2025 Frugal Living Challenge

weenancyinAmerica

@Prudent - Voluntary Simplicity was a big thing back in the 1960s and 1970s. I even belonged to a Voluntary Simplicity group back then. There are a lot of books on it out there. 

Nelliegrace

I enjoy the blog, gDonna Generations Before Us about her frugal and simple life. Her latest study is on the 1930s. She is having a minimal technology October so there are no new posts.
Recently they have made a living and sleeping area, closing off unnecessary areas to save energy.

Gem-gem

Good evening, 
It has been a funny old day.
1. Computer monitor went down, so £100 lighter in the joint account. 

2. Whilst shopping, DH couldn't find his phone and joint account wallet. He knew that he had entered the gym with them. On the way back to the gym (1.5 hours later) we received a phone call, he had left them on top of the lockers. Everything was still there. Phew! 

3. On way home, phone call from Estate Agent. Beginning of the chain wants to exchange next Friday! Phone calls / Emails - solicitors to deal with - so DH and I spent a couple of hours dealing with questions from the other solicitors. 

4. Helped DH set up the new monitor.  

5. One load of washing and bed stripped. 

Dinner - left over gammon - onion, garlic, pepper, kidney beans, tomatoes, spices and rice turned into a one pot wonder. With broccoli on the side. 

Gem-gem

Good evening everyone, 
Been a busy week, taking DM to hospital for an appointment and dealing with the sale of the house. Also, have gathered another car load for a boot fair this weekend. 

Today, we have spent three hours peeling and chopping apples. We have also bagged up four bags to sell. Only approximately another forty apples to process. Our small chest freezer is now full of fruit. We also picked the last of the runner beans. We have just over two freezer drawers full of beans. That will keep DH going till next year. The only items we have left growing in the garden are leeks, a few tomatoes plants, coriander and parsley. 

At the weekend I gave my seeds order to my BIL, these will form part of my Christmas present. 

Heads up, last year several supermarkets sold their joints of meat at a reduced cost about a month before Christmas, it was definitely 25% off, I am pretty sure that some discounts were greater. We are going to keep some freezer space to take advantage of these offers as end of self life reductions are getting more scarce.
On Saturday night, we won a quiz and were given a small box of shortbread each. We will be using them as Christmas gifts to save us having to buy some. 

boultdj

@Gem-gem, if you want a small [900g] gammon joint there is one half price at the moment in tesco, deal finishes tuesday, I've got one down for my monday order. hth

suzeesu2000

ooh Thanks boultdj I've just added one to my basket - DH loves it.

Gem-gem

boultdj said:

@Gem-gem, if you want a small [900g] gammon joint there is one half price at the moment in tesco, deal finishes tuesday, I've got one down for my monday order. hth

Thank you. I will get one tomorrow. 

maryb

Pork loin roasting joints half price in Sainsbugs with Nectar

fionaandphil

I think the Sainsburys pork joints were £3.75 per kg, I will have to clear a bit more space in the freezer first

Sockfairy

One of the best things I have used this year to save money is ChatGPT, it’s free and you can ask it questions like “give me a 28 day meal plan for 2 adults 500 calories each, 20 mins to cook, £1.50 per person. Include recipe method and shopping lists”. Revolutionised my life and I now enjoy cooking as I don’t have to find recipes. Honestly ask it anything, how to save money, how to make money etc, use AI to your advantage!