2023 Frugal Living Challenge

StickyTheStickInsect

Can I join again this year please, 2022 was a bit of a frugal right off as I was wiped out with Long Covid for most of the year and we spent where we shouldn’t have just to try and get through it. I’ll post a budget once the children go back to school and I can finally start to get things done!

Frugaldom

Thank you @jackieblack. I had overlooked that photo option and thought you could only add them via links. Now to learn how to resize photos on my phone, as it's what I use most of the time nowadays.

There seems to be a huge amount of food available via 0lio this week. I've just managed to rescue bags of carrots, mixed root veg pack and some bagels. That's enough for another pot of soup, a snack to have with a cuppa and treats for the ponies, goats, hens, ducks and the 2 guinea pigs we are currently fostering.

nannygladys

Soontobeoap - thanks for that I've never actually inspired anyone before😃!!! It's going to be a challenge but I'm up for it!!

nannygladys

Just a quick one tonight as time is getting on and I'm in bed!!!
I've been dgs sitting today and as it has been drizzling all day we didn't go out!! So no coffee or chips this week 😃.
I drew all my grocery budget out when I was paid, which was before Xmas, and managed quite well whilst my guests were here but I haven't much left, but as I get paid next week it should be plenty! I had leftovers for dinner and tea today and there's still plenty of food that needs eating in the fridge and freezer, anyone for ice-cream and biscuits 😃😃 so I will be fine, but I think I will have a sort out of the freezer to see what meals I can put together on Thursday/Friday. I have plenty of rice, pasta onions and potatoes in but I must eke it out as much as I can.
DD also left me all her toiletries so I have quite a lot of shampoo etc. Which will really help as well. So no money spent since before the first, well it is a no spend week!! I'm hoping I can carry it on, oh daughter bought me a Joe Wicks veggie cook book and it has some really nice recipes in it for one person, so I tried a couple last week and they are really easy, cheap ( I had most of the stuff in) and tasty, so I'll be trying a few more. I tend to stick to the same recipes so this is part of my challenge - new recipes that cost very little!!
Nannyg 

alja

This week so far I've only spent a small amount on toiletry essentials, I'm not sure I even need to order anything at all for the rest of the year, apart from maybe a few tubes of toothpaste. I have plenty of toiletries to keep me going and OH ordered a bulk of his things to keep him going.

Today should be a no spend day. I work from home, so I try to keep the heating off until about an hour before OH gets home from work.

We have plenty of food in the freezer and cupboards for now too. Lots of pasta and rice that needs using up, so planning to do a few veggie pasta and curry dishes. I also won a bit of food the other week, so we're eating from the freezer a little bit in order to make room for that turning up soon, so that will help to stretch out the time before we spend money on food. Just little fresh fruit and veg top ups needed for the rest of the month I think.

The other day we went through all our leftover and gifted Christmas treats, checked the dates and have bagged some for upcoming occasions and our little staycation instead of just eating them all now. We're trying to be healthier this year and save as much as possible, so doing this seemed to make sense. We still have a couple of treats on the go and hot chocolates to enjoy over the coming weeks anyways.

Tomorrow is not going to be frugal as we're going to see a film at the cinema and it's not a cheap one, but to be honest that's probably going to be the only treat like that this month. OH's brother's birthday is next week, but he said he wasn't fussed about going out for a meal, so that should only be a takeaway at his or meal at home before going over, which will work out cheaper.

kayannie

As part of my effort to cut down on the cost of shopping, I am trying to cut down on the amount of loo roll that I use! 
This brought back memories from my childhood over 70 years ago. Our toilet was a small purpose made shed at the far end of the garden. Toilet paper was squares of newspaper on a nail at the back of the door. I thought my auntie was very posh, as her toilet paper was pink. I later found out that it was pages from my uncle's horse racing newspaper, for some reason printed on pink paper!
Another aunt had an outside toilet but the wooden seat had 2 holes, 1 smaller than the other. This was a child's seat.
Does anyone else have these memories, or am I the only one? 
KA

Soontobeoap

@kayannie when we moved into this house 9 years ago it still had its outside toilet attached to the house. ( Gone now since renovation work done although the capped outlet is still under our decking) Next door still use theirs and the lady 3 doors up has a concrete air raid shelter in her garden. When I was a child we didn’t have newspaper but we did have that horrible scratchy Izal toilet roll and when we ( 3 girls) asked for softer he refused to budge! However I am eternally grateful that being a lot younger than my 2 sisters I was lucky enough to miss out on the liberty bodice phase!!!! I was the right age for the first tights. They were so fashionable and expensive. They had a pants bit attached. You still wore them over knickers but if your mini skirt showed anything it was the pants bit of the tights. Within 10 mins of wearing the early designs they were like Nora Battie around the ankles!!!!! 😅 Not so cool then. They became cheaper when the pants bit changed to how they are today. I am sure lots of us cut off a leg when they got holes in and put 2 halves on with 2 panty bits still attached!!! Those were the days.🤪

spudsmum

Gosh I remember IZAL toilet paper from school. 

Probably the least absorbent material on the planet. It was torturous. I can’t remember when it ceased to be a “thing” but I can’t imagine my kids being happy to use it now. 

It did make excellent tracing paper though - I remember being sent by the teacher to get a few sheets for the art classes when we ran out of the proper stuff 

Landgirlinthelittlecity

@kayannie maybe try family cloth? Might be a way forward.

Whilst I’m not old enough to know newspaper for toilet paper, the other half’s parents live in a 30s house which has the toilet connected to the bathroom, single skinned and freezing in winter. Usually the time I’m jealous my other half doesn’t have to touch the lid in freezing weather!

barole

Hello Frugaldom, and others on this thread.

I have followed on and off for years and have been helped an inspired by you all.

My plan is to have a low spend year and hoping I make it through!

I am joining the grocery challenge and am planning on using cash to keep track.

I am approaching retirement age but my health/mobility/stamina is not what it was. As a WASPI woman, I was fine at 60, but due to arthritic hips and needing a replacement, by 64 I have to prioritise what needs to be done each day. I now work part time.

I will do a thorough budget along with my tax return, so it will have to be done by the end of January!🤓

I think I am frugal, but then look at my spending, which can tell a different story! Spending pitfalls include the garden..... and Boots.... and Charity shops..... and eBay......

This is such a supportive group and priceless resource.  Thank you all. 😊🙋🏻‍♀️