2021 Frugal Living Challenge

tryingtodobetter

Good Morning! I love reading all your posts so inspiring and just what I need to keep me on the frugal straight and narrow! 

I worked yesterday so had a NSD (parking is still free) I made a lovely packed lunch of pasta and lots of the left over bits from Christmas that we're still working our way through. I'm not working today which is handy given last nights lockdown announcement, both DH and I are frontline NHS workers so DS3 will still have to go to school when we are working the same shifts.  DS1 and DS2 are both at Uni and are happy staying where they are for lockdown.

Today I plan to list some items on eBay and hopefully complete some surveys for a bit of extra money. I need to complete this weeks and next weeks meal plans and have a general sort out of the garden. I am giving DS3 free reign to do what he wants today but that hopefully will include a walk to the river.

Stay safe.x.

willow_loulou

@Bluegreen143 I don’t envy you ! I’d open the door and say run and find me a stone to paint then that’s enough fresh air 😂 

Well lockdown has returned peace to my neighbourhood, it’s fabulous. So far at least! My lovely neighbour topped up my electric meter key for me so I have plenty and I’ve ordered some eco logs, a different type the burn longer. We shall see. I’m having to do this as some lovely person stole my pallet so I’ve no free wood left. I’m just hoping they needed it for warmth too.
dd is considering leaving uni and reapplying to the closer uni next September, it’s been a terrible experience for her and she’s definitely not got the her monies worth. It’s all an absolute mess. Any advice is very welcome. 

tryingtodobetter

@willow_loulou Sorry to hear about your daughters uni experience. My DS2 has already dropped out of his course (he has already applied for a new course starting Sept 21), but is staying where he is as the rent has to paid either way and he has a job where he is. He will not receive any further student finance this year so he will have to earn enough to pay the rent and eat (we will help where we can). Get your daughter to speak to student finance who will explain all the finance options to her and get her to speak to the university too, they were all very helpful for my DS2. I hope you can get it sorted for her, it's been an awful university experience all round I think.

mumtoomany

Hi all. @MandM90, the best book I found before we moved here was Practical Self Sufficiency by the Strawbridges, James and his father, (worried that repost will be removed if I put his name,). Lots of useful information on growing and practical stuff too, fencing, tools, preserving etc. Most other books seem to be mostly about livestock. Also any good poly tunnel book, preferably before you buy one, and a good book on crops. You're best friend will be the internet, lots of good Facebook groups, blogs and YouTube videos. HTH. Mumtoomany.

MandM90

willow_loulou said:

dd is considering leaving uni and reapplying to the closer uni next September, it’s been a terrible experience for her and she’s definitely not got the her monies worth. It’s all an absolute mess. Any advice is very welcome. 

How awful for her, no advice really but she's still young and maybe a year working or being an au pair whilst she regroups might be an option? 

Such strange times to begin a degree. My eyebrow microblading tech is only 20 and doing a degree at our local russel group whilst working too when rules allow whilst living with parents. She's not met her classmates! I studied Chemistry and was at uni 33 hours per week, not sure what the workaround would be there for labs. 
I topped up my Tesco 4% card yesterday. Been sticking to the mealplan. Last night was Thai squash curry, tonight will be sticky almond noodles.

To do:
Contact eurocamp and ask why loyalty discount not applied. Also see how much I owe. Usually I pay upfront but with house purchase I've been managing cash flow.

Freezer inventory and meal plan for next week. Hoping to stop at Lidl and cash in on their deal on frozen strawberries and passata, we shall see!

Ask husband to dig out sewing stuff from garage. All your mending has inspired me and I want to start a project with DD to stave off lockdown blues.

fionaandphil

skint_chick said:

Made work lunches for the rest of the week, and defrosting sausages for tomorrow's dinner and a casserole for Weds. Did an inventory of the freezer and found a whole pack of frozen salmon so if anyone has any salmon pasta recipes I would love some ideas. Any ideas for pasta recipes really, I already do carbonara and lasagna and spaghetti bol but that's about it. OH doesn't like spicy food and I can't make sauces with alcohol, so I'm a bit clueless about what else to try!

Jamie Oliver has a silky salmon tagliatelle that is really good, we always have a little bit of leftover salmon put aside just for that, you can also use up any leftover cream from Christmas with it.  We also made it with creme fraiche which was nice but not as silky!

fionaandphil

willow_loulou said:

@Bluegreen143 I don’t envy you ! I’d open the door and say run and find me a stone to paint then that’s enough fresh air 😂 
dd is considering leaving uni and reapplying to the closer uni next September, it’s been a terrible experience for her and she’s definitely not got the her monies worth. It’s all an absolute mess. Any advice is very welcome. 

Ask her to enquire about transfers, it used to be that if they transferred they didn't have to pay again, but I don't know if this still applies.  A good starting point would be one of the finance people in student services type role as they usually know, or perhaps her student union.  Start of a new term is quite a good time to move over and I'm sure she will be able to catch up, but may need to do some additional work if the curriculum is different.  Good luck!

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

Just had the kindle daily deal email and today they have A year of living simply by kate humble for 99p. Might be an interesting read if anyone is interested. Tonights dinner will be jamie olivers recipe of cauliflower mac and cheese although I will be using penne as i have about 25kg of it!! I really need to be trying to cook pasta at least once or twice a week since i have so much of the stuff. 

carolbee

Mummy2cheekymonkeys said:

Just had the kindle daily deal email and today they have A year of living simply by kate humble for 99p. Might be an interesting read if anyone is interested. Tonights dinner will be jamie olivers recipe of cauliflower mac and cheese although I will be using penne as i have about 25kg of it!! I really need to be trying to cook pasta at least once or twice a week since i have so much of the stuff. 

I’ve just finished reading library copy of this book. It’s lovely

Cutitoot

Just back from A$da and got 16 luxury Christmas crackers  on sale for £2.50. That'll be part of my christmas contribution this year. Wouldn't have bought luxury normally but still saved about £3.50 on what I would have usually bought. Going to take £3 out of my Christmas/birthday savings and add it to my bits and bobs savings which will now be £60. Going to do this with any savings I make out of birthday and Christmas presents which are all budgeted for. Usually would just say Oh great that was a bargain and money would have just disappeared  without me noticing where it went. Now it's going somewhere.

Eating out of fridge and freezer as still have stuff leftover from Christmas etc so monthly shop was only £41. Uusally about £60 per month with three or four top up shops. I live on my own but end up feeding grandkids and kids a lot so this can make it higher than that sometimes.

Hope everyone's coping ok with the extended lockdown