2022 Frugal Living Challenge

willow_loulou

I made a great gammon glaze yesterday with wrong ingredients so I thought I’d share - 
1 cup honey
1 cup light brown sugar

1.5 table spoons of balsamic 
3 and a bit tablespoons of butter 
chucked all in together and heated slowly until it started to bubble. 

I’m determined to twiddle with recipes to what I buy rather than stuff I’d only use for that recipe. 

pelirocco

London_1 said:

I think they will decide after Easter if 'Mum' will come home to give birth .My grandson spends a great deal of time flying around the globe with his work, and can work just as easily in the UK via his laptop as he can in New York, but if he needs to go to Africa,India or South America as he often does at least his wife will be nearer to the family in the last month or so.

My niece is married to a Mexican chap and has lived in Mexico City since 1974, but both times when she was pregnant with her sons in the 1980s she came home to the UK to give birth.
The tax problem probably wouldn't bother my grandson too much as his job is a very good one, and his accountant sorts all his tax stuff out for him.

They have lived in New York since 2016 and both like it there, but I think maybe Danny would perhaps like to move out of the city once the little girl is born and is thinking of perhaps New England to settle.

The world has become so much smaller today since the advent of the 'net and keeping in touch is a lot easier.

Today was Dobbie's coffee morning and we all had a great natter and chat alnog with lots of coffee and a few mince pies.

I have no more shopping to buy this side of New Year as I will only be home for a few more days then it will be too-ing and fro-ing between my two daughters for about a week.

Hope everone has a great Christmas and a very Happy and Peaceful New Year

Take care all 

JackieO xx

The tax problem wouldn't be your grandson's it would be his baby's
US citizens have to pay US tax even if they live and work outside  of the US  no accountant can change that

Frugaldom

pepsi-kins said:

 Hope you don’t mind me butting in. In my local Sainsbury’s they do 5kg bags for £3.75, so 75p a kg. 

Thank you for the sugar price update - very handy to know. :

Frugaldom

I'm guessing prices vary across the UK.I've just checked my last A$da invoice and despite the on-site quoted price, I was charged £1.80 for a 2kg bag.

willow_loulou

Ordered my bath, panel and stand today. Was delighted to see I could do PayPal where I have survey money and could pay in 3. Quick calculations to be sure I could be sure of payments and I’m collecting it tomorrow! 

This means I can have the tiles I coveted over ones that would do! I’m so excited by that! Will be on prolific as much as possible over Christmas and new year to contribute. But it’s not really a worry as my pay rise covers half of each payment. 

willow_loulou

Bath has arrived! It’s perfect. The tiles are amazing. New bathroom for less than £600. I’m so happy! 

All thanks to @Frugaldom for the tools to take control of my finances over the last few years. 

Being debt free and able to live on very little has liberated me. 

I’ve also learned to say no - if I can’t justify the money I’m out. 

This weeks food spend has been £10.45. I had left overs from works Xmas do and I’ve shopped from home for many things. Next weeks food will be around the same with an added Starbucks treat 😊 happy days. 

SecondStar

I’m abiding by the rules and posting in here to announce my intention (and for accountability) to join along in the 2023 thread, in the new year.

A recent relationship breakdown and likely impending house sale/potential purchase will mean a whole new single-income budgeting system to adjust to, and a much tighter belt on my finances.

Since I’m not feeling particularly festive this year due to aforementioned relationship breakdown, I’m going to be putting together budget samples instead, and working from there.

Looking forward to chatting more in the new year & the new thread with likeminded people trying to live a bit more frugally.

Soontobeoap

@SecondStar i am so sorry to hear about your change in circumstamces, but wish you luck with this whole new chapter. I look forward to sharing your newer more frugal lifestyle with you in the new year. You have got this. Good luck.

Also on here  to admit that we did a basics shop for our holiday stay which included cereal, milk, bread and real butter. Dh paid and lost the reciept so i am not declaring it. A little naughty but he dragged me into waitrose. I was shocked at the differences in price to what I would normally pay and so have decided it was a holiday treat. 2 lovely meals out, one with girlfriends and a date night with DH not included. They are a christmas present to myself and were paid for from our holiday budget.

Cant tell you how excited i was to find 6 fresh eggs on the doorstep of our holiday apartment. Little things like that mean so much more now and meals out are such a treat. I have been doing this a year and feel that i apreciate all of the little gestures like that so much more.

I am also nutty about crafting and when people have asked what i would like for christmas i have pointed them in direction of increasing my supplies. So hopefully wont be spending too much on my favourite hobbys next year. 

Daughter still hasnt booked her ferry for new year so not sure whether i will be feeding 2 or 7 after christmas. My totals for this month could finish either way. Watch this space. Happy Christmas everyone. 🎄⛄🎅

willow_loulou

@SecondStar my thoughts are with you. Several of us on this thread have been where you are now and we totally get the difficulty you’re facing. 

I popped in to M&S to get any reduced food. There was almost nothing reduced, not even the Xmas branded stuff with just 30 minutes til closings. I bought some fizzy water and left! There’s me thinking I could get next weeks veggies etc ah well 

leftatthetrafficlights

Merry christmas to all who celebrate it! 🎄