2022 Frugal Living Challenge

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi all

Our electric usage is down this week which is good, spent £10 on shampoo, facewash and a few other bits that I needed, and then felt guilty, even though I really did need it all!  Have also had to buy tights for work this week.

Our fridge looks very bare, I called at Li@l and spent £6 on fruit and veg yesterday, but we are going to have to do some shopping this weekend.

DH is now getting his £76 a week ESA which is something.  He can earn a little on top of this when he is well enough, just hoping this is a temporary situation but we just have to live with that.

Sweetlittledaydreams

Spent £2.47 yesterday on 2 cans of soup, 8 bread rolls, a big bag of crisps and a small frittata, so that will do 1 tea and 2 lunches plus the bread rolls will do for a few days more and I'll freeze half of them.
Almost at the end of week 4 in my now not so new job, still not entirely sure if I'll stick it out but if I do there's only 48 weeks left of the contract 😅 not that I'm counting or anything! At least my "fight or flight" mode seems to have calmed down, any sign of stress and I'm always preparing to run away - back to my old job, or a complete career change, or off to orkney etc etc.
I like to use reusable things as much as I can more from an environmental point that a money saving point but I think reusable toilet wipes would be a step too far for me, I'm lazy enough as it is with laundry without that sort of stuff piling up. 
I'm quite creative so I'm going to have a think if there are any things I can make that would sell, just to make a little bit of extra cash. I'm bored of doing surveys now. Also have a dining table I need to try and sell, every little helps.

nannygladys

Pay day for me so budgets done, money shuffled about and some shopping done, signature changed.
I'm all for being frugal and sustainable but the toilet cloths won't be used here until they really have to be
I only have a very lose menu plan as it depends on what veggies and bits I can get from the lottie, community pantry and local food hub, but I do try to have a proper tea each day, even when I don't really want anything but hot buttered toast!!
Other frugal things are just pootling around the house, knitting and reading.
Some interesting discussions on here, I always like hearing how other people live frugally and their ideas and if I can implement them somehow.
Nannyg

spudsmum

fionaandphil said:

spudsmum said:

It often seems like I replace the roll every day in my main bathroom and no amount of nagging/threatening/persuading has been successful in getting them to use less. Short of standing outside the bathroom and handing out a ration per visit I'm at a loss as to how to reduce consumption so I guess this is one area where I'll just have to pick my battles lol 

When DS was toilet training they recommended squeezing the roll so it was oval rather than round so it flows less easily and doesn't come off too quickly, I think it worked but it was a while ago

Thanks I'll give that a try - I suspect it might not be enough to discourage my youngest but I'll give pretty much anything a go at this point  

Siebrie

So, i had my first ever Too good to go pick-up from the eco supermarket close to my job. I paid €4,99 for about €30 of their wares. The best-before dates were all 7 Feb, and I bought them on 8 Feb.

Results:

The seitan-carrot stew I heated, tasted 1 bite and then threw out. It was horrendous! Not out-of-date horrendous, just really untasty. I am so glad I didn't fork out the €8,71 it was supposed to be worth.....

The feta salad was just about to turn, so I finished it Tuesday evening and Wednesday lunch.

The pumpkin spread was still fine and I had it on bread Wednesday lunch and today's lunch.

The single serve winter quiche is in the freezer.

The bag of water cress is being added to salad, sandwiches and the guinea pigs' food bowl.

The brie will be part of the next few days' lunches.

It's a bit of a mix and I'm not sure I will use tgtg in this particular shop again, mainly because it was ready-made items. I prefer 'ingredients'.

babs_103

I'm having real trouble trying to cut down on everything, I have no outside space so cannot grow my own veg or hang washing out. So either use the tumble dryer (which does not dry completly) or put the heating on, I've heard about a dehumidifier but cannot afford one at present and could only use it in the toilet anyway. I have to have shopping delivered and do keep to the miminum amount most weeks but have no Olio or TGTG near me, let alone a commumity larder or fridge.  If anyone has any tips I can use I would be grateful. I am a full time unpaid carer so money is very tight for us.

Jellytotts

@babs_103. I'm a full time career too for DH. First, have a check on entitled to website to make sure you're getting everything you should.   If you're caring for someone in your home check with your water company to see if you are eligible for a social tariff, some go on disabilities, some on medication taken, worth checking.  It means we know exactly what our bill is monthly, no matter how much extra washing I need to do or extra baths DH needs to take to help his condition.

