2022 Frugal Living Challenge

Ellie79

It's so cold here again today (horrid and damp) I had to put the heating on. My OH feels the cold really badly since his big op and never seems to have got back to not feeling it. 1st time the heating had been on for about 4 days and even then it was only on because DGD was here. I am working from home this week, so dug out my travel flask that I normally take to the match, should keep me topped up on tea for a few hours. Meal planning working well, shuffled it around to incorporate the shorter dated items and actually enjoying the challenge again. I have a much better paid job (time short though) these days so whilst I 'can' afford the increased bills, I really do not want to spend all my hard earned on food and heating. Quite possibly as a ridiculous notion, but I am saving for a house deposit and to get my other savings ramped up. I have changed bank accounts, so seeing it as a chance to wipe the slate clean-er. Got rid of some standing orders and started sinking funds to buy some other things outright. Feels better to be in control whereas I guess in the past I have been being controlled by not being organised. I find so much motivation here. It really helps and I am in awe at all! 

I'm off to actually do the work I get paid to do now... with my long hot cup of tea!

Hopefuljoy

Hello there. Please may I join you all on my quest to "drive down day to day operating costs"!! Sorry, it's just what my DS says to make her feel she is using her economics A level! I am doing a full larder stock take today to get a better picture of how much food I really have and then to start shopping from it. My weekly shop for me and DD came to exactly my £25 budget this weekend and all 26 items were fresh so I have to pantry shop! I'm going to freeze most of the veg I bought as I'm heartily fed up with wasting good food through my own laziness. I look forward to posting my stock list later in! 

zafiro1984

Not anything frugal but I'm happy with what I've achieved today, but it has taken all day.

The slate kitchen floor:- swept every day, mopped a couple of times a week.
Today I scrubbed it to an inch of its life, cleaned/mopped until the water was clear. Then put the sealer/polish down. Just finished. That's the upside

The downside is the kitchen is not small 42'long x 17' at its widest - we live in the kitchen. Anyway, I think my heart surgeon would be proud of what he achieved in still keeping me  on this planet.
15mins rest and then out to bring the logs in for the woodburner, after which I'm supposed to feed/water geese and hens before sorting the horses out (4 stallions + 8mares) Such is life.
Thank goodness dinner is out of the freezer, venison casserole and apple crumble - just need to do fresh veg and mash. However, Dh has invited a friend to stay for dinner. At the moment they are chain sawing the trees that fell over the other day when the storm was here. Plenty more trees to do.

I wish I was 40yrs younger

Hopefuljoy

Wow @zafiro1984!!!! You put me to shame! I have done a stock take of my larder today and discovered a huge list of ingredients etc. I have no excuse for not using up supplies and I've unearthed my bread machine which was a birthday present in the first lockdown. There's a small loaf on now and I'm about to make a batch of carrot and coriander soup for lunches this week. I pressure cook it in my instant pot so it won't take too long and then I can make four portions of salmon pasta in it to freeze. Tonight is remains of a homemade stir fry from last night boosted by more vegetable noodle chow mein. Found a sachet of sauce lurking in my larder! Ha e done a clothes wash and one dishwasher with one more of each to go. Am now washing all clothes bar towels and underwear on 30 degrees eco setting to save electricity. Dishwasher now goes in for the 58min setting at 50 degrees and everything is coming out clean. 

I'm working on being much more aware of the choices I make and so far it is making a difference. 

Hope you are all having a productive day. x

nannygladys

Hi everyone, I was going to do so much outside today but it hasn't stopped raining on and off all day, so just carried on sorting and cleaning inside and this afternoon I have been doing a bit of knitting. Tomorrow I will be making a banana cake and see what else I can cook whilst the oven is on. I'm finding I'm not eating so much sweet stuff as I'm making it all myself and try to appreciate it more.
Nannyg

zafiro1984

I failed a bit after the last post.
DH helped me bring the wood in for the logburner, he also helped sort out the horses. 
Dinner went ok but that was mainly due to pre cooked food out of the freezers. I fell asleep afterwards and left DH and friend nattering about wood chipper engines - not my scene. 

cw18

zafiro1984 said:

I failed a bit after the last post.

You did NOT fail - you listened to your body.   Not doing so could have meant you needed some help for longer x

mumof3.12kindebt

Good afternoon frugal friends, 

I've made pancake batter for tonight with ingredients I had in the pantry.

We have done okay on the frugal front since the beginning of the year. We've not really brought anything outside of essentials and gifts for birthday etc. 

My mission this month is too declutter as much as possible. 
We will be doing the pantry challenge too only topping up on fresh stuff, we have a chest freezer full of stuff to use, cupboards bursting with food. 

I'll make some biscuits later too. 

I currently have bbq chicken in the oven for dinner tonight and I'll take leftovers to work for tomorrow. 

Today will be a no spend day. We are still doing the no spend Challenge so it's essential spends only. 

I hope to pay off the rest of our debt this year. Both me and DP turn 30 in July and what better gift to give ourselves for our 30th! 

Now I seem to have come out of a massive depression (I have bipolar) that lasted 18 months and really was a huge struggle. I'm slowly getting back on top of things. It's been 6 weeks tomorrow since I went manic. But the last 2 weeks things have settled abit. I put all my energy into sorting the house out and baking and cooking using stuff I have in the house instead of spending money like I use to. 

The next stage is too get out with the kids more and go with my partner and kids to take the dog for a walk daily or even brave taking her on my own. 

I look back to ten years ago and I was so frugal back then because I had to be. I'm slowly trying to go back to how I was then. We Aren't extravagant but there is always room for improvement. 

Looking forward to a really frugal march ... and the rest of the year 

2Scratters

Well the end of Feb went very well. The LO meat stew what ever it was on Sunday was tweeked as it somehow ended up a bit sweet tasting. DH claimed it was the sweet potato!! Added a bit of chilli powder and a t-spoon of Garam added a puff party top onto 3 dishes, was delish. 1 dish left over (heading for the freezer) and tonight will be loads of pancakes. Hope the GF flour does ok for us. This will be a free tea as all bits are in stock. 
HM rhubarb crumble was generated too from stock. The crumble didn't work out too well, think it could be the GF flour. I need to see how to work with it. It was still very edible though. The deliberately LO custard is going on to todays start of a trifle

2Scratters xx

Ellie79

Everyone seems to be doing so well! In awe of cleaning and sealing that floor @zafiro1984!
We are eating very well, using up ingredients (on a battle against food waste too!). 2 absolutely delicious meals mostly veg based, shh don't sell it to OH that way 😅.  Got some chicken to cook for DD's tea and a curry with some leftover freezer beef for us tonight. Since changing banks I've had two new debit cards, so inadvertently have stopped being able to click 'buy' so easily. Great news. Do need to get some bread for packed lunches and breakfast but that's accounted for in grocery budget. Sunny weather so plenty washing done and on the line, too.