2022 Frugal Living Challenge

gill5blue

Floss said:

I use Nancy Birtwhistle's Pure Magic https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChSRfnsKDhZ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

the looks great-i may even buy her books-or look on freebie sites for them
gill5blue

Nonnadiluca

I hardly ever buy new books, it's usually the library for me, but I've just got the Nancy Birtwhistle one and it's really good if you want to clean stuff without sending goodness knows what chemicals into the waterways.

MazzieD

 Where did September go? Seems to have flashed past me, been really busy over the last few days getting any jobs done that needed extra electricity so my September bill will be higher but at the lower rate before the price increases start today if that makes sense. 

Really noticing the overnight temperature dip, still got the summer duvet on but have changed to winter PJ's, like to do a gradual change to Winter stuff as daytime temperatures are still reasonably warm in my bit of Hampshire 

Sweetlittledaydreams

Back to work after 11 days off, think I suit not working! I've really enjoyed being able to do my own thing on my own time - going to use this to motivate me to keep working hard until I can afford what I really want. I've been back and forth on the idea of a smallholding for the last few years, knowing I can't really afford it so going for the normal path of stable job, buy a house etc etc but I'm more clear in my mind that a smallholding is what I need to aim for now. This week I've picked my last bits of fruit and veg from the garden, and started preserving things and it's just made me so happy. I've been looking in the UK and prices are some way out of my reach but France and Spain seem much more reasonably priced for smallholdings, so I think my plan is work loads of extra hours this winter so that I can afford to go out next year and do some research.

In the mean time it's hot water bottles and blankets in the evening rather than having the heat on, continuing with not cooking every day to keep the bills down. Cheap supermarket shops (got a free loaf of bread yesterday and a £2 voucher. Plus a £20 voucher as an insurance company reward. Hoping that will pay for 2 weeks shopping as I did a big top up shop this week). 2 loads of laundry a week - could be 1 but I have to wash my uniforms separately. Quick showers rather than baths. Meeting friends and family at each others houses or for walks rather than for coffee or meals out. And starting to pick up reduced items that will make good Christmas gifts - this is where I usually overspend but I'm going to try and reign it in this year, but will probably fail. I don't need any new winter coats or boots, I rarely clothes shop and should see about trying to sell some dresses near to Christmas party season. Also have some furniture I need to try and sell, will bring me some more space aswell as money.

London_1

Good morning chums ,well 1st October and at the moment today down in the south its a sunny day so no heating needed yet thank goodness. I am away for 5 day from 12th -17th so I am using up the fresh stuff I have in stock in the fridge at the moment and steering clear of the supermarkets as much as I can. This morning I dug out f the freezer a small steak pie that will do for dinner tonight and I have lots of frozen green beans to go with it and even some frozen mash as well. So that dinner sorted for this evening.lunch will be an omelette I think with some diced mushrooms and a bit of grated cheese. I have a small chocolate pudding in the fridge my DD bought for me when she dropped in on Thursday for a cuppa so that pudding sorted as well. I think I will make a trifle for over the weekend and a couple of next weeks puddings.

I'm not at DDs tomorrow for dinner as her and her OH are taking my grandson Mikey up to his Uni so I said I will give it a miss this week as they will be travelling all day and may not get back until later.So I shall dig something from the freezer out for my dinner I have plenty in there so I won't be spoilt for choice.

Hope everyone has a good and frugal weekend, I have a good bit of decluttering to do,bagging u some books for the CS and a ton of shredding to sort out with my new shredder so it will be a busy one for me 

JackieO xx

linz

London_1 said:

Hope everyone has a good and frugal weekend, I have a good bit of decluttering to do,bagging u some books for the CS and a ton of shredding to sort out with my new shredder so it will be a busy one for me 

JackieO xx

Your weekend sounds a bit like mine I always feel better after a good declutter. I need to do a load of shredding and sort through my cookery books as I have far too many so i'll be heading to the CS with some of those I don't doubt. 

I love little treats like the chocolate pudding you mentioned. Just little things like that with a cuppa can really brighten you up can't they ? 

I'm going to my friends mums down the road shortly, to pick some bramleys off her tree. Getting some for my neighbour too. I've recently become interested in canning/preserving and have bought a few jars from the CS  so I might try and make a batch of apple sauce as well as crumbles.

