2021 Frugal Living Challenge

KatyLovesCats

Happy Monday everyone. I have a lot to do today which I'm pleased about as I tend to think about spending money when I'm at a loose end. It's a habit I'm trying very hard to curb as I really have no choice. I'm doing ok, I've spent just over £60 on everything I need for the month and will only need to get milk for my DD when she's back from her dads next week. 

tryingtodobetter

Good morning! I hope everyone had a lovely frugal weekend. It was my birthday over the weekend and I had a lovely day enjoying the sunshine on a walk/cycle ride with a flask of hot chocolate and some lovely chocolate brownies that DS3 made for me. 

Frugal plans this week include
> Surveys - To make at least £5
> Ebay /Selling Sites - Declutter and sell to make at least £10
> Meal Plan - DH has decided to become vegetarian which will make things cheaper but more complicated!
> NSD x 5 - Should be easy with lockdown!
> Walk/Cycle everywhere (except work as that is 16 miles away!)

MandM90

We've barely used our car at all, hooray. Filled up Saturday morning at Mr T's and only spent £18 to top up the tank to full from half full. Last filled up on Christmas eve I think!!
Went to Mr Ts at 7am on Saturday morning. Drove in and wondered why so many people were de-icing their cars, then realised it was all the night shift workers who'd been beavering away overnight. Felt so lucky with my cosy office (/from home) job. Managed to get everything I needed in budget, all put on the work card which gets me a 4% discount. £85 left on it which may cover next week, but I'll top up an extra £20 I think just to be sure.
Things I'm doing:
- Trying to change my clothes less. Wore the same turtle neck three days last week. It's over a vest and I sit in the cool house working from home all week so they don't get very dirty. Less washing is less water, energy and - most important - labour
- Keeping YNAB (budgeting programme) updated to within the penny to get a firm handle on what's going on
- Meal planning religiously. Bit worried about tonight as we'll be out until late meeting the surveyor at the new house. Our gov website said house buying activities are OK...will be an exciting afternoon out. Meant to be making bean/walnut 'meat balls', tomato sauce and spaghetti for supper which might be a bit labour intensive for tonight unless I can prep some during my lunch break. Whatever we have it will be from inside this house!

roblou27

MazzieD said:

@roblou27 I agree with the others, it's good to read your posts and I'm impressed with what you're doing!.

Think I'll walk and pick up the plant pots, it's not too far and they are unlikely to be heavy.  So much free non-food on Olio but still hoping that I might manage to grab some food.  Can't believe how quickly any fruit or veg gets claimed, there really isn't much available here. 

Thanks MazzieD, we lived in our overdraft for so many years. Not all our own doing, redundancies, low pay etc were also contributing factors but also spending more than we had coming in not budgeting, not wanting to ask for help, both smoking for many years. Lots of things really, I think it’s often the same for most people. A rolling snowball coming towards you just getting bigger and making it worse. I remember at one point asking for help from my bank as I didn’t know how to get out of it. A lady on the end of the phone wasn’t very pleasant said I must learn to budget better or they would take our debit cards from us. Banks were not very sympathetic in those days. In a way she did me a favour but in that minute she made me me feel about 2ichs tall and I felt a complete failure. We managed to get out of the overdraft but it took time. We have had and still do have a credit card but we think really carefully now about what we use it for and how we can pay it back.I don’t like using them as having debt worries me. Mind you I am a worrier but I can remember how I felt over those years and how debilitating it was. Now I am a couple of years off 60...how does that happen by the way😲 budgeting and trying to be more frugal and living a simpler life makes me happy. 

the_cross_rabbit

Had a good morning of decluttering our bedroom and listing items on marketplace on feetbook to earn a few pennies to put in the treats jar. Other stuff spilt into charity bag, rag bag, recycling bin, upcycling/repurpose box and last but not least the bin. 
The hubbster is aiming to try and work at home 1 day a week for the foreseeable future, which will save on time and petrol although the saving will be  by extra electric.
We are in the process of pricing up a new kitchen as ours is not good state, we are looking at what we can get away with not buying, all the carcasses, sink, tiles and worktops are in pretty good nick, so hopefully it will just be new doors, flooring, plinths etc plus national DIY store has 20% off and the hubbster will fit it ( a friend was going to fit it but due to lockdown he is unable to)
 Take care and stay safe everyone
CRx

wishus

Update here.

wishus

slm6002 said:

Wishus - sorry to hear about your MOT.  I had mine yesterday and although it passed there are several very urgent things that will need doing, so more money from my budget.  Can i ask where the chocolate pizzas were from - sounds like a great gift

@slm6002 it's the chocolate pizza company! 

You can get 2 for £20 at the moment, BUT it's not the most cost-effective way of getting a chocolate gift. I think I would find better in one of the bargain stores, or even make my own, if it were not for Covid.

MazzieD

Nerve wracking start to the day, had to go to my local Hospital for a routine blood test.  Not normally concerned but with Covid being rampant here.....  Parking charges are astronomical there so did the frugal thing and walked.  GP Surgery normally does them so must be Covid related. 

Really need to go shopping, think my fridge stock is the lowest it's ever been - just an open tin of cat food and some defrosting beef mince!.  Bit of space in the freezer as well so that's tomorrow's excitement sorted as far as venturing out is concerned.  Trying to just do one thing each day if needed, didn't go out yesterday but it is taking some planning having to think about whether trips are necessary, always walk if possible but don't want the car battery to go flat so it's a car journey to the supermarket.  Just goes to show what life is like when going food shopping turns into an event!.

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

We managed to make an overpayment on the mortgage this morning. Being frugal has really paid off. Last year we managed to pay off our 10% overpayment allowance and aiming to do the same this year. We have been saving up for when the new allowance kicked in on the 1st of january and we have just paid off £5000 saving just over £1000 in interest alone. Balance is down to £67,000 remaining.

roblou27

4 weekly shop has been done early this morning to try to avoid the crowds. It came in at £116 😲this does include all our toiletries and household supplies, plus we needed batteries. Our budget is £200 so not much left to play with but our freezer is full so should only mean buying fresh stuff each week. Prices do seem to be going up. Had a half hour run down the lane and have done general tidying and one load of washing. That’s it for the day am cream crackered! Got my feet up listening to Classic fm hoping for a nap as slept rubbish last night. Tea tonight is a sausage pasta made from two leftover chicken sausages from yesterday’s dinner, whatever veggies are hanging about and a stir in sauce that needs using up. I don’t normally buy sauces but had it in the cupboard for a quick meal. DF has used up some yellow sticker turkey mince from the freezer and made a Keema Curry for himself and Hubs pack up so have 3 portions for the freezer. I have a few Bramleys left and Hubs is off Tuesday and Wednesday so might make a pud of some description or just stewed apples and custard. That’s reminded me I have a jar of mincemeat left over from Christmas so could do baked stuffed apples, I haven’t had that for donkeys years. I think I have my Mums old Apple corer somewhere, Mmmmm got me thinking.🤔