2024 Frugal Living Challenge

Prudent

@otb666 I am involved with a few community groups and notice how many people are feeling the cost of living pressure again this winter. I am so grateful for all my MSE years as all the tips over the years have helped me. Usually my partner and I buy each other a ‘practical’ main present and a small surprise ‘treat’ present. This year he wants a jackets for walking.Last year I bought him a warm coat for funerals! It was the most bizarre gift ever…He grew up in the community, has a large family and sadly being in his seventies means he is at an age where he inevitably attends quite a few funerals. He was getting so cold in his suit at the graveside that he needed a smart wool coat. 

Nelliegrace

A good warm coat, such a sensible thought. Most mens coats are short length, suitable for car users. I bought DH a long, thick, wool duffle coat in the sales in 2023. Dad kept his WW2 Royal Navy British Warm, even when it was only fit to wear for fetching in the logs.

Janeryan

My hubby had a long coat from Joe Homans charity shop that had belonged to someone who workedas a guard on the railways( even had the silver British Rail buttons on it). He wore it as his smart coat for years(from 18 up until 2 or 3 years  ago so over 40 years)but sadly had to part with it when it didn't fit him anymore .

fionaandphil

I think most people can see that these higher prices are here to stay and are realising that they need to think more about spending and save where they can. We have cut back quite a bit in the last few years as we all just have too much 'stuff'. Kids still have treats but adults much more practical or useful.

It makes sense if you have some money to invest in good quality clothing and footwear that will last. Follows the Sam Vimes boots theory!

Prudent

@fionaandphil there is so much truth in the Sam Vines theory. I must admit though that I don’t invest much in clothes myself as I buy about 90 percent of mine from charity shops. The only things I tend to buy new is underwear, nightwear and plain t shirts. It started as a frugal choice but increasingly it is just as much an environmental choice. I have spent several years planting my garden and now my allotment in a way that supports wildlife. A highlight of this year for me has been becoming a supporter of @Frugaldom’s project and learning more about wildlife. I feel buying new clothes is causing more harm than the little bit of good I can do with planting. My budget would inevitably mean some new clothes would be fast fashion with all its environmental implications. I definitely am not judging anyone who buys cheap clothing though. I have been in a very hard place myself when I was a single parent. You do what you need to do to get by. Now I have time to potter around charity shops I am able to make these choices. I am grateful to be able to choose second hand.

ancientmum

Happy Sunday everyone!  

Frugaldom yeah! to the mango and passion fruit smoothie.  Little treats are lovely to have.  Olio round here is very quiet lately, I don't mind if it is all pastries as I freeze them to have as a breakfast treat at weekends but even those seem to have disappeared.  I love your EEK fund and may steal it as a name for one of my accounts.  

I agree with the Vimes boots theory but sometimes you just have to go with what you can afford at the time.  I've been watching for some stylish winter boots to be reduced on Black Friday but it hasn't happened so will have to stick with my A1dii trainers, which are at least waterproof, and tell myself that I don't go anywhere I will need stylish boots.

I did manage to get a heater from Argoes that was reduced by 20%, so that was a win

Mags x

Shrewbie

Hi @Frugaldom and everyone. Years ago I read your original house-buying thread and it really inspired me, I never forgot it. And now I am around a year away from being able to buy my own property! with a bit more frugalness, or frugality, whatever the word is! I will get there. So thank you! 

I'd love to join for 2025. Here's my initial thoughts on budget. I am in the very fortunate position to be staying with friends who own their own property and it is enabling me to save. The rent I pay them also includes most of my meals (they wanted us to live like a family, and they love to cook) and I haven't included transport costs as this comes out of my salary. 
I currently have EUR 23k saved for a deposit and hoping to get to EUR 40k by this time next year. In Madrid this means I could potentially afford a EUR 170k property. I'd need to pay 8k in taxes/fees. You can also often negotiate property prices with 20-30k leeway, so my max budget could go up to 200k. For that, I expect to be able to get a 2 bed property or a one bed with a terrace. I am looking in Madrid city, but in more or less "affordable" areas. 

I have a large holiday budget as I am going to New Zealand for my best friend's wedding, and another friend is getting married in Germany. I have overestimated the cost and hope to be able to recoup some here. I am only staying two nights in a hotel in NZ so costs shouldn't be too astronomical. Flight has already been bought.

I earn a little in interest each month on my savings, so that plus anything left over from the contingency could be extra.  Any presents and extra costs will be decided on a monthly basis and will come out of this pot. 


All in EUR

Rent 4,680
Holidays 2,000
Food and fun 1,200
Student loan repayments 864
Gym 396
Phone 120
contingency 350 

TOTAL 10210


I am feeling very motivated and inspired to start. 

Katiehound

No lie-in so was up at 6.45!!!

In my free 2 hour electricity slot I managed:

1 carrot cake baked

1 apple & damson crumble baked (damsons gifted to me & apples reduced price)

1 dishwasher load

1 hand wash up

2 flasks hot water filled

most of 7 jars Mamade cooked (added extra peel & cheap red grapefruit)

1 x electric rad for 2 hours

poor dog had to wait until 10am for his walk as the marmalade refused to reach setting point, & then had to put in (recycled!) jars asap.
It's  a long time since I made jam etc & I now realise that mix needs a really good long rolling boil rather than a simmer. The hotplate is harder to control . Lesson learned!

joedenise

I managed quite a bit in our 2 free hours too.  I made a lamb tagine in the oven.  Done 2 machine loads of washing including one lot of bedding.  The bedding was tumble dried and the 2nd load out on the line in the really bad wind - dried in about an hour!

Also 2 loads of washing up done.

Nelliegrace

DH’s cheap shoes and nylon socks now give us some expensive chiropody bills. The Hospital Saturday Fund helps, I got the corporate rate for both of us just before I retired.