2024 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

Another fan of St Monans here, stayed in one of the fishermen's cottages while meeting up with family for the air show a good few years back and fitted in another visit to the Secret Bunker while there.

Well done @RavenRover for getting the Olio slot. Our food hero friends had slots last week and this so we got a good selection of leftovers for the animals plus some other bits and bobs that got shared with our campervan visitors over the weekend.

Spending is still on an absolute needs only basis here but I'm going to need more work wear soon. Charity shop / community shop trip needed, or else eBay searching.

Christianne1957

Unpaid Carers - please check if you're entitled to claim Carers Credit as it pays your National Insurance contribution towards State Retirement Pension

Frugaldom

Good evening fellow frugalers. Can you believe we are already into the last week of February? Don't forget that extra day on 29th if you run a day by day budget.

We managed to get some Olio goods from friends this weekend so it's been fast food, carb-fest since Friday. Goat and ponies happy with some apple, lettuce and turnip, plus the ponies love bananas, skins and all. 

My rhubarb has started to grow. I split the crown into 4 late last year and it appears to all have survived. I weeded out a big planter and have a couple of tubs filled with compost, ready to sow some early seeds and I noticed quite a lot of garlic had sprouted. It's the little signs of Spring being just around the next corner that keeps us going, that and pay day approaching. 😆 

suzeesu2000

Had my 1st Too good to go bag this week. £3 and we got 1 sliced loaf, 1 unsliced loaf, 2 huge apple doughnuts, 6 iced ring doughnuts, 2 cheese twists, 4 soft rolls and 4 crusty rolls.  The sweet things went to my friend as we can’t eat them , both diabetics, but the cheese twists were eaten for supper and one bread was used over four days while uncut one and both lots of rolls are in freezer. Haven’t needed to buy bread or rolls at all. 

Hoping to use Community Pantry this week and maybe another bread bag. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend x

willow_loulou

Hello all - how are you? I’ve not read back but will over the next few days. 

Well it’s been a year already! 

I don’t know if I said but I ended my relationship over new year. They didnt take it well and I’ve had to take advice on how to deal with it. It’s been difficult. Not what I needed when dealing with cancer but I’m glad the relationship is over as it has definitely contributed to my mental state  and general anxiety. 

But in the good news I have almost paid off one of my debts and feel like I’m really in control again. I’ve got the head space to focus on me and my future now and it’s been liberating getting on top of things I’ve perhaps ignored rather! Im also putting myself out there a bit to do a table top sale of things I no longer want and things I’ve made. 

I’ve also been keeping to a food plan and not over spending on food, living alone now it’s been a challenge finding things I want to eat. Very glad it’s almost salad season! Will be getting some seeds going so I can have salad from the garden. 

Viking_mfw

Mostly a lurker here but I do enjoy this thread, and am a fan of frugaldom (the place) as love that general area. Did an Olio collection as a FWH last night and ended up with a lot of white baps which I don't think will go. I turned one lot (my share) into garlic bread also using some extremely elderly cheese this lunchtime for my bottom less bit DSs and it went down a storm. If the other bags don't go I'll turn them all into garlic bread and freeze for future use. 

Madbat60

Afternoon all
Well we were told last Tuesday that we don't qualify for any money at all from Universal Credit, so I closed our claim.  I will continue to survive on my pension.  A friend of mine has asked me to clean for her which will be a bit of extra money.   DP will get ESA fortnightly and we're still waiting on an outcome from PIP.  By both of us being frugal, we have survived.  I'm not worried, it was all just a bit crap. 

@willow_loulou sometimes it's easier to be on your own.  I hope all goes well for you.

Have a lovely Sunday, Spring is coming.

willow_loulou

@Madbat60 you’re so right there! I spent a long time single before this relationship and I Am definitely remembering the benefits of being single. Even just going for my regular coffee out has become a joy again. 

Prudent

@willow_loulou you will find your own rhythm again. When I split from my ex husband (over 20 years ago now) I found one of the most surprising pleasures was being able to make all my own budgeting decisions. My new partner has lived with for 12 years now, but he is happy to pay his share and leave the budgeting to me. I have noticed over the years he has picked up of the ways I manage my personal spends and is almost close to becoming frugal in some areas.  Do you have anywhere under cover you can grow salad? As the weather is mild I put some salad leaf seeds in a long planter in the poly tunnel and I am delighted to see they are all sprouting. 

@Madbat60 you may be able to get help with council tax on the basis of a low income. I think though most people on this forum are terribly resilient and manage in spite of the setbacks. I had to give up work eight years ago as doing a high stress job with existing health conditions plus being unpaid carer was just too damaging for my health. Financially it felt like jumping off a cliff (OH retired by then too) yet I can honestly say it was the best decision. The cost of living crisis has added pressures but I am grateful to have all those stored up MSE tips in reserve.

Prudent

The weekend has been dry here so I have spent a happy couple of days with OH at the allotment getting it prepared for the growing season. There was plenty of company today as everyone was taking advantage of the good weather. We only got this plot last year and it was overgrown so there is still a fair bit of general clearing to do. We have a gently sloping bank at one side which is covered with brambles, moss and rubbish. The soils is full of tree roots from the other side of the perimeter fence so it uses are limited. We cleared an area today with the intention of putting buckets there to grow potatoes. 

We inherited an apple tree with the plot and I harvested and stored the apples in the autumn. I took a couple of apples back down today and laid them under the tree for the birds. I had great pleasure watching our resident blackbirds enjoying feasting on them. Bob, our elderly, robin flew around us and in and out of the shed and polytunnel all day. There are two young robins on the plot this year which we think are Bob's offspring from last year. They are gradually coming closer as we are around more. Over winter it has mainly been two quick visits a day to feed the birds. 

This evening I am going to plant some flower seeds in the heated propagator as I have two little trays remaining. All the other trays are doing well. The cucumbers and purple broccoli came through first followed by the aubergines and now the two types of peppers. I treated us to a seed 'advent' calendar this year and we are looking forward to growing all the lovely flowers. I am hoping that the seeds will give me enough flowers to fill my small garden and leave plenty over to make the allotment more attractive to bees and butterflies.