2023 Frugal Living Challenge

SecondStar

ellenvan said:

oh that is painful - might be worth checking someone honest might have handed it in at the depot.

I called this morning, and I’ve to call back on Monday. Will order another pass in the meantime, and put it in a more secure pocket, I guess. So annoyed at myself!

RateTartExtraordinaire

I thought I'd share my experience of changing current accounts and cashback generally. I've got a spreadsheet which has a row for cashback. I totted it up and it comes to £620 over the last 5 years from switching banks and £665 over the last 9 years from a cashback site mainly for switching energy provider (8 times) and insurance company (typically once a year for car/ house) on renewal or even mid term! 

I have changed bank account 8 times - mainly to get the cashback and sometimes to get interest, rewards or cashback.

One thing I would say is, it has given me a really good idea of which banks I rate for customer service. 

When you switch they do ask about your income and whether you have income as an employee, self employed income, pension, other because they want to know you have the funds to pay in. However, I top up my income by switching money between two bank accounts each month so I meet the requirements for each. You do need to be organised.

My main personal bank account qualifies me for interest on my current account, has a great regular saver at the moment and they give a reward that I then sell online each month for extra profit. The other has the option of cashback on direct debits and is my standby in case I want to switch a bank account for a new cashback deal I might qualify for; although, there are very few banks I haven't been with - hence my name

I now have a business bank account. I was shocked that my personal bank account wanted to charge me a monthly fee to have a business bank account with them. They very handily put a top ten business bank account providers chart in their email to me...I checked out the no.1 and it was free! No brainer. 

mandy47

Finally got my Dualit food processor repaired. I couldn't get a new part but thanks to a really helpful gent at an online spare company I've managed to repair it. He asked for various photos and worked out what I would need. Only took 5 mins to fit.
It cost £23 for parts. No way could I afford to replace it with any where near the same quality. 

RavenRover

@SecondStar poor you.  I hope it has been handed in!

Frugaldom

zafiro1984 said:

Went to Lidl a couple of days ago and saw cooking bacon at 1.70 at a kilo. I got a couple of pks as I use bacon quite a lot, not just as rashers but as toppings/flavourings for soup/pasta, in casseroles, around chicken and sausages etc. I decided to split the Ikg pks into 4 x 250gms and freeze them.
When I was splitting the pks I noticed there were a lot of streaky rashers that looked just as good as the ones you can buy separately or as part of 'middle bacon' - Quite a useful find.

I always try to have a couple of packs of the cooking bacon as it's great boiled as you get the stock for soup then the cooked bacon for whatever else. It's more than doubled in price since pre covid-brexit but still affordable on a frugal budget. 

Frugaldom

Another weekend has been and gone - no premium bonds win here but congratulations to those who did win. I'm watching the bank interest rates slowly climb but haven't switched to an interest paying one yet. Should really check to see what's available, just in case. If anyone can remember our savings challenge, the rates hit almost 10% 
Olio at the weekend was, once again, successful. I got milk! It's something I always need as almost everyone who drops in for a cuppa takes milk. The weekend was extra busy as wehad a campout at hut and wagon to celebrate the planning permission being granted. No cash spends this month so far.
Tip 1: stale bread and pastries freshen up when heated.
Tip 2: Any and all veg can go into a pan to make soup.
Tip 3. Plastic bread bags make good liners if you have leaky wellies.

mumtoomany

Morning @frugaldom, and others. To add to your tips.

All veg, including salad, cucumber, lettuce, etc, can be added to soup, even the odd bit of fruit. Ask my children about stew with pineapple in!

Leaky wellies can be fixed with the glue sold to mend wet suits. I tend to put a patch, soaked in glue, on too. Usually made from a piece of ribbon.

Hope everyone is well, still frugality and reading along here.

Hugs to all, mumtoomany.xxx

SecondStar

Well the pass hadn't been handed in, but after being transferred to several different departments, I was able to get the money refunded in 10 working days (minus an admin fee)!

I’m thrilled, I thought it would be like losing a gift card, where it just becomes cash that is your responsibility. I’m very happy that I’ll be able to get most of the £70 back - I can’t afford to lose that sort of money right now.

Beshki

SecondStar said:

Well the pass hadn't been handed in, but after being transferred to several different departments, I was able to get the money refunded in 10 working days (minus an admin fee)!

I’m thrilled, I thought it would be like losing a gift card, where it just becomes cash that is your responsibility. I’m very happy that I’ll be able to get most of the £70 back - I can’t afford to lose that sort of money right now.

That’s great news! 

Beshki

Thought this weekend might be quite spendy and that was accounted for, but was very considered in our treats and it came in much lower than anticipated. Treated myself to some new trousers as they were half price, and I’ve got rid of so many clothes recently that it’s justified. Can’t think there’ll be anything else I need this week.