2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Marghirl

Got some pure wool 4ply in a sale so I am knitting socks for the winter. They keep my feet much warmer than shop bought socks

YORKSHIRELASS

Fionaandphil washing is out here too, it wasnt a full load but I had some whites and we rarely get a full load of those.  Hope its drying.

Puzzled that we havent had a bill from the garage.  Is it too much to hope that because the car has been in twice for the same problem they arent going to charge us?  Seems unlikely but I can hope.  They are usually fairly fast with their bills.

House is cold so heating is on for a bit.  Back in my Heatgen Plus thermals, pleased I got some new ones at the end of last winter from Ebay.  Oh and I found a receipt from work that I forgot to claim so I am £20 better off than I thought!

Sweetlittledaydreams

A half frugal week so far, had to spend £35 at the dentist, but did get to take a couple of sample size toothpaste tubes home as well as all my own teeth!! Had a reminder that I need an eye test but will wait until there is an offer on, had a free test last time. Managed to line dry some washing this afternoon but it's cold here now and the heating has been on for an hour, first time this half of the year, was trying to wait until the clocks changed but even with a hot waterbottle and fleecy jumper it was still cold. Have an interview tomorrow so that might also be making me feel a bit shivery - nerves rather than actual cold!
It's so nice to be able to 'talk' about money things here, in real life my friends don't share the same goals or lifestyle as me, I've lived alone for a few years now whereas my friends are either coupled up and have 2 incomes so are able to spend a bit more freely or they still live with their parents and are supported by them a lot so don't have to worry about paying for bills or food shops, so don't really understand my desire to save like crazy and make the cut backs now so I get rid of my mortgage ASAP and have some peace of mind. Anyway what I'm trying to say is I appreciate finding likeminded people.
I've been learning to knit over the last couple of weeks, so far all I can do is big squares but I figure enough big squares and you've got yourself a blanket, I'm in awe of people who can knit socks or anything other than squares at the minute actually! Can we see the socks when they are done? Marghirl said:

Got some pure wool 4ply in a sale so I am knitting socks for the winter. They keep my feet much warmer than shop bought socks

Hope everyone is well 

Marghirl

Got one sock done. They tend to thicken up when washed and almost go kind of felted% really warm and cosy

Sweetlittledaydreams

Marghirl said:

Got one sock done. They tend to thicken up when washed and almost go kind of felted% really warm and cosy

Wow fantastic, so neat. I'm hoping with practice I'll be able to make a pair, they look lovely and snug.
Dishes done and thought of a frugal tip some of you might already do it but I always cut the washing up sponges in half, initially because they didn't fit inside wine glasses but now do it all the time, makes a pack last twice as long so its another teeny tiny money saver.

willow_loulou

If you can knit maybe try making dish cloths. That will be even cheaper and less plastic - win win! It’s on my to do list to make some. I did gifts a while ago but didn’t keep any. 

Payday here. Trying a different method of spreading my money this month as I get 4 incomes essentially. Hoping to be able to focus and get an extra £50 on my loan to meet my target. I’m absolutely determined to be debt free by this time next year. 

Marghirl

I have some mercerised cotton, would this be ok to knit up for washcloths?

I have a big gap under my living room door so I wedged an old pillow under the door to act as a draughty excluder. It only me in the house so it doesn’t matter what it looks like. I did put a pillow case on it so I can take that off and wash it

[Deleted User]

Good morning frugal friends, 

Frugalling has been even more important to me this past fortnight. I never cease to be amazed at how little we can actually live on if I put my mind to it. This has been tested to the absolute maximum this past week, and yes our meals were a bit repetitive at times, but the point is we have muddled through and we are all fine

I have £5 remaining in my purse, which I am going to use to purchase a chicken from the butcher when I walk down to school later. Said chicken will go in the slow cooker tomorrow morning and be used for many meals, in different guises, throughout the week. 

Our local library has an influx of brand new books, which I am making full use of, reading around two a week at the moment. 

My main frugal win of the week was being gifted 12 pallets free of charge. Saturday is designated as the great chopping day - there is no scope for logs in our budget at all so we will be burning free wood wherever possible. The hot water bottles are in the beds at nighttime - no heating on here. 

@Marghirl those socks are absotutely brilliant. I have been browsing online for knitted wool socks but they seem so pricey on Etsy and the like. If you ever make to sell, please PM me as I would love to purchase some xx

I hope everyone is well, keep on keeping on lovely people xxx

Elisheba

Marghirl said:

I have some mercerised cotton, would this be ok to knit up for washcloths?

I don't see why not.  It would be soft on your skin, and being mercerised it is a bit tougher so would withstand frequent wetting and rubbing. Only one way to find out though I guess!

florianatwobob

I have £5 remaining in my purse, which I am going to use to purchase a chicken from the butcher when I walk down to school later. Said chicken will go in the slow cooker tomorrow morning and be used for many meals, in different guises, throughout 

If you don’t already  do throw the chicken carcass back in the slow cooker and *just* cover it with water and cook on low for 8 hours. I normally end up with just under a litre of chicken stock which I often use in a paella or risotto with some of the chicken