2022 Frugal Living Challenge

natnat13

EskarinaWeatherwax said:

Evening all

Happy to report a NSD here and a few frugals wins too!

Collected a load of big bubble wrap, the air pocket stuff, that a shop was getting rid of, to insulate my seedlings and cuttings in the cold frame. 

Pulled out my regular winter favourite wrist warmers - old knee high Wonder Woman socks that went past the point of repair. So I cut the feet off and cut a thumb hole, and now have lovely warm sleeves! 

I have to say, the energy prices are worrying me. My combined bill has gone from £84 a few months ago to £132 now. I’m not sure what I can cut.

I’m pretty frugal with the heating. I’ve been working from home since 2017and the idea of having the heating on during the day when it’s cold has never appealed to me. I just put loads of clothes on!

But even with just having the heating on for a 30 mins in the morning and hour in the evening and then 15 minutes before going to bed, there seems to be very little I can do to keep the bills down. I’ve got loads of things on timers so they’re only on when I need them and I can’t forget to turn them off, most of my lightbulbs are LED, I barely use the oven and I only boil the water I need. I can’t think what else to do.

I’m under a cat and a blanket now as I am most evenings. If anybody’s got any other ideas on saving energy I’d be really interested.

My gas and electricity bills have risen the same. I fixed in September when they went up as a read they are going up again this April, whether that was the right thing to do I don't know but I can change supplier if I want. 

I am constantly turning lights and plugs off, wearing layers, snuggling under blankets etc. 

When I switched I had to agree to have snart meters fitted, hoping that my help monitor usage too. 

natnat13

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?

I soak my whites in hot water and a cap full of Milton in the bath before I wash them (usually after a bath to save water) then do a quick wash. Even the teenagers socks sparkle 🤣

natnat13

*snart meters 🤣🤣 

bargainbetty

Beshki said:

So I am a newbie to this thread but desperately need to become more frugal, my income just doesn’t cover my outgoings sadly. Starting with a new idea, currently I do a weekly food shop order. Going to try and do a monthly meal plan and buy the frozen/tinned aspects once a month only, with just a small top-up shop once a week for the fresh. Who knows if it will work, but worth a go. 

 Hi Beshki, 

There are loads of threads on the forum about making meals more economical by bulking out with veg instead of more meat, using up leftovers and avoiding food waste - have a browse the Old style recipes thread and there will be lots of hints and tips for good healthy food, and you will also find hints for other household expenditure too. 

I mostly lurk here, because I'm terrible budgeting, but reading the posts and seeing how people can be innovative and thrifty really helps keep me on track!

nannygladys

I've had a smart meter for a few years now and for the last couple have charted my g&e on a daily basis! I know a bit excessive but it keeps me happy! I also have solar panels so I like to compare when they are working and when they're not - so sad when I put it writing!!!

EskarinaWeatherwax

Nice frugal day here - went for a pretty walk with a friend, we took a packed lunches and she even gave me a lift to an olio collection - seven assorted pastries for the freezer for weekend breakfast treats. And she gave me some big polystyrene for the cold frame so my baby seedlings will be warm as toast! Seed potatoes arrived today too so I shall look into those tomorrow. I’ve not grown spuds in about ten years so will refresh my memory 

@balabooberlies - huge, huge well done, it’s a vital first step. I did something similar a few years ago after feeling for ages that I would always be in debt and so why did it matter how much it was? I am proud to say that today I have no debt other than the mortgage and I would honestly never have believed that would be possible. It is x 

@natnat13 do the readings help? I send mine in every month but haven’t worked out how to tell what’s good/bad

@shala_moo 🙀 the idea! I’d love to but not sure mine would agree.

@babs_103 have you tried soda bread? I make it a lot and am no great baker. 12oz flour - it seems forgiving of any types, mixed, I sometimes chuck oats in too - with 1/2 tsp each of bicarb and salt. Then put a tbsp of vinegar into a measuring jug and top up to 300ml with milk (I use oat). Mix with a fork and then draw into a ball with the fork, knead if you like, add a scatter of flour if it’s wet, form a dry ball, pop on a floured baking tray, score a cross in the top and bake at 200ish for 25-40 mins depending on your oven. Super cheap and super fast!

The vinegar and bicarb is what makes it rise. 

nannygladys

I haven't been spending even though I've been out, only the local charity warehouse to take some things In and the library to take books back, I don't have a very exciting life
It was so cold and was snowing by the time I got back, it then rained and its drizzling now. 
I have a weekend of making a dog bed for a grand dog!! She's getting quite old now and her present bed is wearing thin, so doggy grandma to the rescue.
Other frugal things will be carrying on with sorting my craft room out, to see what I have in there wool and material, clearing out not needed patterns (mainly sewing) and having a general clean up.  Anything found will be given to cs as they have a craft section and its for a local charity that i like to support. 
I know it's only the beginning of a new year but I'm feeling really good about the decisions I'm making at the moment and I hope i can carry on feel I g this positive for some time to come.
Nannyg

babs_103

Thanks @EskarinaWeatherwax, I will give that a try tomorrow.

EskarinaWeatherwax

@babs_103 I hope it works for you. It’s ready when it sounds hollow when you knock the base with your knuckles.

I’ve started making it in a loaf tin recently because I have a tendency to tear apart the fresh round loaf and eat it on day one! It works fine in a tin too. 

natnat13

@EskarinaWeatherwax from what I understand you can constantly see your usage on smart meters so it'll hopefully be useful especially with teenagers in the house! I currently give monthly meter readings from my normal meters.