2022 Frugal Living Challenge

elbree

Congratulations! So good when all the effort pays off. I think January is a tough month too because it's sooo long so well done! I definitely will not be under budget, best I can hope is not too far over.. 

FreshStart20

Yay we’ll done @spudsmum

We’re still home isolating. Got my tax return done yesterday evening. So that’s one weight off my mind. No tax today just my national insurance contributions as expected. I have a list of seeds to order. Both veg seeds and flower seeds for my wedding in the summer. I’m growing all my own flowers to decorate the hall with and collecting glass jars to put them in. We’re trying to make the day really special and full of meaning without spending a fortune. 

London_1

DGD came with the two children yesterday afternoon and brought me a tub of her husbands spag bol sauce she said he always makes far too much and its really delicious (Tommy's sauce is legendary in our family ) Fair exchange being no robbery I gave her a box of melting moment biscuits I had made for the little girls as they love them. The little ones call them fairy biscuits for some reasonI think its because they are home made and they like them very thin and light.So tonights dinner will be spag bol, there was enough for two servings so one was portioned up for the freezer and the other one will do for tonights dinner  

Primrose

FreshStart20 said:

Yay we’ll done @spudsmum

...... I have a list of seeds to order. Both veg seeds and flower seeds for my wedding in the summer. I’m growing all my own flowers to decorate the hall with and collecting glass jars to put them in. We’re trying to make the day really special and full of meaning without spending a fortune. 

I have just ordered some veg seeds from DT Brown and found  they currently have an offer on for many of their seed packets at just £1. All my ordered seed packets were reduced to £1 each so I was chuffed.     Possibly worth going onto their website and checking. - you could save yourself some money given the rising cost of seed packets these days.

mumtoomany

Afternoon all. Strange week here. Spent two days with vertigo. Couldn't move without vomiting and freezing cold. Now that gone I've picked up a cold from the grandchildren, so sneezing and sniffles. It's stopped me from spending much money though, so frugal. 
Have made some cakes this week and have got a huge pan of marmalade on the go. Only spent around £120 so far on groceries this year. I have checked the freezer inventory and we still have enough meat/fish for at least two more months! 
Still have carrots in the tunnel and sprouts. Still picking broccoli from last year, (i don't take the plants up and they continue to produce small florets) and the purple sprouting broccoli has started to produce. More asparagus coming up. I need to start some leeks off on the windowsill i think and maybe some other seeds.
Now all the tree branches, that came down in the storms, have been cut, I think once seasoned they will do us for wood for two or three years. It was a big tree! 
Hope everyone is well, hugs, mumtoomany.xx

nannygladys

Haven't been out shopping, but I have a veggie stew in the sc for later on and the next couple of days! Dgd had been picked up by her dad after her stint at the cs so all is quiet at the moment, except for the cat visitor that's back now the pup has gone home. Thick fluffy blanket over legs keeping me warm and the obligatory coffee by my side whilst I do a little bit of knitting.
Nannyg

FreshStart20

Thanks so much @Primrose for the seeds tip 😊

EskarinaWeatherwax

Another thanks to @Primrose for this seeds tip. I’m planning to buy all of mine this weekend so that’s really good timing.

A couple of spends this week. £5.20 on a train ticket today so I could go for a lovely walk in the woods. £27.50 on dinner out with my sister-in-law which was an absolute treat and a lovely thing. And £4.70 on coffee with a friend next time I’m shouting the ice creams that she bought this time. I seem to have replaced pub spending with ice cream spending this month but that’s okay I think.

I haven’t quite worked out still how to categorise my overall budget but I do have this target of £500 discretionary spending per month which currently I’m well within. I’m going to look at the end of January and work out a way to think about my whole budget.

Jellytotts

@mum2many those are very much omicron symptoms, the dizziness is a very common sign from those I know who have had it.  Might be worth getting a test.

I worked out today that including the £30 left for next week, we've come in £131 under budget for food and sundries this month.  Mainly down to freezer eating, olio pick ups and sheer determination.  I'm going to aim for at least £75 under budget next month too.  

mumtoomany

Thanks, jellytots. Don't think it's omicron. Have had bouts of vertigo like this since i was 29. A very long time ago. Will keep an eye on it though. Mumtoomany.xx