2022 Frugal Living Challenge

Primrose

We,re both retired and I don,t iron now so saves time and electricity.   Items are stretched when removed from machine and smooth out sufficiently when either hung  on line to dry in wind and sun or laid over a radiator if heating is switched on.  In winter most Tee shirts or blouses are covered by a sweater anyway.and body heat soon smooths out any creases. 

Bed linen had never been ironed apart from pillow cases if guests come to stay!

zafiro1984

Love all the thoughts on drying clothes. I'm doing similar things so nothing new to add.

I'm fortunate in having, a large veg and fruit plot, polytunnels etc, hens geese sheep. Therefore, I tend to budget for food/cleaning on a yearly basis and the freezers are well stocked at the moment.
However, I do need a few items each week from the supermarkets...so:-

1) I worked out the cost of driving to the nearest supermarket against how much it would cost to have food delivered at the cheapest price. The supermarket delivery was far cheaper.
2) Minimum spend is £40. My method is to put on the list what I absolutely need, and then spend the difference between that and £40 on items which are on offer and I can store. 
So far, I've extra coffee (almost half price) dishwasher/laundry items (more than 33% off), shower gel/soap/toothpaste (half price) a good saving on pork shoulder, and an even better one on frozen turkeys..
However my best 'bargain' was Bucks Fizz down to a £1 from £4.50. That's on the bottom shelf in the pantry and not to be touched until the festive season. 

I tend to buy things that I wouldn't be tempted to 'overuse' like the coffee I have. Everyone has to work out what works for them and so far this is working for me and if I'm honest I quite enjoy spending time looking for the bargains. 

MazzieD

Had a nice surprise, my monthly energy DD wasn't taken this morning, so double checked with supplier via webchat and it was confirmed that the £66 Energy Price Guarantee will be used instead to cover the whole bill.  I am a low user so will still get a small credit as well.  Mainly electricity at the moment so it might not continue like that as I'm hoping to put the gas central heating on at some point.  It's still around 17 degrees and sunny so very mild at present, night temperatures are also still mild here.

Just transferred unused DD to savings.  Really pleased to have an unexpected bonus! 

FrugalThymes

We're also determined to use the tumble drier as little as possible now and have been working out ways to have more space to hang clothes inside if needed. We helped some friends clear out a relative's house for sale over the weekend and rescued (from the tip/recycling centre pile) a reparable zigzag airer to go in front of a radiator, and a rotary line to replace our broken one, so those plus the lines we have up should be plenty of space for all of the laundry at weekends. Going to have to get our daughters to pay more attention to the difference between actually dirty clothes, and clothes that would be good for another wear if they didn't just abandon them on their bedroom floors of doom absolute pests!

We were also very kindly gifted some kitchen equipment that will be taken to Uni when our eldest goes in 2024, including a microwave and toaster. Also they had an incredible four shelved tall cupboard that my friend immediately offered me to use as a pantry, which will replace the very low down and hard to access one I'm using now. 

I was so happy that us helping meant my friends had the time and energy to organise nearly 15 boxes of things for charity, as well as donating a load of soft furnishings to an animal rescue and helping an older guy furnish his new flat. I think the whole thing has been so sad and stressful that they were on the verge of just putting everything in a skip which would have actually broken my heart a little because I am fully reduce, reuse, recycle indoctrinated  

florianatwobob

Courtesy of our local Reuse FB page we are now the proud owners of a new to us  fire surround. It does need a bit of love and affection and won’t be installed until after the room is fully replastered but we’re quite happy for a freebie! We may have had a few odd looks as we carried it  just short of a kilometre home. 

ladyholly

Well done. It should look amazing when installed.

London_1

All the holiday washing done and out on the line today ,damp dry now, and will finish off on the airer in the conservatory, anything that needs a bit more drying will go out again tomorrow as its forecast sun all day.
I will get my food shopping tomorrow, and it will be the first this month ,my list is made out, and its bare minimum so I can get some wriggle room in the freezer before Christmas.
I found a packet of plums in the veg box of the fridge I forgot about as they were rock hard when I bought them over two weeks ago and they are just soft enough to eat now and I had a couple after dinner tonight and they were lovely.So slightly less fruit to buy as I still have 6 left to use this week.

JackieO xx

ancientmum

I've just reduced my electricity DD from £80 to £5/month as Bulb are using the £66 to pay bills directly and I am also over £300 in credit.  
I'm saving the difference as a buffer for when the payments and price cap finish.

Primrose

Like most other people, the motto in our house is "Put on" before you switch on.
An extra layer or two always helps.

2Scratters

Made a purchase for DH this week of a heated body warmer. He has many health issues but tries his best to carry on normally. He does feel the cold at any time. The garment is not the best but it seems to be working for him and that is what matters. I will get him under blankets yet! He is now getting the gist of him keeping himself warm is very quickly showing him the benefits too. We do have a burner so the heating is not yet switched on.
This week for some reason we have only had one meal a day after having breakfast. We are doing more into the evening before sitting down too again which delays in needing any extra heat. This might be more of a plan going forward. 

2 Scratters xx