2021 Frugal Living Challenge

MandM90

@wishus I'm so sorry for your loss  Be kind to yourself

@OLaney I use YNAB too and have a YNAB UK F@cebook group too for enthusiasts. They do a free trial (no credit card) and if you're not sure by the end of your trial and send a nice email they *usually* extend for free as their customer service is AMAZING. I think it's cheaper to sign up direct online, then download app and login rather than pay through Apple or Play Store.

It's changed my life (and I'm not exaggerating) but it takes some getting used to. There are good YouTube vids on it (Nick True etc) and they also do free 'classes' direct.

patentgirl

@wishus sorry for your loss x

AskYouWillGet

@willow_loulou Thanks for that, if this becomes a reoccurring issue I will defo take this on board. 

This infection is bacterial although doctors thought it was viral for the 1st few weeks, given anthistimine and nasal steroid but looks like the nfection took hold. I was placed on a 2nd lot of antibiotics today as am feeling so ill again & nerve pain where had my tooth out threatening to come back. Before tooth was extracted the pain I was suffering with was Trigeminal Neuralgia triggered by using an interdental brush. I was placed on a new med, Gabapentine for that too! 

The Pre-payment Prescription plan has really been a god send after all these prescriptions!

It is about £11 per month spread over 12 months, this is another money saving tip that had forgotten about!
Take care all, love my daily reading of your posts x

AskYouWillGet

@pregnancy_parking
I find tomatoes grow well from shops just by slicing the wrinkled ones in half and placing in soil. 
Check out 'Freegle' and local FB groups to get free seeds/plants.
I got a lot of free seeds and plants last year after placing a wanted post. Found Freegle a good natured place too over all others. X

StrawberrySuze

Hello to all, hope everyone is doing ok 😊

Did well from Olio yesterday and made a lovely tofu curry as well as assembling 10 lots of garlic bread! Had a very productive day today, finally made the lemon curd, it is absolutely gorgeous 🤗 also made a banana cake with free bananas and eggs that were given to me.

I'm in the process of changing my dogs to a raw food diet which I'm preparing myself so had to do a lot of meat chopping, sorting and freezing today, it wasn't particularly frugal though, it is a work in progress; I need to visit the butchers in the next village and see if we can work something out! I did make some dog biscuits from oats, peanut butter, grated carrot and a bit of banana, the dogs seemed to like them 🐶 

I have some very happy spider plants that keep producing babies, I rescued the original from a skip and it has been grateful ever since! I did a lot of potting up last Sunday, I've been giving them away as well as a few money plants, one recipient gave me a bottle of wine 🍷 and another gave me some different plants 😊

I recommend Nextdoor if anyone is not on it, it is a local neighbourhood site with lots of different things on it. I put a wanted ad for plastic take away style containers and I've been given loads, I'm going to try a food processor next!

AskYouWillGet

ldee2111 said:

@OLaney I find using an envelope system keeps my spending in check. And I’ve found an online way that has worked for me for the past 5 years. I have set up my banking to work like envelopes.

I have a current account for all direct debits plus instant access savings accounts for:
- Food
- Transport
- Fun & frolics (eg takeaways, treats)
- Gifts
- Emergency

They are all with the same bank. I can see them every time I log in on the banking app on my phone. I can also customise the account names so they are actually called ‘food’, ‘transport’ etc.



Every pay day I transfer the budgeted amount for that month into each account like they were envelopes. I spend on my main current account, and then I immediately transfer the exact amount I spent from the digital envelope to my current.

For example, say I do a big shop on a Saturday and it costs £50.07. I will pay with my current account  and immediately transfer £50.07 from ‘food’ to ‘current’ via the banking app on my phone. Then say I do a top up shop on Tuesday spending £16.57. I pay for this on my current account and immediately transfer £16.57 from ‘food’ to ‘current’. It means I can see clearly what I have left in ‘food’ and the other accounts I mentioned, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. 

The instant access savings accounts pay terrible interest (0. 01%) but this doesn’t matter. Their purpose as digital envelopes are to help me manage my spending, not make any money.

It takes a wee bit getting used to but it really works well for me. x

This is fantastic! Going to give it a go too. Thanks for sharing and love the visual too. 

StrawberrySuze

@wishus That is really sad about your dad, I'm sure he will always be with you, in your heart ❤ xx

Couldsavemore

Well... its payday!!!!
I realised last month that I massively over spend the first week. So am 'ignoring' payday!
Since I thought jan was a 5 weeker... I've budgetted for another week of food from jan budget. 

MazzieD

@wishus So sorry to hear about your Dad, remember the good times before he became ill and keep those precious memories.

wort

Wishus my condolences x