2021 Frugal Living Challenge

flossyblog

lots of extra expenses for July,  travel and food whilst out.  Also bought lots of toiletries, plus medicine bill. 

July

194.50 -bills

61.29-medicine

242.76-food

60.00- travel

40.80 mcdonalds&coffee

15.99 essential oils

56.50-shampoo & conditoner

54.00-electric toothbrushes

108.00-perfume

834.84 = total spend july

Total spend this year so far €6.497

nannygladys

Frugal things happening:

- 18 eggs given to me, all in date.
- Cabbage, kale, cucumber,turnips, green beans and beetroot from the allotment.
- made two peg bags, one for me and one for daughter with material l already had in.
- spending very little, even had free coffee and no cake when out!
- Frugal meal plan for the next few days, using what I have in.
- cut a dress out to sew, it will be worn if the sun ever comes out again!
- in the right frame of mind to carry on with being extra frugal this month.
All's well and only frugal plans made with the dgc this coming week.
Nannyg

willow_loulou

Just had the C talk with OH both of us need to not overspend on presents this year. He’s out of work so although he has savings it’s vital he keeps a lid on his spendings. He was very open to the discussion, he’s said every year he’s not spending much but then goes a bit mad lol. 

Hoping he will shop local and in second hand shops too. I’ve set a budget of £50 for everyone in my life not including the yarn I’ll get tomorrow. Hope he will do similar, though he does have a grandchild and that’s his weak spot! 

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

Had a good day today. Went through a few bits and took a bag of things to the charity shop. Whilst there I managed to get 3 polo shirts and a gilet for the boys in the next size up all for the total of £2.50. The gilet in particular looks brand new. 
Dinner was some cheese and onion pastries with chips and beans and some malteaser cupcakes for pudding. All picked up for free today except for the tin of beans. Also managed to get some free bakery items which have been squeezed into the freezer. 
Really going to try and come in under budget this month. Each month it has crept up but last month was ridiculous. 

Jazee

Been on holiday since Friday.  Brought most food with us, have been mostly avoiding shops and going for long walks and relaxing with my book or just enjoying the view.  Had a couple of takeaways.  Have only spent about £50 in total which includes DHs drink.

Jellytotts

Morning all!

A productive weekend here.  Got lots of allotment and garden veg prepped for the freezer or cooked up.  Made a huge slowcooker full of vegetable chilli. Had some last night and then tonight it will be served with quinoa in a stuffed marrow.  The remaining portions will be frozen.  Roasted off 2 large trays of veg, one portion will go in tomorrow nights risotto and the rest frozen in portions.  Cooked 8 large jacket spuds that needed using up whilst the oven was on, they will be used for lunches and other meals this week.

Moved an old paving slab crate onto some bricks on the patio, made a base and divider from an old pallet and started chopping kindling and thicker branches to fill it with.  We cut down 17 small trees when we moved here 2 years ago (we still have lots of healthy ones, only got rid of the manky ones).  They've been sitting waiting to be chopped so that's my aim over the next 10 days.  

Ive got an operation at the end of next week and will be out of gardening action for a good 6 weeks so trying to catch up with stuff now whilst ive got chance.  Also not leaving the house unless it's for an early morning walk or round to the allotment as I can't risk catching anything this close to surgery.

Only purchased one thing online and that was a carbon monoxide alarm so minimal spends all weekend.  Do need to phone the vets for some flea treatment this morning so that will be £13 for the prescription and then £35 spent online for some drops (the same amount of drops from the vet would cost us £96 so we always get a private prescription and shop more cheaply online)

Meals are all sorted for the week, it's supposed to get better, weather wise (currently pouring down) so I'm aiming to stay in, get lots done and spend as little as possible.

MissRikkiC

I love reading along to all your tips and ideas on being more frugal and feel like i have achieved having a relatively frugal weekend at least which including the following:

Repairing a zester and a grater box with some glue instead of replacing
Adding peelings/off cuts of veg to a pan as i was cooking to make some stock
2 pick ups from Olio including some fresh cut herbs 
Attempting to propagate the herb cuttings in some water as we speak
Chopped and frozen remainder of the herbs
Pickled some leftover cucumber as a gift for a relative
A nice long walk yesterday and 'foraged' some blackberries 2 apples and some cherry plums

Im scouring various market place locations for a water butt and a composter for the garden too - as well as free gravel for the garden!

 

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

I've been wanting to get a can of wd40 for using on window hinges and any other odd jobs around the house. When i popped into tesco yesterday they had it on offer for £2.75 instead of £5.50 so grabbed a can. 
Horrible weather here today. Will wait until tomorrow to do my washing when i can hopefully get it on the line.

willow_loulou

What do people use to freeze things in? I have a small freezer so not much room for reusable containers. 

Chuck run has finally arrived so picking my girls up tomorrow 😊

 

MissRikkiC

I tend to freeze things mostly for my daughter, in a silicone muffin tray. They just turn out without bother and then I store them in a food bag. Otherwise the same but with ice cube trays for anything like a sauce and then otherwise in individual food bags and cut the excess off the top once tied @willow_loulou