2022 Frugal Living Challenge

balabooberlies

I did something today that I had ear-marked for the 1st of January but it has taken me a whole week to drum up the courage and face my fears.

With much encouragement on another thread I finally did it.  Went to Experian and found out exactly how much I owe.

Now the work begins.

bala

x

willow_loulou

Frugaldom said:

kimwp said:

Think I'm going to pop off this thread, it's a lovely community, but I was hoping for ideas on how to save money rather than chat about people's days and it's a lot of emails. You all seem lovely, all the best with your frugalling!

Sorry to see you are leaving. I can't keep up with the chat but if you have a look through the old challenges, you may find what you are looking for - or else just ask or message me and I'll maybe be able to point you in the right direction. The actual challenge runs elsewhere as well as here.

2022 is another year of £1 per person per day for all meals. Outside slices of bread got diced and baked with salt & pepper to make croutons. They keep really well in the sealed jars. The ones I made before Christmas are still fresh and crunchy. Thanks to the Olio app, I've saved a fortune on food but I've been spending elsewhere in preparation for my off-grid challenge. (It's being posted in my frugaldom forums, sorry, not in here) 

There are still rosehips to be picked if anyone goes foraging. I made rosehip honey and will be using this to substitute for real honey. A kilo of sugar makes a couple of jars so it definitely works out cheaper. I'm also going to try Rosebay Willowherb 'honey' in summer as we have plenty of that. All fruit that's past best is turned into jams, jellies, sauces and marmalade here, with the leftovers composted. The only thing that doesn't keep well is apple sauce so I'm going to have to make apple sponge several times over the coming week or two to use it all up. I want to get all the cupboards cleaned out and the freezer defrosted. Usually, by this time of year the temps have dropped below zero, meaning I can store everything in a box outside while doing the fridge and freezer. That's been impossible so far. Yesterday I was mucking out pony shelter in my jeans & teeshirt! I guess it saved on washing! Today, the water butts are definitely full. I added pots of sphagnum moss to the tops of all the tanks to filter out the debris that can run off the roofs.

The chat will die down as the year progresses, well it has done the last couple I have been involved in. People get busier as the weather brightens and post maybe once or twice a week. This first bit is encouraging the mindset for me. 

MazzieD

joedenise said:

Could you try using the E5 every 4th fill for example and use E10 the rest of the time.  This may help the engine cope a bit better.

That's a good idea, it may just be the E10 making the engine struggle a bit, if not it's off to the garage.

shala_moo said:

Things to do for the rest of the week :
- look into smart meters - do people recommend them?

@shala_moo I've had smart meters for a couple of years, they are useful if you want to see how much energy appliances or heating use but there can be issues with the meters losing communication with your supplier.  I've switched supplier twice and both times communication has been lost and then restored so have had to supply readings for part of the time which defeats the object. 

Apparently this is an industry wide issue so the second generation meters aren't necessarily better.  There isn't a standard meter, all suppliers have different models which aren't necessarily compatible with other suppliers so switching can cause issues.

I do check the readings on the in house display unit regularly so no fiddling around in cupboards or if your meters are in difficult to access places..  On the whole they do make you aware of how much you are using and it is easier from that point of view.  Having mentioned all that I wouldn't go back to standard meters, I do like smart meters!.

Viking_mfw

islandhoppa said:

Experimenting this week washing clothes on quick wash (45 minutes instead of 1 hour 55!) working fine so far for dark clothes but unsure about whites and haven’t tried yet - any advice on what I can add that’s frugal and effective to brighten / remove stains rather than just grabbing the expensive stuff?

My mother buys sodium per carbonate (note, not bicarbonate) which is apparently basically the same as vanish. 

maryb

If you need a deep clean set your machine on a cold wash and put something like Vanish or Napisan ( same thing but cheaper) or even washing soda in the soap dispenser.  Leave the machine to fill up for 10 minutes then just switch it off.  Next morning use the ‘empty’ setting to drain it then do your wash.  Otherwise just soaking with a little bit of washing powder or even just cold water will loosen most dirt

babs_103

I am really having trouble being frugal, I have looked at my  spending, and have worked out that I do not need anything for the home or clothes wise, but food shopping I cannot cut down on. I need to spend at least 40.00 per delivery which is easy to do as I need gluten and lactose free foods and these are expensive.  I am going to try to make my own bread (I bake my DH bread which he loves) as the gluten free is so expensive.  We have no Olio or anything like it near enough to me and I don't have transport. My nearest supermarket is too expensive and bus fares are off the scale for me.

I will have to think again. 

florianatwobob

babs_103 I need gluten and lactose free foods and these are expensive.  I am going to try to make my own bread (I bake my DH bread which he loves) as the gluten free is so expensive. 

If you’re up for some GF & LF baking and making Google Becky Excell she has a website and does some amazing recipes without weird ingredients that you’d only find at the top of the Himalayas! She certainly makes free from food more accessible. 

babs_103

Thanks @florianatwobob will give that a try.x

Viking_mfw

florianatwobob said:

babs_103 I need gluten and lactose free foods and these are expensive.  I am going to try to make my own bread (I bake my DH bread which he loves) as the gluten free is so expensive. 

If you’re up for some GF & LF baking and making Google Becky Excell she has a website and does some amazing recipes without weird ingredients that you’d only find at the top of the Himalayas! She certainly makes free from food more accessible. 

Seconded, she's great. The website is gluten free cuppa tea. 

I am gf and to be honest just mostly do without bread. Oatcakes - check for the ones without barley but I don't find a difference between the official gluten free ones and the ones without glutinous ingredients, except the price - are our major staple instead. 

wort

/islandhoppa I only use 30 degrees and 40 min wash for everything apart from towels and sheets which go in together on60.
stains I use washing up liquid , a great degreaser and gets rid of most stains.