2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

Frugaldom said:

Mummy2cheekymonkeys said:

Its not looking like a very frugal month for us. We've decided to get a puppy  I think i've lost the plot!!!

 How exciting for you and the family, good luck with new puppy. Are you getting a frugal rescue or have you a specific breed in mind? I'm totally shocked by the unbelievable prices being asked by breeders, especially for cross-breeds, so please be ultra-careful and not fall foul of any puppy farmers or thieves. Who'd have thought owning a dog would have become so precarious.

I have been doing some research and found a lot of positive stories about children with autism bonding with dogs and my youngest has really started showing interest in animals. We are getting a golden retriever puppy. We went to see her. Her mum is the much loved family pet who has had a litter of 5 girls. They seem to be in a very loving environment which was nice to see. The price is pretty eyewatering but since last year the price for all puppies seems to have gone through the roof 

marionmgcars

I was delighted when my partner picked up two veggie boxes from Li**le yesterday.  I've made a cauliflower cheese for tea today, and going to have a go at cooking aubergines in a veggie lasagne tomorrow - feels like Ready Steady Cook show. x

girlybags

Mummy2cheekymonkeys said:

I have been doing some research and found a lot of positive stories about children with autism bonding with dogs and my youngest has really started showing interest in animals. We are getting a golden retriever puppy. We went to see her. Her mum is the much loved family pet who has had a litter of 5 girls. They seem to be in a very loving environment which was nice to see. The price is pretty eyewatering but since last year the price for all puppies seems to have gone through the roof 

Since the first lockdown when people started working from home the amount of new puppy owners we are seeing coming through our doors at work has at least doubled if not tripled! I just hope the poor things aren't going to end up in shelters if and when people have to go back to work. I've had a few people tell me that they've been ripped off for hundreds of pounds by people putting false ads on pet sites and asking for deposits. Some people will take advantage of anyone, sadly 🙁

ETA It's the same with kittens as well, my mum has just paid £80 for a moggy and that was the cheapest we could find. Prices are going up to £500 for non-pedigree kittens! 

girlybags

I'm jealous of everyone who has chickens or ducks! I would love both but only have a smallish garden which is the bunnies' domain during the day.

Frugaldom

@Mummy2cheekymonkeys that's good that you have seen the mother with the pups and that she's from a loving home. I hope all goes well and puppy settles into your homelife quickly.

Tonight I had a surprise Olio alert so that's topped up the freezer in bread and H has enough cakes & pastries to keep him happy. I spent an hour or two weeding and clearing out raised beds this afternoon so I have speace ready for planting at the weekend. I also repotted the tomatoes and can finally see some signs of life in the cucumber seeds I'd planted. The potatoes are going to need earthed up this weekend, too, so it could be a busy one. Hopefully, we'll have friends visiting and they are bringing a few spare veg plants with them, too. We compost some of the horse manureI, so I save all the empty feed bags to fill and then sit them at the end of the drive for people to collect free of charge. We occasionally get a few pounds donated through the post box, which is great! Tonight, I noticed that the last filled bag has gone again, so that's another job needing done - replenishing them. I'll do that while potting up the cuttings then I'll be able to start sitting plants out to share, too.

[Deleted User]

It must have been the day for surprise Olio alerts yesterday @Frugaldom, we now have packets of crisps coming out of our ears! Not something I normally buy now due to cost and the fact that they are a treat, so DD is very happy she can take one in her packed lunch today. I also collected two free tomato plants that were outside someone's house with a sign asking people to help themselves.

Todays plans include a long dog walk, some batch cooking of a chilli for the freezer and prepping eggs for delivery tomorrow. A relative also dropped off three builders sacks stuffed full of wood, which are currently on my driveway. I will sort and stack it all into the garage - I would say there is at least 2 months worth of free fuel there. 

No money will be spent and that makes me very happy indeed. 

Blackcats

Frugaldom I read your post too quickly and couldn't understand why you had reported your tomatoes - what had they done wrong??? Of course you repotted them not reported them.  I did that before on another diary - in my imagination there are a lot of naughty tomatoes out there! 

My tea loaf turned out really well.  I used half of the rescued out of date dried fruits so I've got enough to make it again.  It used up 2 Earl grey tea bags too that would have languished in the cupboard for years although I think "normal" tea bags will work fine.  I'm gradually getting more confident with baking and now I've got most of the baking basics in stock it gives me lots of options to try new recipes.  

marionmgcars

Just baked an Aubergine Parmigiana using the aubergines from the Li*l veg box.  first time ever cooking with aubergines and loved them, handy recipe for my veggie husband too.  

willow_loulou

I’ve been considering adding seeds to my diet. Specifically linseed. Went to the linwoods website to research and they are offering a free sample if you sign up to newsletters. Excellent stuff! Thought I’d share as I’m sure most of us have an email
add dedicated to this spammy newsletter stuff! 

I’ve had a very low spend week. Just about to drop off some ziffit books and almost at cash out for prolific. 

MazzieD

Had a very busy couple of weeks with work commitments. 

My vehicle tax notification has just arrived, an increase of £5 for the year, far more expensive if you pay monthly.  Think every bill has gone up so far this year apart from Pet Club for fluffy monster's flea, worm treatment and vaccination.