2023 Frugal Living Challenge

Siebrie

@SecondStar I have lived without a proper tv for about 10 years, as I found I was addicted. I did have an old-fashioned tv and VHS player. Then I met husband, and he needed a tv. We have a 40" (I think) screen with a tv subscription, which I use mainly for BBC shows (I'm in Belgium).

Husband has a set-up that may be worthwhile for you: he has a beamer mounted high up against the wall, and projects on the wall opposite. The beamer can be connected to a streaming service box or to your phone or laptop. Beamers cost as little as €75 these days.

cw18

Car went for MOT this morning.

'Repair as soon as possible' warning for the item that I'd been told probably meant failure, which was good.

But a long list of failures!

Garage won't even estimate a cost until they can take her in to do the work (I'd insist on a price before they actually did it), but they're fully booked until 6th Feb.   I suspect that's because the garage I've been taking her to is closed until that day, as the owner and his family are on holiday!    I've no idea who else locally I can trust, so I've sent a copy of the report to my son with a request he asks his mate (ex car mechanic, now works on fork lifts) to see if he can suggest somewhere.

So I'll have to SORN her for now (road tax expires tomorrow), and we're now in total limbo for the foreseeable

cw18

And just heard back from son.....

His mate reckons the work will cost a lot more than it's worth spending on her, so it's looks like we're now without a car!

Bluegreen143

Have rounded up my spending for Jan - I’ve been trying out a “low spend” month (not NO spend, as readers of my diary know I’ve still been to the pub etc), but using a 30 day list to curb impulse buys and trying to only spend on necessities and priorities.

We are lucky to have two decent incomes so have achieved a 28.72% savings rate this month (ie spent this much less than we earned). 

The biggest part of the amount saved has gone to our emergency fund but this figure also includes the net increase to our savings pots (ie money put aside for holidays, gifts, home improvements, annual bills etc) after we’ve also spent from some pots as needed. 

Highlight for me has been a food bill of £401.01 - we normally spend £450-550 on food so I do feel we’ve made a real effort here.

Next month will see a car repair bill of around £750 (feel your pain on car expenses CW) so we probably won’t achieve a similar savings rate again, but it’s an incentive to continue being frugal! Hoping we can carry it on all year 🤞🏼

Soontobeoap

Feeling your pain re car @cw18. Insurance company still havnt provided us with courtesy car and accident was 2 weeks ago!!!! Our car will not be repaired until at least mid April!!!! Still on bright side, saving on petrol and getting more exercise. The money that we save on petrol will go a tiny way to paying the insurance excess. 😭. It is so hard to be fruhal when life keeps throwing curved balls. 

Kerry_Woman

Have added the totals of each category for the month.  I already knew that it was going to be an expensive month. Had some big outgoings that happen once a year.  Earlier in the month I ordered somethings that got delivered and brought a few things in the shopping centre near to where I used to work so that I could get them out of the way(last day of my fixed term contract) and save me going there again.  I finished my fixed term contract job on 4th January.  Have a bank shift there this Saturday for 4 hours.  I started another bank admin job 2 weeks ago in mental health.  Not sure how long it is going on for, as there seems to be going to changes happening.  Managed to get 2 nice pairs of shoes from my favourite shop.  Needed them for the office work, as I wore trainers in my last workplace.  Also brought a nice waterproof jacket from my favourite shop, but used some vouchers towards it.  I have enough food in freezer and cupboards  to take me into next month, so will be using them up before I get anything else.  Will only have to do a top up food shop this Saturday.  Have plenty  of toiletries to use up.  Planning to be extra careful next month.

Treasurequeen

Last week was eventful waiting in for emergency workmen due to a leak so was unable to go out and spend money. I did a bulk order for my laundry liquid and toiletries which will last around 8 months and they are now stored away. I’m thinking of changing my store cupboard into half towels and half bulk items/ tin food. I’ve had 15 NSDs this month which is good, high for me as I caught covid and leak issues. Home insurance is all renewed and cashback is fast payout so can cash that in next month which will go towards birthday gifts for the month. I picked up some hallmark greeting cards in a CS the other day 3 cards for 99p so that’s a few ticked off of my list. I’ve cancelled one of my tv subscriptions as I’m not using it saving £10 a month. 

I signed up my pet onto my local vets health plan, I pay a set amount of £15.00 each month which covers flea and wormer, booster, nail clippings and a two  vet checks. In total I will save £40 a year. 

fionaandphil

Just totted up for this month. Have done fairly well and spent £142 on food for the 3 of us, we've been using up freezer food and making the most of everything. We also got one really cheap shop at Morrie's when we went in for a French stick and came out with a load of ready meals and meat for £13. I did have to stock up on coffee beans this month which was £90 but that will last about 6 months.

In less frugal news also just booked summer holiday in Scotland at £800 and a new parasol for the patio at £80. All bought with extra vouchers, discounts and cashback to save a little extra. All budgeted but feels massive at this time of year.

RavenRover

Oh @cw18 feel your pain.  My wee mums car just passed its mot 2 weeks ago and then broke 2 springs at the weekend.  Thankfully we have known our mechanic since he was a wee boy and I am convinced he gives her a discount when he does charge her❤  I keep telling her he adds it on to mine😆  

Between cashback and yellow labels I've pretty much kept costs down this month and despite my little city blimp last week have still been able to put some more of my pay into savings account.  I don't feel hard done to at all this month

cw18

Car is now with a garage.   Officially booked in for next Monday, but he said if we're not using it (can't as no MOT, and road tax expires today) I could drop it off now and if they have a lull (ie. a job doesn't take as long as expected) then he'll put it on a ramp and take a look sooner.

It's the place my sons' friend used to work at (I may have name dropped), and friend said they're not the cheapest in the area but he fully trusts them with his car for any work he can't do himself.   Chap at garage looked at the failure list and gave me a 'finger in the air' estimate of £400 for repairs before I took the car in.   Came home and had a quick look on-line.   Same (or almost same) model just a year or two newer than mine (albeit with 2/3rds the mileage) are listed on car supermarket websites for £1,300+     I knew car prices had gone mad over the last couple of years, but I can't find that much - and I don't fancy buying a 20 year-old car.   Looked at similar models that are 6 or 7 years old, and was seeing cheapest prices around £6k which is totally out of the question.   This one was almost 4 years old when I got her in 2006, and I paid around £5k.

So no final decision until I get a more accurate estimate from the garage.   I may still have to go to my Mum for a loan though.  And then, once that's repaid, son and I will have to start putting away ready for replacing her (or another hefty repair bill next year).

Must remember to SORN her before I go to bed.