2025 Frugal Living Challenge

Debsnewbudget

I use a free app called Good Budget to track all my spends. Both regular outgoings/income  which you can set up as repeating and one offs which I tend to enter on  each evening 

Nelliegrace

I have used clippers on DH’s hair for years. I started cutting my own hair during lockdown, it is just straight worn in a plait. There are several videos on cutting long hair straight on youtube. Before that, because I had a bad back, I would wash my hair at home and the local stylist would just damp it and cut it. I didn’t bother with sprays and blow drying, so it was a quite a saving. 

Prudent

@Nelliegrace, good for you. I cut my own hair during lockdown, and it looked awful, even though I watched lots of YouTube videos. I wash my hair before going to the salon to keep costs down, but I never resent spending on a cut now.

@Debsnewbudget, I am going to download the app and give it a go. Thank you.

@Gem-gem A bit of a 'spendy' time going on here, too. I have been taking everything out of my bedroom and putting it in the loft over the past few days. The number of things I had tucked away was an eye opener, especially as I had a big declutter in January. In a rare move for me, I have decided to completely recarpet and refurnish the room. Nothing was working layout-wise, and we need to create more space to reduce trip hazards. The local furniture upcycle place is coming to collect most of the furniture on Friday. The rest is going in another room. I had a big spend yesterday as I ordered a new carpet for that room (badly needed) and a rug for my sitting room. The carpet is being fitted on the following Tuesday. I am hoping to be able to order and have a new bed in place before Christmas. In the interim, I will need to sleep in the spare room bed. My cat will be furious as she views that bed as her domain... I am planning on buying new furniture for the bedroom. I have never bought 'new' bedroom furniture. It has always been second-hand or repurposed from another room in the house. I will probably change my mind when it comes to actually paying that much and buy second-hand again . Frugal habits tend to be hard to ditch. 

 

Gem-gem

@Debsnewbudget, Thank you. I will download the app and give it a go. I started with a notebook last year but didn't keep it up. 

@Prudent, I bought my bedroom furniture back in the late 90's from M&$ and it is still going strong. Well worth the investment. Hope to never have to buy it again. But it once etc. Furniture in other bedrooms - solid oak that was my Mum, she bought forty years ago, also still going strong. 

suzeesu2000

I was always told that you should buy the best shoes and the best bed you can- cos if you’re not in one you’re in the other!😁

Prudent

suzeesu2000 said:

I was always told that you should buy the best shoes and the best bed you can- cos if you’re not in one you’re in the other!😁

Thank you for making me feel happier with my decision. I always buy good quality shoes and have never regretted those spends. 

Frugaldom

MayDogsandCoffee said:

@Arrietty I am the same, I have lurked on these forums for over 10 years now and some of the tricks and tips will enable me to drop hours or possibly retire totally next year (I procrastinate far too much).  For a while now I have been living on half salary and saving the rest,  I am not a high spender to the point of being a miser (unless dog related). 

That's brilliant that you've managed to live on half salary. Our living costs have been kept to a minimum for as long as I can remember and our income way below national minimum wage but we survive. As retirement and State Pension loom on the horizon, I'm not sure what we will do with that amount of money, aside from spending it on the animals.

Frugaldom

Arrietty said:

Thank you for cheery welcomes 

@Prudent those gift bags are lovely; I am no seamstress but we do tend to reuse bags or baskets for gifting - it's essential to say " I recognise that bag ".

@MayDogsandCoffee - it will be good to have someone around in a similar situation, especially to remind why I am doing this when I'm feeling a bit spendy!  I am not usually a great spender either, unless horse related.
Is there really such a thing as too many rugs ?  And therein lies the problem  

Had to laugh at your horse comment - I feel your pain! Ponies, goats, cats and wildlife eat my cash. Thankfully, only 1 geriatric pony needs a rug here but come midge season, it's fly sheets and one can never have too many of those in Scotland. Zebra print is my favourite! 😆

Frugaldom

Welcome to December and the arrival of meteorological winter. Can you believe the year has almost gone already? What is happening to time as we age? It's quite scary how fast it flies by nowadays, even when we are having slow days! I'm eagerly counting down the days until solstice so we can look forward to these long nights starting to slowly shrink. It's a good time for planning ahead and analysing the budget for the next yearly challenge. My state pension retirement age is currently 67, so 2026 sees the start of a 5-year plan being set in motion. I have no private pensions so will be reliant on whatever state pension pays at the time. For me, it will feel like a small fortune as there should be no debts, no rent or mortgage and no car - I fully intend to give that up and make full use of my free bus pass, which I already have. However, to do that, I need to live somewhere that is on a bus route. That rather complicates things as it also entails finding and engaging help to look after all the animals, the wildlife project and the little campervan / motorhome site, which isn't a viable business venture, it just helps generate a few extra pounds that cover essentials like licensing, public liability insurance and service charges and peanuts for the wildlife. One may describe it as a nutty venture but those who visit love watching the badgers and pine martens. 😆

MayDogsandCoffee

@Frugaldom I am not a high earner, but I do have a comfortable salary which make life easier.  But discovering your page and MSE in general has helped clear mortgage early and saving has made it possible to contemplate early retirement.  I have always been animal mad and the plan was a small house and big field for lots of animals. unfortunately, like most as I have gotten older the health barriers will mean that stays a pipe dream.  I support some of the local animal charities instead.