2022 Frugal Living Challenge

gill5blue

simplelivingcottage said:

Hello, is it ok if I join? I know I'm so far into the year but hoping to just start ticking of items this year that I can get to decent point to do a whole year, next year. Currently reading back, and so inspired by everyone. 

hi,
I've only just joined too
gill5blue

2Scratters

It's nice to see newbies getting on board  - welcome. For what ever reason you have landed here it is with like minded people and lots of communication goes on. Some people who are obviously not here just don't get it (for now!) In reality we have probably arrived out of need or curiosity. There is always something new to learn. Even at my ripe age and been on here for the best part of 20 years learn all the time. Anytime is a good time to start don't be a stranger and think I'll do it in the new year, your year starts now.

2Scratters xx

cw18

MazzieD said:

Hmmm, just been reading the MSE Newsletter, not looking good for energy prices is it

I read it just before I went to bed last night, and have to admit I am now starting to get VERY worried.

I was optomistic that the £400 grant plus £150 from Council Tax would cover my increases for 6 months from October - and still leave my decent credit in play for beyond that.   I'm no longer as confident about that    I just hope that some of the moves I've been making to bring down my usage soften the blow.

But I am in a bit of a panic for my DD.  Single parent with 4 girls - 19, 17, 10.5 and approaching 9.   They all use gadgets (especially the two eldest), and the older two watch TV in their rooms as they (understandably) don't want what the youngsters like.   DD was already worried when it looked like a 50% hike in October, but this is going to kill her!   She should qualify for the £650 payment, but as she's still on the old (Tax Credits) system she won't get her first payment until 'the Autumn' - meaning prices of everything will have gone up and she can't look to buy as many energy saving measures (even if they're still available) rather than paying it off her bills.   I was strongly suggesting she did that with part of the money (probably the first instalment), but I don't think it's going to be an option anymore

JIL

The price increases are awful arent they, and very worrying. We have solar panels and when we moved to this house we did consider having them removed due to a hole in the roof the installers had left behind.
However we were able to get the roof repaired and we get fit payments. I'm seriously considering getting a storage battery for the panels. It seemed such a lot at £2000 +, but it may be worth it now. 

I really thought fuel poverty was behind us. Its shocking how high prices are predicted to rise.

Beshki

Looking towards the winter, I’ve started to think about small changes such as buying a few pairs of extra trousers for work meaning that we’ll only need to wash those once a week rather than the twice we do currently. There is then of course the issue of drying it. 

Does anyone have a recommendation for an electric fleece blanket? An over blanket, as opposed to an electric bed blanket. There are so many available it’s difficult to choose.

RateTartExtraordinaire

Thinking about making small changes that might make a difference. Last weekend I replaced my deep pan that I use for batch cooking. The replacement is bigger so I can now double the quantity I was previously doing. 

@Beshki I have an electric heated overblanket, It was a gift from my mum, I think she ordered it online from L@kel@nd (Dr3aml@nd). It is velvet on one side and wool on the other side. It claims to cost as little as 1p to run per night. It has lots of clever settings. 5 different temperature settings. A 5 minute warm up fast start mode. You can set it to auto shut off on a timer. It is machine washable. I love it! I've got the single and use it in the evening, but they come in a double too. They aren't cheap but well worth it in my opinion. 

RateTartExtraordinaire

Extra income this month and next is coming from catsitting. I've been on the site catinaflat for a while, but this is the first summer I've had bookings that worked out. One visit is 20 to 30 minutes to feed, etc, and I can fit it around my work. I am walking as it is local to me so no costs. 

MazzieD

MazzieD said:

Hmmm, just been reading the MSE Newsletter, not looking good for energy prices is it.  All predictions and speculation at the moment.  I've decided to wait and see what Ofgem announce before going into panic mode.  

What I should have added is that I am already preparing for the price increases as much as I can but without specific figures it's difficult to know how much it's going to affect things like budgets (if you have one) and all the other costs most of us have.  Realistically it's going to hit everyone in varying degrees of hardship.  

Heatwave 2 is  already here, at least 30 degrees yesterday.  Temperatures only dropped to about 25 degrees after heatwave 1!.  My poor cat has very thick long fur and is mainly black with a few white bits so is really feeling the heat and very restless at night.  

Don't normally have time off in August but this year has been unusual with quite a lot of changes in my life so just relaxing at home for a few days.  Keeping out of the sun and trying to keep cool, it's too humid and hot for me.

zafiro1984

Thinking about the coming months and food. 
I've been blackberry picking, I'm freezing them in old ice-cream cartons. I've already filled four cartons. I'll use them with apples, a friend has already given me some windfalls which I will slice and freeze.

Next on the list are rose hips, frozen and then combined with oranges make a fabulous jam. Tasty and unusual as presents.
I've got my eyes on the Rowen tree, It's giving a huge crop this year, I'll use YouTube to see if I can find a recipe.
Then there are the crab apples. Last year I made crabapple and clove jelly, crabapple and cinnamon jelly. All now long eaten, it cheers up a plain sponge pudding amongst other things.
Last but not least is the medlar tree. It has never given such a huge crop before, there must be at least a couple of hundred fruits. Far too many to blet and eat, again YouTube may be helpful.

Primrose

MazzieD said:

MazzieD said:

Hmmm, just been reading the MSE Newsletter, not looking good for energy prices is it.  All predictions and speculation at the moment.  I've decided to wait and see what Ofgem announce before going into   

Heatwave 2 is  already here, at least 30 degrees yesterday.  Temperatures only dropped to about 25 degrees after heatwave 1!.  My poor cat has very thick long fur and is mainly black with a few white bits so is really feeling the heat and very restless at night.  

Try wiping your cat's  fur over regularly with a cloth or flannel of chilled water which will dampen it. The evaporation will have a temporary cooling effect.  I did this with my previous two black cats in very hot weather as they didn,t like the alternative of spraying them with cold water, however fine the demisting  spray was.