2023 Frugal Living Challenge

nannygladys

I hope everyone has had a lovely day, I also hope this rainy weather gives up soon for a while.
Nannyg 

AnimalTribe

I hope all that celebrate it had a good Christmas, and that everyone else had a good day too. I know it's a difficult time of year for some (remembering loved ones) but I hoped they managed and could conjure up some good memories.

I am looking forward to the New Year and can't wait for the new challenge to start.

Frugaldom

Good evening to all, hope everyone is warm, fed and preparing for the new year ahead. 

I managed to change my mobile plan abd got an extra £5 off per month for 6 months on my SIM only contract. It's a good start.

I'm looking for CHEAP CAT FOOD as we have 3 cats at Frugaldom. I'm doing price comparisons but if anyone knows of a good source or any extra special online offers, please let me know. We don't have many shops around us so prices seem cheaper ordering online for home delivery.

Managed to claim some olio via friends so that will save me going shopping. I've got enough food to last weeks, just milk that needs topping up now. 

kayannie

I can't offer advice re cheap cat food as I don't have a cat, but I have just received a free sample of Whiskas that I have passed on to my daughter. It's not much, but 'every little helps'! Just search for Whiskas free sample & the page pops up. KA

RavenRover

Like cat food companies on Facecloth and you will start getting offers of free samples.  I do this for mum as she has her own cat plus several not so cared for cats !  Also check Shopmium as they sometimes have money off cat food.

Frugaldom

Thank you for the heads up on cat food. I'll probably buy a bulk bag of cat biscuits and try for free samples anywhere I see them.

Weather is horrendous today, another storm that's been howling all night and continuing to lash us with torrential rain. I can imagine many places subject to flooding could be hit again - it always seems to be this week of the year, when storms coincide with full moon and high tide, that the flooding locally is at its worst. Stay safe, everyone. 

willow_loulou

Hello all, been absent for a while again. 

Life has been complicated with caring duties and work stress. But I’ve made some strides forward in both departments. 

I’m now living alone, my eldest moved away to be with his partner so I’ve been clearing out stuff here and giving things I don’t want away. Making a proper space to craft and paint in the living room which is making me very happy. 

I’ve been going over and over my budgets for this and that, in theory I’ll be £200 a month better off (give or take) without my son here, I wasn’t charging him rent so he could save so was paying for his food and the petrol I used taking him to and from work. But I’m keeping in true frugal style and will be saving that for debts/house improvements/holidays. 

My monthly food budget is going to take some tweaking, im just going to get the minimum possible and see where that takes me this month. 

@frugaldom  Sainsbury’s own pet food is reasonable and good quality. I buy their guinea pig food, that’s £3 cheaper than pet shops at least and the favourite of my piggie. 

dND

Frugaldom said:

I'm looking for CHEAP CAT FOOD as we have 3 cats at Frugaldom. I'm doing price comparisons but if anyone knows of a good source or any extra special online offers, please let me know. We don't have many shops around us so prices seem cheaper ordering online for home delivery.

Hi @Frugaldom,  I know it's not always the cheapest but I generally get my cat food via Z00plus.  I tried my cats on the supermarket own brands and some of the well known brands such as Wisk*** and Pur*** and my cat's health began to suffer, (it was a predominantly dry food diet), resulting in higher vets bills.  So buying cheaper brands wasn't an overall saving.  I take out the savings plan and always save more than I spend out on the plan - because that 'return' is always factored into the basic cost and you are paying for it anyway.  It's like life in general, there are no free lunches. 🤣
But all cats are different; maybe mine are just picky, but ZP gives you a chance to have a guide price when shopping and I can still get the 100g pouches of wet food there - and occasionally I hit lucky and stock up with a special offer -, with the added bonus that it's delivered to the door.  Apart from that I use Trolley to compare, but that doesn't have all shops and local branches of supermarkets may not be participating in the online prices.  Hope that helps.  

AnimalTribe

Frugaldom When I had cats I used to buy online. Usually the 10kg bags came out the cheapest but sometimes playing with a combination of different sized bags came up better for £/kg price. I hope that makes sense.

AnimalTribe

Frugaldom I forgot to say that some flavours from the same brand were cheaper than others.There could be up to a £5 difference for the same weight.