2022 Frugal Living Challenge

2Scratters

Well that was a cost effective 3hrs for DH. I had asked him to look at our D*son cordless hoover. It has already had the normal declutter of mutt hair but the brush head had stopped turning, turns out more hair had sneaked further into the machine. I was getting ready to purchase a new head.. yet DH does not like it. I just need to hoover the hard floor surface for the now with it Me and henry will continue our chore together and we can then empty collected said hair & peg out onto the rotary dryer for the nesting birds to collect at their leisure. 
@willow_loulou I use Fairy non bio which has a light fragrance and use bicarb of soda in the wash. There is a nice smell but not overpowering. Or you could add the bicarb to your favourite wash product. 

2Scratters xx

joedenise

Unfortunately I'm not on the mainland - Isle of Sheppey - we always seem to get left out!

Jellytotts

Fellow SE dweller here, on the coast with a castle and port.  

We used a local veg box scheme during lockdown but I found it expensive and seriously lacking for what we get through a week. I'm finding between the community pantry and olio I'm getting a decent variety and just top up with anything specific I feel we need.

annieb64

I'm SE coast too but only moved here two months ago so still finding my way around.

weenancyinAmerica

Re-fabric softener - you can use other things instead - old tennis balls in the tumble dryer or wadded up aluminum foil work well too. 

cw18

weenancyinAmerica said:

Re-fabric softener - you can use other things instead - old tennis balls in the tumble dryer or wadded up aluminum foil work well too. 

I don't use a tumble dryer other than in an absolute emergency - adds way more to my energy bill than it merits

I used it when I had a young/growing family, but since it's been just me (6 years now?) I've only used it twice.  I've refusd to get rid just in case I need - it's not like I'd get much for it if I tried to sell it, even though it's only been lightly used in the 15 years I've owned it.

Funnily enough it's only been moved back to it's proper place today, whilst I was swapping over washing machines (my new one arrived, so I'm now finding my way around the controls ).   When my built in fridge/freezer gave up the ghost about 5.5 years ago I bought an under counter fridge to keep me going which had to go where the dryer had been - so the dryer has been in a corner of my hallway ever since then, even though I stopped using the fridge 5 years back.    The dryer is now back next to my washer, and the under counter fridge is in my hallway.

I was planning on using it for cold drinks during the summer, but a mouse I heard moving around in my kitchen for a while (not heard for 3 weeks or so now, so hopefully left - the trap I got didn't serve any purpose!) has nibbled into the power cable     So I'll see if my fella (electrically trained at college, but not an electrician by trade) can replace it.   If not I'll have to cost up getting someone else to do, and then decide if it's worth the expense.   I certainly don't think it's safe to power it up as it is now

spudsmum

Hmmm sorry I can't help with the fabric softener as I don't use it. I don't know if it's me but it never seemed to make any difference - I was always really jealous of people who had beautiful smelling laundry as the fragrance never seemed to linger on mine. One day I just stopped buying it and can't say I noticed any difference.

We just had a lovely weekend away to legoland for the kids birthday - funded mainly by vouchers and special offers - cost me £20 for the tickets instead of well over £100. They saw some toys they wanted so I got them to use their birthday money from grandma for those. Food shopping this month came in well under budget so we used those savings for a nice birthday tea and a round of bowling. Also spent about £50 on a hotel so the total amount was well within the amount I'd budgeted for and nothing went on the cc so I'm calling that a good result. It still might seem a bit extravagant but covid ruined their last 2 birthdays so we wanted to make it special this year. 

Car has just gone through its Mot - always a nerve wracking time but surprisingly given its age and milage it's only cost me £357 for the Mot and full service. I had £380 in my car account and emergency fund so, although I'm a bit gutted my emergency fund has gone I'm thrilled with that I didn't have to use Cc or even worse, fork out for a new car. 

The price of diesel is currently a bit of a  concern - my local petrol station has gone from 1.47 to 1.76 a litre in just over 2 weeks - everytime I pass its gone up. Doesn't help that my eldest has just broken his arm this last week so needed 3 trips to the hospital at 50 miles round trip each time. 

Starting to look at mothers day stuff - I picked up a jigsaw for my mil on reduced to clear in t@sco - £3 and she'll love it. My mum wants a plant so quick and easy (and more importantly cheap!) 

Not had our new ctax bill yet so I'm worrying about that - they usually increase by the maximum allowed. Gas bill is going up from £70 per month to £154!

In slightly better news I got a letter today to say that my youngest has been awarded DLA. That will make things so much easier for us financially - I've arranged for it to go straight into a separate account so it can primarily be saved in case he needs anything but at least now when he smashes something in the house (which is often) or needs something specific like new ear defenders or a bigger buggy I can use that money rather than having to use my house budget or steal money from other pots.

Think that's it - onwards and downwards (the debt that is!) 

willow_loulou

Thank you for the suggestions. I’ll grab a sensitive one. Do you use a certain amount? I’ve not used it in 20+ years. 

I don’t have a tumbler anymore which is why I need the softner I think. 

otb666

i plan to make smoothies/soup and chips.when i get my first odd box on friday.  I have the time and want to  expand my diet.  I would nt  use frozen veg for soups as doesnt taste the same and too watery.  I can only eat 1000 cals a day as under active thyroid and would just gain weight.  I avoid carbs if i can.  With the soups plus hubby does his own meals and i will always have a fry up with him and his curry /sunday roast and liver and onions.  He has a loaf of bread a week with bits and pieces and i have my soups if he has cooked something too heavy for me also he eats later than me generally. i tend to cook veg in micro wave then add to slow cooker for an hour or so This way veg are not overcooked.  We have a veg shop next to butchers but i spent £19 last time i went and only had a few items.  The veg on sunday market also seemed limited and expensive.  Just trying to jaz my life up a bit now got the time

Floss

willow_loulou said:

Thank you for the suggestions. I’ll grab a sensitive one. Do you use a certain amount? I’ve not used it in 20+ years. 

I don’t have a tumbler anymore which is why I need the softner I think. 

I use about half what it says on the bottle