2022 Frugal Living Challenge

CraftyLittleLisa

Mazzie D - I hope you feel better soon.  Its not nice having to deal with the aftermath of an accident on a practical, emotional and physical sense.  I used to work in the insurance industry helping people recover their losses and it can be quite a strain.  Do give yourself plenty of rest to recover.

I had a productive weekend this weekend.  I decided to deep clean and declutter my kitchen and I tell you it was a real workout.  I usually do it every January but I missed last January as I had a broken toe (the last thing you want to be doing is trying to move around a tiny kitchen trying not to hurt your damaged toe).  This year I was really ruthless and to really see what I had I took everything out and spread it round the flat and then before I put it back I tried to figure out whether it was worth keeping or not.  It actually worked really well as I managed to re-organise things a lot more logically.  I can also get to things easier, there is proper worktop space and best of all I can actually see what I have instead of things hiding behind junk.  I was pleasantly surprised that I don't have a ridiculous stock of food stuffs that don't get used up.  I have probably about a small box of bits and pieces to take to the charity shop and I am recycling some glass bottles and jars that I won't use any more.  Its made such a difference to the kitchen - it feels calmer somehow.  I just need to do an inventory of my freezer so that I can see what needs using up and then I will start February knowing what I need to buy in my grocery shop instead of guessing.  I'm hoping to do Veganuary in February as by then all the Christmas food will have been used up.

SuperSecretSquirrel

CraftyLittleLisa said:

This year I was really ruthless and to really see what I had I took everything out and spread it round the flat and then before I put it back I tried to figure out whether it was worth keeping or not.  It actually worked really well as I managed to re-organise things a lot more logically.  I can also get to things easier, there is proper worktop space and best of all I can actually see what I have instead of things hiding behind junk.  

This has to be the best way to declutter! I love to see everything all spread out, then get on with making some ruthless decisions 😁

I'd love the opportunity to spread the whole household contents out over an empty warehouse floor (like the Stacey Solomon TV show) and have a proper clear out!

Then, as you say, when you're done sorting, you have a blank canvas available to you to put all the things you're keeping away logically, not just put them back where they usually go. Now that's my idea of a fun Saturday night! 🤣

never_too_old

RateTartExtraodinaire said:

@never_too_old
Regarding You Need A Budget, my brother signed up to this but I knew he couldn't afford it. It is subscription after the free trial. As it costs money to use it, I would set a review period at 6 months or 12 months. It needs to be earning its keep! 
It might work for some. I use a combination of the Emma app to keep a track of all my bank accounts, credit cards and savings in one place (free) and spreadsheets. 
If you are thinking of using YNAB, I would ask some questions at review time: What features did I actually which saved me money in bank charges or better rates of interest on debts and savings?

How compatible with the UK financial system has it been, or were most features for US citizens?

Did I have finances/ budgeting needs which really necessitated an app for budgeting, or could I have achieved the same using an spreadsheet with minimal effort and zero cost?

Thank you x

FreshStart20

My smallest tested positive for Covid today so plans for the week turned a bit upside down. She feels ok so spent today sorting the garden with her so she can at least play outside while we are stuck at home. OH did the weekly shop for us and filled car with fuel but otherwise no non essential spends today again.

Sent about 15 bags of clothes and toys were collected for charity today. Disgusting amount and not done clearing out yet. Determined to be much more minimal for so many reasons. I feel physically lighter for clearing so much already. I also have a pile of new or nearly new things to sell on eBay. Not managed to list any today. Will try and do a few each day now though.

Ellie79

Just occurred to me that I've managed 2 NSD. It won't last, I'm nearly out of bread (no energy to make my own, despite brand new n1nja foodi that has a prove setting). Plus school swimming spends required tomorrow. I've actually got money left (a miracle) in the bank, a week before payday in Jan. I have 2 children's birthdays in Nov, then Xmas then ds birthday in Jan. I managed to save with plum and others and had birthday, Christmas and other birthday money saved up. I'm determined to do same this year, but never start until Feb. If I can manage to save some from Jan I'll be so very happy! 

Enjoying a mindset of 'shopping from what I already have'. Sorted out make up and toiletries, shook up the wardrobe (trying out some new ideas for being back to teaching next week) and apart from bread, milk and yet more painkillers I am going to be creative with the food that is in. Spicy rice with fried chilli halloumi tomorrow. Looking forwards to it! Thanks to everyone for the motivation. 

cw18

I've had a few unplanned spends on things that weren't "needed", but I'm marking them as my Christmas presents from my Mother (I got cash, and I've still not spent it all).

I returned some impluse purchased running kit which I ordered in December - I kept thinking I'll return, and then I'll keep, and then I'll return.....  and I got it back just ahead of their extended returns deadline for December orders.   Just waiting on the refund to clear (it's showing as pending), and PayP@l are refunding me the returns postage (I didn't know this was possible until a couple of months ago - had I know I'd have probably returned more things over the last few years!)    But as the original spend was in 2021 I'm not adding the refund of the order to my 2022 budget.   The return postage was this month, so the PayP@l refund will zero that out.

