2021 Frugal Living Challenge

willow_loulou

I work in the community, we are 3rd sector nfp. I can tell you first hand getting individual financial donations has gotten seriously difficult. People will still buy a raffle ticket though, I think that’s a little gamble most like to take. 

I’m literally just getting things together for another raffle, that’s also becoming trickier. 

Luckily I have a few things from the last one I received too late and some gifts I can’t use (alcohol and bubble bath) 

Something I have noticed is people only begrudgingly accept I should get paid! I do 50% of my work as a volunteer as it is! Why do people think a skilled job should be done out of the goodness of my heart? I am paid more than minimum wage yes, but not the £25 minimum an hour I could charge to a private sector facility! It’s not like doing 3 hours in a charity shop once a month is my usual reply. That’s the trouble living in an area that half middle class and half breadline. One does not understand the other regardless of the bridges I build. 

QueenJess

willow_loulou said:

I work in the community, we are 3rd sector nfp. I can tell you first hand getting individual financial donations has gotten seriously difficult.

That makes me sad 🙁. I've had the completely opposite reaction and have been donating more. I plan to up it again at some point when I'm a bit more financially secure (probably next year).

MissRikkiC

[Deleted User] said:

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.

This comment really resonated with me about needing to be here amongst likeminded people for when it gets tough or you fall off the wagon. It’s the same with everything in life isn’t it, being around the right sort of people who support your goals or want the same as you. It really helps. 

Blackcats

thought provoking discussion on charities.  I think Treasurequeen's ideas about donating goods to the food bank and using charity shops works for me.  Oh and I donated £100 to cats protection and they gave me 2 lovely cats in return 😻.  

My 2 rescue cats are not frugal minded at all - high spec branded food is all they will eat ....duo of fish in gravy is the only flavour.  Considering one of the cats was living rough for nearly a year, he seems to have remarkably discerning and expensive taste! 

willow_loulou

Lol blackcats my dogs are the same, picky blighters. One can eat anything but not digest it, the other turns his nose up at what the other likes! 

t14cy_t

very lucky yesterday!! given ham x7, bacon x3, margarine, burgers, sausages and a pizza all in date!!! local co ops fridge went down and they gave the contents away instead of throwing it!!!! kerching!!! freezer full to bursting again!! 

balabooberlies

t14cy_t said:

very lucky yesterday!! given ham x7, bacon x3, margarine, burgers, sausages and a pizza all in date!!! local co ops fridge went down and they gave the contents away instead of throwing it!!!! kerching!!! freezer full to bursting again!! 

Absolutely bloomin' wonderful.

bala

x

[Deleted User]

We are now debt free and have been for over 2 years..... the feeling of joy when I paid off the last payment was euphoric. However in the time since then we have both paid for simple funerals, cash, and also POA's.......we now have an emergency fund and savings bought a new to me car in April. The Skoda was 13 years old and needed work, so sadly decided it was time for it to got.

I look back and remember the struggles, but believe me it was worth it. Have I relaxed my frugal ways...... no.....

willow_loulou

I got free bacon this week too! Only 1 pack though so not your amazing haul t14! 

We had it for dinner just now, it went down very well! 

I’ve booked a tip slot for Saturday which I have made coincide with a trip to the fare share table. Hurrah for the end of isolation! 

Tomorrow is try and find shoes for under £10. It’s becoming dire as my trainers are wearing out now too so I’ll have only my flip flops! Eeek! Hopefully Tes@0 will have their cheap slip ins and lace ups so I can get 2 pairs to see me through the summer til sale time. 

willow_loulou

I have shoes! A year after I first needed them! They’re only £8 slip ins from Tesco but they will see me through. They didn’t have the lace up ones in my size and they had gone up anyway. 

Now I can stick to trainers for just working. Yay! 

Tesco was dreadful though, a snivelling maskless woman wiping her nose with her hands in the queue next to me. But I did get some reduced fruit and salad as well as a bag of dog biscuits that were £3 compared to the £5.45 on Ocado. 

It’s funny Ocado are cheaper on their meat yet much dearer on the dry food.