2024 Frugal Living Challenge

RavenRover

Frugaldom said:

@RavenRover maybe you should take your redundancy then move over here. 120 mile round trip each day is a lot of fuel, although not much you can do about it when it's essential for work. You could rent a place for the equivalent of your fuel money over in our corner of the county and you know you need a visit back over sometime. 😊 

Glad to see come newbies and lurkers coming out of hiding. 2024 is going to be quite grim for many, myself included. I'm loath to dip into savings for regular spending so avoiding that is my biggest priority. I've no private pension so I have to wait til 67and hope State pension is still in existence. Just over 7 years to go.

Don't tempt me, hopefully I will get back over this summer as won't be travelling too far this year.  Hopefully once I know when the redundancy is going to take place I can make proper plans and decisions to my future.

Ambyth

Been reading the 2023 forum for a while. I will join up for 2024.

Will work out a budget and the 'to do' list for 2024 and post later

basketcase

Ambyth said:

Been reading the 2023 forum for a while. I will join up for 2024.

Will work out a budget and the 'to do' list for 2024 and post later

Likewise.

It's high time I took myself in hand and did the same.  So I'd like to join you if I may?

Frugaldom

Thanks for joining us - the more, the merrier and I do find that posting in a group makes us feel more accountable for our spends. Still working on the budget here but think I'm going to attempt the £4,000 (excluding council tax) one more. I can't help myself, it's become a lifestyle well beyond a simple habit. If I include council tax, it equates to an average £100 per week for everything. We don't have a mortgage nor do we have rent to pay. My budget is my budget, H pays for his own car, mobile and personal goods such as clothing and toiletries so it's mainly groceries, heat, light, insurances, TV, phone, internet and mobiles plus whatever clothing, footwear, gifts and miscellaneous  extras are needed.

Christianne1957

Have now finished work until 2nd January 2024 so have an opportunity to plan my 2024 budget in detail. I have worked out my income, which will be drastically reduced as I retire in January 2024 so I need to "cut my suit according to my cloth" on expenditure.
Planning to utilise my cooking from scratch/baking skills to reduce the food bill, sewing/mending skills to refurbish clothes & soft furnishings rather than buying ne. Hoping I can use my crafting skills to make homemade gifts instead of buying them and as soon as the weather gets warmer - I will be trying to make a small veg patch in our tiny garden
Beginning to look forward to 2024 & retirement with optimism now rather than dread 

Ambyth

The frugal plan for 2024
Get back to batch cooking 
Start taking my own lunches to work again (I became very lazy on this recently and have just realised how much buying lunch has cost me :
No buying new clothes this year unless necessary (after having a good sort through the wardrobes, necessary should only be the socks and such).
No buying new stock for bathroom cabinets.  How many bottles of shampoo, potions, lotions and toothpaste does a person need! Seems I've accumulated enough to last the best part of this year.

Other frugal living is already ongoing
Heating is programmed to 18degrees, layer up if cold.
Water is harvested where possible (I am water metered).
Starting to question my need for a tv licence as I spend most time watching N**flix. 
Travel to work is only paid if the weather is bad (walk otherwise).

lellyg

Ambyth said:

The frugal plan for 2024
Get back to batch cooking 
Start taking my own lunches to work again (I became very lazy on this recently and have just realised how much buying lunch has cost me :
No buying new clothes this year unless necessary (after having a good sort through the wardrobes, necessary should only be the socks and such).
No buying new stock for bathroom cabinets.  How many bottles of shampoo, potions, lotions and toothpaste does a person need! Seems I've accumulated enough to last the best part of this year.

Other frugal living is already ongoing
Heating is programmed to 18degrees, layer up if cold.
Water is harvested where possible (I am water metered).
Starting to question my need for a tv licence as I spend most time watching N**flix. 
Travel to work is only paid if the weather is bad (walk otherwise).

My television and licence went this year when son & daughter-in-law moved into their own place.  I have not missed it at all.  

Katiehound

Ambyth said:

 
Starting to question my need for a tv licence as I spend most time watching N**flix. 
 

Do you not need a licence if you only watch Netflix?

I wouldn't know as I only watch channels 4 or 5 online. Television went long ago- when analogue was replaced!

Asparklierblonde

To be really clear - you only need a licence if you watch live TV (on any channel at all), and / or stream BBC iPlayer. 

If you ONLY stream other platforms,  eg Netflix, Disney plus, and don’t stream iplayer, you do not need a licence. A lot of people are still really frightened to get this wrong, but the TV licensing website actually makes it really easy for you to complete a ‘No licence needed’ form. They then issue a letter to you which confirms, based on the questions you have answered, that you don’t need a licence.

For anyone who thinks this may apply to them, I implore you to look at their website and follow the simple steps. Don’t pay if you don’t need to!

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
Last year was a real stinker. I was diagnosed with cancer in May, had it removed in August and I’ve only just gone back to work on light duties. Just after my op OH had a funny turn which showed him to have blood clots in both lungs, he is still off work ( now onto half wages ) and not really improving as he gets very breathless very easily.
So, as you can guess this has been a wake up call to stop putting things off. OH has a small pension so it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he doesn’t go back to work and we’ve no mortgage any more but things would be definitely tighter. 

So our aim is to eat better, we do live frugally but there’s always room for improvement, and to live our lives to the full because we could be gone tomorrow.
Sorry but I’ve been a bit depressing here. But if it’s ok I’ll read along, support where I can and report in my progress.
I’m determined 2024 is going to be a much better year.
Have a lovely day everyone and hugs to those who need or would just like one.
Cuddlymarm