If you're drying inside, double spin your washing as it will help get more moisture out, pop it on an airer/hangers for 24 hours and then just finish off in the tumble drier if required. Keep a window open when're you have the airer to let some air circulate.   We have a small dehumidifier from Am a zon that was around £20, its portable and can be run via mains or USB so I pop it in the bathroom each morning connected to a power bank. After showers and baths I always squeegee the tiles down and wipe up as much moisture as possible too as that helps keep it dry.

if you've got no space to grow stuff then look at what you're using and try and make savings there, only eat in season fruit and veg, look for veg that will do double duty for those days you're too tired to cook (peppers, celery and carrots are great for snacking on raw and adding to cooked dishes) No need to buy expensive out of season fruit, tinned fruit will often work out cheaper but see if there's a local market near you that sells big bowls of stuff for £1.  

Keep your energy usage low by using blankets/hot water bottles/going to bed early with a book.  I keep an insulated mug next to the kettle and top it up after each tea or coffee is made, by mid afternoon I've got a bonus coffee waiting for me.

Drop a brand on any groceries you do use, if you can, and see if there's a few pounds to be saved a month there.

If you've got any outgoings that you're struggling with, speak to the provider and see what they can do to help. We pay our council tax over 12 months rather than 10 as it works out better for us. If you have any debt that you're struggling with, again, talk to the provider or look at approaching one of the debt charities for help with setting up payment plans.

Side hustles are great if you have the time, surveys are a good way of making a few extra pounds a month and if you have any craft skills then put them to good use.  I sell hand made items via a site and it doesn't make much but helps out.

Look after your clothes/shoes/furniture/electrical goods so that you're not having to spend out on replacements.  See what beauty products you could do without and what treatments you can do yourself if you're into that sort of thing.  I don't own any makeup, cut my own hair, stopped colouring it about 8 years ago and only use a basic shampoo and conditioner, a bar of soap in the shower and a pot of basic Nivea cream on my face.  I'm not a potions and lotions person but I do appreciate some people would need to wean themselves off this sort of thing.

Not sure if any of that is of any help.

Primrose

babs_103 said:

I'm having real trouble trying to cut down on everything, I have no outside space so cannot grow my own veg or hang washing out. So either use the tumble dryer (which does not dry completly) or put the heating on, I've heard about a dehumidifier but cannot afford one at present and could only use it in the toilet anyway. I have to have shopping delivered and do keep to the miminum amount most weeks but have no Olio or TGTG near me, let alone a commumity larder or fridge.  If anyone has any tips I can use I would be grateful. I am a full time unpaid carer so money is very tight for us.

Babs - it must be hard in these circumstances to find economies.  

Do you have a reasonably sized freezer so you can batch cook and save a little fuel by just reheating the second meal rather than cooking from scratch?
Do you have a collapsible clothes airer or a washing line over your bath where you could dry clothes in a bathroom with the window open and door closed to save electricity on the tumble drier? 

If you can get cheap vegetables plus lentils or split peas, a really filling chunky soup could replace a main meal with meat and still provide nourishment. 

Is the person you,re caring for getting all the allowances they,re entitled to, ie attendance allowance? .  If the sufferer has Alkzeimers or Parkinsons, you may be exempt from  having to pay Council  tax. The Council tax office at your local council should be able to provide specific advice on exemptions.
And  remember that extra layers of clothing indoors, plus gentle movement and activity where possible, even chair based exercise, helps circulation and reduce heating needs. 

Are you registered as a carer with the individual,s GP?  If so they may be able to refer you to your County Council,s Carers organisation (most councils have one) who may be able to offer others sources of help or advice. 

Elisheba

@babs_103 Regarding not using your tumble dryer, I hang my clothes up on a drying rack in my spare room and have done for almost 15 years.  I never have the heating on, and although they may take a little while to dry, as long as I give them a good shake when I hang them up, they do dry just fine.  
Also, make sure you aren't washing your clothes too much.  Most clothes are fine if you just hang them up over night and need washed rarely.  Only undies and PJ's need regular washing.  If it looks clean and doesn't smell, don't wash it.

Chloboshoka_2

I’m late to the party, but I am looking at ways to reducing my spending whilst increasing my income. 

In the future I want to have a family of my own, and maybe adopt once I can afford a bigger property with extra rooms. I am on £1184 a month, so every spent and penny saved counts. 

I writer in my spare time and work in a care home. I was able to claim £500 on every three occasions where I had to isolate. Citizens advice and Carvell trust charity have also helped me out. 

I don’t earn a lot from my writing, but it all adds up. 

I am planning on sending some stuff I don’t need to music magpie to declutter. 

I also invest, have a few saving accounts and these have accumulated to a £1000 so far.