2021 Frugal Living Challenge

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] said:

Hi fellow frugallers, just thought I'd post a wee update on my mission to be more frugal and minimise the bad habits that have led to some truly ridiculous overspending.  This week has been significantly better, we have had some planned spends as both myself and OH were in dire need of new walking shoes - his had the slow hainging off - but other than that we have managed to reign things in really well.  Some frugal activities this week were:

1. Getting our new walking shoes on sale.  I have been out walking and mine are really comfy. 

2. Increasing my activities like walking (free) and swimming (which makes use of my membership).  I had a lovely walk today and just enjoyed pottering through the wild flowers and roses along the river.  This really helps me to destress as well.

3. All washing done and hug to dry outside.  It's been overcast here and actually quite dark at times but still warm enough to dry the washing.

4. Making use of my local library.  I started this a few years ago to curb my very bad amazon habit and have never looked back.  Although I will buy the occasional book (say 4 a year) the bulk of my reading material comes from the library.  I am really lucky that my local one is open again, albeit only via appointment.

5. OH and I are decorating our box room that we use as an office.  The aim has been to do it for £50 or less.  We already had the paint and OH has done that so it's looking nice and fresh.  I wanted a side table or small chest of drawers in there to act as a side table to a wing back chair we have in there.  I went to the local Home Aid warehouse that sells secondhand furniture and got a lovely one in great condition for £10.  I got a new lamp for £8.  Just need curtains now but I am waiting until I see ones I like on gumtree or in the local charity shops.  I'll take a wander up to the local charity shops during the coming week and see what I can find.  I'd like a new desk but the one I have is perfecly functional so it stays. 

6. OH and I have had a chat about how to rethink the way we budget as a specific part of it hasn't been working well for us for a while now.  From next month we will try something different to see how that works as an alternative.

7. No takeaways as planned (apart from the one on my cousin's 70th).

8. Doing better with eating from stores and we are currently running down the meat in the freezer.  Today I have taken a mince out of the freezer and will be making beef burgers with them for tonight's dinner and there should be plently left for tomorrow too.

Hi Allie23,

Well done for sticking to your plans. You have got lots bargains this week.

Sounds like we’re on the same page. I started to overspend last month. We’ve been scrimping for years and we’re months away from our financial goal but for some reason I just started thinking that I couldn’t do it any more (may of been due to visiting a very spendy friend who I haven’t seen for a long time). After reading through everyone’s comments, I realised I wasn’t alone in how we were living and that has focussed me on our goal. I find being frugal a positive, creative, empowering lifestyle.

You’ve reminded me that I can read magazines online for free via our library. I’m going to look into that tonight. Free entertainment.

Enjoy your burgers!

Tightpants24

@[Deleted User]  have a look on local FBmarketplace for curtains.  I got a brand new John Lewis set for a spare bedroom on there for £5 recently.

willow_loulou

Tightpants24 said:

@[Deleted User]  have a look on local FBmarketplace for curtains.  I got a brand new John Lewis set for a spare bedroom on there for £5 recently.

We did the same for Dd bedroom, I got some on eBay for my room - £6 delivered! 

willow_loulou

Freetosave said:

willow_loulou said:

Bala that sofa is a bargain!! Congratulations 🥰

I wrestled with giving up charities too, instead I do a lottery one so I could win £1000 and I do the occasional donation to Dogs on the streets as I can PayPal them £1 and I post them doggie clothes I find for pennies and bandanas I make to keep the puppers warm. 

I’ve over spent this week - I bought a food and exercise app for the year, it’s still a fraction of the cost of others at £23 for the year. I’ve had a free trial and am losing weight so it’s worth it. I’ve also had to do an unexpected food order as we’re isolating until Friday and needed bread/milk etc that I usually pick up Saturday morning. Not ideal as I needed to spend £40 rather than the planned £12 ish but needs must. I did get dog food for a few weeks which is very handy if nothing else. 

I have used the cc so I don’t use the bill money so have 6 weeks to pay that now. 

Hi willlow lou lou,

Unexpected bills are a pain but it sounds like you made the most of it by buying bulk dog food.

Congratulations on your weight loss. I’m also trying to lose a few pounds. I’ve always maintained my weight but as I’m getting older it’s getting more challenging. Anyway, better stop talking about it and get my running gear on.

