2025 Frugal Living Challenge

Sausageroll14

Heya lovely folks, 

I always read along but never feel I have that much to offer up. I have just realised I have inadvertently done something vaguely frugal. 

I was in receipt of a fancy beauty advert calendar a few moons ago (pre frugality) I found a few perfumes that I have carefully used and stretched out. They are just perfect and I love a good smell. 

So sadly I used them up. I looked to restock and from the shop was eye watering. eBay came to my rescue. At least 50% off. I didn't go stupid, I bought one and it's brilliant. 

Frugaldom

Good evening, frugal friends. It's certainly feeling much more winter-like this week. We've seen a dusting of snow on the hills and today has been frosty all day with shady parts staying frosted despite some sunshine. The stove has been lit nd more logs ordered - they should arrive tomorr to do sow, all going well. Today's bit sunshine recharged some batteries and solar lights. Olio from Friday served us well over the weekend, with pears, lemons, cottage cheese, pies and some puddings. I reckon if we eat from the freezer, fridge and cupboards, I may not need much more before my Christmas grocery shop. Sorry to mention the 'C' word but I've just seen a post stating Dumfries town centre Christmas lights have already been officially switched on! 🥺 Where did the year go?

Frugaldom

Gosh! It's very quiet in here, hope it wasn't something I said.

Freezing weather has arrived, more logs had to be bought (£80) and gas cylinders for the camping cooker at the hut and for the gas heater, which is our emergency backup heat source. I buy 2 cylinders at a time to get £5 off each. 

Managed to claim a few bits and pieces from Olio, including eggs that had been reduced from £3.70 per half dozen. Eek! Posh brown eggs at that price and here we are rescuing them from being binned.

Friend made neckerchiefs from some fabric scraps and I can't believe the difference it makes in keeping you warm in this freezing weather. I'm also wearing disposable rubber gloves under my work gloves so now they are waterproof and a bit warmer when lifting ice out of frozen water buckets.

Porridge making recommendes now, soup making has been ongoing but I'll make more tomorrow and custard making has been increasing to match the Olio milk and mince pie supplies. 

Stay safe and warm, frugal folks. If anyone is in dire need, please message me and I will do my best to help.

RavenRover

@Frugaldom I think we are all hankering down for the c word onslaught!  Or is it my imagination and MSE towers have changed their home page on the app.  Took me ages to get to the forum homepage, normally it is always open!!  I've bookmarked it now just in case.

On the Olio front, my freezers are full, especially as I'm doing 2 collections a week just now. Total lifesaver.   Especially as I have to take car to garage for a diagnostic thanks to a software update which didn't go well and looks like a previous emergency repair was done badly.  Fingers crossed that I'm only paying for the diagnostic and nothing else.

Keep warm everyone 

Arrietty

Hello,

I've been lurking awhile whilst trying to work out a liveable budget before taking the plunge and asking to join properly for 2026. I don't want to set a budget and then fail in the first month!

I've been practising by living on a set amount for the last 2 months but it has proved very tight (£5.57 left and still 9 days to go) so I'm thinking it would be better to be a bit more generous to start and then reduce if possible.

I'm increasing my budget for December and will see how that works before publicly declaring for 2026 





  

Nelliegrace

It was so cold on Wednesday that I did an extra baking session, an activity which kept me warm.
I made short crust pastry by hand, saving a bit of electricity. 

Chicken and leek pie, using leftover roast chicken.
A mincemeat pasty using the leftover pastry.
Rock cakes using the leftover egg wash I had put on the pastry.
Baked apples stuffed with the last of the jar of mincemeat, (which was bought in the January sales.)
Leek and potato soup, made with dripping from the roast chicken, and the leftover leek.
I steamed a medley of vegetables for dinner over the saucepan of simmering soup. 

I remembered, after it was turned off, to leave the oven door open to heat the room while we ate dinner.
A warm glow of satisfaction and several more easy, frugal meals of leftovers.

There is still a bit of chicken left and the carcass to simmer for stock, for a tasty risotto. 

Frugaldom

@Nelliegrace that all sounds super frugal, well done!

@RavenRover Good luck with the car! All these modern electronics are great, while they work!

@Arrietty Welcome on board the Frugaldom raft where we all share our paddling tips to help us stay afloat. Your budget is basically your entire income less your regular essentials payments over which you have no control - the balance of that is what you have to work with until any debts are cleared. Don't overstretch yourself to begin with, we don't want you feeling like a failure when you could be winning at your own game, achieving your own targets each month or year. Frugal living can become a lifestyle choice even for debt free savers, which is where we now are at Frugaldom. But I always try to have fun challenging myself to reach the next goal. Good luck, have fun with frugality and it's always free to ask any questions you may have about the challenge.

fionaandphil

Hi Frugaldom, sorry I've not been on, busy with work and my phone is on its way out so not been checking the boards. I am going to have to bite the bullet and get a new one but it's lasted for nearly 4 years so has paid for itself. I'm going to check this weekend and see if there are any deals to be had.

An expensive week ahead for us with family big birthdays and have to start Christmas shopping soon. Luckily food shopping should be minimal as the freezers are full and I'm trying to clear some space before Christmas bargains arrive. 

It is freezing here too. Well wrapped up but heating still on and fire also required, it's always a shock to the system 🥶 Have a lovely weekend everyone 

Gem-gem

Good evening everyone, 
@Nelliegrace thank you for sharing your bakes / makes. I also use the fat from the chicken to make a chicken veloute /sauce / soup. 

I tend to wash with milk rather than egg because I didn't want to waste any. But using the rest to make rock cakes is a good idea. We also leave the oven door open for ten minutes after we have finished with the oven to help warm the place up a little. 

Today, I have slow cooked a shoulder of lamb. We had a toast dinner. Tomorrow it will be turned into a curry, we have two guests staying for the weekend. I have prepped as much as possible, using as much home grown / home cooked food as possible to keep the bill down. DH has also baked a loaf of bread. My DM gave me three litres of lactose free milk - skimmed. She prefers semi-skimmed. Tomorrow, I will make some cookies for us to take to the RAH on Sunday. Five of us are going, we bought the cheap seats - back row.

With the exception of one young nephew all C presents have been made / bought, wrapped and some have even been delivered. (I saw some close family who are 200 miles away, who I won't see until the new year - I won't post gifts). Ten C cards have been posted second class, hopefully they will get them on time! The rest will be hand delivered. I got my Dad, brother and Mum to write theirs last weekend and we have shared postage ( I'm paying for it this year, my brother next year). I will be hand delivering theirs too. I have saved them around £9 each. My aunt has gathered her children's cards for years and they have shared postage / envelopes. My C cards are home made. I inherited c card making bits from my late aunt and my Mum. Presents have been wrapped in recycled paper. A couple of my presents will be placed in cloth bags. I will have a couple of unknown presents to unwrap. I cannot see the point of wasting wrapping paper on presents that a) I already know about b) Had to go out and buy. 

I found the Trolley App really useful. Managed to get perfume for and from Mum much cheaper from reputable shops. Marc Jacob's Daisy Dream 100ml in $iperdrug was cheaper than 50ml.
My Mum lives in assisted living so her utilities are included in her rent. So today, after the gym I went and showered at her place, rather than at the gym or at home. She was happy because I was there for 90 minutes, she got an extra visit this week. I was happy because I was warm - she has her heating on all day, up high. My husband was happy because we didn't have our heating on throughout the day and I didn't use our hot water. We have also decided to have Christmas Day at my Mum's - cook the C dinner at her house plus we won't need to have the heating up high. Plus Mum won't miss her cat! 

Gem-gem

Another C present made for next year.