2021 Frugal Living Challenge

[Deleted User]

Hello everyone, 

As we are rapidly approaching the halfway point in the year, I thought I would provide an update. 

To save anyone having to read back, the below represents my annual budget:

My budget for the three of us is £5,000 per annum (exc. mortgage and CT). From that £5k, after my direct debits go out I have £2,354.50 left, which is £45.27 per week. This is to cover food, clothes, school trips, gifts and anything else life pings at me. DS still gets free school meals as KS1, DD takes packed lunches. DS does have milk at school each day which I pay for, around 20p per day. 

I am delighted to report that I am well within budget - I won't bore you all with the specific figures - but want I really wanted to share was the additional "wins" that I have had in budgeting terms since the start of 2021:

- TV Licence cancelled - saving of around £13 PCM
- Boiler insurance cancelled - saving £11.60 PCM
- Internet package negotiated - saving £1 PCM
- Treats, such as a bottle of wine or our favourite - fish and chips from the chippy - are covered by egg sales
- I still don't run a car 
- Visit at least one of the weekly foodshares (we are lucky round here and have two per week)
- One of the TA's in DS class told me quietly that lots of children in his class get milk for free as they are entitled to free school meals, but don't ever drink it and it goes in the bin! She makes sure DS gets a milk every day now, saving me 20p per day. A penny saved is a penny earned

We have more hens arriving tomorrow, from a friend who is getting rid of all of her poultry for personal reasons. We also have four ducks arriving as well. I have repurposed a large old plastic paddling pool for their pond, and found a duck house for free on FB marketplace.

For anyone reading this and thinking - I couldn't do this, it sounds like self-imposed poverty - it really isn't. My eyes have been well and truly opened to just how much money is wasted on stuff/services/excesses that do not add to quality of life in any way. With young children, even the simplest of things can be good fun and create memories. Tonight we will eat pizzas for dinner (HM), watch a movie on Netflix and I will enjoy a glass or two of wine from the bottle that someone "traded" with me for some of DDs outgrown toys. I much prefer the concept of trading and bartering than using cash. 

Take care all xx

-taff

welshspendthrift said:

Hi everyone where have people found cheap grow bags please got some tomato plants for 50p from local garden centre that now need potting up. Or have people found cheaper ways, has to be a pot or grow bag as raised beds ( only room for 2) full with herbs and peas broad beans onions and rhubarb! On a tight budget too! Thank you 

Cheapest way is to dig some earth from your garden and put it in a pot and use that. Make sure to feed them twice a week, and they will grow.

Brambling

-taff said:

welshspendthrift said:

Hi everyone where have people found cheap grow bags please got some tomato plants for 50p from local garden centre that now need potting up. Or have people found cheaper ways, has to be a pot or grow bag as raised beds ( only room for 2) full with herbs and peas broad beans onions and rhubarb! On a tight budget too! Thank you 

Cheapest way is to dig some earth from your garden and put it in a pot and use that. Make sure to feed them twice a week, and they will grow.

  I got some free black buckets used by super markets for cut flowers, i made a few holes in the bottom.  They always give me good crop, better than grow bags i think they benefit from the deeper soil

willow_loulou

The cheapest grow bags I’ve found are from B&q but we’re very limited for local choice. The soil is okay. I decant it into a £1 bucket from £land, I like the handle so I can move them in windy weather (I’m on the coast) 

I have earned £15 ish this week on prolific and Ziff** that’s lots of gravel! Very exciting! I have also started on Christmas gifts having spotted a few bits on market place. I’m going to be sewing over the next few months for it too! 

willow_loulou

@Treasurequeen storms and wind are real issues for me too, being on the coast. I got some
huge cable ties for my furniture! Crazy how far something can travel in a gust of wind. 

Sallyp2

Grow bags are very cheap this year as it’s all about peat free mixes. As grow bags are 100% peat pretty much, they are hanging a bit. I’m using a peat free mix with added fish, blood & bone. Veg plants doing well

-taff

Brambling said:

  I got some free black buckets used by super markets for cut flowers, i made a few holes in the bottom.  They always give me good crop, better than grow bags i think they benefit from the deeper soil

Snap! Mine are stood in gravel trays, I water the tray, the plant takes what water it needs. When they reach a reasonable size the roots come out the bottom to grow in the gravel so they're always damp and well watered without me drowning them. And fed from the top obviously.

I have seen people suing those kind of pots but cutting the bottom completely out and pushing about an inch into a grow bag and topping up with more compost to give a deeper root run, or turning the bag on it's side to make a deeper run. Cutting slits about an inch up in a grow bag instead of making holes in the bottom also makes sure they don't dry out so quickly when watered.

welshspendthrift

Thank you everyone great helpful suggestions 😀

amber03

asparklyblonde, what a lovely post. This can give hope to others beginning their journey. It shows that you can do it. Keep up the good work and thanks for an updat.x

Brambling

-taff said:

Snap! Mine are stood in gravel trays, I water the tray, the plant takes what water it needs. When they reach a reasonable size the roots come out the bottom to grow in the gravel so they're always damp and well watered without me drowning them. And fed from the top obviously.

.

 Thanks for the tip I have gravel, just need to look for some thing to use for the trays