2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

Good morning to all  . Makes a change for me to get here early but I had a load of use-it-up veggies needing processing into meals so I made soup overnight in the slow cooker. Olio has been incredibly good for us so I tend to share whatever comes along with whoever comes along. Having offered free space for overnight stops, we have had quite a number of campervans and motorhomes visiting and most appreciate some extra fruit, veg or some soup. I've met so many fabulous people over the past months, none more so than the vanlifers who, for whatever reason, took to the road to live minimalist lifestyles. So, my soup of the day was made from 4 packs of spring onions, a pack of mixed peppers, a courgette, a packet of savoury rice and seasoned with salt, pepper and a dash of Tabasco sauce. All the veggies were free. I also have mushrooms and puff pastry to use up so I'll do a turkey (leftovers) & mushroom pie for new year's day. I have 2 big buckets of apple cider vinegar on the go, ready for decanting into containers. We use this as good scrub for the ponies and for adding into water as a health supplement/ tonic for the hens.  Saves buying it.

Mini challenges... Justifying January spends in preparation for off grid frugal fitness February.  I have spent Christmas money, which went on Amazon to get the extra £6 free top up. I bought myself a solar / wind-up radio that can also charge up mobile phone, plus a rechargeable light, a heat diffuser for cooking on the gas ring in the hut, a tin bucket for carrying the wood ash to the fruit trees and some airtight storage bags for clothing and bedding, to minimise storage space and keep everything from getting damp in the hut when not in use. More on that later.

The new 2022 thread is already filling up with challengers so I will try to jump between the two for the final few days of 2021.

willow_loulou

@Frugaldom please can you tell me what the radio/charger is like? Any good? Thanks xx

willow_loulou

nannygladys said:

Oh it goes without saying that it includes all animals as well.

Yes I’m hoping to rescue something, we lost all our small critters this year leaving just the 2 dogs and 2 chickens now so we have space. But I’ll take my time so the right animal finds us.
Im currently bird sitting for my DD so that’s decided for me I don’t want an indoor bird!  

Frugaldom

willow_loulou said:

@Frugaldom please can you tell me what the radio/charger is like? Any good? Thanks xx

I will try it as soon as it arrives and let you know. It's quite a cheap one in comparison to all the others, at £15.99 with free P&P, so I hope it's ok. At the price, if it charges my mobile and lets me listen to the radio during sunshine while gardening then I'll be happy.

Last night's Olio soup turned out ok with a dash of tabasco - I added some chicken stock to get better flavour and had some with homemade salt & pepper croutons today. (I make croutons from last of the Olio bread as they store ok in airtight jars). A punnet of peaches was salvageable so I made a pot of jam and I'm now watching for Olio updates now, as Thursdays can be quite good here. 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, an old floor-level futon has been combined with some leftover fencing rails to make as a raised sleeping platform in the hut, meaning there's loads of space underneath for storing stuff like clothes, bedding and anything else I can fit inside airtight containers or bags. It's been pouring rain here today so tomorrow will see the stove lit again to dry & warm the place and get rid of all the little bits of wood that were leftover.

Tomorrow - the final day of this challenge!  GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE!

Frugaldom

THE 2022 CHALLENGE THREAD IS HERE

CraftyLittleLisa

I don't have resolutions as such but normally have goals.  This year was to decorate the lounge which I have done.  I can't think of anything I want to do for 2022. 

As to your monthly challenges that sounds like a good idea.  For me January is always the spring clean and declutter month (it stops me spending money to keep me occupied at the weekends when the weather stops you being able to get to the allotment or going for long walks).  In February I try to do a detox because hopefully by then any Christmas food will have been finished.  Perhaps I will be a little more disciplined in that this February. 

Thinking about it I could have one goal for 2022.  I have loads of recipes in a lever arch file that I have kept from various magazines over the years but I haven't made half of them.  Perhaps I should try working my way through them over 2022 and if I don't like them or there are duplicates get rid of them.

I hope you all enjoy your New Year celebrations (if you are having any) and I will see you on the 2022 thread shortly.

AnimalTribe

I am a few pages behind, but I just wanted to end the year by saying I have set my budget for 2022, and I've spent a couple of hours online this morning checking my loyalty cards, survey site balances etc and have found a fair bit of spending power that I wasn't aware of. I've set my DH to check his points/cash balances as between us we should find a couple of £100, which will be a good start to the New Year. Although I keep up with the bank accounts, loyalty cards etc often get forgotten. I am looking forward to 2022 and hope the year is kinder to everyone.

DawnW

CraftyLittleLisa said:

Thinking about it I could have one goal for 2022.  I have loads of recipes in a lever arch file that I have kept from various magazines over the years but I haven't made half of them.  Perhaps I should try working my way through them over 2022 and if I don't like them or there are duplicates get rid of them.

That is a really good idea @CraftyLittleLisa

I have a similar file, and will join you in this challenge

Kerry_Woman

Added totals for this year's challenge, was over for general spends, but managed to be under budget for the food.  I am focusing on the positive things that I have achieved this year.  I did find it hard being in work this year as I was out of work for over a year, but am grateful that I have had temp work for the all year, and managed to get a fixed term contract until June 2022 with the days and hours that I wanted.  Am going to focus on what I want to achieve next year, but going to take small manageable challenges as it will help with my mental health.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

willow_loulou

So my year end … 

my main goal was to halve my loan which I achieved and have now set my goal to clear it this year. A 5 yr loan paid in under 2 years. I set it over 5 yrs in case my income reduced to the minimum. 

I have spent 
£122 on clothes 
£506 on gifts ( includes helping DD move) 
£200 on glasses 
£9 on shoes 
£250 on a dishwasher 
£90 on a cooker
£80 kitchen counter 

Food I got a bit lost in keeping track as ive been doing others shopping - will keep better tracking next year 

Total spend was £11000 with £425 left in my bank 

prolific income £143 ( paid for new strimmer, hair dryer and straighteners) with£9.70 in cashed 
ziffit income £18:20 with £7:50 due any day 

next year I’m aiming for £6500 for everything including council tax etc. Eeek! But I’ll be debt free if I manage it so - here goes!