2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Sallyp2

willow_loulou said:

I used to use Napisan on chef whites! 

I had never heard of it until I started reading my book. Vanish is so expensive. I found Napisan on JS website today and the reviews are fab. People use it for all sorts of stains and to bring whites back to life. Price per 100g compared to Vanish is much lower

Sallyp2

Living_proof said:

I am noticing a lot of empty shelves in supermarkets these days and rising prices as well. Food has been really cheap up to now, compared to 50 years ago when I first bought food for myself.  

My fella is a HGV driver and the empty shelves in supermarkets are down to there not being enough drivers. They can only work so many hours in a week and supermarkets are prioritising fresh and short life food over long life grocery deliveries. Its going to get worse before it improves. If he was allowed legally he could work 24/7 at moment

[Deleted User]

@Sallyp2, thanks for the book recommendation. I'm going to order it from my local library too. 

wort

Napisan is good for soaking t.towels, not used on coloureds though.
also use supermarket versions of Milton sterilization lotion. I use for vases, teacups, soaking dishcloths, and teaspoons  great for getting stains off , and if safe for babies bottles safe for use for us too.  

Blackcats

Thank you Sallyp for the explanation re the shortages - that makes sense now.  

Nonnadiluca

Lidl had loads of empty shelves this afternoon, their deliveries hadn't arrived. I think we'll have to get used to it!

Frugaldom

Good evening, frugalers, I hope everyone is well and came into the second half of the year feeling confident, despite anything and everything that's going on in the world. Apologies for being MIA but time just seems to evaporate nowadays. My biggest spend this month to date has been workwear, including 4 pairs of wellies reduced to £6.99 in the M&M sale. (I went via casback site and paid using cashback CC). There's no real news from here as I'm spending all my time at the project trying to prepare for the eventual planning permission coming through. Trouble now is that timber prices have shot through the roof yet again and like the shortages in supermarkets, there are shortages in yards, mills and warehouses. Spending is limited to essentials and I still haven't been inside a shop since before the first lockdown. I'm trying to learn a bit more about foraging and edible wild plants and have been learning how to improve land for pasture while trying to catch up with my composting and herb-growing challenge I set myself. I'm still searching for helpers and hopeful that travel restrictions will soon be lifted to allow volunteers to stay with us. 

Tightpants24

I just ordered a M00np1g card using this code
MPFREELKDJSGLKJAGJRGIRJB
I got a standard photo card free and just paid 85p postage cost.  

[Deleted User]

Hi folks, I am on a frugal mission just now as I feel I have fallen off the wagon recently.  Last month alone OH burned through his money and and extra £200.  We need to rethink how we budget and how we are spending.  The first few days after pay day went ok but we are off track again.  I am going to set myself a July (rest of July) challange to minimise spending.

1.  If it's in my local area - walk there!  OH and I are too much in the habit of getting in the car.  Walking is free and we need the exercise.  This includes getting our weekly food shopping.  

2.  No eating out for the rest of the month.  This will be quite hard as I am on Summer break just now and friends will want to catch up.  I will invite them to mine or suggest we meet in the park and take a picnic.

3.  No takeaways for the rest of the month.

4.  Make use of the facilities we have already paid for - like the swimming pool, gym, oh and my Yoga mat!

5.  If we must use the car save all errands to be done in one journey rather than jump in the car every time for single journeys.

6.  Eat what we actually have planned that day.  Drink water from the tap.  Put it in the nice glass bottles we have to make it appealing.

7.  Do a freezer and pantry inventory and plan meals around what we have first.  

8.  Set a challenge of zero spent for the rest of the month on entertainment and £30 per week for food.

9.  Post on here regulalry for accountability and inspiration.

[Deleted User]

Hi folks, I thought I'd do a check in on progress so far.  

• Freezer and Pantry inventory done and food shop for this week done also.  Food shop came in at £29.40

• I had a gym session and swim yesterday.  It felt really nice to do this without feeling rushed or worrying about getting home as I'm on summer break now.

• There was an unintended spend yesterday as we dropped into my cousin with a gift for his 70th birthday.  He and his partner live across the road from us.  He then plied OH with whisky and beer and just as I was leaving to go to the gym (it was booked for an appt otherwise I might have not gone) OH wanted to continue partying and bought some more beer to add to the pot.  By the time I came back from my gym/swim OH was merrily drunk so - full disclosue - we ended up with a takaway pizza and chips!  This was obviously not the plan.  So between the beer and the takaway it's been £25 spent.  

• OH is getting his hair cut today and as it is local he has walked there.  

• A load of washing was done this morning and is hanging outside to dry.  Me or OH will get some of it ironed later.

• If the weather holds, we will have a walk this afternoon and have a swim tonight.  

• Dinner tonight will be something (cheese, tuna, chicken or ham) with salad and fruit for pudding.

• Other than OHs hair cut, zero spending today planned.

• On the plus side, the refund for a cancelled holiday came in yesterday.  It was much sooner than I was expecting as they'd said it would take 28 days to refund.