2024 Frugal Living Challenge

harddays

Well first week of January spends only
£3.90 on food as OH has a bad chest infection not eating much. But £70 to top up stepson car as he sat with OH and did some running about.
He is only on minimum wage and lives about 70mins away.
So £426.10 left.

Prudent

Frugaldom the soap tree is incredible and a learning curve for me. What also struck me was the sense of tranquillity. I enjoyed listening to birds as much as watching the tree. 

No real frugalling here other than that I haven't actually bought anything. I am going to do some cooking to use up bit and pieces this afternoon. I like to slice up left over lemons and put them in boiling water with some ginger in winter. A bit of honey is nice too.

When the cheap veg was in the supermarkets just before Christmas I bought a big stock and have stored them in the garage. I am going out to check if anything needs using.

Wraithlady

mandy47 said:

Disaster! My kindle has broken. It's about 15 years old and I'm really shocked at the current price to replace it. 

If you're ok with second-hand, have a look on Cex - I got several things on there. They have Kindles starting from about £20 for an older model.

florianatwobob

We have ivy growing over the trees that back onto the end of my garden. Until now I have been baffled why the ground is soapy sometimes. Now I know!  

Frugaldom

On the topic of sofas, we got a lovely big leather sofa with storage drawers underneath and just had to pay someone to collect for us. It's a few years ago but it's staying put even if we leave because getting it in through the front door and turned to get it into the living room was a kiving nightmare that turned into fits of the giggles and much sweating from those who helping manoeuvre it. Reminiscent of a clip from Friends TV series, only without the stairs. 

Pam of water is warming on the log burner for hot water bottles and I've just popped some corn and added a sprinkle of salt & sugar as I like both. 

The homemade laundry liquid got watered down and is now decanted into a 5 litre container. I hope it doesn't set too much.

Florafauna

Brilliant frugal day today, had a swim then home for shower weekly hair wash. Batch cooking for the work week and then some sewing and mending. 
No money spent 

welshcake58

Haven't been on here for a long time and have been spending more than I need to-not really overspending,but feel that the budget I allow myself is too large and I could be saving more money. Love the tips and advice here and have picked a lot of great ideas from the brilliant regular posters over the years!

suzeesu2000

My frugality has been no food shopping, yay me!

Today I used eggs, pack of ham and some mushrooms that needed using for an omelette for dinner. 

Tomorrow is a chicken dish with onions, carrots, peas, herbs of choice, seasoning and celery all sautéed in a cast iron pan. Then add flour, butter to make a roux, chicken stock to complete the sauce. While that’s all simmering away, make a packet of stuffing (sainsburys cheap one from pantry shelf) add extra sage cos I love it. Then once stuffing is ready, add to top of chicken concoction in pan. Place in heated oven for about thirty mins. 

Lovely and warming for a cold winter day. Add some veggies as a side dish. 

suzeesu2000

Sorry for double posting but wondered……does anyone else keep a “gift box”? I collect things through charity shop (after Christmas is BRILLIANT), sales etc. I add them to my gift box so that I have a gift for birthdays or surprises through the year but also really ekes out spending for Christmas gifts. 

Example: DH collects walking sticks with carved handles.Normally can be quite costly. Saw one in CS for a few pounds, added to my box and he got that with his other Christmas prezzies. Also CS gets loads of toiletries/gift packs after Christmas. I buy them and keep for Christmas when I use them as gifts for mums helpers/carers etc. 

if you are a baker, you can also pick up really nice metal tins for gifting home made cookies and sweets in too. Am I trying to teach my granny to suck eggs here? 

weenancyinAmerica

I always have a Christmas box going to gather up presents all year. Of course, I can't always wait for a birthday or Christmas to give the person the present, but since they usually haven't been expensive (mostly library sales or charity shops), I don't feel bad giving them to the person at any time during the year.