2022 Frugal Living Challenge

cw18

cybertortoise said:

If anyone has a recipe to use up frozen mushrooms I'd be so grateful as we bought 6 bags for batch cooking then didn't like that recipe

I use them in bolognese, and have also used them in chicken chasseur before now.

Or as a pizza topping (I buy really cheap cheese & tomato pizza, then add my own topping).   To use them this way I first shove a good handful into a microwave safe container (normally a glass measuring jug) and then 'nuke' them for a short session to defrost and heat through.   Then they get put on top of the pizza before that gets put into the over.

[Deleted User]

nannygladys said:

MazzieD - I tried the cash envelope system for a time and bought some zipped envelopes from Wilko, I think they were 40-50p each, but stopped when during lockdown shops didn't want cash. My dd uses jam jars with labels on, for groceries, window cleaner, school dinners etc so there is never any large amount of monies kept in the house, and the jars are in her pantry out of sight.

I currently use cash envelopes for a few of my monthly categories.  I use plastic envelopes I bough off Ama*on but I really like the sound of jars - and having them tucked away in the pantry.  I am going to switch over to jars, thank you @nannygladys for the idea 

CraftyLittleLisa

A successful day today.  I did a session of yoga from UTube (free) followed by clearing the xmas decorations away.  I then decided I had the enthusiasm to spring clean the lounge and managed to identify a few things to try and sell.  If I can't sell them I will just take to charity.  

Also as part of my personal challenge on my stack of recipes I did one for my dinner tonight.  When I was doing it the recipe didn't work so I had to rescue it so that recipe is going in the bin - one down, 100s to go.  

I'm rather pleased with how 2022 has started.

Frugalfaffing

My first no spend day of the year so far 🤣 helped that nothing was open , but I didn't spend online either. I've  managed to stay away from the sales so far. I did one dark wash load & made sure it was a full one. Did it on 30 instead of 40. Also mainly got it dry outside as 14 degrees here today. It's now on the clothes horse in front of the stove. Also just the stove tonight & no heating needed, just left living room door open to let some heat upstairs. I've done a freezer / pantry check & meal planned for the next two weeks, which has meant that I was able to cancel my grocery delivery for this Thursday as I couldn't justify the minimum spend. I've also swopped my veg box for a smaller one as well so between that and a few bits needed I should come well under my £50 food shop budget for this week (much lower than we've previously been spending as a family of 4 with two teens). Pleased with the good start to the year. 

Herbyme

@cybertortoise it’s harder to budget when money comes in in awkward great lumps I agree. I’m self employed and it’s only fairly recently that I’ve found out that keeping the awkward sums in one separate account, and ‘paying’ myself a monthly amount out of that account works for me. 

Probably sounds totally obvious but took me years to ask on here .for advice and that’s what made the difference. 

I work out my average/predicted annual income and pay myself a twelfth of it each month. It does mean the account has to have a float in it, but it means I know what I can safely spend - and what I can’t. Hope that makes sense!

cybertortoise

Thank you cw18 I’ll definitely try those ideas.

Herbyme I’m thinking I’ll have to do the same. I’ve decided to check which bills need to come out of the big incomes and just leave it all in a separate account. Then I’m aiming to do big shops and batch cooking so fingers crossed all will go well. It’s my first year trying to consider the entire year rather than taking things month by month.

QueenJess

EskarinaWeatherwax said:

I have a question - does anyone know of anywhere to bulk buy and get delivered (no car) recycled and UK made loo roll that’s actually cheaper than the supermarkets?

I’ve been buying Traidcraft 40 rolls for £25&delivery but it works out at about 2x what the supermarket recycled version costs. I remember my parents buying 96 rolls at a time and I’d love to do the same. 

I don’t want to compromise on recycled or uk made.

I’m not sure they’d ever be cheaper given that there is generally a race to the bottom at the supermarkets? Anyway, the only ones I know that fit the criteria are ecoleaf or essential trading (https://www.essential-trading.co.uk/extranet/searchresults.aspx?description=Toilet+paper). You can get larger packs of ecoleaf on Amazon if you use them.

Not sure on your reasons for recycled as bamboo is another ethical choice (if that’s the reason) and opens up a few more options.

Miss_Behaving

cybertortoise said:

If anyone has a recipe to use up frozen mushrooms I'd be so grateful as we bought 6 bags for batch cooking then didn't like that recipe

Hugh FW has a brilliant recipe for oven baked shallot and mushroom risotto - here's a link... Shallot and Mushroom Oven Risotto by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall – ARCISFOODBLOG 

babs_103

Good morning all, and a belated Happy New  Year to you all.  I have been a  lurker for quite  a  while now and have got quite a few good ideas from you all.
However I have a problem that has stumped me for years with regard to doing  a budget. I get paid from various sources at different times of the month, weekly fortnightly and every 28 days, and for the  life of me I cannot figure out when my 'end of month' is. I have DDs due both monthly and every 28 days as well as 'normal' bills.  Can anyone help me please? or am I forever to be chasing my tail  so to speak!  Thank you for any help I may get.

MazzieD

@nannygladys and @[Deleted User] Thanks, this is what I was trying to work out.  

For those of you who are not familiar with the cash envelope system, it is withdrawing cash from your bank account on a weekly basis and dividing it up into various envelopes i.e.  'groceries' or whatever purchases you choose and then go out to the shops  so you do not need to keep large sums of cash in the house.  Any left over cash is then saved or rolled over to your next shop. 

I should have mentioned that I use plastic for insurance and anything else I buy on-line or larger purchases but prefer to support local shops who all accept cash here.  I find using 'real' money makes me far more aware of what I'm spending and when it's gone, it's gone, no generous overdraft or credit limits!.  It's far too easy to overspend with credit/debit cards.

It's quite a popular subject on Y*u T*be and seems to be good for sticking to a budget, there are a growing number of frugal channels as well now, it's becoming far more mainstream!.