2022 Frugal Living Challenge

Primrose

If anybody is thinking about rebuilding their long term storecupboard I recommend looking at the jumbo 400 grm jars of dried mushrooms which can be bought on Amazon and other sources.  They have a lot of flavour, a little goes a very long way and they keep for ages.  (Our current jar was bought about 3 years ago).   .    Also, they're a useful storecupboard item if you have very little else in the house as with some eggs and a little cheese, they make a very tasty omelette. 

elbree

Floss said:

elbree said:

Good plan @willow_loulou! 

Can anyone recommend a really good flask for keeping water/tea hot? 

I have a 1 litre stainless one from Asda, my son has a Thermos one of the same size & reckons mine stays hotter slightly longer.

Thanks very much team! I'll research both 🤗

balabooberlies

Willow !

I told you, you are an inspiration.

bala

x

FreshStart20

Spent quite a bit on seeds yesterday, but that’s all the flowers for the wedding and all of our veg seeds for this year and more sorted so that’s good. Hoping to start a few extra veg plants and sell them at the garden gate alongside the eggs too so hopefully the veg seeds will pay for themselves.

Took some old euros left in the back of a cupboard and got those exchanged so that’s a bit more in the wedding/savings fund. Decluttering has extra advantages!

The storm damaged a few things in the garden yesterday. Nothing that urgently needs replacing but still a shame. The poly tunnel is still standing so that’s good news for starting seeds and for the chickens currently living in there with the avian flu restrictions. It’s the calm after the storm today out there.

We filled the bird feeders up so will do the big garden bird watch with the kids later this morning. Then we are heading out for a swim. We go fairly regularly as I want the kids to be confident in water so I am going to ask about membership today and see if it would work out cheaper for us.

RateTartExtraordinaire

I used Olio for the first time early this morning. Went smoothly and will definitely use again. I got some fruit and rolls and some herbs for the curry tonight. Such a great idea!

I did the big garden bird watch this morning. I've been putting out food on my bird table and keeping the water topped up in the dish. So cold this morning! I use oats and vegetable oil mixed in a dish and I get regular visitors

patentgirl

End of first month coming I managed to keep out of any shops apart from supermarket mainly Aldis came in about £30 under budget will go in savings pot has been a struggle I admit tried to keep out of town as know if I walked past charity shop saw something in window would have to go in especially as we have new Poundland to town too but resisted everything.  As part of my trying to be more healthy and fitter have walked around 45 to 50 miles weekly which has definitely helped I do love a jigsaw puzzle too helps with my well being and can easily get engrossed for few hours which helps with not snacking.  All other bills budgeted for so overall happy with January budget managed to top  up premium bonds and put money aside cash in a tin for Christmas and birthdays, moved money in bank to separate account for car expenses for once had nice amount left in bank to transfer to retirement pot which should please DH he has put off retiring twice now worried we will need more cash to see us through to our old age pensions I keep trying to tell him  we been saving for years think he worried might not have a purpose for getting up each day which I never have was best decision I made  last year retiring.
Have a lovely frugal Sunday everyone.

Primrose

Well today was a punch in the eye for frugal living,. Had to renew our energy supply deal.  Two year dual power deal has risen from £146 p.m. to £333 p.m.  (And we have double glazed Windows, cavity wall insulation and 10 inches of loft insulation!).  We decided not to go to the smaller companies. Know a couple of people whose suppliers have gone bust and they've been allocated to  the big providers having to pay similar amounts.   Definitely in thermal vest territory now until the warmer weather comes!

willow_loulou

balabooberlies said:

Willow !

I told you, you are an inspiration.

bala

x

Thank you my lovely Bala x

willow_loulou

@Primrose ouch! That’s a huge raise. 

I’ve secured another load of pallets for the garden and next winters fuel. I just need the temperatures to raise a bit before I start disturbing the wintering creepy crawlers and get in the garden. So much to do out there 

spudsmum

Had a lovely day yesterday. 

Went to our local seaside town as I needed @rgos for a new home phone and a couple of other bits (all from my housewares budget)

Went out for lunch - a necessary evil when I have the kids with me, not as Frugal as it could have been as my eldest came with us and his food always costs a fortune. Still, I won't complain as he's at that age where he doesn't want much to do with us so it was good to all ho out together. I can't wait til it's warm enough to start taking picnics out again though.

Popped in B&Q as I had a £10 voucher to use before end of Jan. Bought some cement for a little garden project I'm intending on doing. I'll store it away ready for when the weather improves.

Took the kids in the amusements as youngest had a meltdown as we passed but managed to steer them towards the 2p machines so £2 kept them entertained for quite dome time - shame it was too windy to go the beach for any "free" entertainment. 

No lidl in that town so had to do Aldi instead - I found it a lot more expensive and was quite shocked at some of the prices. Then needed to pop to Morrisons for extra bits. Spent £48 in total so £26 under budget. That's £50 saved over the last 2 weeks which I've squirrel led away into a separate account.

Also just found out I've won £34 this week on a lottery syndicate I'm involved in. That, will go straight to Cc. 

Quite happy with that overall.