2024 Frugal Living Challenge

suzeesu2000

Sadly our new Community Pantry is not available for two weeks, they only opened two weeks ago as is. Not moaning. My friend has said she will go there on the last Friday of the month. Such a shame I can’t get out as the bakery in the next village has had bargain bags every day for £3. Would love a couple of those as I could stock the freezer with bakery goods. Got no one to go and can’t get there myself. Being disabled really can be SUCH a pain in the bum at times😁

2Scratters

Frugal living has its rewards that come from the strangest of events/places. Whilst emptying our parents house (they have moved into independant living) the amount of cleaning products that were under the sink and also on 3 other shelves and in the bathroom airing cupboard have come my way. Other siblings were not interested (thank you to them) To quantify the amount it will probably take me 3/4 years to use up what is there  I will checkout with our local pantry if any will be accepted by them, it's not all about food (as I see it anyway) these items will save someone money to be able to buy more food or a small treat.

Looking after our pennies is difficult at best. This situation is really putting us to the test and others who have and are choosing to teach themselves and learn from others will really help us understand that we control the money not the other way round. That is the greatest liberating lesson we can learn. Thank you all.

2 Scratters xx

Madbat60

Evening all
We survived January financially.  After a week and a half of reading about PIP, I finally finished the form and we've sent it off.  We're waiting to see what the outcome will be.  DP starts his cardiac rehab on the 27th.  We still don't know if we'll get universal credit until the 18th February.  I think we might just get ESA as the government seem to think I can live on my NHS pension.  However, even if we don't get much money, we will leave our UC claim open as we will get discounts on water and energy, plus other stuff.  It's been a real learning curve, I've never claimed benefits.  Thank you whoever mentioned the work and benefits website, it was really helpful.  

The good news is spring is coming and my car is repairable.  Have a fabulous weekend all.

RateTartExtraordinaire

Hi all, 

Wins this week:

I managed to declutter. Sold one item and donated some bits to the charity shop. 

Also, I joined the loyalty club with Supa*drug. The saving on one item alone was worth it on their own brand toiletries. I hadn't planned to join up, but it was a no brainer. The branded item was £14.49, the Sd own brand item was £10 but with the discounted member price £6.

Spent £4 on some strawberries and a nice chocolate bar as a gift for my friend this afternoon and she supplied the cups of tea. A definite saving on going out. 

I'm going to try and save money by making a personalised apron as a joke present for my partner.

Also, I was really interested in knitting some knee warmers for my mum. I'm a novice knitter.
Anyone know if this is fairly easy to do and where to start?

 

Katiehound

There are knitted knee warmers online on Youtube- but all the videos seem to be in ??? hindi? - whatever it is a language I do not recognise- but if you watch them you can see how they are made.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z0r5bAnqT0

There is a free pattern to download on Ravelry here:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/phils-knee-warmer

RateTartExtraordinaire

@Katiehound Thanks or should I say, namaste. That looks great. I've downloaded the PDF Phil's knee Warmer. 

Now I just need to get the mum's knee measurements.

cw18

Just catching up on everything since 22nd Jan !!!

I was just reading about the air fryer being used for dehdrating.   I do have an air fryer, but it's a small cheap one - and my only attempt at cooking something simple in it was a disaster and took much longer than using my combi oven (must try to rehome it as I won't be using it again).   I only bought a cheap one as I wasn't convinced I'd get much use our of an air fryer, but a dehydrator is one of those things I've looked at longingly for a good few years (specifically for mushrooms, bananas and pineapples).   The only ones I've seen with good reviews have been expensive, so I'm now wondering if it's worth trying to fund a good quality (and large, and equally pricey) air fryer for that purpose - meaning it can also be used for cooking if I get the hang of it (or if my combi isn't working, or if I need more space than that has as my main oven had gone kaput - must research a new heating element as I think that's what's gone, but the cooker has been in the house 22 years and it was hard work finding a new element for the grill 16 years ago ).

Has anyone had both, meaning they can compare the use they get from them for the cost?

Debsnewbudget

cw18 said:

Just catching up on everything since 22nd Jan !!!

I was just reading about the air fryer being used for dehdrating.   I do have an air fryer, but it's a small cheap one - and my only attempt at cooking something simple in it was a disaster and took much longer than using my combi oven (must try to rehome it as I won't be using it again).   I only bought a cheap one as I wasn't convinced I'd get much use our of an air fryer, but a dehydrator is one of those things I've looked at longingly for a good few years (specifically for mushrooms, bananas and pineapples).   The only ones I've seen with good reviews have been expensive, so I'm now wondering if it's worth trying to fund a good quality (and large, and equally pricey) air fryer for that purpose - meaning it can also be used for cooking if I get the hang of it (or if my combi isn't working, or if I need more space than that has as my main oven had gone kaput - must research a new heating element as I think that's what's gone, but the cooker has been in the house 22 years and it was hard work finding a new element for the grill 16 years ago ).

Has anyone had both, meaning they can compare the use they get from them for the cost?

I got a dehydrator off FB Marketplace the other year.  I just kept an eye on the adverts and managed to pick one up for £10.
I use it for apples, pineapple, mango, bananas, and anything else I have left over from Olio. It does always take longer than I think it will, but I have no idea of the cost.
I also have an air fryer, but only had that 6 months. I find it useful but I don't think I am using it to its full capability.

joedenise

I bought an Ninja Flexdrawer a few weeks ago and today is the first day I've used my oven since I got it and the only reason for that is that I'm cooking a roast dinner and a rice pudding.  Don't think a rice pudding would cook well in the air fryer but haven't actually tried it.  It has a dehydrate function but not tried it yet but hopefully will but probably not until the summer when there are gluts of fruit and veg!

suzeesu2000

cw18 said:

Just catching up on everything since 22nd Jan !!!

I was just reading about the air fryer being used for dehdrating.   I do have an air fryer, but it's a small cheap one - and my only attempt at cooking something simple in it was a disaster and took much longer than using my combi oven (must try to rehome it as I won't be using it again).   I only bought a cheap one as I wasn't convinced I'd get much use our of an air fryer, but a dehydrator is one of those things I've looked at longingly for a good few years (specifically for mushrooms, bananas and pineapples).   The only ones I've seen with good reviews have been expensive, so I'm now wondering if it's worth trying to fund a good quality (and large, and equally pricey) air fryer for that purpose - meaning it can also be used for cooking if I get the hang of it (or if my combi isn't working, or if I need more space than that has as my main oven had gone kaput - must research a new heating element as I think that's what's gone, but the cooker has been in the house 22 years and it was hard work finding a new element for the grill 16 years ago ).

Has anyone had both, meaning they can compare the use they get from them for the cost?

I’ve got the Ninja double drawer version with dehydrate facility. It’s brilliant! I had a separate dehydrator which was bigger but took forrreeevver! Ninja much quicker than expected. Also brilliant for smaller meals. If DH is out I would have fish fingers. 10 mins in Ninja and crisp on outside. Tower do a very good book on air fryer recipes too, just got mine 2nd hand on eBay. Library has a good selection as well. I do recommend the Ninja though, yes it’s not cheap but it is worth it. By the way, I sold my dehydrator.