2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Treasurequeen

Had a voucher for pet store 30% off so stocked up on food for cat and her treats for next few months. All came to £12.22 saving over £10.00. Had my birthday voucher for craft store so got some bits I can use to make Christmas gifts with,  only had to pay £3.00 towards it. Had to get cats flea and wormer from vets got 3 months in, just in case which will take me to November. Which I will order 3 more to last until her booster next year. Also bulk bought her litter liners from pet store as they keep going out of stock for months on end. So should last around 5 months. 

My tv package is going up in price and the box itself is very slow, company wants me to upgrade and pay £120 for new box along with a contract price joke of an extra £15.00. I’ve decided I’m going to cancel it completely and get a recording box and tv pass. I’ve worked it out and I would save £30.00 a month and over a year £360.00. My broadband and phone package is getting too expensive £60 a month but my contract doesn’t end until December so I’m hoping I get offered a deal near the end or I may have to leave and find somewhere cheaper. Only problem is my home doesn’t have good signals and with my current supplier I’ve not had any loss of internet since I’ve been with them. So I’m not sure what to do. So I might have to make savings elsewhere to cover the cost as I rely on internet. 

My family each buy a magazine subscription and we share them around a group of us. So five of us with a different magazine each, saves so much money and we look forward to reading them each month. Just renewed and got 5 free magazines of my own choice so chose a completely different magazine for the next 5 months. 

My electric payments have gone up but I refused to pay what company quoted so they have agreed to my suggested payment. I’m in credit but I’m reasoning winters coming up so a bit extra in the account won’t hurt. 

I’m trying to find winter tunnels for garden but I can’t find any that will fit my troughs so I think I’m going to need to be creative. 

Was given some freebies recently; ice cream, washing up liquid and a iPod from my gadget loving relative who has upgraded and has draws of old gadgets. He gifted it to me and set it up for me which was good as I have no idea how to set it up let alone use it. I will soon learn. 

Bamboo Toothbrushes 3 pack for 99p in HB which will last over a year nice little bargain. 

Had to fork out money for a new passport my old passport was a child’s one (10 years out of date), I thought I’d have to apply for a new passport but on online forms it says it’s a renewal to a adult passport. Just got to send old one to the passport office, hasn’t said anything about supporting documents or countersigned information. Wasn’t sure that’s right but can’t find much information anywhere so time will tell. Does anyone know? 

joedenise

If you have a driving licence they use the same photo as on that.  If you don't then I've no idea!

willow_loulou

Why is it so hard to know what to eat when it’s suddenly baking hot! 

I had to pop to Sainsbobs, desperately needed smaller t shirts. I was looking dreadfully lost in my current ones. I got 3 in the sale and picked up a nice lot of very reduced veggies for the animals. I’ve salad stuff for lunches so got a bag of their cheese portions as they were on offer. Makes lunch portion control easy. 

Still nothing from the council, no one answering phones either 🤨 

Mrs_Cheshire

welshspendthrift said:

@fionaandphil I have a rhubarb that I think needs splitting,any guidance on doing this welcomed @Mrs_Cheshire I assume your location i is a way from Staffordshire otherwise you could have some of mine. 

Manchester unfortunately 

Mrs_Cheshire

Deleted_User said:

@Mrs_Cheshire welcome! Yes I most certainly am xx

Pm me your address and I'll pop it in the post. Are there any other dvd's you're looking for too? 

Jazee

I did really well at the community fridge yesterday - green beans, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, parsnips, bananas, onions and eggs.
Have been keeping the purse strings mainly closed this week, but did need some new underwear.  Spent £10 only in the sale.

CraftyLittleLisa

It has been a month since I posted and I am glad to say I haven't done any frivolous spending.  After reviewing my budgets and spending I have adjusted my spreadsheet and prepared the one for 2022.  Everything is going up so I have had to up my food budget to account for it.  I know my petrol will go up soon (although I don't use the car that much) as I will now have to use the more expensive super unleaded petrol - my car is not compatible to the normal petrol now they have changed it.  My energy direct debit has also gone up but I think that has happened to everybody.

I did finish decluttering earlier on in the year and got rid of bits and pieces but I do still have fabric that is too good to give away.  I have set up an account on a website specifically designed for selling sewing and knitting supplies and I am hoping to sell it through there.  I have not had luck in the past selling things but I guess it is worth a bash.

I have started to harvest some produce from the allotment - although it has been a really bad year for me on most of it - and I am concentrating on doing things at home that I already have stuff to complete.  I have so far touched up the paint in the kitchen (used up the paint that was left) and I am currently trying to build a planter using some old pallets that my brother got me from his place of work.  After that it will be catching up with chores around the house, starting to put the allotment to bed for the winter, reading through the huge pile of books I have been given by people to read and sewing and knitting using supplies I already have.  It will be interesting to see how long I can keep this going.

willow_loulou

@CraftyLittleLisa I started using the more expensive petrol a month ago and my car is running so much better on it! I get more miles to the gallon so hopefully it won’t be too much of a difference for you. 

I’ve now got my direct debits under £200 a month, this means I can cope with the extra council tax if that happens- I’m still waiting for a response! If it all stays the same I’m going to put the extra in my savings (animal bills) and loan payments now I’ve cancelled the wants over needs. 

Thrifty_Taylor

For those of you who shop at L1dl, there is a £5 off £25 spend in the Daily Mail paper every day between today & Sunday. Obviously today & tomorrow's paper will be cheaper than the weekend ones!

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

Thrifty_Taylor said:

For those of you who shop at L1dl, there is a £5 off £25 spend in the Daily Mail paper every day between today & Sunday. Obviously today & tomorrow's paper will be cheaper than the weekend ones!

Its also in the metro for anyone who can get one. OH has to go into the office tomorrow so going to get him to pick up a couple.