2021 Frugal Living Challenge

fiwen30

Checking in to say we’ve £188 left for 2 grocery shops this month, and £120 left for pet costs (meds, food, litter etc.). Should be on track till the next budget period on the 28th.

My new SIM card arrived this morning - I’ve no need or want to replace my old iphone7, and so took a SIM only deal for the same data amounts etc., but for £10/month rather than the £36 I had been paying to O2. Partner’s contract is up soon too, and I’m hoping he’ll find something cheaper than the £73 he currently pays!

Our dog has been costing a fortune in meds, vet bills, rehab treatments, and equipment (cruciate injuries). I already bought him a high tech insulated coat for his short walks, and a towelling drying coat for after his hydro sessions, but couldn’t afford the fancy fleece housecoat I wanted to keep him warm at night. But for the cost of an hour of my time, a fleece blanket that never gets used, and 2 spare buttons, I was able to make him one myself that properly fits his strange crossbreed measurements! It’s navy blue, and looks very smart, and the £40 I’ve saved myself will pay for another physio session for him.

skint_chick

Still haven't spent any money - although have put aside £33 for a new frame and photo mountboard to match our 2 existing ones as we are getting another nephew/niece later in July, so we're just waiting on the frame being back into stock before ordering. Been busy trying out new recipe ideas for using up all the ingredients in the cupboard and have managed to use up flour baking cakes and bread the last couple of weeks, and made a start into the bag of lentils. Tomorrow's plans include a long walk and decluttering books and paperwork that are all currently piled in my office/craft room. Hopefully there will be a few worth selling, and I know there's a lot of paperwork to be sorted out from refunded holidays, old work projects, uni notes, and OH's 2 bin liners of papers he collected from his parents doorstep. They're selling their house, and he left most of his junk there so after 14 years of living here he finally needs to deal with it all!

Frugaldom

Hi guys and gals, I've fallen behind with the posts again, sorry about that. I never seem to have any spare time nowadays but it keeps me from spending. I filled the car up with petrol (£35ish) , ordered and paid for a cylinder of gas (£70) and have only had to buy dairy produce this month far. Olio has been good to me these past 2 weeks so we are still on a use-it-up diet and eating lots of cucumber 

Hope everyone is staying safe and that those of you who have been fighting off Covid are making speedy and full recoveries.  Apologies if I have missed anything, I'll try my best to catch up with the newsy bits now.

Viking_mfw

We had fajitas for tea, with Olio tortillas (2 left for quesadillas which I'm excited about!) and an Olio pepper plus some extremely old avocados and spice mix from the cupboard. Just bought a small pack of Quorn pieces on special offer and a tub of sour cream. Yum! 

Couldsavemore

Am amazed at how much people have left in there budgets etc... I'm on my knees this month.
My son has had a growth spurt so had to get new school trousers and pants and socks. Also got him some wellies. Also needed big bag of dog food which will get me through a few months...

Can I ask.. those of you with money left do you put money into savings at the start of the month?
 I put £400 into my savings account and £200 into the big bill account (car insurance etc) but then can't trim down my budgets which are way bigger than other peoples.. 

stellata

Very unfrugal the last week, have had family staying (bubble) so heating on and lots of food in fridge. I suppose still frugal for the changed circs tho. Back now to the frugal grind on my own. Am freezing all leftovers and cancelled this weeks grocery delivery as I can use what I've got again. Resisted some online shopping of the nice but not essential sort.

Viking_mfw

Couldsavemore said:

Am amazed at how much people have left in there budgets etc... I'm on my knees this month.
My son has had a growth spurt so had to get new school trousers and pants and socks. Also got him some wellies. Also needed big bag of dog food which will get me through a few months...

Can I ask.. those of you with money left do you put money into savings at the start of the month?
 I put £400 into my savings account and £200 into the big bill account (car insurance etc) but then can't trim down my budgets which are way bigger than other peoples.. 

Ever growing sons are death to budgets. You have my sympathy.
With cat food which causes similar issues, I budget a portion each month which then gets used every 3rd or 4th month. 

willow_loulou

@Couldsavemore if you’re on your knees this month have a look at your budget, what have you spent more on and are you likely to going forward? If so take £50-£100 from the amount you’re saving at the start of the month and save at the end of the 
month anything that you don’t spend. If you’re struggling because you need that’s not kind on yourself. If it’s things you’re not planning on spending but crop up you can’t stretch a small budget to cover everything. There is a balance to be had and struggling when you don’t need to for the sake of saving £50 less a month is making your life harder than it needs be.
Give yourself the wiggle room, you can buy many things second hand or get them free but children are randomly expensive so don’t be hard on yourself xx

MisterPym

fiwen30 said:

Checking in to say we’ve £188 left for 2 grocery shops this month, and £120 left for pet costs (meds, food, litter etc.). Should be on track till the next budget period on the 28th.

My new SIM card arrived this morning - I’ve no need or want to replace my old iphone7, and so took a SIM only deal for the same data amounts etc., but for £10/month rather than the £36 I had been paying to O2. Partner’s contract is up soon too, and I’m hoping he’ll find something cheaper than the £73 he currently pays!

Our dog has been costing a fortune in meds, vet bills, rehab treatments, and equipment (cruciate injuries). I already bought him a high tech insulated coat for his short walks, and a towelling drying coat for after his hydro sessions, but couldn’t afford the fancy fleece housecoat I wanted to keep him warm at night. But for the cost of an hour of my time, a fleece blanket that never gets used, and 2 spare buttons, I was able to make him one myself that properly fits his strange crossbreed measurements! It’s navy blue, and looks very smart, and the £40 I’ve saved myself will pay for another physio session for him.

I'd love to see a photo?

fiwen30

MisterPym said:

fiwen30 said:

Checking in to say we’ve £188 left for 2 grocery shops this month, and £120 left for pet costs (meds, food, litter etc.). Should be on track till the next budget period on the 28th.

My new SIM card arrived this morning - I’ve no need or want to replace my old iphone7, and so took a SIM only deal for the same data amounts etc., but for £10/month rather than the £36 I had been paying to O2. Partner’s contract is up soon too, and I’m hoping he’ll find something cheaper than the £73 he currently pays!

Our dog has been costing a fortune in meds, vet bills, rehab treatments, and equipment (cruciate injuries). I already bought him a high tech insulated coat for his short walks, and a towelling drying coat for after his hydro sessions, but couldn’t afford the fancy fleece housecoat I wanted to keep him warm at night. But for the cost of an hour of my time, a fleece blanket that never gets used, and 2 spare buttons, I was able to make him one myself that properly fits his strange crossbreed measurements! It’s navy blue, and looks very smart, and the £40 I’ve saved myself will pay for another physio session for him.

I'd love to see a photo?

Here he is! It needs a bit of adjusting, the buttons are a bit far back, but it’s keeping his stiff back warm and cosy, and it was free!