2022 Frugal Living Challenge

2Scratters

Had HM soup yesterday which was initially just a veg medley soup but had found some YD chicken Piri Piri legs in the freezer and made it into chicken and veg soup, very tasty it turned out to be too.
Managed a bit of frugal shopping too. As I had dropped some items at the in store Post office only to find out it was literally closing its doors at 1700hrs! it is changing its franchise and much stock was being sold off at silly money. I found it hard to be greedy/ very resourceful  but did get enough and was happy with my purchases where some have ended up in the near baron freezer stock. Went to another local SM later and found some more pieces with YS. A bit more into the freezer stock
Today I need to make butter from the reduced cream that is sat in the fridge waiting its new life. 

2Scratters xx

mandy47

Today at A$da, loads of tea varieties reduced to 25p. Got 3 boxes of assam for DH, 2 boxes of organic green tea for myself and 4 jars of decafe coffee at 50p each. 

MazzieD

It's been a busy couple of weeks, mainly work as I'm now back full time.  Suspect I'm not the only one still tinkering with my budget, I'm under for the year up to end of March but it remains to be seen whether that continues with all the increases kicking in this month.  Think it's going to be work in progress!.

elbree

I'm trying to work out what the difference in pay will be next month and even my lower estimate is a bit depressing 😕
In more positive news I am definitely getting better at NSDs - 4 this month already and it's only the 7th. Just trying to keep a tight rein on my purse. 

spudsmum

Definitely depressing @elbree even more so when you factor in the increased bills. It becoming more, and more like working just to survive rather than actually live - I really need to get rid of this debt, and free up the money in using in monthly payments.

In other news - husband is sick AGAIN he got rid of covid and was due back at work today but was up all, night with, D and V so that's, another 2 days off. Really hope he's better for weekend as its his parents golden wedding so loads of family coming that, we haven't seen since pre covid.

Won a raffle today, at the kids school - still on shock as I never win anything - prize was 2 tickets to the football so that's a nice treat for the boys that, hasn't cost a fortune - not bad for a £2  ticket (proceeds to Ukraine appeal, so well worth it. 

Had the meter reader round earlier too - think they're out checking to make sure all the reading submitted on 31st were accurate and nobody is committing fraud - he was really rude though which there's no need for so I'm quite mad.

I'm making PIL anniversary cake and was up to my elbows in icing when he knocked so I said it wasn't a good time and he was really nasty - he looked like he was going to carry on but my husband appeared so he stropped off. I'm in two minds not to open the door if he comes back tomorrow because I've too much going on and I'm liable to rip his head off if he's rude to me again. 

Luckily I have photos of my meters anyway so I can prove the readings are correct. I dont need his attitude. 

Hey ho - got the kids at home for a fortnight now so will be very lucky if there's any frugality or NSD - I'll try. 

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

I'm trying to find ways to keep the food spend day for the school holidays. My 2 boys would just eat their body weights in crackers if they could but they don't fill them up for long. I've made a large batch of welshcakes for them to snack on instead. I've made them french toast for lunches. Also baked some chocolate and banana muffins. Todays lunch will be courgette fritters. It's hard work trying to fill them up with good food with them both being autistic and refusing to eat most foods. I'm normally trying to hide fruit and veg into baked items.

Bluegreen143

That sounds tricky @Mummy2cheekymonkeys

I’ve just discovered my eldest loves the sharing bag of value tortilla chips you can buy for 40p so (while they rarely get crisps anyway) its cheaper than buying bags of crisps to give them. I just give them a handful each with other things. Only issue is my 3yo saying she doesn’t like them yesterday but fairly sure if I keep offering she’ll come round, I mean they are crisps 😅 yesterday my eldest had his with leftover HM salsa and Greek yoghurt for dipping which makes it quite a balanced meal.

Mine are good with fruit and raw veg sticks (especially the 6yo) so that helps with snacks. They won’t eat cooked veg much so I always keep a tub of chopped carrot, cherry tomatoes, peppers, cucumber etc in the fridge to supplement meals.

The price of energy is a real worry. I’m so thankful I’m now working as I don’t think we’d manage if I was still a SAHM as I was a year ago. Just galling as we now have no childcare costs, I had big plans this year to really get ahead saving and OP the mortgage, instead the car has needed replaced (wiping out our savings) and now the cost of food/energy/fuel means we will have much less spare and won’t be able meet those goals I’d set only in January. But I need to keep reminding myself how fortunate we are that we can still get by as many will be really struggling 🙁 and the fact we no longer have debt (except the mortgage) is at least one less squeeze on the budget. 

This all underlines exactly why I want to focus on overpaying that mortgage as I think to have that security that the mortgage was gone would be such peace of mind in times like this.

-taff

Mummy2cheekymonkeys said:

I'm trying to find ways to keep the food spend day for the school holidays. My 2 boys would just eat their body weights in crackers if they could but they don't fill them up for long. I've made a large batch of welshcakes for them to snack on instead. I've made them french toast for lunches. Also baked some chocolate and banana muffins. Todays lunch will be courgette fritters. It's hard work trying to fill them up with good food with them both being autistic and refusing to eat most foods. I'm normally trying to hide fruit and veg into baked items.

Flat breads are really easy to make, either thin [ equal or slightly less yoghurt [zero natural greek] to same amount of plain flour, chuck in some oregno if you like, you can;t really taste it but it is sghtly there] or made with bread flour, yeast and sugar or honey, knead ofr ten, stick in fridge, pull off ball shapes and roll out when needed. It'll keep for a good few days. Then dry fry either of those in a flat pan. Honestly, can't believe how esy they are and taste better than bread. Maybe you can get them involved in the weighing and cooking part, it isn't too messy either.

spudsmum

I feel your pain @Mummy2cheekymonkeys my youngest has autism and a really limited diet. Sounds like youre doing a great job with all the baking though - mine won't eat any baked goods at all sadly. He only eats pasta, cheese, cheese Crisps, nuggets and fries and dairy milk chocolate. He will eat those constantly throughout the day though  and I have no idea where he puts it all - costs a blooming fortune. 

Bluegreen143

That sounds really difficult @spudsmum- you’re doing a great job with the budget given those constraints.

Made Easter cornflake nests and tiffin with the kids today so at least I wasn’t worried about the cost of putting the oven on 🤦‍♀️ Also used up a load of stale mixed biscuits in the tiffin which was satisfying. I did laugh at the recipe specifying a certain type of biscuit, dried fruit, glacé cherries etc - I used what I had!

Monkey’s spots have finally scabbed over so after a week of house arrest I can take him out, but I’m concerned Bambi will get spots very soon (surely it’s inevitable she will catch it!). So I’m just going to go to a quiet bit by the river rather than a playpark. It’s a beautiful day so I’m desperate to get out!