2024 Frugal Living Challenge

Madbat60

Morning all
We're gradually getting sorted here after DP's heart attack.  We went to the job centre this week.  I haven't claimed benefits since 1987, which was grim, so to go and be treated like a person was a revelation.  I have my self-employed interview on Wednesday.  I don't want to go back to cleaning, and I'm hoping I'll get support to get my dog walking business off the ground.  

We have loads of herbs in our garden, they really like our garden.  DP grows our basil.  We are generally self-sufficient for veg in the summer and autumn.  We're in the southeast, where it's very dry for a lot of the year. Today is a decluttering day.  Our local Mencap has a scrap store.  I found a load of material in there the other day.  I need to sort through my material and wool that I won't use and pop it along on Wednesday when they're open. 

suzeesu2000

Oh my goodness it was chilly out in the yard today. Emptied the old containers, had to throw two smashed ones away. Compost was sorted through, must be good as it’s lovely wiggley worms wriggling away. Chives are regrowing nicely as is mint. Celery is still fighting the good fight too. Sunday will see me back out making level beds for the raised beds to go on. Then building beds and filling. Have got the shelving in the kitchen ready to add the lights and the seeds. Getting exciting.

oh and I have a toothache.☹️🦷

Madbat60

@suzeesu2000 toothache is the worst thing in the world along with earache.  I'd rather have a baby than that.  I hope you get it sorted.  

I've had a productive week.  I managed to do some sewing.  DP had his job centre meeting on Weds, we have doctors next week so we need to ask for another sick note.  As for me, I'm seeing the the self-employment adviser at the job centre on Wednesday.  I'm quite looking forward to it.  I hope she can recommend some courses to do, as I want to start a dog walking business rather than cleaning, which quite frankly is a thankless task and bloody hard work.  

Anyhow, I made it through this very expensive month intact.  I paid my self-assessment tax bill yesterday.  Walking my friends' dogs paid for that.  I've had to be creative with meals but we didn't  starve.  Spring is coming soon which always makes everything better.  Have a fabulous Sunday.

evuka

Hi Frugallers, Haven't been on the forum for years but it's time to return to this lovely community! I find it hard to find frugal real life friends currently. I have created my 2024 budget but it doesn't mean it cannot be tweaked and made better. Will try to catch up on the previous posts to see who is here and where we are with this year's challenge. Missed you lots, Vuka

sammy_kaye18

Hello All

Do you have room for another one please? 
I love living frugally but in recent years I have wavered from the frugal track slightly but I want to get back on it as we are saving for a house deposit. 

@suzeesu2000 I hope your toothache is feeling better. My dentist tricked me the other week. I have severe social anxiety and my sister took me over to have two teeth out (weird that being in public bothers me more than dentists!) and whilst I was in the chair I thought she numbed up the wrong part of my mouth. I asked her what she was doing and she said I had two small fillings that needed doing so she was doing those whilst she had me in the chair so I would only need one visit so I ended up having two fillings and two teeth pulled but I dont need to go back till July now thankfully!

Husband works full time. 
Im a stay at home parent - kids are 13 and 19 but we also have 3 dogs, 2 other pets and I have severe social anxiety and depression so I'm trying to find work from home and have set up my own little business selling items on eBay/vinted etc. It doesn't make a fortune but covers what a part time wage would bring in so that helps. I need to restock after Xmas so that's on the to do list as well. 

Also fortunate that husband covers the majority of the bills and I do a mid month food shop with money my son pays in rent. (he pays us £150 a month. He earns about £1500 as an electrician but is saving to do driving lessons and does contribute other things as well etc) 

My basic benefits (before selling anything) is £240 - £150 from son and £90 child benefit. 
I use £100 from husbands card for a food shop and then mid month I do a £100 food shop so I should have £140 a month left to save or work with. At the minute I am left wondering where the heck that goes! I am going to try and save £100 a month though because at the minute I have no savings, no back up, if something goes wrong, Im stuffed quite frankly. 

So things I do currently

- grow our own veg - last year was quiet as we had family health issues but we had carrots, potatoes, radish, courgette, lettuce, rocket, cucumber, beans, peas, and lots of strawberries. I already have my seeds for this year and I'm hoping to grow more again and give the garden more attention this year now everyone is healing. 

- Im also on the list for an allotment although that is taking so long its unreal. I have been on there since 2006 and have moved up 5 places although I did email the other day after an allotmenteer on another plot said they sometimes have plots that are overgrown and forgotten but arent offered until the council clears them which can take an age - so I wrote and said I would clear myself if it meant getting a plot quicker so fingers crossed!

- I use Olio, Too Good Too Go, a local listing page, Freecycle, Trash Nothing, Facebook marketplace

- I seed and plant swap where I can. 

- I cook from scratch and try to make multiple meals with one cook. Its surprising how far you can stretch a chicken. I also just brought a new stainless steel mixing bowl - reduced from £9 down to £2.70 and Im planning to use it to make my own bread and baked goods to help keep the mob fed or potentially freeze some to help fill the freezer and make quick meals. 

- I sell things if I can to make a few pennies to put aside. 

- trying to get the remainder of my debt paid off. 

- I craft presents if I can and in my spare time to keep me busy. I bullet journal / sew / cross stitch etc

- This winter I brought us all oodies from a home shop and didn't actually need to put the main heating on at all due to heat proofing the house. I hung curtains in door ways, a curtain over the front door, fitted draught tape, kids have both blinds and curtains, made sure we all had an oodie/ pyjamas, extra blankets for beds, and some hot water bottles. I was actually shocked how well it improved the warmth in the house. It also helps that only the bedrooms are upstairs in our house so on days it was really windy we were all sat in our small living room (old miners house) and with a vivarium heat lamp on in the day and a quick blast from the electric fire - the room heats up in no time. Otherwise there is blankets on the back of the sofas plus three dogs! 