Thank you. I’ve lost 2 and a half stone this year. It had stalled until the app.

Bala if you are on Facebook or Twitter they are on both. X 

[Deleted User]

willow_loulou said:

Freetosave said:

willow_loulou said:

Bala that sofa is a bargain!! Congratulations 🥰

I wrestled with giving up charities too, instead I do a lottery one so I could win £1000 and I do the occasional donation to Dogs on the streets as I can PayPal them £1 and I post them doggie clothes I find for pennies and bandanas I make to keep the puppers warm. 

I’ve over spent this week - I bought a food and exercise app for the year, it’s still a fraction of the cost of others at £23 for the year. I’ve had a free trial and am losing weight so it’s worth it. I’ve also had to do an unexpected food order as we’re isolating until Friday and needed bread/milk etc that I usually pick up Saturday morning. Not ideal as I needed to spend £40 rather than the planned £12 ish but needs must. I did get dog food for a few weeks which is very handy if nothing else. 

I have used the cc so I don’t use the bill money so have 6 weeks to pay that now. 

Hi willlow lou lou,

Unexpected bills are a pain but it sounds like you made the most of it by buying bulk dog food.

Congratulations on your weight loss. I’m also trying to lose a few pounds. I’ve always maintained my weight but as I’m getting older it’s getting more challenging. Anyway, better stop talking about it and get my running gear on.

Thank you. I’ve lost 2 and a half stone this year. It had stalled until the app.

Bala if you are on Facebook or Twitter they are on both. X 

That’s fantastic! How did you do it?

elbree

Well done @willow_loulou!

[Deleted User]

Well done @willow_loulou, great weight loss 👍👍. I have weight to lose too and would love any tips. I am 50 next year and it is definitely harder as I get older

willow_loulou

Thanks all. 

It’s a combination of mindful eating, 16/8 on work days and just upping my step count (my phone records it) and dropping some carbs. Choosing something other than potato or bread. So Greek salad with what ever - fish, chicken etc. 

I still eat them just less often.  

[Deleted User]

Freetosave said:

Hi Allie23,

Well done for sticking to your plans. You have got lots bargains this week.

Sounds like we’re on the same page. I started to overspend last month. We’ve been scrimping for years and we’re months away from our financial goal but for some reason I just started thinking that I couldn’t do it any more (may of been due to visiting a very spendy friend who I haven’t seen for a long time). After reading through everyone’s comments, I realised I wasn’t alone in how we were living and that has focussed me on our goal. I find being frugal a positive, creative, empowering lifestyle.

You’ve reminded me that I can read magazines online for free via our library. I’m going to look into that tonight. Free entertainment.

Enjoy your burgers!

Thanks for your support @Freetosave.  I am still at least 6 years away from my finincial goal which menas I need to keep focus.  I always find if I'm not on here regularly that spending starts to increase as I don't have anyone close to me who is of the same mindset.  People at work know I try to be frugal but almost think it's hilarious and that although they'd love to save it just isn't possible for them for ... inset a variety of reasons/excuses etc. 


I haven't bought a magazine for such a long time as I too get them via an app from the local library.  I love Country Living for the beautiful pictures.  

Have a great day everyone.

[Deleted User]

Hello frugal friends, 

Lovely to log in and see so many posts. For those of you who have struggled or are currently struggling, please keep checking in on here. Also I would highly recommend reading Frugaldom's blog whenever you need some motivation to stay on the frugal path.

Having been on this journey for a year now, I can honestly say I don't worry about money anymore because I know I can survive on very, very little. I don't mean to sound flippant saying I don't worry - I have a tiny income and two children to raise - but this journey has opened my eyes to how little we actually need to live off, versus what society (and the Government) tell us we need to earn as a "minimum" to have a certain standard of living. I'm measuring my own standard of living, I am probably "poor" by Government standards, but I certainly don't feel it.

My annual budget of £5,000 for everything excluding mortgage and council tax allows me just over £180 per month for all expenses after my direct debits are taken. This is food, clothing, school trips, school shoes and uniform, gifts etc. I haven't spent  a penny from my bank account for almost 2 weeks. The money I get for selling the chickens eggs paid for a couple of nice bits of meat from the butchers, and some fresh fruit. Life is very rich indeed when you shake off the expectations of work/sleep/spend to reward self for working so hard/work/sleep/spend etc.