2023 Frugal Living Challenge

Bluegreen143

I’d probably do pasta too, but curry is another option for your chicken breasts? Or chicken risotto?

Or you could portion into sandwich size portions and use for making lunch sandwiches if you or your OH takes sandwiches for lunch? Cheaper than buying ham etc.

gill5blue

Hi All,
1st week and pleased to say no unnecessary spends, not had heating on much, continuing saving water for toilet flushing and or other uses. Using up left overs.
Resisted buying a birthday present for my friend, I am regifting some candles to her.
Good luck all
Gill5blue

2Scratters

Need to shop from cupboards again that involves using up some lettuce and toms. Will think of something that can have a side salad 

snowbird20

kayannie said:

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! 

i want to weigh in on the loo roll issue as well.  I haven't purchased (we call it) toilet paper (in the US) in 3 years.  We have a bidet seat on our toilet and use a square of flannel to dry our freshly-washed bums after doing our business.  I do have tp in the guest bathrooms--and when i put it on the spindle, I give it a real good squeeze.  It keeps it from rolling too freely and you do end up using less.  

Madbat60

Evening all. I had to go shopping today, first proper shop since before Christmas. Everything has gone up again. I wouldn't have minded if I'd bought lot of meat and alcohol.

Auntycaz

@Madbat60 I know what you mean about prices. My favourite Scotts jumbo porage oats has gone up to £2.95 from £2 or 2 for £3 a short while ago in my local waitrose.(its my nearest shop and I have mobility problems) Glad I stocked up when it was on offer. 

Madbat60

@Auntycaz it's really scary. I cook everything from scratch. We eat well. I really feel for people who have very little.  I've been really skint in life before but food was never so expensive. 

MissRikkiC

Risotto for dinner Sunday thanks @Bluegreen143

Meal planning done until next Friday whilst hoping to fully utilise the oven tomorrow morning whilst it’s on for a sourdough loaf. 

Jacket potatoes, Mondays pasta bake, sausages for breakfast, the sourdough loaf and some gingerbread rounds from the huge amount of dough I had before Christmas and froze.  The draining board that I just cleaned within an inch of its life now looks like it’s oven ran with food defrosting 😅

spudsmum

Frugal wins today: 

Another £20.34 cash back from Quidco for my car insurance - Also £10.13 payout on surveys. That’s all gone onto the credit card. Hoping to get it under £17k by the end of February (currently just over £17.5k) 

My mum came round with some eggs from her hens and some leeks from her allotment. She also gifted me a bottle of liquor she was given for Xmas but won’t drink. 

A client at work gifted me a box of chocolates for a piece of work I’d done for her. That’s a nice treat for the weekend. 

Spends today were £9.56. Yesterday was a NSD. Just put my work expenses claim in for December so I’ll have £37 incoming next week to bolster my petrol fund. 

Decent haul at the eco pantry today. Spicy chicken, pan au chocolate, bagels, oven chips, fruit/veg, a giant bottle of ribena and a few other bits. It can be hit and miss - often there is meat but not guaranteed. That said for £2 for at least 7 items it’s worth it to me as there’s always stuff two of the kids will eat. Also enables us to have a little treat sometimes for minimal outlay as they often have cakes or chocolates etc. 

Frugal losses: 

Husband forgot to tell me he was at the dentist today so that was £23 charge to pay that I hadn’t factored into my budget.  Hey ho! 

Food shop tomorrow - challenging myself to see how frugal I can be - should only need a bit of fruit, pack up stuff for the kids and bread. 

nannygladys

Frugal wins

1 banana loaf made with over ripe bananas

2 laundry done , partly dried outside before the rain came

3 dehydrated some spinach and tomatoes, still a learning curve but it seems to going well. 
4 and as I haven't been out no money has been spent - yay

Nannyg