2021 Frugal Living Challenge

willow_loulou

Scottiedog_3 said:

I love "proper" wax candles but detest soy candles  - naffness personified. 🤨
Added to explain that I have a friend who keeps gifting me soy candles. The smell is awful and they are probably quite expensive.  I can't think how to tell her tactfully that the smell makes me feel ill.

You’re not alone, I bought a very expensive soy candle that was supposed to be coffee and I felt
so sick! I give them to my friend who is quite happy should I get gifted any as she took that one off my hands. 

I took a very bold move today and ordered new bank cards so I can’t use them on my phone anymore. I’ll change my debit card when it arrives but I’ll just cut up the credit card as I can’t be trusted with it. I’ll just reorder one when I need to buy anything I want the security on. Not that I’m intended on doing that but knowing my luck the fridge will die if I cancel it completely 😂

Sweetlittledaydreams

Planning next year's budget, the plan is to stick to £500 a month not including mortgage payments. Think this should be enough to cover council tax, gas, water electric, petrol, food, phones and Internet, and professional subscriptions. Plus some non-essential but enjoyable spends such as swimming pool membership and outdoor swim fees, the  occasional massage throughout the year, and presents and meals out for friends birthdays. I haven't included big costs such as insurance and car tax because I pay them in one go and can't actually remember how much they cost, but I shop around or negotiate a better price. And will try to weave them into the budget somewhere when I find out the figures.
Had been considering a big holiday with friends, I've never travelled abroad so would like to do this but it depends on covid and us all being able to get the time off, however if we can then I'll go for it, otherwise its something I would regret missing out on, especially as we are all getting to the age that we'll probably be starting families soon so might be the last chance to do something like this all together.
I know places prefer contactless payments at the moment but I think I am going to try the envelope system for food shopping, that way it might stop me buying so much - I have a bit of a stockpile mentality, this was even before covid was a thing, but it is a habit I'm trying to get out of. 
I've managed to not go too over the top with Christmas presents this year which is progress. 
@Frugaldom I have started reading your buying a house without a mortgage thread from 2007, so far very interesting. I am on track to pay my mortgage off early, and it will be such a nice feeling of freedom when it is done, but I do wonder what my frugal motivation will be then. Possibly to save for a house in a more remote area, or maybe for a motor home to go on fantastic adventures, fantastic but frugal - I basically want good company, nice scenery, somewhere cold and clean to swim, and a peaceful place to rest, I love the simple things in life!
Hope everyone is keeping well, and thanks for everyone's interesting and motivating posts, I enjoy reading them.

willow_loulou

How much do we reckon council tax would increase. Is it capped to a percentage anyone know - google isn’t helpful. 

joedenise

Think it’s a maximum of 5% otherwise the council gets penalised by the government.

willow_loulou

joedenise said:

Think it’s a maximum of 5% otherwise the council gets penalised by the government.

Thank you! So helpful- will calculate to the full 5% 

tboo

Regarding candles.

You can make them from cooking oil, not sure how long the burn time is or if they omit a smell etc.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/Making-a-Cooking-Oil-Candle.html

Also saw veg oil candles on QVC a few years ago, seems they don't stock them but eBay do.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/312549092309

Youtube videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbHFrvL99eA

Different types

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fFf-gtesH4

willow_loulou

I needed a secret Santa gift for work, budget under £2 but was stuck as they’re free from everything I couldn’t do choc or something. Then I won a little hamper, in it was a face mask so that has become my gift! As I’d budgeted the £2 I’ve popped it in my piggy bank. 

I’m also gifting on 2 other items from it. Not for Christmas but birthdays shortly after! All for a £1 raffle for charity. Fab! 

balabooberlies

Great win Willow

bala

Mademoiselle

Willow, another idea for the credit card.  Put it in a plastic freezer bag and/or box then put that in another bigger box and fill it with water and freeze it.  That way if you need your card you have to defrost it.  I have friends who did this as the waiting for it to defrost time was usually long enough for them to realise the purchase wasn't essential.  A sort of inverse cooling off period.  

Mrs_Cheshire

Mademoiselle said:

Willow, another idea for the credit card.  Put it in a plastic freezer bag and/or box then put that in another bigger box and fill it with water and freeze it.  That way if you need your card you have to defrost it.  I have friends who did this as the waiting for it to defrost time was usually long enough for them to realise the purchase wasn't essential.  A sort of inverse cooling off period.  

Love this

I've been doing the sums for the upcoming year and I'm shocked how much our bills/rent comes to once added up annually. Obviously, we shop around where possible but some costs can't be reduced. I'm starting a new job in the new year so hopefully, that will improve our finances somewhat.