2022 Frugal Living Challenge

willow_loulou

Goodness @zafiro1984 bless you. You’re not having an easy time. Huge hugs x 

I totally get the bit wanting to accept help. I’m disabled and defiantly refuse. It did mean on the rare occasion I ask for help to e response is immediate though! I broke my glasses the other day and tried to walk to the opticians. Except I couldn’t see the curbs heights or tell if cars were moving. Terrified! My friend was there in a flash and stayed with me until I was sorted! 

Went to the stack it high shop today and found some recycled material towels for £1:39! They’re not brilliant but I was desperate for something to keep by the back door with all this rain I’m constantly drenched as are the dogs. I bought one to try it out. 

I also got some reduced seeds. Very happy about that. Hoping the compost is ready! 

bear14

Any update @zafiro1984 on your partner? Wishing you both well. 

bear14

So folks I'm joining the frugal way of life with open arms. I have a deep desire to be FIRE. I recently got diagnosed with a life changing condition and it's really spurred me on to sort my finances. One major weakness is wonderful holidays. I love love love my travel. Any tips on reducing this while keeping it going. I just can't see my life without travel. 

ellenvan

Frugal travel tip, try and only travel with hand luggage. Laundery fees and the odd clean T-shirt purchase are cheaper than checked in luggage.

pelirocco

Primrose said:

Sweetlittledaydreams said:

And might as well cook as much as I can if the oven is going on. Cooked a roast dinner last night for a friend, it was lovely but I was very conscious that the top oven was on for around an hour and the hob for about 30 minutes, it seems a lot of energy for just one meal.

It's occurred to me that if one is cooking a roast chicken and a butcher is providing it, it might be more economical to ask the butcher to chop it up into pieces and roast all the bits separately.  I'm sure this would probably reduce cooking time and energy costs over the power needed to cook a whole bird?

It's easy enough to cut up yourself 
Or spatchcock it

newlywed

Frugal holiday tip, self catering.  Eat out less. 

Or else buy stuff to make basic sarnies or rolls in your hotel room and just eat out for dinner.

weenancyinAmerica

If breakfast not included, I buy something at the store the day before. If I can, I get sandwiches for lunch at the store or a deli and have a picnic, and I get takeout, often from the grocer's including the YS items, for dinner in the hotel room. I like to watch tv wherever I am to see programs I don't see at home - so that is usually my evening entertainment. I shop for gifts and things for me in charity shops. My favorite activities besides visiting herb gardens, nurseries, and open-air museums is visiting department stores and the ironmongers to see what is different and interesting. More interesting to me than most museums. I do spend a lot of time in the public libraries - to buy used books to read and to do research. So my holidays are always frugal. 

YoungBlueEyes

@bear14 what do you mean by travel? Uk/short haul/long haul? Couple of days city break or 2 weeks on a beach?

willow_loulou

My daughter and son in law travel a lot. They use my computer to look for deals then buy the best on their own as searching ups the prices. 

They back pack travel or very small case on wheels so they don’t check a bag unless a longer than 3 week stay. 

JIL

I also love travel. 
I'm really not into fancy hotels and would rather go on holiday a few times per year than a big blow out.

We have recently returned from 2 weeks in Spain, we took hand luggage as the apartment had a washing machine. I tend to know what my comfortable clothes are so I take them. Then wash and wear.
 To get to our hotel, we used the local train.
We always eat out at night, but its usually a one course dinner. Breakfast is always like the locals, coffee, bread, olive oil and tomato. 
Lunch was often a salad from lidl.

We are going on holiday again, in a few weeks time, this time though, we are taking suitcases and it's a half board package holiday. Its actually £400 cheaper than doing hand luggage and our own transfer. 

To me travel can be done on a budget, avoid school holidays, check the best deals including flights, consider public transport to and from the airport.
Live like the locals.

It might also sound a bit strange but I know I usually spend £100 per week on groceries/food so I consider whilst I'm away that's money towards the holiday fund.