2023 Frugal Living Challenge

jackieblack

cw18 said:

SecondStar said:

@cw18 Oh, I don’t think it is actually, I think my maths is wrong haha.

The living room is 3.38m x 3.25m, bedroom is 4.27m x 2.59m, and kitchen is 3.48 x 1.93m.

So 3.25 + 2.59 = 8.42, 3.38 + 1.93 = 5.31. 8.42 x 5.31 = 44.7m squared.

Is that right?

3.25 + 2.59 = 5.84
3.38 + 1.93 = 5.31

So that makes it 31m squared.


Looking at the floorplan, it wouldn't work for me.   I figured there wouldn't be space for a dining table and that there was a chance it would be more of a lounge/kitchen (looks like a wide opening rather than a door - and that makes it harder to heat the living space), but I wouldn't want to have to walk through the bedroom everytime I wanted to use the bathroom either.   And more to the point, if I had visitors over for tea and biscuits I wouldn't want them wandering through there either

I agree, the room sizes are ok (although I would prefer a kitchen with room for a table) but that layout wouldn’t suit me at all.

But I guess if I was going to rarely be home (if it was really just somewhere to sleep) and not have guests over it might work ok - I’ve stayed in smaller hotel rooms for fairly lengthy periods in the past.

SecondStar

THANK YOU everyone!

I don’t have many people to talk to irl about this, and so it’s great to post here and get a wide variety of opinions and information.

Thank you @SW18 for recorrecting my maths (I shouldn’t have doubted myself!).

Very interesting about the minimum size for a property to be mortgageable - I hadn’t thought about that. My AIP is with Nationwide, who seem to have a minimum of 30sq m. This will definitely be something to run by my MA.

I have 5 other properties I’d like to view this week and next, all within my 90k budget. Some have better things to offer than this bungalow, and some have other downsides.

I’ll take a second viewing of it, but my heart isn’t set yet.

mumtoomany

Hi, @SecondStar, regarding the bungalow. Is there potential to convert the loft into a room/rooms? Could you extend into the garden at some point? Both things to possibly consider. Also if it costs less than your budget, this might be good with the cost of living crisis, if your job is ever at risk. Good luck with your search.
hugs, mumtoomany.xxx

plumduff55

Hi @SecondStar just delurking to say if you Google tiny homes on YouTube there are hundreds of videos of tiny homes. It's amazing the great ideas and storage solutions that are possible. Hope you're  successful with the house hunting

YoungBlueEyes

Also, don’t forget location. I’d only be trying to make this wee house work if everything else was worse… 

I wouldn’t discount based on size tho, there could be lots of ways to address that as @mumtoomany says. 

See what the other viewings turn up 🙂

maryb

A well built and insulated shed in the garden would give you more storage space and you could eg keep a freezer in there if you have power installed.

Frugaldom

Good evening fruguys and gals, I'm still playing catch-up with all your lovely posts and trying to comment whenever possible.

17 days in and zero spends on groceries as there have been plenty of olio opportunities since Christmas. A friend did pop into M0rriris0ns to try and stock us up on sugar and porridge oats but our nearest one had neither available. These offers must be restricted to certain stores.

I have carrots, parsnips, celery and potatoes to use so I made a big pan of veg & lentil soup while in the hut.

Today, I foraged a bowlful of ivy leaves to chop and boil. They are now soaking overnight to be kept for doing small pans of laundry. I, too, have an undies chandelier, currently hanging over the stove after hand washing some smaller items.

Solar panels were covered in snow this morning so I'm glad I kept them at ground level for shifting them about, rather than have them stuck up on the hut roof, otherwise I'd have had no battery power by dark.

Porridge oats and sultanas are in the pan to soak overnight for tomorrow's breakfast so I'm being as frugal as possible. This year is about further minimising personal spending, grocery budget and waste. If it's organic then it goes in the compost and if it's safe to burn then it's fire fodder. Glass, tin and plastic go into the recycling bins.

Frugal hobby - I've learned how to to hand carve wooden mushrooms from cherry and apple wood so now know what to do with the tree prunings.

newlywed

Love this thread and the varied questions and comments….

so I can freeze the half carton oat milk as soon as there’s room…

but what about my half jar of mincemeat? Avoiding sugar this month so would rather not bake anything that I would want to eat!

Glittering_M

Frugaldom said:

Frugal hobby - I've learned how to to hand carve wooden mushrooms from cherry and apple wood so now know what to do with the tree prunings.

That's great, I got a wood carving knife a few years ago but I really struggled as I think the wood I was using was too hard. Thanks for the reminder that I had it, I'll have to look out for some softer wood. We do have a supply of wood but I think it's all too hard. 

You can make some really nice bits so I'd love to get back into it! I'm just loathed to buy some wood to try it! Something to research a bit more I think! 

Glittering_M

Also, nothing frugal related but the sky was beautiful when I drove home today in SE England. Masses of pink. I like being able to appreciate the small things!