2022 Frugal Living Challenge

willow_loulou

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.

Consider a heated airer if funds could eventually stretch that far. It’s been much better on electric and damp for me. It also heats the room which is a bonus. 

There are damp traps which are around £1:20 and are really really effective. They’re in £ land and Asda that I’m aware of. 

Look on Facebook for a dehumidifier or salt lamps as they’re often given away or sold super cheap on there. 

Open your windows as much as possible to help the damp issue, it’s surprising how much that helps. Tissue on windowsills will help trap damp too. 

Consider a trip to the launderette, I do this when I need all the bedding doing in the winter. I can do almost a weeks washing in one machine both washed and dried for around £11
that sounds expensive but it’s actually saving on time, damp and drying times. 

Put out salt trays if none of the above is available- it’s a great damp absorption item and pennies in your food shop. 

Hope that is a little help x

Shropshirelass

@babs_103, I do sympathise, we have been in a similar situation.

As there are only two of us, I have not really found it worth the effort of growing veg, except for the pleasure of the achievement. Please, make sure you are claiming all benefits you are due. We took advice from AgeUK, (not sure how old you are!), we were amazed to find OH could claim Attendance Allowance, completed form on line, and got it straightaway, just using AgeUK advice.
Best wishes!

willow_loulou

Oh it’s just occurred to me google your local churches. Ours have regularly community cafe type things with the free food available and will no doubt be pretty well set up for disabled access if you need it. Also just because you’re able to buy food doesn’t mean you can’t get a food bank voucher. It’s worth considering as things get tighter. The sooner you’re on these groups radar then quicker you’ll likely to get help as things get tighter. 

Are you registered as priority with your utilities? Get warm home grant? It’s worth doing as they have to help you in an emergency and will get you the right help asap 

RateTartExtraordinaire

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.

Hi Babs,
Just wanted to say definitely worth checking with the local council for an exemption on council tax, or if not they might reduce it depending on the local rules, by 25% or 50%. 

One trick my mum did when she wanted to get the shop for less than the minimum order was put something on that she didn't need and then hand it back for a refund at delivery (A$DA)! A bit naughty but needs must. 

There are support groups for carers. They were really good with my mum and brother when they cared for my dad. She would get discount with some shops through them and gave her some money to spend on herself for wellbeing when he passed away. I think it was carersinherts.org.uk as she lives in Hertfordshire. But check with your local council for  carer support groups. My brother qualified for carers' allowance btw, as he gave up time to help support my mum caring for dad.

Good luck in cutting down the costs. 

PS. Mum said she went through Age UK for support too.

EskarinaWeatherwax

@babs_103 GNU Terry Pratchett 💜

I’m sorry to hear that things are so tight for you.

It really can feel like there’s nowhere to turn at times. I echo the advice about triple checking you’re getting all the allowances. Did you see the thing in the Martin Lewis email this week about Approved Foods? I’ll copy it in below. 

Extra 10% off clearance groceries*

Blagged code on reduced 'past-best' (but safe to eat) items. Min order £22.50

5 days left

If you go online to clearance site Approved Food* you can get an extra 10% off everything on orders costing £22.50 or more, including past-best-before (but safe-to-eat) groceries, when you enter the MSE Blagged code MSEFEB22 at the checkout, until 11.59pm on Tue 15 Feb.

Great frugal few days here. Three packs of English muffins and 12 eggs from olio, that will be lunches for a few weeks! I’m going to boil a few eggs and then make mini omelettes with the rest, and freeze them. 

I’ve just had a rush job at work so am not up to date with signature but my spreadsheets are all up to date and I’m on track. I am to update sig at weekend 

nannygladys

Frugal things done today have been few and far between. I did go to the community pantry and bought back some really  good store cupboard items for very little money, rice, pasta, cereal and sauce mixes to name a few.
The not frugal things are taking three of my dgc to macds for tea, the two little ones really enjoyed it as I don't think any of us have been since before the first lockdown, so for once I let them have what they wanted, only thing is its come out of my grocery spends so that's one weeks money gone just like that!!!! ah well, the look on their faces was worth it, as they didn't know.
Nannyg

spudsmum

I don't have much to add to the advice already given but I would definitely echo those who have advised you check you're getting all your entitlements - so many people miss out on things they are eligible for because they assume they can't get anything. 

Age UK are really good, or, if you don't fit the age criteria then CAB. I work closely with both professionally and they get good results for people. Definitely worth having a chat with them. 

Still frugalling on here. Had a fair few NSDs so weekly spending budget renews tomorrow and I have £11.24 left. Again not a huge amount but much better than previous over spending. 

It's car insurance renewal time so I'm doing the rounds of the price comparison sites. So far the cheapest quote I have is only £11 cheaper than my renewal with my current company - I'm quite happy with my current insurer so no sure it's enough of a saving to go through the hassle of changing. I'll still have a couple of weeks so I'll have a think about it. 

Hoping to have a reasonably Frugal weekend - might take the kids swimming but that's only £3 each. Can't wait for the better weather so I can make use of our annual passes for the local stately home. There's a brilliant playground, a farm and lots of space for running around so it's great for some free days out, especially if we take a flask of tea and a picnic - it's so hard trying to entertain the kids when the weather is not good. 

Spies

What meals do people have towards the end of the month before payday when you haven't got much left? Beans on toast is always a good go to but it's not very balanced and I'm veggy so need protein from other sources.

Ideas welcome! 

willow_loulou

Beans on toast is a great meal, I often have it with mushrooms. 

Slow cooker soup is good, I use up odds and ends and either add stock or a tin of soup and a tin of canalini beans. This works for curry too.
I have a stock of instant noodles and tinned peas, a tin does 3 lots of noodles or can go in soups too. 

cw18

I use dried beans to make a casserole - which I serve alongside sausages or chicken as a main meal, but is fine on it's own.

Soak personal choice of dried beans.  I normally use at least 3 version plus chickpeas, and I always use red kidney beans which I was told need boiling on their own before going further (so always get soaked in a tub on their own).

Cook the beans (two pans for me - one for kidney beans, one for the others).

Soften finely chopped onion, add the beans, add tinned chopped tomatoes and herbs/spices of person choice (I normally have garlic in with the onion, then add mixed herbs and black pepper - sometimes swap out the mixed herbs for chilli powder) and heat through.   (I don't add salt, although the instructions I read often refer to doing so.)

Works well cold as a salad meal, or hot as main meal (as I say, I normally serve as the veg part with additional meat based protein - would probably work well with a poached egg if you like them).

For those who've never used dried beans (as I hadn't before first trying to make this), there is a useful guide here