2022 Frugal Living Challenge

Viking_mfw

Picked up some Olio celery sticks, post Use by, for the rabbits, but my husband greeted them with delight so I suspect they are going into us not the buns. 

Made some pear and blue cheese muffins last night using ancient preserved pears and leftover xmas cheese. DS1 said yuck, but he is very under the weather and DS2 (1) is happily half inching bits when I eat one so I am counting them a success. 

nannygladys

Frugal things today: 
Cleaned house, windows wide open for fresh air (not for long though it was so cold)
 Had hm parsnip and apple soup and having LO shep pie for tea.
Made a start on mending dgds baby shawl, that I knit for her mum when I was pregnant!
Fussed a stray cat, well not stray he lives over the road, that used to come here for a sleep (as the owners work all day) before the pup stayed here, 
That's about it really, no money spent, that will be on Thursday if I can last out until then.
Nannyg

EskarinaWeatherwax

Hello everybody. Not sure I’m managing to keep up with all the posts but love to those that need it.

Reasonably frugal couple of days here.

No spend day yesterday though I have just spent £63 today on the on some bulk catfood. The boy needs medicated stuff but I don’t begrudge it. 

I haven’t quite yet worked out my overall budget for the year as I’m not sure what to include yet, but I give myself £500 a month to try and cover all spending that’s not the direct debits and standing orders -  groceries )£200), bulk buys, travel, clothes, toiletries, socialising, a massage if I can manage one, everything. So far I’m at about £135/£500, will tot up properly tomorrow 

Dry January and not wanting to socialise in pubs/restaurants is definitely helping with frugality this month! I hope for a bigger mortgage overpayment 

Ellie79

Well I'm loving catching up with everyone's NSD And frugal wins. My weekends are never frugal and I'm feeling really rubbish at the moment so spending to make myself feel better (bad, but I at least recognise the trigger). I've slept most of the day, around urgent work, think this is post covid fatigue but it is very, very exhausting and I'm feeling quite in a slump as well. January, covid, work and life slump I think. 

Did read a lovely book, which made me cry but was enjoyable at the same time. I'm currently hiding under a blanket watching the last of the FA cup and considering picking up the crochet. I'm determined to make a blanket but it isn't going to make itself! What's worse is that I don't even fancy a cup of tea, this is terrible news!

spudsmum

No spend day today - not been out except to collect the kids from childcare. I did go to the cash machine and draw out my weekly budget in cash - I'm sure it will help me manage my money better. 

Frugal things today. 

Put my leftover Xmas money aside in an envelope - £50. Instead of allowing it to get frittered away on the kids or absorbed into my normal spends. I'm going to keep it until I see something I really want - to save me dipping into my other budgets. 

Cashed in some tesco Clubcard vouchers - weekend activities for the kids is always a high spend area for us. We have annual passes for the local stately home but its not much good in winter so we tend to pay out for indoor activities. I have £34 in Clubcard vouchers so I've used £10 worth (3x value) to get an annual pass for the local aquarium - should be good for a few visits and when I have a minute I'll have another look to see what else is available to entertain us over winter. 

Made leek and potato soup with some veg I was gifted. It will do for husband's lunches this week.

Prepped, blanched and froze some of my leftover 20p veg from Christmas - I bought it on 23rd December but it's kept very nicely in the garage. My eldest son likes the steam bags of veg but they're pricy so thought I'd make my own. 

Paid £35 to my credit card (from Top cashback payout) 

Think that's it for now. 

t14cy_t

oh my days!!!!! the day has finally comes.... my 31 year old daughter has finally realised you can budget!!!! last year i managed to persuade her to do ys shopping, that opened her eyes. last week she went to her community larder for the first time and was blown away by her haul, and she made new friends there too. yesterday she used a local olio and picked up another haul!!! she is on cloud nine as she has 5 kids and bf was layed off from work at xmas. i am a proud mum. 

Jazee

Keeping to budgets here.  DH is trying his hardest.  Had a small win on premium bonds which should hit our account soon.

Ellie79

I really wish either olio or tgtg or any of the wonderful sounding community fridge places were local to me! Olio is rubbish here, tgtg used to be worthwhile because where I work would sell off their food but they've stopped since covid (food is definitely not their main business). The travelling now to collect some of the tgtg items would just totally outweigh any benefits. 

Heyho. I can't stop sleeping at the moment, which isn't really compatible with my actual life but it is clearly quite necessary. Hopefully today I will locate some energy. 

ancientmum

I've just caught up with the thread, it's nice to see some new people posting, so welcome all.

I have bought a dresser and bookcase from the furniture chazzer.  I really wanted tall bookcases to help with sound proofing but they didn't have any.  However the dresser has lots of storage so it's all good.
I need to do some decorating this week before it is delivered.  Today will be a trip to Wilkos to get the stuff and the PO to post birthday presents. 
I am going to renew my gym membership, which was extended due to not being able to use the facilities during lockdown.  I usually go swimming or to a class 2-3 times a week, and use their showers which reduces my electricity costs  so I reckon it pays for itself.
Then it's into my scruffs and trying to get more paint on the wall than on me!

bargainbetty

Ellie79 said:

I really wish either olio or tgtg or any of the wonderful sounding community fridge places were local to me! Olio is rubbish here, tgtg used to be worthwhile because where I work would sell off their food but they've stopped since covid (food is definitely not their main business). The travelling now to collect some of the tgtg items would just totally outweigh any benefits. 

Heyho. I can't stop sleeping at the moment, which isn't really compatible with my actual life but it is clearly quite necessary. Hopefully today I will locate some energy. 

Hiya, 

Post-covid/long covid fatigue is genuinely a thing - I tested positive on Dec 1 and am still struggling with tiredness and an ongoing cough. A nurse at the hospital said hers took 9 weeks to lift and it often takes 12 weeks to fully recover if you have it. I asked for advice and she said 'Listen to your body. if it needs to sleep, then you sleep.'

Best wishes for a speedier recovery!