2025 Frugal Living Challenge

Prudent

I am so sorry to hear that. You might also get some help from the motoring and insurance boards on the forums as they may have more specific knowledge. When someone damaged OHs car a few years ago we had to constantly chase the insurance company. 

Quantaqa

Thanks @Prudent, I never thought about the motoring or insurance boards.  I'll have a look.  Yes, I am at that stage of chasing things up and double checking as communication isn't clear.  I appreciate the advice.

MayDogsandCoffee

Started a comment but it has disappeared.  I haven't been on for a few days but food budget is still under, in fact I have spent so little this month that I am on track to make additional savings - always good.  Next two months I don't have council tax so will be stocking up on house cleaning and toiletries with that cash.

@boxer234 - I home cook for my girl too - she has 4 lines on my budget!!!  Very spoilt girl.
@findingthisdifficult - I had some Jilion wellies that I thought were fantastic but they perished very quickly so wouldn't get a second pair.  Maybe none of them last that long these days.

Frugaldom

Quantaqa said:

Hi All, my car was hit by another car on Sunday morning so my frugal plans are a bit up in the air at the moment.  It's a not my fault accident but its still been a hassle with all the admin of organising various bits with the insurance.  Car is being written off so I need to get looking for a new one.  I'll be a used car and I'll try to get a decent deal but I have nothing to trade in.  Any tips gratefully received.  Thanks in advance, Q.

So sorry to read about your car, I hope nobody was hurt and that you can replace it soon. Past experience tends to suggest better deals can be negotiated without a trade-in so when the insurance pays out, cash may be King.  Practice some stubborn and tough negotiating skills. Salesmen hate missing a sale or closing a deal. Good luck!

Frugaldom

Friend brought me a pack of balloons she found in her stash so that's taken care of part of the next 'Phil the Pig' mini challenge. DD has some old newspapers she'd kept for fire kindling so I'll get a couple of them from her next week then we can make the papier mache banks while I have the grandkids. I have egg cartons, paints and some PVA glue so that should see us good. I also have a jar full of coppers so we can count those all out and share them to start off the banks.

Still hoping Tide business account comes through for me as the plans for 2025 are taking shape. Their fees are so much lower than PayPal business or Stripe, which is a CC payment platform. I won't hold my breath, though, as we aren't exactly a global trading entity.

Gem-gem

Quantaga I'm sorry to hear about your car crash. It is so annoying that due to someone else's carelessness you are both massively inconvenienced and will be invariably out of pocket. Good luck with finding a new to you car. 

After running around yesterday supporting Mum with her impending move I decided to have a rare day in. 

Cut DH hair, with the trimmers (he hasn't paid for a hair cut since Covid). Gave my hair a deep condition - pink hair mud. 

Two loads of washing washed and ironed. 

Bathroom deep cleaned.

Dinner was prawns and peppers in a homemade pasta sauce, which I made in the summer with homegrown veg, the peppers were included as they were starting to wrinkle. I froze the remaining two. 

Spent the evening watching a Narnia film - watching some light entertainment. It is interesting picking up on the subtle messages given in the films / books that you don't see as a child when reading the books. 

fionaandphil

Looking forward to seeing your Phil the pigs Frugaldom 😀

Sorry to hear about your car @Quantaqa we've bought a few times at this point in the year. There can be some good deals as salesmen need to hit targets and we've been able to haggle, and not trading in often gets a better deal. Also do a good look round before you go, lots online these days so you should be able to compare with online sites. This worked well for us twice, the 3rd time we walked away and went to an alternative branch and picked a car up there, the original garage came back the following week and offered it to us for the price we'd originally offered - too late! If it's a newish car you are after then the sales people change theirs frequently and there are quite often some high spec cars with low mileage available. Good luck!

Blackberrycurved

Is it too late to join this challenge. I have become debt free paid off all my cards and loans about 4 years ago but now I feel myself slipping into over draft again. I have no idea where to start probably a budget then I don’t know maybe with food whatever is best open to advice. I was okay but everything became so expensive and I lost my partner. Thank you

t14cy_t

Blackberrycurved said:

Is it too late to join this challenge. I have become debt free paid off all my cards and loans about 4 years ago but now I feel myself slipping into over draft again. I have no idea where to start probably a budget then I don’t know maybe with food whatever is best open to advice. I was okay but everything became so expensive and I lost my partner. Thank you

welcome. dont be too hard on yourself you are going through tough times. xx

Prudent

Welcome @Blackberrycurved. Well done on paying off those cards. 

My advice would be small steps. Many of the people of this thread have been frugal for years, if not decades so habits which generate month on month savings are pretty ingrained. None of us have stopped learning as new phases of life bring new challenges.

There are many tips on MSE on drawing up a budget. Ali lives well on less and Frugal Queen in France on YouTube are also good at explaining budgeting and give examples from their own lives of how they meet new challenges. If you have enough income, give yourself some manoeuvring room in your budget at first. Once you learn more shortcuts to spending less you can reduce the budget and begin to build savings. It will also give you the headspace to work out your own priorities. Many people on this board are frugal in some areas of their lives to fund personal priorities. As an example, my priority this year is having money for travel and hotels because I want to spend time with people who are important to me. If you have a positive reason for being frugal it doesn't feel like deprivation.