Tea last night was some YS sausages with roasted veg grown from my garden / YS. I've still got LOADS of potatoes, i just hope they don't go bad before I can use them all up. Leftover portion for tonight too. I've been using my heated throw in the evenings this week. It's so cozy. To be honest it's quite warm without plugging it in - will definitely be using it a lot from now on!

Kerry_Woman

Last month I managed to be really careful regarding spending. The only items extra I brought were 2 torches(saved £3 when brought 2), matches and tea light candles, that were not on my list of things that I planed to buy.  Trying to avoid buying some toiletries and toilet rolls until beginning of next year and using up as to what I have.  Downloaded quite a lot of free books onto one app and an account, mainly romance and murder mysteries. So if I do not like them I can delete them and no money wasted. Have booked some extra shifts on bank either on Saturday or Sunday for the next 3 months.  No news as yet if contract is going to be extended in the new year.  Have decided to have everyday dinners at Christmas and will be using vouchers for my favourite shop to buy some nice treats.  Am not going to be the secret santa in work as they people to spend £20 on it.

Floss

gill5blue said:

Floss said:

I use Nancy Birtwhistle's Pure Magic https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChSRfnsKDhZ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

the looks great-i may even buy her books-or look on freebie sites for them
gill5blue

You will be very lucky to find her books on any free sites!

kiloranbay

@Sweetlittledaydreams have you come across WWOOF?  It could be an economical way to do your research in France or Spain as once you've paid a sign up fee (and travel costs) you would be hosted and fed in exchange for about 25 hours of work per week on an organic smallholding or farm (or orchard or community market garden etc). 

Our own @Frugaldom is a WWOOF host, as is my Dad (in South East England). My Dad enjoys it a lot, often learns things from his WWOOFers. Hosts and jobs vary but I know he is flexible on hours (so would be happy for someone to put in one long day of work then go off around local countryside for a couple of days, using his farm as a base for sleeping). He also meets his WWOOF guests' trains when convenient and offers lifts to the local towns which I think is common.

One of my schoolfriends WWOOFed around New Zealand for six months! She was from a farming family so it was very much a holiday for her compared to how many hours she would work on the farm at home. 

Sweetlittledaydreams

kiloranbay said:

@Sweetlittledaydreams have you come across WWOOF?  It could be an economical way to do your research in France or Spain as once you've paid a sign up fee (and travel costs) you would be hosted and fed in exchange for about 25 hours of work per week on an organic smallholding or farm (or orchard or community market garden etc). 

Our own @Frugaldom is a WWOOF host, as is my Dad (in South East England). My Dad enjoys it a lot, often learns things from his WWOOFers. Hosts and jobs vary but I know he is flexible on hours (so would be happy for someone to put in one long day of work then go off around local countryside for a couple of days, using his farm as a base for sleeping). He also meets his WWOOF guests' trains when convenient and offers lifts to the local towns which I think is common.

One of my schoolfriends WWOOFed around New Zealand for six months! She was from a farming family so it was very much a holiday for her compared to how many hours she would work on the farm at home. 

Thank you, I've not heard of WWOOF before so think that's my Sunday evening reading sorted for tonight. Thanks 😊 
Today's frugal wins included a free hot drink because I had a voucher, plus filling my car up somewhere I was going anyway and it's 10 or 11p/ltr cheaper than where I live. Afternoon spent walking with family, free and healthy, and having a friend over tonight for dinner (reduced produce) rather than going out - I think I might bore him with my frugal smallholding dreams though! 
Busy week at work next week so that will stop me having time to spend money. 
Had a quick look on olio as usually there is more on a Sunday afternoon but not much this week, can't believe my savings total on there is just over £100 - mostly food but also had a few bits and pieces for the house, brilliant!  
I can't remember if I already said but I got a great deal on a second hand fruit press a few days ago, only £5 when all the other ones I looked at where £60+ even for second hand. I have made fruit juice from the apples out of the garden, looking forward to collecting blackberries next year and juicing them too. Free juice somehow tastes better! 
Off to clean the animals out and do a quick bit of housework, then make myself presentable because I've been swimming in the lake today so could probably do with a good scrub 😄