2024 Frugal Living Challenge

Debsnewbudget

I keep a running total of presents every year through a fantastic free app called Gift List   (A present wrapped in pink avatar)
as I buy presents through the year I put them on the app. It allows me to track ideas of what to buy, presents bought and total amounts for each person and an overall total.
I love it as I used to do this on a piece of paper but generally only when I was wrapping them, and had sometimes forgotten the cost.

amber03

One thing I am going to take forward into year is keeping check on my food shop money. Been abit lax recently and it has showed. Just checked how much I have spent this month so far and it’s £120 over, then checked the last couple of months and it’s around £50 a month. It’s amazing how all those little extra shops you do during the week add up. 

Have been saving for Xmas food so that’s not really an issue next month and not going to go mad. The same with presents. Most people have asked for money or vouchers, which is fine by me. I hate buying presents that I know will be wasted. Have asked the GK’s for their Xmas lists, will spend half of the money on a present and will give them the other half so they can probably buy all the tat they want.x

Janeryan

ET22 said:

@Dizzycap I also think its a great example to set to people so they are brave enough to put the bank card away too. I made it public on facebook i do not buy my adult kids presents and my young grandchildren get a pantomime ticket and a party bag on boxing day. It feels like people are too frightened not to spend as much as they can incase there is a slight chance xmas will be a disappointment. It really is like a retail prison with the door wide open. I think most people wouldnt buy all the tat but are frightened of being judged x   

I think i might keep a running total of how much xmas will cost this year x 

I have kept a total of what I've bought and how much I've spent over the years. I have always done stockings as well as gifts for my adult son and dil but this year I warned them well in advance that I wasn't doing that. It has taken a lot of pressure off both financially and the time taken to find nice small things to go in them. I loved doing them but they are now both earning decent wages and buy what they want when they want it so don't need me to top up things for them

Frugaldom

Olio and the Te$¢0 leftovers... Has anyone noticed the high volume of vegan food and the more expensive 'brands' are always available yet seldon, if ever, any basic non branded foodstuffs? The eggs we managed to rescue last week were half dozen original price £3.70. I'm gobsmacked at that price... over 60p per single egg.

Frugaldom

November is ticking on and another weekend is almost upon us. Hopefully, everyone in cold parts of the country is keeping warm. Logs here are now £7 a bag and we gave up buying coal during the pandemic, although I'm sure it works out less expensive based on heat generated. Olio listings were jam-packed over the past few days so we will see what leftovers arrive for the project. Visitors here never know what to expect.

Costings... Next year looks to revolve around the number 12 but with minimum wage increasing year on year, it is possible to work to a relatively snall budget. I do need to keep acar on the road, so here goes:

Car £1200
Groceries & toiletries £1200
Electricity, gas & logs £1200
Communications £1000
Insurances £1000
Family & Friends related £1200
EEK (Everything Else Kitty)  £1200

The above totals £8,000, which is double my original challenge amount set out on here in 2007. It does include many extras that aren't basic living essentials, such as 2 mobile phones, a car, more family related spends and an increase in the miscellaneous / anything ekse' category. Insurances have rocketed because we need so much public liability when inviting everyone to visit or stay and the general food and toiletry budget has been increased to £100 per month. 

As well as the above, I need at least another £8,000 to cover the costs of keeping animals so my overall basic essential costs amount to £16,000 a year, which I believe falls short of minimum full-time wage.

Having now joined the 60+ age group, any other income generated will contribute towards retirement. How scary a thought is that!. Eek!

fionaandphil

I think that is a great budget given how much everything has increased in price.  Your communications always look horrendous but I know where you are that its difficult.  We are relatively close to town and finally gave up trying to connect to domestic fibre this year and went with Starlink as our internet was so poor and was stopping us from working.  What a game changer! It costs £75 per month but we have speeds of over 100mbps now and rarely have any dropouts.  Still has a few limitations - doesn't like solar storms - but for us it has been a great boost and worth the extra expenditure.

I haven't even started looking at budget for 2025, I know we are being frugal where we can but could always try harder.  We are trying to balance that with having a nice family life and making good memories.  We are likely to have big spends on college and university in the next few years closely followed by retirement.

Have a good weekend everyone and try to stay warm and dry!

kayannie

Don't forget that now you're an over 60 year old, you can get a few discounts, depending of course if the relevant shops are in your area. Iceland give a 10 per cent discount to over 60's on Tuesdays & B&Q offer 10 per cent off anything garden related on Wednesdays. KA

Frugaldom

kayannie said:

Don't forget that now you're an over 60 year old, you can get a few discounts, depending of course if the relevant shops are in your area. Iceland give a 10 per cent discount to over 60's on Tuesdays & B&Q offer 10 per cent off anything garden related on Wednesdays. KA

Thank you, that's good to know. We aren't anywhere near shops but if we ever decide to make ve house for retirement purposes, it will be to some place on a bus route for town, post office and shops. I would also check the location against the Olio app, as that has been an absolute game changer. Tonight, I am feasting on mango and passion fruit (original price £2.50) a bottle of Innocent Smoothie (original price £4.50) and can't believe my luck. What a treat! Even the cats and goats are happy with their donated leftovers. 
 

mama67

Asda also do soup & roll plus tea & coffee for over 60s for £1 

https://corporate.asda.com/newsroom/2024/11/21/asda-brings-back-vital-1-winter-warmer-cafe-initiative-for-the-over-60s-over-60000-meals-sold-in-first-two-weeks

otb666

I have spent 165 on xmas presents this year I have noticed family wants money and household basic appliances like teaspoons and pyrex dish and useful socks and pants. You can certainly see how cost of living is having an effect on everyone.