I've spent a bit more than normal on birthday presents for GD3 (for next Monday), but I don't mind.   The normal budget has paid for a T-shirt with a picture related to one of the two things she's really into, but it won't arrive in time.  Not cheap for a T-shirt, but I have several from the same company so I know the quality is really good - and it's a design I'd expect to be pricey.   The additional spend is a starter book of sheet music, as she's getting an electronic keyboard from my Mother after showing interest in learning to play the piano my Mother has at home.   The piano's been there for more years than GD3's been around, but the chair my Dad always sat in blocked it.  Since my Dad passed away in November my Mother has had the chair taken away (the original tatty one is in the garage, but they'd been loaned a special one that tipped to help him get up) and the piano is now accessible - so GD3 has suddenly discovered it.

My grocery budget has taken a hit, and I've spent well over a weeks budget on tins of tuna    I love the stuff when I can get a decent one cheaply enough, but over the last year or so there's been very little around and I've been doing without or coping with cheap ones I'm really not keen on.   Her0n had a big name on offer, so I got a dozen tins - only for Lid! to then do an XXL case offer (48 tins) which works out at just over half the price for slightly bigger tins (and I don't mind theirs either).   I picked up a case yesterday (carried the box home on a 1.25mile walk, then put it on my bathroom scales to discover it weighs over 8kg), and went back for another today!!   The Her0n purchases are bbe 30/6/23 and the Lid! tins are bbe 31/12/23, so I've plenty of time to use them.

One tin will (just about) stretch to my butties for 3 days at work when mixed into mayo, so I can get through 2 a week that way (I work 6 day weeks for 5 weeks, then get a week off) - but I won't use it every week as I like variety too.   If I have baguettes when off work it'll only just scrape 2 days.   I easily use a full tin on a jacket potato for a quick & easy tea after a long day at work, and one tin does a 2 portion tuna pasta that OH and I will often have after a long day out or after a day of travelling (no mayo involved in this one).    I can't see me having any tins left long before the dates on them, but I now need to find a cheap and plentiful supply of sweetcorn to mix into it as well    Someone at work says they do tuna and onion in mayo, so I plan to try that out as an alternative option.   And I have a couple of small tins of sweetcorn with diced red pepper which could be an interesting mix?   An edible cheap mayo is easy enough to get hold of, and I already have a few jars in the house - one of which was opened today.   My OH reckons I'll end up looking like a tin of tuna !!!!

spudsmum

Nsd here today (well £1.34 on stamps but that was work expenses which I'll claim back)

Nothing much else to report - used some leftover bacon and manky mushrooms that were destined for the bin and some shortcrust pastry I got from the community pantry ages ago to make a pie for tea. I'm really enjoying trying to find interesting ways to use up leftovers and avoid throwing anything away.

Intercepted my husband on his way to the bin with some eggs - they were past their date but I told him to do the float test and they were all absolutely fine so we'll use them for lunch tomorrow. 

Another 3.48 earned on surveys so paid straight to CC - every little helps. 

Still waiting on the garage for the final word about my car - they rang at lunchtime to say they "think" they know what's wrong with it but want to do a few more checks - they're ringing me in the morning with the verdict of how much it's going to be then if I decide to go ahead I might get it back tomorrow evening - watch this space. 

Jazee

CW18 - frozen sweetcorn is a cheap option, a handful defrosts really quickly.
Budgets holding up here but vet bills still the bane of my life. Fortunately DH did some overtime.

MazzieD

Onwards and upwards, the next few weeks are going to be really challenging but it's just a matter of trying to sort out how to manage with a chest injury.

I don't know if anyone else saw the on-line article (think it was the Daily Exp*ess) about how to reduce the cost of using a Combi-boiler.  Basically the factory settings are high for heating and hot water so reducing the settings on the boiler for heating to 55 degrees and 50 degrees for hot water will reduce your gas bills.  Only difference is that it takes a bit longer to heat up.  Always check after you have had a boiler service as well, they usually restore the factory settings   The lady who shared the tip reckoned she saved over £100.  I've  got a Combi-boiler and have just done this to see how much difference it makes.  

No idea if it works for other types of gas boilers but HTH.

patentgirl

Morning all
Take care and rest @MazzieD
So far doing well in Jan lots of NSD's always helps after excess food from Christmas but hoping to keep low spending for 2022 brought nothing not budgeted for GS birthday last Saturday but put by money each month for birthdays and Christmas, food well on target and only SO allocated came out of bank.
Regarding old cars DH insists on keeping his even though radio/Sat nav doesn't work to get it through MOT last year was £1000 but he still thinks worth it as knows history of car etc we hope to get a campervan when he retires this year but knowing him will want to keep it as well.
I was getting jealous about all the community larders googled close to me nearest is  40 miles away by car so cannot warrant that Olio is not the best here either all I have ever seen is part bake baguettes or Danish pastries