2021 Frugal Living Challenge

[Deleted User]

@Frugaldom - couldn't agree more. We plan to only burn wood this winter, and free wood at that, logs have gone up £20 per bag in our area. Chopped pallets all the way.

I do use bought Firelighters sometimes - a pack of 48 is priced at 2 packs for £2 in B&M at the moment so 96 for £2 which is excellent. 

Today is all about budgeting and re-writing the budget to squeeze as much out of it as possible. Things are going to be tight for a while - not complaining, I have chosen to hand my notice in - but careful money management is more necessary than ever. Very thankful for the food waste shares we have in the area xx

zafiro1984

Today is all about budgeting and re-writing the budget to squeeze as much out of it as possible. Things are going to be tight for a while

That's exactly where I'm heading.

I haven't posted on this thread for a while as I thought it was going a little off subject for a while. I've just caught on the last few pages and I'm delighted to say there's a lot of interesting stuff again.

At the moment I'm on a mission to save electric without appearing to be too frugal to DH.
I've done all the usual things - nothing on standby, draw the curtains at night.

I've abandoned the dishwashers - yes I have two plus another for the plastic egg trays. I used to use them at least twice a day. Now a soak dishes in the sink followed by hand washing, saves on both electric and the 20p per dishwasher tablet.

I'm also trying to not use the oven, instead I use a slow cooker, microwave and try to do my main cooking on the 'ironheart' which is like a poor man's aga. It uses wood, which fortunately we have more than enough and it doesn't cost a penny, except for the petrol for the chain saw. Half of it looks like a woodburner but it also has an oven and two hotplates. The downside is you can't control the temperature but it's great for most things except cakes. You just get into the habit of thinking ahead. I also try to batch cook - make one freeze two.
It also saves on the central heating as I leave all the doors from the kitchen open, it throws out 8kw   

Washing machine, only use 5 times a week, dryer - not at all.
I've also taken to sweeping the stone/flag/wood floors instead of using the dyson. Now I also mop in the old fashion way all the solid floors. I used to use a electric scrubber followed by an electric polisher, I don't think DH has noticed the difference and I find it just as quick.

The upshot of all this is that saves about 12kw a day on the electric plus the dishwasher tablets. I'm still on the lookout for more ideas

[Deleted User]

I agree @zafiro1984. Now is the time to focus on pure frugality. We only use our DW every second or third day, and I am limiting myself to using the WM 3 times a week. Not easy, but necessary. I also sweep and mop, the hoover hardly ever comes out anymore. We are very, very lucky that our local library welcomes people to sit and read all day if they so wish, and have lovely comfy chairs as well as free tea and coffee. I can see that becoming very well utilised over the coming months. 

If you have a local library, please please support it xx 

Frugaldom

Nice to see you back, @zafiro1984. The route to debt free Frugaldom is never a one way street, it's more of a network of meandering country lanes that ultimately all get to the same place eventually. I think it depends which route you're on as to how relevant topics can be to your own lifestyle. Everything is relevant especially if it helps someone share a burden or know they aren't alone with a particular event in life. Your Ironheart sounds excellent. I'm back to researching wood burners as I can't decide on what would be best in the hut. The prices have really shot up over the past few years so I may end up using the tiny one I already have while saving for a bigger, better model in the future. 

Electricity savings challenges - in previous years we have tried all sorts, including attempting a day off grid on a regular basis. However, this only works if everyone in the household is fully committed and you don't need it for work related tasks. I'm looking out for leisure batteries and solar panels but these are few and far between as secondhand. Saving for them. I also use a flask every day and have stocked up on cheap cuppa soups and noodles for lunches. If this fuel carry-on continues, nobody will be driving far and deliveries will be priced out my range so I need dried foods rather than frozen. Preserving as much as I can.

willow_loulou

I’m trying to find decent hot water bottles. Everyone I’ve picked up recently the rubber smell is over powering! 

I’ve cut back on my dishwasher use too. I do need to use it as I don’t have hot water unless I boil the kettle. I will hand rinse mugs etc and just did a sink full along side the dishwasher going. 

