2021 Frugal Living Challenge

nannygladys

 My new budget started last week when I was paid, I didn't see the point in waiting! For the last couple of years I have charted my annual payments, things like car ins, services etc, dentist, water other insurances anything I pay annually and for the second year running it was lower than the year before, so I will continue putting the same amount away,as there's a good buffer in it. So really happy about that. I also have a healthy travel fund so I'm lowering that a bit and the extra money from that will go into my house repairs fund for the new needed canopy. So feeling on track with things, shopping now completed for Xmas food and the veggies etc should last until I get paid again so I'm about done. I just have some grandma duties to do as dd is working this week and a Xmas get together to go to (and that's all sorted), I'm feeling much happier now that the budgets are done and the frugalling will continue on.
Hope everyone is well and relaxed
Nannyg

nannygladys

Something that has made a difference to my electricity useage is when I'm not watching the TV is to turn it off, if I'm reading or out of the room I have been switching it off, simple but effective, I don't know why I haven't done it before!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's only pennies but they add up over a period of time and brings me closer to that canopy!!!

willow_loulou

I can’t remember if I said I’d cancelled the monthly pet plan (flea and worm stuff vaccines etc) and moved vets because they’d become totally inaccessible… well first non routine appointment was today, a semi regular procedure with a nurse for one of my dogs. The last vets charged me £22:97 for it. This one was £9.35! I can’t believe how much cheaper it was. Mind you I was shocked by the cost of it at the previous vets as it literally takes a minute at most. 

CraftyLittleLisa

I have had some success in the last month.  I have actually managed to sell some stuff instead of donating it all.  I tried because they were larger pieces that charity shops don't really want and I am pleased I did.  I managed to raise just over £200.00.  That's about the only real frugal success I have had of late.  I keep trying to plug away at my food and other bills but I think I need to admit defeat and just accept prices have risen so I just have to try and be careful.  Olio is no good around here and I didn't have any luck with Too Good To Go.  I'm not sure what else I can do on the food front.  I was trying to use the BBC Good Food app to find recipes to turn random ingredients into good meals but you have to pay to subscribe to the app which I'm not prepared to pay for.  Perhaps I will have some other inspiration when the New Year arrives on how I can reduce expenditure.  Well done to everyone who have had their successes over the past weeks. 

DawnW

@CraftyLittleLisa have you tried https://lovefoodhatewaste.com/recipes ? I like that you can type your odd ingredient into a box and recipe suggestions come up!

balabooberlies

Well, I set myself a task when we doing a March challenge, here on this thread.  To sell something on ebay.  Something I have not accomplished due to being IT semi-phobic.

I achieved it today.  First item sent out.  Phew

Never give up, never give in.

 

bala 

QueenJess

CraftyLittleLisa said:

I have had some success in the last month.  I have actually managed to sell some stuff instead of donating it all.  I tried because they were larger pieces that charity shops don't really want and I am pleased I did.  I managed to raise just over £200.00.  That's about the only real frugal success I have had of late.  I keep trying to plug away at my food and other bills but I think I need to admit defeat and just accept prices have risen so I just have to try and be careful.  Olio is no good around here and I didn't have any luck with Too Good To Go.  I'm not sure what else I can do on the food front.  I was trying to use the BBC Good Food app to find recipes to turn random ingredients into good meals but you have to pay to subscribe to the app which I'm not prepared to pay for.  Perhaps I will have some other inspiration when the New Year arrives on how I can reduce expenditure.  Well done to everyone who have had their successes over the past weeks. 

They just changed it in the last week or so, but if you browse as usual it’s free. It’s just the app that charges.

angela110660

I always browse recipes BBC Good Food recipes too and have never had to pay for any. 

Frugaldom

Good evening, apologies for absense but it's been a busy week so far. Had a lovely Solstice mini-get-together and made the most of Olio carrots and onions to make a pan of soup for us.Tonight I have been sorting out the latest Olio rescues and made 2 jars of strawberry jam and a batch of salt & pepper croutons. I got several packs of mushrooms and spring onions so more soup making soon. We usually get handed in leftovers for the ponies and goats so they have a full tray of assorted fruit & veg ammassed.

Managed to make a log store for the hut from 5 pallets and a scrap piece of roofing felt that H found, then found a couple of broom handle size poles that can be made into longer curtain rails for the big windows. Also found some old window nets that can be cut down and made into window screens come next midge season.

A while back, I said I was experimenting with storing potatoes in a cardboard box filled with shavings, kept in the barn out of daylight. I put them in there several months ago and checked them today... good as the day they went in! Very pleased with this as it means I will now try it with other root veg to see how far through winter they can take us. My 2022 challenge, or part of it, is to drive down the grocery budget even further and store & preserve much more than I have been doing previously. Allocating space in the barn seems like the way to go, as long as it imcludes mouse-proof storage

WinterWarrior

Allrecipes.com is another good free place to search for ideas.