2023 Frugal Living Challenge

London_1

Nothing like that at all near me, even the big Tescos don't do many reductions ,but then they do donate stuff to a food bank so I think at least its not being wasted and going to people who really need it desperately 

I am on the IoW at the moment and we are going to view a house this afternoon. Its looks good on the blurb, but photos can be deceiving.

Last night my right arm had a lymphodema flare up which happens every 3-4 months Luckily I always have a course of antibiotics with me so start taking them straight away ,My arm just goes scarlet and I shiver uncontrollably My oncologist years ago said I'd a bit like a dose of malaria and if you start taking your Flucloxocillan Straight away it will calm the infection down. Got up this morning feeling a lot better thank goodness, but will carry on with the course to clear it up.


JackieO xx

willow_loulou

Goodness Jackie, good job you had the antibiotics! 

It’s 1:45 and I’m having a gin, because I can and there’s no one here to ‘look’ at me. I realised how much I’ve compromised over the last few years, crazy really but it’s all changing now. Not that I often have a 1:45 gin or even drink at all much but feeling judged for the occasional tipple isn’t fair is it. 

Sorry TMI - it’s the gin lol and I’m feeling a bit liberated today after beating myself up for months now. I’m happily planning future jaunts and I’m very excited to start the year with a positive mind. I’ve even added tonic water to my subscribe and save delivery 😂

joedenise

Good for you!  As long as you're enjoying the gin of course!

willow_loulou

joedenise said:

Good for you!  As long as you're enjoying the gin of course!

I did! Preferred the other one I had last week though 

London_1

willow_lou lou I have to keep a course of antibiotics with me all the time, at home, or when I am away as it can flare up at any time with no rhyme or reason..

 Its a darned nuisance as my right arm is four times the size of my left arm .When I had a mastectomy in 2007 the Drs remove most of my lymph nodes from under my right are to stop the cancer from spreading . It means the only way I can wear a coat os to buy it about four sizes larger to get my arm in it
.I did have one tailor made for me about three years ago but its very expensive to do, so it only gets worn on special occasions. I can only wear short sleeved tops as well. There must be a huge gap in the clothes market for ladies like myself. But at least I'm still alive and kicking, My family have got used to my 'elephant arm' and they too say it really isn't important as long as you're cancer free.

   JackieO xx

  P,S, the house was nice, and quite big enough with a small annexe, but needed a bit doing to it, and both my son-in-law and I said it was overpriced, Oh well we will find the perfect house eventually

Asparklierblonde

Willow - good for you, glad you enjoyed! 

I have decided not to partake in any alcohol in 2024. This is not just due to cost, but also mental and physical well being. As someone who does a lot of outdoor work with young children still at home I need to be clear headed at all times. This will be a challenge for me but I’m ready for it. 

We have two freezers and they are groaning. I definitely won’t need to buy any meat in 2024, particularly given that we will have two lambs away for slaughter again next winter. And some pigs, when I finally get my act together to breed them. 

Frugaldom

Just copying this here from a comment posted on my FB page concerning fires and heat. (We've been discussing homeless, houseless and no fixed abode.)

'... start a fire with dry grass and dry leaves, yes it will need a day to dry which sucks then place... tiny pine branches, split em to like 1cm thickness, pine produces alot of hot heat, then keep adding bigger bits of pine and then once the fire is going, add whatever, I prefer birch when my fire is lit"

The above, I found interesting as I had been gathering firewood and only just started burning spruce from some small trees we were thinning out.the goats did a great job of stripping the bark off the logs, which then dried much quicker. The logs burn fast and furious, giving off a great heat. I was always told spruce was one of the worst woods for burning but I disagree. I have my box of pine/spruce cones as fire lighters and birch bark is good, too.

Frugaldom

Approaching the end of the penultimate day of our 2023 Frugal Living Challenge. No lists if achievements from me as Frugaldom has a life of its own and we survived another year. What 2024 holds for us is anybody's guess. Naturally, there will be more rain, more pony poop and more challenges to be met. It will be twenty five years since I began writing about household budgets, money saving and frugal living, and my 17th, I think, year of hosting my challenges on here. Everything I write is as I do so please know that I'm not just talking the talk, I'm actually walking this walk. Anyone is welcome to come along and see for yourselves, chat about budgets and frugal living, experience the place for yourselves. Just make sure you budget accordingly as we aren't on a public transport route and it's about 10 miles to the nearest town or fuel station.

2024 challenge thread is already open, my budget is pretty much set and come hell or high water (there's a lot of that about here at the moment), I'm going to stick to my £4,000 budget and see how far that gets me in this cost of living crisis. It's now about the cost of surviving.

2024 will also be the year I start attempting to find someone to help take on the Frugaldom project with a view of possibly taking it over in the future. It's hard work but the bulk of the groundwork is done. The caravan got sold as soon as the three little cabins were completed so no more cheap breaks for friends. Now it's about sampling off-grid frugal living as a recreational pastime, helping look after sanctuary animals and watching the wildlife. If I can find the right people in 2024 then I'll be happy at that.

Budget completed, accounts submitted, 2024 frugal living fund at the ready and a day to spare. I may buy milk tomorrow when I go along to the cottage to read the meter. I think we are going to offer the place at affordable rent, rather than sell it

AnimalTribe

Frugaldom good luck with your plans for 2024, it sounds like a big change.

I’m looking forward to being more organised in 2024. My main aim will be to build up my savings and to declutter. I’ll still be going for days out with DH though. I have enough food in the house to last me ages, so the first month of the year should be relatively cheap. I’m off to find the new thread.

2Scratters

Thanks @Frugaldom for 2023, will see you in 2024.

2 Scratters xx