2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Blackcats

Willow, that's a great suggestion from Zafiro  - I've got the "new edition for the 90's" version 🤣.  My mum gave it to me back in the 90's and it's still a favourite.    I agree that it's full of good, simple recipes.  The baking section is great - lots of traditional cakes and biscuits.  My other favourite is The McDougalls book of home baking - I acquired this recently from my mum after she died - it looks like a 70's or 80's book but so far every recipe I've tried has turned out well.  

mandy47

zafiro1984 said:

'The dairy book of home cookery', a simple no-nonsense cookery book. I've had mine since the 80's, not sure when the last edition was published but Amazon have from 2.01p. It's under amazon UK - books - and then it's the fourth one down, hardback only.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=the+dairy+book+of+home+cookery&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss

I have had mine since the early 90's. I have loads of cookery books but still use this one the most

Sweetlittledaydreams

Still working my way through previous posts, on page 220 now and picking up some tips. I'm keeping an eye on olio but not much near me, really hoping to get a lidl fruit and veg box but they haven't been in store the last few times I've been. Have downloaded too good to go but not sure because I'm vegetarian and can't eat dairy so not sure if I could end up with a bag of food I won't eat. Luckily I live rural and like to forage fruit, nuts and some wild herbs and edible plants, I don't know anything at all about foraging mushrooms but someone I work with does and has kindly offered to come with me so I'm very excited about that. Food is probably my 2nd biggest monthly outgoing after the mortgage so any money saving is a bonus. 
I have a week off now so as well as having a sort out to see what I can sell, I am going to sit down and do a proper budget and see if there is anywhere I can make some cutbacks, but I really don't think I spend much so even little savings will be good. Also want to look at insulating the house a bit better, could do with new windows but that's an expense I'm putting off for a good few more years.
A real bonus is I checked my bank account tonight and I've had a refund of £21 from my insurance company, wasn't expecting it. Have spent just over £50 on food this month, a combination of eating from the cupboards and feeling very low in mood and going off my food a bit - but that's starting to improve very slightly.
Hope everyone is doing well,and if not lets daydream of better times 

joedenise

There's no one near me doing Olio; although there is someone in the town about 8 miles away and she advertised on Facebook a while back that she had loads of bread!  Not much good to me as I only eat wholemeal!

With Too Good To Go if you have a Morrisons nearby that is signed up to it I managed to get one of their Magic Bags a couple of weeks ago and it was mainly fruit and veg so would have been a good one for vegetarians.  Not sure whether they're all like that though or whether it just happened to be that one.  Not managed to get one since!

The local Costcutter I don't bother with any more as that was mainly white bread, ready meals, cooked meats and some hot pastries.

Sweetlittledaydreams

Watching an episode of The Good Life and Tom says they need to cut the food shop back to £10 a week, and Barbara says she's already done the shop and got it down to £8, it reminded me of this forum! They've definitely got my dream lifestyle, even if the whole thing was made about 20 years before I was even born it's still aspirational for me.
I tried to sign up for prolific surveys but after I put my ID in they rejected my account, not sure why, I am who I say I am, promise! Do the yougov surveys, might get to £50 by Christmas, it does take a long time to get there though but every little helps. 
Will make a potato curry tonight with potatoes out of the garden, nice cheap meal.

Jellytotts

Got a good haul from Olio this morning 4 gluten free rolls, a very large bag of crispy salad, 6 packs of 6 tomatoes, 7 apples and 2 different varieties of cauliflower (this was from two different collections).  I've altered the meal plan a bit to make best use of it all.  This was from the next town across from us but as we knew we'd be passing I thought I'd see what was available last night.

Also popped into my favourite everything's a pound charity shop and picked up a few Christmas decorations and a lovely pair of Chelsea boots, been looking for some for the garden for the days I can't be faffed with full wellies.  

Treasurequeen

Bulb in oven blew it is a halogen bulb managed to source one for £11.80 delivered. Keep getting issues with kitchen and bathroom sink due to poor water pressure so have invested in a old fashioned plunger to keep in the flat for future issues. As my grandparents say the old fashioned things are the best. Managed to find some batteries at a reasonable price, half price in local diy shop.

Managed to get my tv subscription at a reduced rate until April for £2.99. I’m only in a contract with phone and broadband supplier everything else is direct debits. Food budget now includes cat food, vitamins and household/cleaning products I’m aiming for £150.00 a month for this but at the moment it’s around £200 a month. Tv subscription are PayPal and I’m hoping that I can cash in some survey money and cash back to pay for them throughout the year. They still work out cheaper than my old sky tv package. 

Store cupboard is full with essentials just need to get a few fresh bits and few bits for the freezer. I’ve got enough books to read for a long time that I’ve been picking up in CS. I did treat myself to a couple of  new books from supermarket last week. I’ve managed to find cheaper alternatives to things I regularly use. I used to buy fresh bread from m&s at £1.60 a loaf, but it didn’t freeze well. I have stomach issues so have to be very careful what I eat. But I have found supermarket own brand toastie bread I’m ok with and it’s only 55p a loaf. Same with vitamins they seem to be cheaper when bought from supermarket as they are on 3 for 2 and I can collect club card points. 

I checked my club card account and have £12.50 in vouchers which will go towards Christmas. 

Once a week I have a mix and match dinner using up all the odds and ends of things in the flat. This week it was unidentifiable vegetarian fillet I thought was “chicken” but it turned out was “fish”with a few potato products odds and ends. 

I’ve got a wedding in December I bought a dress online but had to send it back, finally got a refund. Have ordered another cheaper dress online that was on sale. Ive got tights, handbag and shoes I already own. A two course meal is being provided and each side of family will have own tab. Most of my family don’t drink but I know soft drinks aren’t cheap but hopefully should be a lot cheaper than alcohol. I’ve already bought main gift and will cash in some cash back to pay for a voucher. It’s my brother getting married so not sure how much to spend any ideas? 

Toaster died today it’s been acting up for last few months but I wanted to get its full use out of it. It stopped working completely this morning. Have found next model up reduced in supermarket today. I couldn’t believe some toasters don’t take thick bread or crumpets! 

zafiro1984

Treasurequeen said:

  As my grandparents say the old fashioned things are the best.  

I agree, I have an electric hoover scrubber, a steam cleaner, and a dyson vac all for the floor stone in the kitchen. (DH bought them) I can't remember when I last used them. I use a brush and shovel plus mop and bucket - no electric used and just as quick.

kippers

Marghirl said:

What about knitted slippers. Just search ‘cloud slippers pattern’ on internet. They only take about an hour to make a pair

Wow never knew about these.  I havent knitted for about 20 years and ive been wanting to start again now my girls have grown up.  Ive found a pattern online that seems pretty easy but it says 10-15mm US needles …… what size is that in the uk?  Is there a  better uk pattern to use?

Jellytotts

Lovely olio haul again this morning, 7 loaves of gluten free bread, a bag of satsumas and 2 tubs of unopened shed paint.  The allotment shed needs a good spruce up in the spring so this is ideal.  All the bread has found a home in the freezer and the total retail cost would have been £47 roughly, all items we would have bought (albeit I don't normally buy the expensive brand of GF bread as it's beyond my budget)