldstylethriftylady said:

@Mummy2cheekymonkeys that sounds great, I’ve never tried pumpkin seed spread but will have to get some sunflowers to try!

@OLaney I think everyone here has given you really good advice, just before COVID hit we had to get a 40k loan for subsidence, which we could just about afford, like just, we thought we’d be ok because the work had to be done, it’s not like we had the choice and we never thought we’d be in issues. Bring on COVID and the other half’s job gets reduced to 25% off what it originally was, then our pup goes and snaps his back and needs 10k of work plus all the hydrotherapy to get him walking again. I cry myself to sleep sometimes wondering where we went wrong. I joined these forums in the hopes of learning as much as I can and whilst I know it’s tough now and will be, it won’t always will be and one day I’ll wonder what all the fuss is about. Please don’t think your alone, there are many people who are in the same situation and just don’t show it. Have a read of the debt free diary’s there is some good info in there.

Hello, did you have buildings insurance? Subsidence is covered under that as standard. 

willow_loulou

@Sallyp2 I use wd40 - being on the coast I do it pretty regularly. 

Finally started to get to grips with the garden today, it’s a great feeling getting out there isn’t it?! 

Tomorrow hopeful of picking up some gravel bags, they’re just going on top of cardboard unopened until we’ve got enough to do a decent layer. 

It was quite amusing as the strimmer noise sent my noisy neighbours indoors! It did make me internally chuckle a little. 

So now I’m on the hunt for free garden stuff or at least very low cost. Very excited. 

MazzieD

@zafiro1984 Hope you managed to celebrate your wedding anniversary yesterday, sounds like you had quite an energetic afternoon.

Glad I booked an early morning Covid jab tomorrow, looks like the temperature is still rising. It's a bit of a trek to the vaccination centre on foot so I might not look like a beetroot when I arrive!.  Not a fan of walking in the heat, I get really hot.

Had to laugh at your post @willow_loulou, I have a strimmer lurking in my shed...  My awful neighbours are now avoiding me and not speaking so I'm actually quite pleased.  Wonder if they have used the brain cell they share and realised that their behaviour is totally out of order and might actually be worried about what they've done and more importantly what I'm going to do about it.  I find controlled anger is a very effective tool, I never react straight away or say anything but think carefully about how to deal with the problem.

QueenJess

I've been keeping a list of things to purchase and then putting it off for a week to make sure they are things I really need/want. It works quite well and I usually get rid of almost all the list cone the next week.

Bit worried I have a long list at the moment and apart from two things that I want to buy to do fun activities with DS (a height chart and a scrapbook), they really are needed things. I will source as cheaply as I can for what I want, but there always seems to be something that is needed... Maybe that's just the fun of having kids?! Always need clothes and now I need some as nothing fits for the summer until I go back to a normal weight (probably not for a bit yet).

Kerry_Woman

Was under food and a few other budgets this month.  One of my budgets I will have to increase next month as I need to order somethings online that I need and I will be off work for a week so will be in for when they get delivered. Some of the things are eco friendly cleaning products.  They should last me quite a few months. I also want to order a weighted blanket and a few other things. I am finishing my temp job at my current location this week, but I have booked some shifts at a different location.  I am having next week off as I need a rest, as I have been working at my current location since January this year. Have only managed to book a week worth of shifts at the different location. Do not know how long I will be at the different location.  Still waiting for more shifts to be put onto booking system. Still trying to be careful with my spending. Will need to strong when I am at the new place of work as I am near my favourite shop.

girlybags

Well it's the end of the month. We went out today to do an escape room activity which my Mum had booked and paid for and then she treated us to some food afterwards. I did end up spending £7.50 on parking (city centre) which couldn't really be avoided as my Mum isn't very mobile so had to park as near as possible, and £5 on drinks. We had a good afternoon so it was worth it.

I'm off work this week, I booked it to coincide with half-term so we have a couple of plans for the week but nothing really spendy. Tomorrow we are going to a bargain food place not far from us to pick up some snacks and stuff for the month. They have some boxes of vegan chocolate bars which I love and usually pay 90p each for (just one a week as a treat) priced at £4 for 24. Provided I don't succumb to temptation and eat them all in a week (totally possible!) they will be a bargain! I came under my grocery budget by £45.70 as we've been eating from the freezer this month so I will roll this over for bulk purchases.

Later this week we are going over to a friend's for kind of a play date (my son is 15 but I don't know what else to call it really) and I'll pick up some supermarket pizza's for the boys.

That's about all I have to report really, I've not been using TGTG as I really need to get this freezer defrosted but I have had a couple of things from Olio - eggs, blueberries, posh vegan Yorkshire puds - so that has been nice.

Hope everyone's enjoying the sunshine 🌞😊

girlybags

Oh, and I have a vet visit for one of the bunnies which, if it turns out to be an expensive one, will be covered by insurance barring the £55 excess. Fingers crossed it's nothing too serious though 🤞🤞🤞