2025 Frugal Living Challenge

fionaandphil

You inspired me to nip out and collect some apples while tea was cooking @mumtoomany lots came down in the stormy weather yesterday. I will conjure something up over the next few days! The tree is very well laden this year so should be enough to last all winter

Frugaldom

kayannie said:

My nearest FF is about the same distance away as yours, but I usually have to go to that town about once a month or so.  Did you know that you can download money off coupons? I think they start at £2 off a £20 shop.
KA

We used to get leaflets through the doors with the vouchers but I haven't seen them in a while so thought they had stopped. Thank you for the reminder, I will check out their website 

Frugaldom

@mumtoomany Your garden produce haul is amazing and you more than deserved a new wash bowl. 😊 Like you, we are considering our options for retirement to try and be closer to things like public transport but no firm plans thought out yet. Are you currently in Scotland? We are in the SW corner but in a fairly rural part.

Managed to claim some milk, turnip, pizza and some baked goods from Olio this week so that's always a help. Anything we don't eat gets fed to the goats, ponies, cats or wildlife so not much wasted here.

Next phase of my Frugaldom micro holiday business has now been implemented - off-grid cabin camping. I embraced the wonders of Ch@tGPT by asking it to create me a business plan, which it did in under 5 seconds! I was totally amazed and more that a little impressed! All for free. My writing career is now defunct.

Renovation work is progressing well at the tiny cottage, where we have finally got around to having the adjoining outhouse converted into an art studio.

I managed to fit in time to do a blog post about the latest Frugaldom holiday opportunity. Yeah! 

RavenRover

Delurking here, as been a bit of a tough summer financially so reading all your posts have kept me going.  Ta much x

As for me, the garden has not been as productive this year, thanks to a combination of old seeds, peat free compost and an army of slugs and snails hasn't helped.  I have just got my sweet peas starting to produce flowers!  I promise I didn't give the slimy ones flying lessons over the hedge🙄

Being a collector for Olio is a godsend. Picked up random extra collections, so that has been a huge help.  I've been especially lucky with meat and fresh veg and one of my regulars is also a collector and she gets lots of milk in her collection and she is only a couple of miles away.  Even managed several bunches of flowers.

Not been able to save any money this year but hopefully that will change now I have a job with a years contract rather than scratching about with self employed work.  Thankfully not got into debt yet.  This month is trying its best though - accountants bill due, 2 new tyres, extra sessions with osteopath (apparently NHS view my back as too difficult to deal with),vets bill and dog insurance.   Thankfully my frugal ways are seeing me through and doing a huge amount of "shopping" from the cupboards and freezer.

Spending a but of time clearing the mending pile too, so found some clothes I had forgotten about including my favourite jeans which now have some visible mending and I wear them with pride.

Let the frugal fun continue!

mumtoomany

Hi all. Awful weather here again today, rain and more rain!

@Frugaldom, no not in Scotland. We moved to SW Wales 12 years ago, from NW England. DD1 her OH and their 3 children (plus one on the way) are here with us. Other 4 children, their partners and other 2 grandchildren all live in the NW of England, also neices , nephews, great nieces/nephews and OH's sister. Hoping maybe DD1 may move with us. 

Off to brave the weather now, speak soon, hugs, mumtoomany.xxx

Nelliegrace

Rain on Monday, Rain today, but yesterday I got the bedding washed and dried in the garden. 

mumtoomany

Forgot to say welcome to @RavenRover, be careful this thread and this lifestyle is highly addictive! Hugs, mumtoomany.xx

Gem-gem

Good afternoon everyone, 
Once again has been a busy time. Had family up last weekend plus I have been unwell with the current lurgy. Really wiped me out for a few days. Have spent the past few days on the phone to the council dealing with DM council tax and to HMRC. Had an unexpected Employer NI bill from last year. Accountant hadn't warned me of changes - long story won't go into it. Upshot, I am £304 poorer. 

Have also been busy prepping pears and apples, stewing them down for the coming months. Have really only just started, many hours left still to do. Filled the garden bin with chopping down blackberry bushes and finished tomato plants.
Anytime I have spent resting I have continued to crochet. I finished my blanket and have made a cat. I'm going to have a go at making woolly socks next. 

MrsCD

@Gem-gem, have you made socks before? I can recommend winwick mum's blog for a good tutorial with dk and 4ply sock yarn basic patterns. I learned a few years ago, but be careful, they're addictive!!! 

Frugaldom

Hi fruguys and frugals, and welcome back to @RavenRover. Several updates from me, some +ve and some -ve, so here goes...

1. Good - Renovation work going well at the cottage studio.
2. Bad - Torrential rain caused a land slip that collapsed part of a banking and high retaining wall from neighbouring property.
3. Good - Succeeded in bagging some more Olio
4. Bad - Field gatepost trashed and now needs urgent repair or replacement.
5. Good - Bus pass application has been approved after my umpteenth attempt at applying online over the past 13 months.
6. Good - Next phase of micro enterprise starting soon... decorating the little off-grid cabin that I'm planning on hiring out to anyone looking for an escape from the madness that is current day life.
7. Good - I've created a frugal,  5-second AI generated business plan that looks awesome! (I'm stunned by the capabilities of free to access AI!)

Despite the 'bads' being major, the majority of these updates are good.