2024 Frugal Living Challenge

Prudent

Happy Hogmanay from me too! Wishing everyone a happy, frugal 2025.

OH doesn't eat meat, so no steak pie for me. I met a friend for coffee yesterday. She had just picked up a medium (smallish medium!) steak pie from the butchers and it was £18.

I am happy to report I met my local Olio distributor. He puts the surplus outside in the morning. We had a chat and I am now going to try some evening pickups. I was always reluctant as I am in my PJs by then, but I shall pull on something else and nip out. Although he was in his PJs too this morning!

I got some potatoes, celery, spinach, flat breads, parsley, chocolate mouse for OH, and some 'best' coleslaw. We are having a curry this evening so the spinach and flat breads will be most useful. 

Frugaldom

That's brilliant, @Prudent, well done venturing out to rescue some Olio. I'm just watching for listings tonight that friends can drop off when they're passing.

Happy new year to one and all!

Duchess2

Happy New Year everyone. Wishing you all success in your pursuit of a frugal year xx

fionaandphil

I've just totted up our figures for 2024 for family of 3   

Utilities - oil, electric and water is £2850 or £237.50 pm
Food - £3335 or £278 per month
Telecomms - high this year at £1700 - we have gone over to starlink due to rural location and the set up costs and equipment are included in that.  This will still be around £80-£85 per month for 2025
Car running cost for both  - £1900
Clothing - £580 which includes school uniform
Holidays - I'm not going to even mention this one - our biggest luxury and definitely not frugal!

We've also had some extra costs in relation to home repairs and to family illness. I'm going to include these going forward as I suspect they will continue as the older generation ages and needs more support.

It certainly makes me think about where our money is going.  I'll use these figures to work out the 2025 budget and try to build in some increases for the cost of living and have a pot for unexpected costs

Frugaldom

Hi fruguys and gals, I hope you are all looking forward to the money challenges we are all setting throughout 2025. As I said previously, my new year resolution is simply the word 'no', in a bud to further cut waste, unnecessary spending and zero interest savings accounts. Every penny needs to work if it isn't contributing to essentials.

Our household budget for 2 is one single full-time income of minimum wage and everything coming in over that is being saved or invested. Retirement is looming on the horizon.

I'll now request this thread be closed and meet you all over on the shiny new 2025 frugal living challenge thread.

Frugaldom

2025 frugal living challenge can be found at https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6576772/2025-frugal-living-challenge/p1