2024 Frugal Living Challenge

Prudent

ET22 said:

Monsoon on Amzson for an electric throw @Prudent . Ive had mine for three years and its still going strong. They come in different sizes too. I think they are about 40 pounds now but worth every penny and more.  

Thank you! I can't find Monsoon. The closet I can see is Monhouse, it is £39.99 so the right price range.

ET22

Sorry yes Monhouse. Mines still as good as new! 

Prudent

Dizzycap said:

Prudent, I recently got a new BIG electric heated throw from TheRange for under £40 with FREE delivery:

https://www.therange.co.uk/home-furnishings/bedding/electric-blankets-and-throws/heated-throw-electric-fleece-blanket#2750517

It's super for my legs, hips and back

The others I looked at at a similar size were £75 upwards

Thank you. Sadly comes up as unavailable for home delivery to me. The nearest store is about 20 miles away. I think I will go for an online option as I wouldn't be able to collect it this week.

TizerCat

@Dizzycap and @Prudent I guess the time comes to us all that we realise we need to slow down and having a better work-life balance becomes a priority over money.  Luckily my health niggles are minor and having more time to rest and spend time in the garden or out walking will do me a world of good 

I live in a small village and we are very lucky that the village shop is open 7am til 11pm and has a cash point and post office that acts as a bank for most major ones. 

Today was a good frugal day as I spent most of it sorting out my crafts stash to sell on eBay and as OH paid for my coffee today I'm counting it as a NSD. 

Have a lovely evening all !

Prudent

Well done on organising your craft stash to sell @TizerCat. I am a quilter and I have been gifted quite a bit of fabric from people who have been reducing their stash this year. I am only going to buy fabric that I need to complete a project now. I have just put together some fabrics for my next quilt and the only fabric I needed was a yellow blender. I definitely agree with you about life balance. As long as I can pay my bills, I am content with less money and less stress.

Thank you @ET22. After reading the reviews I decided to go with the Monhouse. Even better, I found one in the colour I wanted from an eBay seller for £25 for a double. That colour was £59 on Amazon. The eBay seller is selling new ones that have damaged boxes. Just before I ordered I remembered that one of my sisters had gifted me an electric throw. I had placed it in a draw under the spare room bed in case my daughter gets well enough to make the journey to visit. I dug it out but decided to keep that one use upstairs and buy the £25 one for downstairs. I have balance issues and carrying a big blanket up and downstairs in cold snaps is not ideal. It also means I still have one for my daughter if needed.

Dizzycap

TizerCat said:

@Dizzycap and @Prudent I guess the time comes to us all that we realise we need to slow down and having a better work-life balance becomes a priority over money.  Luckily my health niggles are minor and having more time to rest and spend time in the garden or out walking will do me a world of good 

I live in a small village and we are very lucky that the village shop is open 7am til 11pm and has a cash point and post office that acts as a bank for most major ones. 

Today was a good frugal day as I spent most of it sorting out my crafts stash to sell on eBay and as OH paid for my coffee today I'm counting it as a NSD. 

Have a lovely evening all !

Unfortunately, I wish had been given the opportunity to slow down but I suffered a severe & unexpected traumatic event that fast tracked my aging process through complicated PTSD along with insomnia in a matter of weeks. It's a little like forgetting to check the level of oil in your car engine and expecting it to keep running at peak performance when it's reaches far below the minimum required level - Eventually it goes BANG!

I was however, fortunate in that I had been following MSE & the forum for a number of years before hand and was already on the frugal, haggling & savings path. I actually enjoy the simple things in life far better than all the pomp and circumstance Although I have to admit, not working did originally have a detrimental effect on me but again, you just have to self learn to adapt and cope as best as you can. Yes, you can get help & support but no one knows you like you do.

I too have had a huge decluttering of boxes full of stash keeping only the stuff I know I'm really going to use. I gave some to other arty friends, some to a local charity who runs an art group, and then I've almost sold the rest now and I feel liberated I've only just made my first purchase for over 15 months for Acrylic paint which I got a very good deal on complete with paint brushes included & cashback, so happy all round Once a Frugalite ALWAYS a Frugalite

Time for some body rest now so toodle pip & have a great evening everyone xxx

2Scratters

@Dizzycap welcome aboard. 
It alarms me you have no ATM for 25 miles. Is there non at a fuel station or inside another local store that has a Post Office counter? In our ( what was a village now a small town) there is a PO in the Morrisons local and the counter is open as long as the shop barr the last 15 mins prior to closing at 2230hrs. We have 3 in total within a 10 minute stroll and another 3 1 mile away.
I am aiming to keep some cash about me at all times and it is not all in the bank as we know it does crash now and again. There is too much storing and recording where we go and what we do with our money. Conspirathist me?  Yes, unfortunately.
I too am very good at pulling in the purse strings then severely let go every now and again. Just need to keep focused but I have RL interfering and taking my attention to actions of kilter.

2 Scratters xx

Dizzycap

2Scratters said:

@Dizzycap welcome aboard. 
It alarms me you have no ATM for 25 miles. Is there non at a fuel station or inside another local store that has a Post Office counter? In our ( what was a village now a small town) there is a PO in the Morrisons local and the counter is open as long as the shop barr the last 15 mins prior to closing at 2230hrs. We have 3 in total within a 10 minute stroll and another 3 1 mile away.
I am aiming to keep some cash about me at all times and it is not all in the bank as we know it does crash now and again. There is too much storing and recording where we go and what we do with our money. Conspirathist me?  Yes, unfortunately.
I too am very good at pulling in the purse strings then severely let go every now and again. Just need to keep focused but I have RL interfering and taking my attention to actions of kilter.

2 Scratters xx

There was until last month. The Cash Point at the local BP garage went out of action 2 months ago and our local Tesco Express, which had a cashpoint outside, was taken over by Budgens a months ago. I think Budgens is thinking about putting a 24/7 cash machine inside the shop but as they've only just opened, along with the included post office, it will take a couple of weeks to get organised.

To make it worse all the banks that were available 10 miles away are also now closing down which is why it's become a 25 mile journey to even see let alone use a bank anymore

The main issue for both myself and other residence is that we can't always just get in the car and drive to a cash point due to health issues and when we do manage to get out to do a shop the maximum we can get at the checkout is £50. Not so good if you can only get out every 2 weeks or so:-( Although there is the post office, it's been closed for almost a month due to the local Tesco Express being taken over by Budgens - Nightmare!

Well, another day over and it's dark already It's still very quiet on the streets today with hardly anyone passing by and also online - Very strange for this time of year! It seems my decluttering sell off has come to an almost halt after a crazy month, which is great tbh as my body has hit another full resting period and the thought of having to go out, even around the corner to the inpost lockers, doesn't fill me with glee It's time for thick snugglie huggy long fleece with electric wrap for my lower body time.

Lets hope we see a little sunshine next week in the midsts of this grey daily gloom xxx

Nelliegrace

A second evening of neighbours’ money going up in smoke. The bangs are loud, the dog is stressed.

Kerry_Woman

Have added up my total for each category for last months spends.  Have been really working hard at my impulse buying, by stepping back and not buying things. Downloaded my bank app on my mobile, hopefully it will help with things, eg keeping a closer eye on spending and the balance. Still getting used to it. Meeting up with 2 different friends this month - one next week and the other at the end of the month. Will be keeping a very close eye on my spending. I do have a play to see next month in London.  Will be bringing my own refreshments to that, but planning to get the programme. Am on the lookout for free events locally to attend.