2021 Frugal Living Challenge

nannygladys

joedenise - the curry was made using a jar and it just didn't really taste of anything, anyway I really can't be bothered with it today, still eating Xmas food (crisps, nuts, cheese and crackers etc) so I froze some and I will make pasties tomorrow but like you suggest I will spice them up with a bit of cayenne etc - and a pastry top will cure it thanks for the suggestion, it's veggie by the way, so it's OK for a couple of days in the fridge.

I've been stock taking my food cupboards and fridge and I don't know how I've managed to have so much in there, so one frugal thing I will be doing is using some of it up from now, my freezer is full as I have been freezing veg today, I really can't squeeze anything else in there and I haven't done a stock take in there yet. So I will start making meals from the fridge first (pasties) and then make a start on the freezer and cupboards. 

Nannyg

nannygladys

I have finally fine tuned my 2022 budget so I know what I need to be doing. It's going to be very tight and every penny is used, so when bills go up I will have to adjust - Rob Peter to pay Paul comes to mind, but I will see how I get on. It applies to this month's pay as well as I don't get paid until the middle of January and I'm well within budget at the moment, any spare cash left from groceries etc will go into the canopy fund as well.
Nannyg

Sweetlittledaydreams

I hope everyone's Christmas was merry and bright. 
Spent time this morning bottling homemade cider, bottled about 8 litres and still have another 15lts to bottle - I just need to get more bottles. 
@nannygladys do you have garam masala or could you make some? It would give your curry more body and it wouldn't give a harsh taste from not being fried off because you should add it nearer the end of cooking anyway. 
Due to covid making us so short staffed we haven't been able to take much annual leave the last 2 years, they are having to back pay me because I am moving jobs, so in January I should be getting an extra £410 (before tax, pension and NI deductions) will save it rather than make any impulse purchases. Looking forward to being able to make a mortgage overpayment in January, and taking another big step to being mortgage free.

florianatwobob

I have finally submitted my self assessment to HMRC so my unofficial savings plan (special witholding tax thanks to Switzerland) will be returned to me which will be just under £500. 🎉

nannygladys

Sweetlittledaydreams - I have put a sprinkling of chilli and paprika in to give it a better taste and it seems to have worked, so half has been frozen and I made two small pies of which I have had one and its alright, so I will eat the other tomorrow.

I also had a go at making sushi, as I was bought a sushi mat for Xmas, (I have been looking out for one for ages) and I've impressed myself, I had some for tea.
Nannyg

Frugaldom

Just popping in for a late night catch up. Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas & Boxing Day and managed to not over-indulge, either with food or spending

My supermarket order from last week includes enough to take us through the new year so all I need between now and then is treacle, suet and milk, so I can make a clootie dumpling. (Recipe for clootie dumpling is here for anyone who hasn't seen it previously.)

We have campervanners & motorhomers visiting this week and right through new year so that's great news. In moneysaving news, I managed to make use of 2 bread baskets to make hay feeders for our rescued goats - not even sure I mentioned them previously, but we took them on a few months back to save them from being killed and they are now safely ensconced in their own little paddock, but we need to build them a bigger shelter in 2022.

Dare I ask if anyone has set themselves any new challenges for 2022? My usual ones are Justifying all my spending throughout January, 28 days of fighting the flab during frugal fitness February and then I'll plan something for March, as February has another challenge attached to it that;s even more frugal that I've tried before. More on that soon.

Scottiedog_3

@Frugaldom Well done for rescuing the goats. Slightly surprised to see suet in your dumpling recipe - my granny never used suet because she thought it would make the dumpling too heavy. She also grated an eating apple into the mixture to keep it moist. 

YORKSHIRELASS

Frugaldom like the idea of a monthly challenge, staying away from sales "bargains" in January is definitely one for me.  I was a bit bored yesterday afternoon and found myself browsing online shopping sites, then found myself putting a running top in my online basket.  Did I need it? No.  Could I afford it? No. (even at sale price).  I definitely still have work to do on not buying stuff just because it makes me feel good.

As DS tested positive for Covid last week we haven't seen anyone for 7 days so we have been trying to eat up the food that cant be frozen.  There will be very little waste which I am pleased about.  DS is now clear so we are having Christmas Day today.

We will do a proper assessment of food stocks and plan how we will use up leftovers once DS has gone back to the big city on NY Eve.

[Deleted User]

I also like the idea of monthly challenges @Frugaldom.  I'm going to get the notebook out later and plan my first set of frugal challenges for 2022.  

@YORKSHIRELASS, I have been shopping in the sales but it's part of my frugal strategy for gift buying for next year.  I have purchased Christmas gifts for my in-laws, my sister and her OH all in the sales at 60% off.  I've also bought my Christmas cards as well.  I took advice from one of our Pupil Support workers at school who is an expert at buying the most beautiful gifts but at a fraction of the full cost.  I have counted up what I spent on Christmas and Birthday gifts in 2021 and I am quite shocked.  I have set myself a target to spend £200 less on Christmas gifts for 2022 but still give lovely and thoughtful gifts.  I'll be doing the same with birthdays as well and I have decided that Mother's/Father's Day will be based around a selection of lovingly baked home baking of favorites for each person.  

Frugaldom

Scottiedog_3 said:

@Frugaldom Well done for rescuing the goats. Slightly surprised to see suet in your dumpling recipe - my granny never used suet because she thought it would make the dumpling too heavy. She also grated an eating apple into the mixture to keep it moist. 

It's a tried and tested family recipe and tradition spanning many generations. I have several recipes for others, including the microwaveable one, but this one is family tradition that I won't change. Never had a problem with it being dry and for vegetarians, you can get vegetable suet. 😊