2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

Thanks, @willow_loulou I know there are literally thousands of posts and pages relating to the challenge and even I get quite surprised when reading back through some of it on here and elsewhere. Without having had the support of everyone who has ever taken part in any of the challenges, I don't think I would be in the fortunate position I am now. I have always felt accountable to the challenges and would never abandon the frugal ship, no matter what. It's my life:s work and will always involve a project that can be shared with fellow frugalers 😊 

Today we were given some really good quality pallets that are suitable as flooring in the new hay shed. Along with these we also got several of the large cattle supplement buckets complete with their lids. I think they hold about 80 litres each do will be used for water. This past year has been hard work trying to keep things watered during the extremely dry summer we had here. I'll be better prepared next year.

AnimalTribe

Someone asked about saving electricity (sorry I can't remember who) - most of the big savings have already been mentioned but a few smaller ones are: keeping your water heater at 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit; pack the freezer (with bread or empty milk bottles), but allow air to circulate in the fridge; clean the condenser coils on fridges and freezers now and again; try to limit the amount of time fridge/freezer doors are open; if the shower is electric try to keep the showering time short.

I'm slowly working my way through clearing out stuff from my house. As well as years of our own stuff, my DH and I have acquired stuff we have been storing for my DD (that she now tells me she no longer wants), and stuff we have inherited from relatives. We have a lot of stuff but I'm going to take my time. I have already sold some and donated some, But I'm trying to bin as little as possible. We inherited a couple of hamsters, and they too have now sadly gone. I gave all the good hamster related stuff to an animal shelter, but was left with a couple of chewed hamster balls. Instead of binning them I'm turning them into hanging baskets.

mumtoomany

Hi all. Regarding closing fridge doors. Some of the adults in the house had a habit of leaving the fridge door open while using the milk or whatever else they had taken out. We have tilted the fridge back very slightly, maybe a millimetre or two, by turning the front legs, (they are threaded for this purpose) Now the fridge closes itself, once you let go of the door. Problem solved, electricity saved. Mumtoomany.

nannygladys

willow_loulou- thanks for reminding me I have an epp draught excluded ready to put together for the front room door, it only needs stuffing! 

As I haven't been out again, still feeling a bit 'off' but a lot better, I've just been pootling about a bit that's my frugal but for today.
Nannyg

betony

mumtoomany said:

Hi all. Regarding closing fridge doors. Some of the adults in the house had a habit of leaving the fridge door open while using the milk or whatever else they had taken out. We have tilted the fridge back very slightly, maybe a millimetre or two, by turning the front legs, (they are threaded for this purpose) Now the fridge closes itself, once you let go of the door. Problem solved, electricity saved. Mumtoomany.

Utter genius! Thank you for this idea! 

willow_loulou

I collected my free bits, it’s a great spot of mine, the pen is a Parker and works beautifully. 

It also contained several pads of lined paper ideal for DD uni needs. There were so many working pens she took a couple of those too. 

We popped to the big charity shop that’s now open Sunday’s. Dd got magazine holders for uni and a lovely lamp. I got a Christmas gift to tick off my list. Total spend was £5! 

We’ve decided to go there weekly to see if we can get more Christmas gifts as it’s so cheap. 

Popping to the other big one tomorrow but that is a more expensive shop. 

I’ve just done an Approved food shop. I got all the animals food for a month as well as some tins for us. Very pleased with that as my animal feed store is miles away and I don’t want to queue for petrol again! 

mumtoomany

Hi, @betony. Just wish I could do the same trick with the front door. That's also always being left open! 
Frugal meal yesterday. Roast chicken, (cockerel) home grown, cauliflower and cabbage, both home grown, roast potatoes, stuffing and gravy. Total cost around 60p, fed seven adults and four children. If only we could live on that little every meal.
More raspberries and blackberries been picked to freeze, ready for the winter.

DD3 failed her driving test this morning, nerves i think. Not so frugal,as we now need to carry on taking her to and from work and paying for lessons for another few weeks. Hopefully she'll get it next time.
Take care all, mumtoomany.

willow_loulou

@mumtoomany when my kids were little I had an alarm on my front door that went off if not shut properly. It’s just a battery operated thing. I’m sure you can still get them. 

I’m moving my downstairs around, reorganisation ready for winter draft excluding and more wood storage. I came across bleach tablets and 3 hand washes! That’s that covered for ages as I’d just replaced the bathroom one. I must have got a deal from my Avon rep and just popped them away in the store cupboard. 

mumtoomany

Hi, @willow_loulou, great advice, but the "child" in question is DS-i-L. He is now in his fourties! A lost cause i think. Hopefully they will have finished building their new house in the next 12 months, and can move in next door. mumtoomany

Frugaldom

@mumtoomany, sorry to learn that your DD failed her driving test, she (and you) must be really disappointed. Hopefully, it won't be too long before she gets another test date.

I over boiled the hedgerow jelly so it's almost bordering on soft fruit toffee but it spreads on toast, so we're fine! There are still hundreds of rosehips ripe for picking but sugar supplies are quite low again so I'm going to use whatever else I pick as vitamin supplements for the ponies over winter. The birds have already feasted on most of the really ripe ones.

The toilet roll tubes that Ive been saving are now all set aside to stuff with scrap paper for using as firelighters in the stove. With the latest news showing how crazy everywhere has gone in the wake of a fuel shortage scare, collecting firewood is going to have to be moved up the list of priorities. With an open fire, multifuel stove and cylinder gas as our heating sources, beng prepared to use logburner more often is sounding likely. If it's too windy to light it then we're back to electric heaters during winter if deliveries of gas cylinders is already being affected by the lack of lorry drivers. It's beginning to feel a bit like living in some strange sci-fi movie with space exploration on one hand, global catastrophes on the other. The ability to live as frugally and self-sustainably as possible has never been more important in my lifetime.