2022 Frugal Living Challenge

Primrose

At least we,re saving a little petrol not having to use our motor mower.  Can,t remember how long ago it was we last had to cut the lawn and even when rain eventually comes again it could be a while before the grass regrows and is long enough to cut

A bit of a mixed blessing though as we use our grass clippings to mulch around vegs to reduce watering in dry weather. .

Primrose

Beshki said:

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. 

I suspect many people will be reviewing their laundry arrangements and asking themselves "can this last another day or two." to avoid using the washing machine so regularly. Certainly in this heat it,s possible to hand wash a small number of items and drip dry them outside.  

Regarding  bed linen, it,s rolled back every morning to air everything which means the sheets stay fresher a little longer before they need washing. 

Primrose

cw18 said:

MazzieD said:

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

I

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!   

Sadly I think this is going to be a harsh reality check for your granddaughters. I think many people are going to have to bite the bullet of harsh reality and change their habits. 

On the brighter side it will be a good personal discipline to learn until easier times return. .  I think if everybody has to put up with a period of financial stringency in their early lives, it might at least might help them understand the value of money.

boxer234

Beshki said:

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.

My mum picked me up one from Aldi last year it’s cheap to run and kept me really warm i would often leave the heating off. 

boxer234

Long time lurker here I’d like to join.  I feel like money just disappears through my hands like water.  I find it stressful.  I’ve just bought a new house, have some debt and live with my two dogs.  

This month I’ve been tracking my spends so I can see where it’s going.  I’m also trying hard to have NSDs.  One of my boys is reactive so I spend a lot on private dog fields this needs to be reduced. 

Lucky I’ve been able to change the sensitive dogs food which is saving a lot.  

I always cook from scratch and rarely get take away but spend a lot on food.  I’m trying to reduce this.  I spend a lot on fruit and veg.  

I’m worried about the winter but I’m used to being cold (my last rental was freezing)  it’s just me so hopefully it won’t be to bad.  

I’ve cancelled my TV licence as no sooner had I moved in they were sending me threatening letters.  I don’t watch it anyway.  I’m also going to cancel Netflix. So will be left with prime and Disney.  

I love reading went through my bookshelves and found a stack I’ve not read.  

My student loan ends January yay.  

Right now I need

Emergency savings 
Pay down my debt 
Actually have money left at the end of the month

Jellytotts

We haven’t bothered with a tv license for years now, we have Amazon prime so watch what we like there but that’s it now.  I read a lot and am a recent convert to audio books via our library app, I play them from my phone via a Bluetooth speaker that I can move from room to room with me.  Ideal when I’m sewing or crocheting.  

We hoped to have lunch out today as it is our anniversary but due to heat, grumpiness and too many people we headed home for a peanut butter bagel instead.  We know how to live it up.

amber03

After reading my dishwasher manual I’ve realised I’ve got a programme that is just under an hour, the one I used before was two and a half hours, also we don’t use it unless it’s full. Dishes do get hand washed if the kitchen bowl has water in it. Some programmes on the WM I use the 30c temp instead of either the 60 or 40c ones. Saving on diesel as not using the car as much. Sky contract is due for renewal soon but I’ve been thinking of getting rid of it all together, I don’t watch much tv now.x

Primrose

I suspect as winter bills start to bite, Sky, Netflix and a lot of costly entertainment facilities will start to feel the pinch as cheap/old fashioned entertainments like library books and puzzles or board games  start to become popular again.  Learning how to keep yourself gainfully entertained without spending money will, I,m sure become more urgent the moment the temperature drops and it's a question of being able to switch the heating on, versus watching  some paid for screen entertainment. 

DawnW

@zafiro1984 medlars make lovely jelly, really tasty and a beautiful amber colour

cw18

I cancelled my TV Licence on 31st Dec 2010, and have only wished I were licenced twice since then.   The first was when they did a series of Vicar of Dibley shorts at Christmas 2020 - so my fella recorded them for me to watch at a later date (he has a licence).    The other is very recently, as a new series was partly filmed in the town where I live - and even on the one and only trailer I've seen I recognised a street.    In September we're going to be stayng in a licenced property that has the ability to stream, so I'm going to binge watch it then

I have access to NowTV (Entertainment and Cinema), Netflix, Disney+ and Britbox as well as Prime.

I use NowTV Entertainment most regularly (although the majority of the shows I like are currently on a break, so I've not used it much the last couple of month), but have more than enough unwatched DVDs in the house to cope without it for at least 12 months if finances said it had to go.   (Both NowTV passes are currently on reduced prices, but I could very easily cope without Cinema at all if deals weren't available.)

Britbox was a very special introductory deal (30 days trial instead of 7, and then £29.99 instead of £59.99 for the year), and whilst I use it a fair bit just now I can't see me renewing at full price in January (I might have done without the current rises in fuel and food costs).

I'm also currently streaming a series or two on Disney+ (and have a number of films bookmarked that I'd like to watch), but if finances don't allow renewal (end of March) then I can give it up easily enough.

I rarely use Netflix or Prime, but as I'm not paying the bills for those I shall wait and see what happens with them.

boxer234 said:

Beshki said:

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.

My mum picked me up one from Aldi last year it’s cheap to run and kept me really warm i would often leave the heating off. 

I have an A!di heated throw.   Treated myself, and loved it from the start.   My fella initially mocked me a little (yes, I do tend to buy gadgets and gizmos I then never use much) - but with no nastiness about it, AND that was only until he tried it    His gas boiler gave out more than a few years ago, and he now uses plug in electric heaters to try and keep warm - so he grabbed one when we wandered down to my local store.   He then remarked he should have bought one for his Mother (also using plug in heaters as her system - not sure what but wasn't gas - also packed in), so I went back down and picked up another that he refunded me for.   That was her Mothers' Day present from him.

I used mine a number of times instead of boosting my gas heating (I still run my heating, but for less time and at a lower temperature).  I don't think I've ever run the throw for more than 3 or 4 minutes at a time, and that's all I need instead of 30-60 minutes of my heating running at a higher temperature.   OH loves his, but makes sure to run his heaters some of the time so the house doesn't get damp.   He stressed to his Mother that she still needs to run the heaters at times (I think he suggested for a half hour before she heads to bed, so that she doesn't hit a cold wall as she gets out from under the throw).

The other thing I absolutely love (and wouldn't ever give up) is my Teddy Fleece bedding.   I have a fitted sheet, pillow cases, and a very large throw to use as a flat sheet under my quilt (the throw took a while to find!).   I looked at the quilt covers, but as I have a king sized quilt the washing machine I had then would have struggled to wash it.   I've since changed from a 6kg to 9kg machine, but I don't see the point in spending money on covers when what I have works for me - and I now regularly use a weighted blanket instead of the normal quilt anyway.    My two older GDs asked for fleece bedding for Christmas 2020, so I happily bought them the quilt cover and pillow case set.   I can't remember if I got them fitted sheets as well or not - but that's mainly because DD bought and I sent her the money    I know I said that they were worth having, as a normal sheet leaves the bed still feeling cold when you first get in.   If they don't already have some, then it might be worth me offering to get for the younger two this year.....