2023 Frugal Living Challenge

Soontobeoap

I have made so many changes to my shopping habits this year and I am rooting through craft supplies, cosmetics and DIY materials before I buy anything. I am also spending a lot of time decluttering and organising which is making finding things easier. I was running out of hair conditioner this week and found a pot of hair nutrition stuff? That I bought for £35.00 5 years ago 🤯. Its out of date but my hair feels amazing. (I have changed so much since I became a pensioner! ). I have not bought a dish cloth for ages as I just keep washing them. No more floor wipes as I am using washable floor mop heads. I am working through cosmetics that have been gifted and when asked what gifts I would like I now ask for craft stuff. I only buy books from charity shops or exchange with friends. Have sorted clothes so that I only have things that I wear. I only put the washing machine on 2 or 3 times a week, have cut down the amount of washing powder I put in too, I am growing a few veg as try as I might I am having difficulty keeping my grocery budget the same as last year. (every little helps) I buy when on offer and batch cook. I have labelled paints in shed so that I can easily touch up emulsion in rooms and the temptation to redecorate has reduced. I have always upcycled furniture from charity shops for my home so that is continuing too. Loving this new more frugal life and also hoping to start saving a bit of money in the next few months. Thanks for all of the help and ideas. More tips will be gratefully recieved as I still have a lot to learn. 

allie23

Hi frugal friends, not been on this thead for ages but I need to get back on track.  I had decided that 2024 and 2025 were going to be a big push to maximise savings and minimise spends but I am now thinking I might as well start now.  We still have holidays booked that we will enjoy this year but 2024 (and 2025, depending on OH) I am planning no holidays except a couple of long weekends away glamping. 

I am going back to work full time starting in June this year as part of this plan and need to get back to minimising spends.  I rejoined the Grocery Challange which is already helping get food costs down.  The reason for this is to put money towards retiring early.  

@Soontobeoap if you are crafty it might be worth making your own dish cloths once your curent ones are past their best.  I use old brushed cotton sheets to make mine and they are really sturdy and last well - it helps if you have a sewing machine.  I just wash them and resuse until they are past it and then make a new set.  It sounds like you are off to a brilliant start with your frugalling plans.

I am back at work tomorow after a two week break.  Priorities are:

• Take lunch to work every day.  Need to make biscuits or cake to take with me for a snack.
• Make sure I fill in my claim form for overtime done earlier this month. 
• Take in some books to swap with a colleague
• Take books back to the library (they're overdue!!)

kayannie

Soontobeoap said:

I have made so many changes to my shopping habits this year and I am rooting through craft supplies, cosmetics and DIY materials before I buy anything. I am also spending a lot of time decluttering and organising which is making finding things easier. I was running out of hair conditioner this week and found a pot of hair nutrition stuff? That I bought for £35.00 5 years ago 🤯. Its out of date but my hair feels amazing. (I have changed so much since I became a pensioner! ). I have not bought a dish cloth for ages as I just keep washing them. No more floor wipes as I am using washable floor mop heads. I am working through cosmetics that have been gifted and when asked what gifts I would like I now ask for craft stuff. I only buy books from charity shops or exchange with friends. Have sorted clothes so that I only have things that I wear. I only put the washing machine on 2 or 3 times a week, have cut down the amount of washing powder I put in too, I am growing a few veg as try as I might I am having difficulty keeping my grocery budget the same as last year. (every little helps) I buy when on offer and batch cook. I have labelled paints in shed so that I can easily touch up emulsion in rooms and the temptation to redecorate has reduced. I have always upcycled furniture from charity shops for my home so that is continuing too. Loving this new more frugal life and also hoping to start saving a bit of money in the next few months. Thanks for all of the help and ideas. More tips will be gratefully recieved as I still have a lot to learn. 

I have always washed my dishcloths & reused them. When they are no longer good enough for the washing up, they come in handy for other jobs, such as wiping muddy paws! When I was working, my colleague was horrified that I washed & reused them! It's funny how we just take some money saving things that we do for granted. KA

RavenRover

I'm knitting some dishcloths using cheap cotton yarn sourced from charity shop.  Might do some as Christmas presents

joedenise

RavenRover said:

I'm knitting some dishcloths using cheap cotton yarn sourced from charity shop.  Might do some as Christmas presents

What stitch are you using for the dishcloths?  It’s something I’ve been wanting to do but not sure which pattern would work best.

zaxdog

NSD today at Zaxdog Towers.

Fancied a lie in as I've taken a few days off work and one of my drivers didn't know. The wee beggar called my mobile at 8am.....

Mended my vintage nightgown again (it's starting to look like something Dr Frankenstein would sleep in)!

All the homemade crochet blankets are out airing in the sea breeze and I worked on a new one for the bed in the winter.

Got a smashing little tool for picking up dog/car hair for £2.89 and with a LOT of work have managed to breathe new life into the bedroom carpet.

Two new rhubarb crowns and a gooseberry bush planted in the garden. Fingers crossed.

allie23

joedenise said:

RavenRover said:

I'm knitting some dishcloths using cheap cotton yarn sourced from charity shop.  Might do some as Christmas presents

What stitch are you using for the dishcloths?  It’s something I’ve been wanting to do but not sure which pattern would work best.

One of my favourite bloggers knits her dishcloths and might be worth a look.

https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2022/07/knitting-washcloths.html 

Although she is no longer adding new posts, thet blog is full of useful info and inspiration.  

joedenise

Thanks @allie23.  Will have a look.

Glittering_M

I saw on FB that apparently Lake1and do a blue light discount, I got very excited but on the BL website it says no offers so that is disappointing.

Whilst there I had a look and saw some places that do heated wheaties. I used to have one as a child and I loved it. I saw a description of one and it said it used linseed which got me thinking, could I just make one? It seems from a quick search you can so that is something I'm going to look more into!

Cherryfudge

Glittering_M said:

I saw on FB that apparently Lake1and do a blue light discount, I got very excited but on the BL website it says no offers so that is disappointing.

Whilst there I had a look and saw some places that do heated wheaties. I used to have one as a child and I loved it. I saw a description of one and it said it used linseed which got me thinking, could I just make one? It seems from a quick search you can so that is something I'm going to look more into!

I made my own once using bird feed wheat and spare socks! It worked very well but smelt of hot wheat rather than lavender or similar. I wonder what became of it? Possibly the contents eventually got donated to the pigeons...

@allie23, thanks for the link. I've saved that site to have more of a read.