2022 Frugal Living Challenge

nannygladys

Council tax:
Both my dds in the UK have received their £150 in their bank accounts, one last week and the other 2 weeks ago!! I haven't received mine yet but had notification saying they 'hoped' it would be received on 27/4/22 or soon after!!! We all have different councils, one is in another county and one is the same county as me. So I wait in anticipation
I will be putting it away in a holding pot account for the time being but like others it will probably go towards the winter fuel bill. I'm another who wished they'd taken it off the bill itself.

spudsmum

No £150 received here yet. 

Apparently we'll get it after our first DD payment is received. My. DD goes out tomorrow so probably won't be long.. 

I'm intending to put it in my general bills account to help mitigate some of the rises. Unfortunately my Council. Tax bill has increased by £75 which erodes the value but I'm still better off than I would have been.

Still frugalling on here as best I can - making big savings in my food budget - came in £139 under budget last month   but not many savings in other areas - I think I need to refocus myself a bit and get back on track. 

Microwave decided to go bang at the weekend - the cheapest one I could find was £50! I'm sure the last time I replaced it, which wasn't that long ago, it was about £27.

When I went to pick it up I noticed they had some in a different colour on the bottom shelf hidden away. I asked the cashier to price check and they were £36. So £14 saved by having a black one (which I prefer anyway) instead of white one. I'm pleased with that. 

Pay day today so all of my budgets reset and pots refilled. Hoping to do a bit better next month. I came in under on my food budget but any savings were wiped out by increased petrol costs as we had a few long journeys. That said even yhough I didn't make massive savings I didn't go over budget either and I didn't put anything on my credit card so overall debt has still reduced - calling that a win 

Floss

I'm expecting my rebate next week, and it will go in the bank for now.

MazzieD

I won't be adding the rebate to my energy account for the moment - have just discovered the reason why my supplier hasn't put my DD up. They are taking the difference from my existing credit which is rapidly disappearing.  Hmmm, think I will have to contact them, they have been messing around with my on-line account since the beginning of April and now nothing is loading properly which doesn't help.  Really not impressed

MazzieD

Hooray, I didn't need to contact Shell Energy (named and shamed) they have finally sorted my on-line account out and I have just increased my DD to a more sensible amount so my credit might last a bit longer!.  

Having the rest of the week off so sorting out my budget for May, doing the usual getting ready to batch cook for the new month and a depressing grocery shop this morning.  Quite a few gaps on the shelves at L*dl along with some noticeable price increases.  T*sco were better stocked but same with price increases.  I do a weekly shop at both and the same items seem to increase between shops.  Makes sense to do both on the same trip to save on fuel as they are not too far from each other.

Treasurequeen

Popped into my local community fridge in my local library and picked up some bread rolls which I have frozen, a large bag of potatoes and a tray of geraniums all completely free. 

Popped into supermarket afterwards as I needed to stock up on some tins but shelves were sparse. Picked up a lovely ceramic planter to grow salad leaves in for my kitchen windowsill for a few pounds. I had a £9.00 off voucher so it paid for the planter and a magazine. The magazine had six packs of seeds in it and 2 for 1 garden entry voucher for a year. A little luxury item this week for me free with the money off voucher. 

Floss

MazzieD I requested my credit balance from Shell last month so I start with a clean slate when off my fix next month. 

otb666

3 adults 1 tortoise we saved this month £150 from food this month as did not have 3 takeaways.  The gas and electric went up 230 from 205 so bills now 625 instead of 600. Hope that does not happen every month as we are fixed tariff gas and electric  until feb 24.  Originally budgets set at 600 food 600 monthly bills 600 Petrol and the rest .  Annual bills mot birthdays insurances comes from savings.  Could not get coffee roasties and roast and tortoise sand this week will have to try different shops.

cw18

I'm also with Shell, and they'd said they were going to review mine in 3 months - also down to having a credit balance.   I've been overpaying since I joined them (Oct 2020), and wanted to save that ready for the October rises.   I was going to call them to increase my payment, but discovered I can do it myself on the App (I generally use the website - not a fan of Apps when I have an alternative).   My average for the previous year was about £42, and they said the most I should put it up to was £80-something.    I reckon my average is now going to be just over £100, so I've increased it to that.    If I used up my credit (might have got me through the summer) I'd have seen a much bigger jump come October, and I know I'd have struggled with that.   Doing it this way I can adjust to the extra in stages.

joedenise

I feel exactly the same way @cw18.  I've upped my payment to £155 but will see where we stand in a few months to decide if that's too much.  I'm with EDF and they suggested I put my payment up to £100 but working on the prices from April and using the same figures for amounts as last year I worked out £155 would be nearer the mark with a bit extra to cover the October increase!