- Signed up for two free online libraries with audio books and books to read so using that to read and keep my brain focused. Also found a free movie site and watch latest releases on there rather than heading to the cinema. Also things like DuoLingo are good fun and help keep my brain active. 

- I do own a treadmill which I use to keep myself active and I find it helps my depression in the bad weather. I found a page called Conqueror which sets walking challenges and if you pay then you get a medal at the end of it. I looked on there to see how long the walks were and wrote them down and then use a notebook to keep track of what I have walked (I tend to do 3km increments) and then when I have done the equivalent of one walk - I print a picture of the place its equivalent too. Its a good incentive and I keep track of the distance in my bullet journal. 

- I think I have quite a few store cards

• Asda Rewards and put the cash pot it accumulates towards Christmas or special occasions, 
• LIDL Plus has some useful  coupons
• Tesco - I did put vouchers for Christmas shop 
• Sainsburys
• Holland and Barrett,
• Pets At Home - this helps with 5 animals and bird feeding!
• Greggs - son is 19 and eats here regularly so gets free items
• Costa - husband travels for work so free coffee or breakfasts on an early morning keep him fueled.

Im trying to think of anything else we do but this is a bit long now so onwards and upwards and I look forward to getting back on the frugal bandwagon. 

x

Wraithlady

Talking of seeds, if anybody wants any, I have quite a few packets going begging - I have : 

Rocket x 2/Sorrel/Endive/ Mixed salad leaves
Parsley/Oregano/Cress
Icicle radish/Onion/Spring onion
Fennel/Chard
Cabbage x 3/Sprouting Broccoli
Cosmos/Tagetes

DM me if you're interested

Frugaldom

Hi fruguys and gals, sorry I've been AWOL again but I have been reading in the background, trying to respond and failing dismally most times while trying to get to grips with mobile app version. 

Spent a couple of £s on eggs at the neighbour's farm gate as our pensioner hens are slowly fizzling out. Some of you will probably remember some of the hens and ducks from when we first hatched them in the incubator. Sadly, we are now down to just one rescued hen and 4 drakes so definitely no more 'homegrown' eggs for us. In the long run, I'm cheaper buying them from nearby. 

Almost the end of the month, almost time for a restock of food supplies. I'm determined to get more veg beds on the go this year but with 13 acres of near bog land with next to no topsoil at Frugaldom it's difficult. All the pony manure is being used to increase the organic material around tree and hedge planting. I've mulched the rhubarb and given the strawberries another layer of straw covering. Still need to mulch around the blueberry bushes and attempt to rescue apple trees. It's so windy here that im amazed any have survived.

Spends since last update - £14.99 for a pair of wellies, 2 1/2 dozen hen eggs and 1/2 dozen duck eggs. 

Cas

@Madbat60 so glad to hear DP’s on the mend.  And good luck for your self employed interview on Wednesday. 

@suzeesu2000 I hope your toothache is better soon.  The last time I had really bad toothache I ended up chewing on cloves to help dull the pain. 

Hello @evuka and  @sammy_kaye18!

Quiet weekend here.  My dog walking jeans were starting to wear so I’ve patched them up which will keep me going for a wee while longer. Out for Mum’s belated 75th birthday lunch yesterday which was lovely and meant we didn't need an evening meal.  Pottered around the garden today as it was dry albeit a bit windy! One of our fences came down a few weeks ago so I’ve cleared out the back of the bed so that it’s easier to maintain in future. The previous owner planted it and it’s full of wildlife friendly shrubs which bring in the birds, insects bees, etc. It also contains clumping bamboos which haven’t spread in 25 years (thankfully!) and the old canes come in useful in the garden. And I have a very long list of things that need done in the garden so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for some dry days this week!

fionaandphil

We've also been in the garden this weekend until the chill descended. Cutting back apple trees and blackberry bushes ready for the year ahead. Our chard and purple sprouting broccoli have survived and started growing again so we will continue to use them. Relaxing day as we've been at a christening, so lovely to see everybody and have a catch up.

Still working our way through supplies and have kept  food sending low and managed to pick up some bargains. Hopefully we can continue to do this going forward this year.

Welcome all newbies! I'm sure you will enjoy our friendly and helpful thread.

suzeesu2000

Thanks groupies for toothache wishes. It went as quick as it came…weird.

Been pretty good this week. Not been spending much money at all…£5 to be honest. Joined new local Community Pantry. For £5 you get at least £15 worth of groceries. My friend popped over for me as I’m unable to go. She came back with the following: 
2 tins carrots, 2 tins garden peas, 2 tins baked beans, 1 tin beans and sausages, 1 tin minced beef, 1 tin chilli, 1 tin meatballs, 1kg white rice, 2 tins sweetcorn, 1 tin peaches, 1 lg tube Colgate toothpaste, 1 lg Wash ‘n’ go, soap, 2 toothbrushes, 1 lg bubble bath. I’m very happy with that for a fiver.

started clearing yard yesterday in preparation for new raised beds to go down. Also have to amend all my compost too. Couldn’t do anything today as hip giving me awful pain. Blimey I am falling apart. 

DH has promised me help on Wednesday, so by the evening he’s will be done, lights will be up for indoor seeds and I will be a happy wife. 

Hope everyone’s had a good weekend and looking forward to a brand new shiney week.