2025 Frugal Living Challenge

Gem-gem

Frugaldom said:

For anyone interested, this is the link to the original Interest Beater Challenge that I'm restarting.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/844891/home-based-enterprises-interest-beater-challenge/p1

I'll have a look. 

This afternoon / evening I have been cutting up previous year's cards and made gift tags and Christmas cards for next year. All at a £0 cost to me as I am using stock given to me by my aunt and DM. Some cards /tags will be going to my DM too. 

Sadly, not as much Christmas paper has been saved as previous years as a) majority of the paper used was already second / third time round paper. Plus some people didn't open their presents carefully. I have a roll of paper that I bought about four years ago that I will use. So I don't need to look out for any this year. I also have a roll of brown paper to use once I have used up the recycled birthday paper. Any present that I already knew about was wrapped in a cloth drawstring bag. 

Tomorrow, we are having h/made curry. Today, in the slow cooker I cooked Brussel sprout and carrot curry. To go with the leftover dishes that we are having. Today, we had h/made lasagna with h/made coleslaw and peppers and tomatoes. The red cabbage has now all gone. 

Has anyone ever made a carrot cake with olive oil instead of sunflower oil? 

kimwp

Frugaldom said:

Mini dilemma as I wasn't expecting to pay out anything more before new year but I'd ordered some logs. They got delivered today, as the guy was travelling this direction and it was a dry day. Do I deduct from the last of my 2025 budget, which I've not even talked up completely, or do I deduct from my new 2026 budget. I will be using them before new year so I'm thinking best add into my 2025 totals - what would anyone else do?

I'm currently scouring the interest rates but they all seem to be dropping again so the other thing I'm wondering is if I should restart my interest beater challenge. Anyone remember that or take part in it? Basically, you attempt to beat the interest rates on savings based on what you would earn if you had your entire annual budget banked. Eg. If my annual frugal living budget is £7,500 and the best interest rate I can find is 4.5% then I'd have earned £337.50 by the end of the year. That doesn't sound impossible to me. I'm off to read the old challenge to see how long ago it was. Anyone else interested in taking part?

I go by what's useful. Normally, spends get put when the money goes out (so even if it's for a concert in three months time, it goes against this month)- because it's easier to find if I need to and these things generally average out 

However, if it's a annual/6-month/quarterly spend and the cost of the wood for the first eg quarter of last year was in the 2025 spends, I'd put this in the 2026 spends, otherwise your 2026 wood spend will be under by a quarter and you might carry that forward to 2027 and under-budget.

mumtoomany

Morning all. @Frugaldom, I'd love to join you in the interst beater challenge. 4.5% off my £8000 budget is £360. I may just make it £365, a pound a day doesn't sound too difficult. Let us all know where the challenge will be, please. Off to read the old one now. Hugs, mumtoomany.xx 

ancientmum

When I get paid I empty any change left in my purse into a tin, and this gets saved until the end of the year, so I've been able to pay £16 into the bank.
There is still some left in the tin that is not enough bag up, so will be carried over into 2026.  

I did succumb to the Boxing Day sales but it was to buy a dress to wear at my youngest's wedding later in the year - just over half price with a saving of £30. 

It has been a busy year with two big holidays that I saved up for by being frugal in other areas. Next year will be quieter so I'm going to rebuild my savings pots, and am thinking of joining you on the "Beat the interest" challenge.  Just got to work out how I can do it, but may start with that £16 in change.

Arrietty

@Frugaldom

I would definitely be paying for the logs out of 2025 budget.
 
I mean, they've  arrived and 2026 hasn't yet so seems logical to me 😉

Frugaldom

maryb said:

I'd put it in this year - bit disheartening to start the new budget with a big expense, lol

I don't really get disheartened by budget stuff as it simply doesn't pay but I agree, so I have allocated the spend to the appropriate date (2025 budget). 2026 will begin with a larger expense as we also use cylinder gas and that's due delivered first week of January. I still need to total my spends for this year; groceries are the only things I've added up, so far. 

Frugaldom

Logs all deducted from 2025 - they were ordered for delivery next week but arrived early. This load should last around 6 weeks in the log burners at these temperatures: it's -7C here in our corner of SW Scotland just now.

I'm happy to see a few of you up for the 'Interest Beater Challenge' so I'll resurrect that and get it set back up by the weekend. Thank you - I love company for a challenge as it keeps me accountable.

Prudent

I am glad you have logs to keep you warm @Frugaldom. It is extremely cold in Scotland and it looks set to last at least a couple of weeks. I always calculate the cost of any spending at the point it leaves my bank account. The important bit though is the bigger trends of how much does it cost you over the winter months or over the year.

Kerry_Woman

Did total of spending for the year.  Came under the budget set.  Fell off the band wagon a few times this year.  Emotional spending at times. I kept an eye on my bank and building society accounts- apps have been really good.  Tried to save with food shop, changed shop as got more out of their reward card.  This year has been an eye opener with regards to my spending habits and a big learning curve. 

Frugaldom

As luck would have it, my new year has order arrived first thing this morning but all fuel spends are for 2026 so can hit tomorrow's new budget, instead. I'm still playing around with it and planning on getting rid of my car as soon as the holidays are over so that should knock £1000 off the overall amount. It's now looking like £5,000 plus council tax, to include home and hut, as the latter is more like our second home owing to having a 7 day working week. Onwards and upwards, as they say. Premium bonds draw is just a few days away and we live in hope.

I'm incorporating my interest beater mini challenge into the main frugal living one as I don't have time to run a separate one on here.