What solar power device would you suggest @f@Frugaldom please. I want something to charge small items like my usb torch and phone really. 

I do the stuffed toilet roll too. I stuff each with 2 other rolls and scrap paper, they’re great but I do use lighters too. I pick them up each shopping trip. I now have a box full of matches too. Thinking ahead is quite empowering. I’d like to go back to where I got the free logs but it’s the petrol issue. I’ve committed to a few journeys already. I’m always on the look out for free stuff though. It’s storage I need to address. 

willow_loulou

Here is my annual reminder to apply for your warm home grants from your electric provider. I’ve just done mine with British Gas again. 

mumtoomany

Thanks, @Frugaldom. I have rebooked DD3's test. Unfortunately no free spaces till February! Will be checking every day for cancellations. Unfortunately she can't really look for a better/full time job until she's driving. At present she is relying in us to take her to and from work, rural area, no or very few buses. The joys of living in paradise!
We, dadtoomany and myself, are both very frugal. Have been for years. Unfortunately S-i-L is not! We split all the bills 50-50. So i'm sure we are paying for more than we use. This will change once they move into their new house. 
@zafiro1984, (if you start using it again) and anyone else with a dish washer, dishwasher tablets are only around £30 for 500 on ebay. They work as well as any other, we've used them for years. Our dish washer was bought for £40 around 20 years ago from a friend in dire straights, "why do i need a dishwasher when i can't afford food to put n the dishes?" It was quite old and i thought it would last a year or two. Still going strong. It no longer stops running if you open the door part way through a cycle, the dial falls of every time the door is opened, and if it's in a bad mood it will spew water over the floor, (every few months). Worth the money, and it will be kept until it's no longer fixable.
Fire lighters, we use any kitchen/toilet paper that has been used to clean up fat in the kitchen, cleaning the frying pan etc. Also fat from meat, chicken skin, etc. We also burn bones from meat, free fuel and saves attracting rats to the compost.
Of to pick some more berries, the rain has slowed at last, take care, mumtoomany.

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi all

DH is suffering with his back.  He is self employed so this is a real worry.  I have worked out that if we cut everything back to the bare minimum we would have £329 a month left from my wages if DH is not able to work.  This would have to pay for food, diesel and everything else, so it is just about possible.  We have £500 in the emergency fund but I am trying not to touch this.

Mumtoomany hope DD gets another test before Feb, we have the same issues with living in a rural area - no public transport at all from here.  Oh and the DW tablet tip is great, are they the vidaXL ones?

I think its probably worth me driving the 4 miles into work in winter as the cost of diesel for the car will be less than the cost of heating the house all day.  I can use the kettle and microwave at work too free of charge!  Our woodburning stove needs a new flue and we keep putting it off but need to get some quotes, we can often get hold of free wood.

We are eating up leftovers out of the freezer with bits out of the garden.  I bought a bag of Quorn pieces ages ago for some reason, not sure why because I dont really like Quorn!  Some of those pieces went into tonights stir fry, they will get eaten up slowly.

joedenise

I've just done our October meal plan and can do most of it from our freezers.  Hoping to be able to shut down our outside freezer before going away mid November.

[Deleted User]

YL - £329 is eminently doable should the SHTF and your DH can’t go out to work. Presuming he still has some invoices outstanding for payment, when that money comes in can you use some of it to do a full pantry/freezer/household goods stock up?

I agree about going into work but wonder if some days you could cycle there? I know you like a morning work out, forgive me if the route is too tricky by bike, just a suggestion. 

Today I delivered an egg sale order, and used that money to purchase some apples, pears and cheese. The foodshare yielded some great store cupboard bits today, so we are fully topped up with tinned beans of various varieties, porridge oats and sanitary products.

The fire has been lit today - there is no insulation in this house and it was chilly in the living room. Tomorrow is to be even colder but sunny. A friend has asked me to clean for an hour tomorrow for her, in exchange she is letting me use her washing machine (mine is living on borrowed time) and leaving me some leftover fish pie. Perfect arrangement for both parties, and no cash trading hands.