2025 Frugal Living Challenge

StickyTheStickInsect

Thank you @Frugaldom for running this again. We have to move, so I'll be trying harder this year to be more frugal, as our expenditure is absolutely going to increase and I need to save elsewhere where I can.

suzeesu2000

Thanks @frugaldom for another years group. Hoping to make some serious changes this year. Have some ideas but yours are helpful too. Looking forward to a frugal 2025

Prudent

A big thank you from me too for the 2024 thread. I am looking forward to the 2025 challenge, to learning from other posters and enjoying the company of other frugallers.

I haven’t set a budget yet. I posted this year’s final roundup on the 2024 thread and that will give me a starting point. 

gill5blue

TracyS66 said:

Looking forward to the 2025 thread, always full of good advise and information ❤

Same here, good luck everyone.
I am lucky to be in a comfortable position(financially) but previously wasn't. with the enormous help of MSE I turned my finances around, and will always now have a watchful eye over it.
Gill5blue

RavenRover

I'm really going to need the challenge this year.  As of 29th I start to live on self employed wage of only 12 hours a week. Really tough after working more than full time for the last 10 years. Looks as though I will end up needing some help from dwp while I look for some extra work.  Sadly already been warned it won't even cover my rent!  I am already in social housing.   At the moment it looks as though every penny coming in is claimed.

Thankfully I can make or repair the majority of things i may need.  Usually buy secondhand anyway.  Will grow some of my veg, hoping for a better year weather wise for that.  Olio is going to be my prime food source.  I have stocked up my store cupboard with my last wage and clubcard points and giftcards.  Bought some of the cheap veg and have it stored in my wee cold pantry.

My biggest aim this year is to remain debt free!🤞

peony40

Morning all,

Thanks for running this thread, I will definitely be joining you all this year.  The last few years I have been busy with caring for elderly parents, but dad died in July, and both mums are in nursing homes, as their needs were too great to be cared for safely in their own homes.

Both myself and my husband are early retirees due to ill health, and we live on our very small private company pensions, so I need to be organised with our budget, and reduce my expenditure on unnecessary items, as the last few years I used Amazon too much to treat myself as I was so stressed.

I have worked out my outgoings and will list later, so as to be accountable.

Frugaldom

Good morning frugal friends and welcome to our newcomers. Whatever your reason for being here, you're sure to find someone who can try to help and offer support whenever needed. In previous years, there has always been someone around at any given time.

For information purposes to newcomers... This is the 'about me' part:

 I've experienced debt to the point of near bankruptcy and repossession, depression, divorce, homelessness, several relocations, house sharing, living day to day, bedsit land, multiple jobs at the same time, long hours, separation from family, and the excruciatingly long haul to climb free of debt, save, rebuild a life (of frugality) that affords family, fun and the place that we now know as 'Frugaldom'. Some of you have visited, some are set to visit and along my 25-year route of writing about it all. I have made some incredible friends (real life and virtual), pursued my self-employment, teamed up with H and bought property, developed the project and now plan on looking to retire in the not too distant future. I now have 5 grandchildren, for all of whom I have a savings pot. My frugal plans are about generating retirement income and looking towards finding suitable candidates to take over the reins at the Frugaldom project. Said project comprises an animal / wildlife sanctuary, 3 small off-grid cabins, an environmental art project and a stopover 'aire' for those visiting in campervans or small motorhomes. We run the project voluntarily with the help of some rental income, sales of whatever we can sell (artwork, books, decluttering) and the support of friends of Frugaldom who help us cover the costs of caring for & feeding the animals. My life has changed dramatically over the past 25 years and, no doubt, will continue to be a bit chaotic but there's never a dull moment and the frugal lifestyle is for life. 😁

Katiehound

Hello
I am going to be a lurker here- again. Hopefully throwing in the odd comment, bit of advice and reading what everyone is doing with interest.
I have pretty always been frugal: I think it's a way of life if that's what happened in childhood so I am always looking for ways not to waste, to be environmentally as friendly as possible & maybe to give something back to society.

Here's wishing everyone here a successful, wealthy ! and healthy New Year next week

Sweetbriarrose

Frugaldom, thank you for continuing this thread which I have followed for many years.
I am up for the new challenge.
I’m inspired in so many ways and I’ve continue to learn a good life can be had with a small income and a lot of effort.
I will try to contribute if I feel there is something I can offer, but will certainly be following along with everybody else’s journey.
I don’t have a yearly budget, I have a Pension and I split into 5 pots for the month, I always try to save 10% to cover emergencies and annual bills, I have a credit card that is always paid off in full, I that I use so I don’t miss out on any bargains if I don’t have the cash. 

That’s me for now good luck, everyone.
R

MadamMim2013

Thanks Frugaldom for once again continuing this much needed and highly appreciated thread..
I’ve lurked for years and have benefited from everyone’s supportive information in one way or another..
I aim to lurk less and contribute more this year as it will be needed to keep me in check..
I have taken a break from full time paid work (with OH’s full support) in order to heal as I have been extremely unwell, that and to continue caring for my mum.
So, with that in mind frugalness will be needed more than ever, especially if me and the OH are going to keep to our plans to travel around the UK at some point this year! 

Here’s to a kind, calm and frugal 2025! 🥳