2023 Frugal Living Challenge

Beshki

Back here after a (planned) very none frugal weekend. I have very little left until the end of the month as I really have to get back to putting something into my savings each month again, even if only a tiny amount. So we’ll be scrimping along now and doing all we can not to spend. 

I did manage to pick up a couple of plug in blanket throws on Amazon just now for £43 each. Not exactly planned spends but have been looking for them for two of our elderly relatives since pre Christmas and it’s the one I have and love, so I don’t mind that

Sold something on eBay for £15 that needs posting today, so once I’m paid for that I’ll pop it straight into my savings. 

We go again..

spudsmum

2Scratters said:

@spudsmum Oh dear bad DH  Have you ever done a budget? I did my first one ever last year and what an eye opener it was! I used a template from on here (MSE) somewhere.
It has definitely helped identify more pots needed to help issues like this occurring. I had some "pots" already in use but it was not enough. I did panic when doing the adding up thinking OMG we are not going to make it but we did and had money spare. It has been a life saver already as we had money available. We just need to add one for the dogs as there is no insurance on them (by choice) and will save there instead.
2 Scratters xx

Thanks @2Scratters. 

I do normally have money divided off into seperate pots which usually cover any expenses. Unfortunately my car pot was completely emptied back in December when my car broke down - twice!  

Normally if something comes up unexpectedly I can shift money around from a miscellaneous pot but with it being a long month everything is super tight until pay day and because he’s waited until the last minute instead of forewarning me (he said he’d “been meaning to tell me” for a while) any money I could have shifted has been spent on other things over the month that possibly could have been made to wait a bit longer if I’d known. Hey ho can’t be helped now. 

I’m considering revisiting my budget again to see if it still works for us and if I need more pots but I have to be careful not to go too in depth like I have in the past because I have autism and find it really easy to get obsessed with things and then I get anxious. It was great for money saving - not so great for MH and family happiness. 

YoungBlueEyes

I’ve just been out to check my washing, and wondered if everyone else knows how effective this trick is?

Use a long washing line so you can have a double length between the poles (itms?) Then you can split your washing, and the greater surface area means it dries quicker! Mine’s been out nearly 4 hours and it’s nearly dry 🙂

Like this - 

  

sams247

I live in a first floor flat and have been trying to work out a way to dry washing outside.  No access to a garden but I do have a big long window.  Thought about a washing line going from one end to the other but the washing would be against the window and not blow in the breeze.  Any clever ideas?

Sweetlittledaydreams

A small frugal win this morning is that I was able to do some training online from home for work, saved 29miles worth of petrol, plus as I don't have a job I can do from home it was a nice treat to be able to only have to get up 20 minutes before it started! Have an appointment later which I'll be able to walk to now as I'll have more time so that'll save petrol money too. 
Had a family get together yesterday so I'm eating the left overs today, plus drinking freebie mint tea which was dried from the garden last year. 

joedenise

@YoungBlueEyes - I do similar on my rotary line for sheets and duvet covers and it certainly helps to dry them a bit quicker.  I got my flannelette bedding in about 2pm and it was almost dry.  It's now on the airer and should be completely dry and ready to put away tomorrow.

YoungBlueEyes

Ditto @joedenise I’ve brought mine in now and it’s hung over the airer. It’s a good 90% dry 😃

annieb64

I do similar on my rotary line. Last week I went out for most of the day and asked DH to put the washing out. I came back to find all the washing huddled together in the middle of the line. Shirts pegged from the shoulder and socks neatly pegged together in pairs, one peg per pair. Needless to say it was all still very wet.

Auntycaz

I have a washing line but as I live quite rural farmers are often burning stuff and several of my neighbours have woodburners so it often smells too smoky outside for me to put my washing out. It's false economy if I have to wash it twice. 
I have a large airer which I got from Lidl a few years ago and I managed to get a double flanellette sheet or double duvet cover  dry overnight on it.
I have recently bought a dehumidifier and usually put that on for a few hours a day to make sure I don't have problems with damp now I have turned my heating down a bit. It's surprising how much water it  collects.

gill5blue

sams247 said:

I live in a first floor flat and have been trying to work out a way to dry washing outside.  No access to a garden but I do have a big long window.  Thought about a washing line going from one end to the other but the washing would be against the window and not blow in the breeze.  Any clever ideas?

Hi, You can get window airers, similar to used on a caravan window, google caravan window airer.
gill5blue