2022 Frugal Living Challenge

willow_loulou

I’ve had my vulnerable person alert from sse - make sure you have torches etc organised lovely people x

spudsmum

Fairly Frugal day here.

Managed to get a really good haul from the eco pantry - steak Mince, 2 packs of salmon, fresh onion rings, 4 cornish pasties, 6 bottles of milkshake, a tub of ice cream, cereal, tinned meat and fish and s huge bag of fruit and veg. I've frozen some but the rest will feed us til we go on holiday. 

I was early to pick the kids up from school and it was raining so nipped in charity shop. They had a £1 clearance rail and I found a few things. I spent £12.50 overall but I got 3 cardigans - two for work and a nicer one for going out, a Hoodie, a pair of jeans, a dress, a pair of suede boots and a waterproof coat for my son. All good brands that would have been quite expensive originally. I'm particularly pleased with my son's coat for £1. It's immaculate and it's branded to our local rugby team - the same coat is currently on sale in the team shop for £39.99.

Not exactly Frugal to be buying clothes I suppose but I've lost a lot of weight so it's necessary -  and much better quality than I could afford if I bought them new so I'm happy.

Done another balance transfer tonight for £4k - the fees will increase my debt in the short term but I should save, about £75 per month in interest so I'll recoup that in less than 2 months.

Think that's it. The storm is very bad here and I can hear the wind howling. We've just has a message about potential power cuts. I'm just praying we don't suffer any storm damage - we've lost roof tiles etc previously. It would be just my luck to have more expensive repairs - always seems to happen when I try to be Frugal. 

2Scratters

Morning Peeps,
@babs_103 re you drying your clothes suggestion (not sure of your financial situation) an investment of purchasing the top of the range Dry soon electric clothes dryer it has a timer and a delay switch on too. It also gently heats the double bedroom that it is located in. (we also use this room during the day to dine and work). So there is a win win with it too.
I was perusing the purchase of a new electric toothbrush yesterday. (we already have 2.) Both at opposite ends of the scale yet both work just fine. It was an hour well spent as I didn't make the "wanted" purchase and saved myself £45. I will put that money away towards the bathroom refurb. Very MSE

2Scratters xx

Floss

Aldi do a heated airer:

https://www.aldi.co.uk/easy-home-heated-airer/p/713313545173201

Primrose

willow_loulou said:

I’ve had my vulnerable person alert from sse - make sure you have torches etc organised lovely people x

We,ve had an alert too which I,ve shared widely with my contacts. .  On checking our emergency torches placed strategically around the house this morning we found several had dead or very dim batteries so a rush to shops to buy new batteries .  Might equal the Covid March 2020 loo roll stampede! 

Don,t forget to keep your phones and iPads powered up while you can too and plan in advance a couple of simple meals which can be eaten without the need for electricity.

Open fridge & freezer doors as little as possible  to help maintain cold temperatures.  Empty freezer spaces can be temporarily filled with rumpled newspaper or old towels to aid this.

florianatwobob

2Scratters said:

Morning Peeps,
@babs_103 re you drying your clothes suggestion (not sure of your financial situation) an investment of purchasing the top of the range Dry soon electric clothes dryer it has a timer and a delay switch on too. It also gently heats the double bedroom that it is located in. (we also use this room during the day to dine and work). So there is a win win with it too.
I was perusing the purchase of a new electric toothbrush yesterday. (we already have 2.) Both at opposite ends of the scale yet both work just fine. It was an hour well spent as I didn't make the "wanted" purchase and saved myself £45. I will put that money away towards the bathroom refurb. Very MSE

2Scratters xx

I’m very keen on my DrySoon too! I have the superduper sized one for drying bedding etc but generally only have one side up.

never_too_old

spudsmum said:

Siebrie said:

joedenise said:

I haven't got a Farmfoods and use Iceland's loo rolls.  They were £5.50 for 24 rolls but I noticed on Facebook that they had an advert saying 2 for £11 and £13 crossed out, so presumably they've gone up to £6.50 for 24 since I bought the last lot!  It's really annoying because it's the sort of thing you can't cut back on!

Well..... I've seen an article where people made reuseable wipes from cotton shirts. They had a lidded bucket next to the toilet.

I've seen this mentioned in other places. I'm all for frugality but that's a step too far for me I'm afraid. 

It would be muggins here that would end up emptying it with my kids that's not a palatable thought at all. 

Perhaps for wee it might not be too bad but I'd cut back on many other things before I sacrificed toilet paper totally. 

I personally wouldnt do them instead of toilet rolls....but i have made a batch of unpaper towels.I roll some up and put them in a jar with some liquid soap,water and a few drops of essential oil and use them instead of wipes for handwashing etc for my grandson before food etc and then put them in a zipped bag for washing.Also old towels cut into squares to clean the toilet these go in a small tub that is lined with a zipped laundry bag so i can just pull the bag out and put it in the wash without touching them again. x

florianatwobob

I must admit they loo roll will be staying on my shopping list for forever and a day. 

However reusable make up wipes, sanitary towels and period pants are game changers. 

Elisheba

Good idea @never_too_old about hm wetwipes and toilet cloths.

I'm thinking about trying the hm toilet roll idea. If I kept them as @nevertoold describes, damp in a jar with some essential oil, and when used put them in a bucket with a lid with a bit of vinegar and bicarb, then it could work well.

I don't really think it would save much money, but it would be better for the environment and more self sufficient, which is one of my long term aims.

Its only me so it wouldn't be much extra work, and I could have a few spare loo rolls in for when people are round.

I'll keep thinking on it! 

angela110660

mandy47 said:

Not a very frugal day.
 I start an exercise program on Monday at my local hospital. All part of my long covid rehab. I needed appropriate clothing. I've been out of luck at the chazzas so finally bit the bullet and went shopping. Shocked at the prices in the sports shops. Even the so called cut price ones. I had a £2 voucher for M&S so I ventured in. I was pleasantly surprised at the price of their sports/leisure wear. Managed to get jogging bottoms (short length) a basic tee and a sports bra for £32.50. More than I wanted to pay out but good quality that I will wear again.
 I'm definitely out of practice with clothes shopping.  
Had a number of YS bargains over the last week so that helps even it out.

Worth looking in Sainsburys another time too. I got a lovely pair of workout trousers and a top of the sale rail recently