2021 Frugal Living Challenge

YorksLass

Jellytotts said:

Yorkslass - depending on where you want your burner, you may not need a chimney.  They can put a flue through the outside wall and run it externally.  We wouldn't be without a burner now, we had an open fire at our old house but it didn't pump out 1/4 of the heat the log burner does.

Yes, I've looked into that before but, as it's a council-owned property, we'd need to get their permission first and they are very resistant to what they call "major" changes.  I think this would fall into that category.  Thanks for the suggestion though.

Siebrie

@YORKSHIRELASS I cycle to work, and I hate cycling with a backpack. My bicycle has proper weatherproof paniers, but otherwise, I use a 'bike rope' (fietsspin in Dutch).

Sweetlittledaydreams

Frugal win today - instead of spending £15 or so on my friends birthday present, I've made a personalised present, and it's only cost me a grand total of £2.50 for the wood plus a few hours of work, done in time I'd usually just waste in the evenings. Hopefully she'll like the gift being a bit more thoughtful and it should last forever, fingers crossed it is good enough.
Keep putting off going to the supermarket, have realised I definitely don't need to do a big shop weekly. Washing is out on the line, it's about 8c so might not dry but it will get a good airing anyway. Still no joy with olio but I've got a pretty simple vegetarian diet so it's quite cheap anyway as I prefer veg and beans to faux meats which can be a bit more expensive. I've gone back to home baking which is good, saves quite a bit too, and people at work get nice treats this way too. 
Hope everyone is ready for another frugal week, each choice is a step closer to your goals.

Siebrie

I have restarted writing a 14-day inventory list. It's what we eat every 14 days and what should be in my pantry, so I know what I need to buy and can limit going to the supermarket to once a fortnight, with maybe 1 small top-up shop in between. Less visits to the supermarkte = less spending!

willow_loulou

It’s cold! So cold my bed felt damp-it’s not just cold. So time to heat upstairs some. I’ve brought the heated towel rail up as it’s super cheap and tomorrow I’ll try and get at least one window bubble wrapped upstairs and down. 

The draft excluders are out in force! 

stymied

How do people find the cost of heating one room with an electric heater compared to the whole house with gas central heating? One year we used an electric heater for DD’s room (feels the cold, bed is against an outside wall) and I definitely felt from the bills that was more expensive than having the heating on at 18 during the day, 14 at night, 19 for a boost if we’re feeling chilly. We don’t have it on during the night very often, only if it’s really cold.

Mrs_Cheshire

Hi all, still waiting for our energy transfer to occur so I know where I'm up to with the bills. I'm used to monthly statements but haven't had one for 2 months so hoping we haven't spent an excessive amount. 
Grocery spends are still low due to the combination of overstocked freezer and store cupboard during October and community grocery collections. 
Picked up a catering sized tin of peaches in juice today so that will be the kids puds sorted for ages -rice pudding & peaches, jelly & peaches and maybe a crumble. Has anyone cooked a crumble in an air fryer before?  Oven's not working!

2Scratters

@Sweetlittledaydreams I felt quite Meh about Christmas last year and the first time ever in my life did not have a Christmas tree. We have had real trees for the past 25 or more and in the last 6 were recycled into the wood burner - great heat source and a lot tidier. What I did do was route through the decorations to find the wreaths that were stored away. I had made some with the intention of selling but gave some away as gifts. I put some more together and made a wall of wreaths. It looked fab. Some had lights on others didn't. I will be doing this again and making a couple more. I didn't have to deal with the expense of the tree - picking up ornaments off the tree that get tail wagged off I also won't need to buy anymore tree decorations as I plan to build what we already have into the wreaths over the next few years. It also saved floor space. I did miss the smell of the tree last year but I intend to go to a place that sells and see if I can get some branches and make a tree wreath where i will hang it in a cooler space for the smell. The log burner is in the living room obviously but the heat is too much for a tree to last.
Oops that was a bit long.

Stay safe
2 Scratters

AnimalTribe

I finally got around to using the jar of jam that had more or less turned into toffee. Thanks for the suggestion of adding water and re-heating - it has made a very sweet caramel type sauce, so a little will go a long way. Once that's finished I'll try the other suggestions with another 'bad' jar. I've had our heating and generator oil delivered, and I've stocked up on animal feed. I just need the boiler serviced and a few odds and ends of human food bought, and I'm ready for any eventuality that winter throws at me. In 2010 we were snowed in for 6 weeks - we had to dig our way to the animal sheds every morning and night to feed them. Luckily, then as now, we were well prepared. 
I've finished a small pile of mending - we are really rough on our clothes, and I rescued a towel that had worn thin by doubling it over and sewing round the edges and up the middle - it will do as a barn towel. 

nannygladys

Not much going on in my life at the moment, things ticking over. Xmas and winter just about sorted, pantry stocks high, freezer full and necessary clothes all bought.

I'm careful how I use the heating and don't normally put it on until 6pm. I think I may do a little experiment and leave it on low all day and then put it on twice a day and then just once a day, just to compare warmth and cost, to see how they compare as there's conflicting ideas. I suppose to some extent it's personal choice followed by cost! 

Nannyg