2025 Frugal Living Challenge

Quantaqa

Loving seeing the decluttering stories.  It's prompted me to have a think about decluttering as well.  I did a small declutter of coats, bags, books back in January but the big thing that really need tackled is the loft.  It must be bad because DH won't even let me up there  .  I am going to commit to getting up there this week and decluttering at least 10 items.  In fact, I will do it tonight and that's it done.  Then going forward do the same every month until it's done.

DH and I are away for an overnight this weekend.  We wanted to see a talk at Pitlochry festival theatre by Peter MacQueen.  He's done a couple of programmes on BBC Alba (we watched on iplayer), the first being about Hutting which his talk is on.  We managed to get a really good deal on overnight accommodation and have a set budget for food while we are away.  We will take flasks of coffee/tea in the car and sandwiches for the drive up.

Working_Mum

Bunga12 said:

Hello

This is my first post but I've been following the thread and writing down lots of tips since the start. I suppose you could say I'm a trainee frugaller (or is it frugaler?) for now. Trying to earn my stripes!

I've decided I'm going to focus on two areas: growing some stuff and getting rid of some stuff. Today I bought a bag of seed potatoes as a start (using money from my money box so it didn't feel like a real spend as it was all silver coins) and I'm going to plant them in pots on Friday after I complete my long run (I'm marathon training).

Then Saturday morning I'm going to declutter my bedside drawers. Does anyone have a process for decluttering? I like the point @Topher made - Would I want to pay a removals company to move it? I've written that down. I'm thinking I'll get it all out on the bed and channel Topher and Marie Kondo. How does that sound?

Welcome Bunga12 - have you explored other areas of the Forum? There is one dedicated to gardening and growing your own - it is full of helpful ideas and stories which make you realise you are not alone when things don't go to plan!!

Gardening — MoneySavingExpert Forum

I downsized a few years ago and had to seriously reduce the amount of belongings etc I had as I simply didn't have the room in my new home. I read a book by Dana K White and it revolutionised the way I looked at my belongings and more importantly I am still using her approach almost 5 years on.

Home - Dana K. White: A Slob Comes Clean

I tried Marie Kondo-ing but it didn't really hit the mark for me although I have friends who swear by her approach.

Good luck with your endeavours - keep us posted as we are all her to cheer each other on!

((WM))

Prudent

fionaandphil said:

Yup I think we are all like that, especially the cables. I have reduced them to 2 shoe boxes but no idea what some are. Saying that I was looking for an old style cable for FIL the other day and found one in that box 😄 I am aiming to get rid of more books this year - I could open a shop!

I had a cable draw. I had no idea what most of them belonged to. I rounded up all the devices in the house that use a cable. I found their cables and wrote the name of the device on a sticky label and wrapped it around the cable. I sent quite a few devices to the charity shop, putting the device plus the labelled cable in a bag in a zip lock bag. Some were hard to part withs. A Roberts radio that was Dab rather than Dab+ and had flaking leather, a Kindle fire that I haven't used for three years. Where necessary I did a factory reset to clear the information. Now the cable draw has just four cables, all labelled. Thankfully both the radio and the kindle were comps wins so I don't have the guilt of parting with money spent. 

I cleared a lot of fiction books. With a couple of exceptions, I haven't read any of the fiction books on my one bookcase (no more piles on the bedside table!). It is lovely to browse them knowing all are unread. It is like having my own bookshop ready to pick from. I kept quite a few nature/ wildlife, gardening and cookery books knowing they will still be used. I am having dinner with friends on Friday and will take along a pudding. I shall enjoy browsing the recipes this evening before shopping for ingredients tomorrow.

Prudent

Quantaqa said:

DH and I are away for an overnight this weekend.  We wanted to see a talk at Pitlochry festival theatre by Peter MacQueen.  He's done a couple of programmes on BBC Alba (we watched on iplayer), the first being about Hutting which his talk is on.  We managed to get a really good deal on overnight accommodation and have a set budget for food while we are away.  We will take flasks of coffee/tea in the car and sandwiches for the drive up.

I have had a couple of breaks in Pitlochry over the past few years. I visited the tourist information office and asked about budget activities. They suggested a bus trip from Pitlochry to Kinloch Rannoch. The trip takes about 50 minutes and is just so scenic. It is a comfortable mini bus and the driver gave a very interesting commentary at points. There is a chance to get off and stretch your legs for ten minutes in Kinloch Rannoch or you can go for a walk or have a coffee at the hotel and get the next bus back. The trip is free if you have a bus pass.

Have you visited @Frugaldom's huts?

sams247

Frugaldom said:

 Has anyone else got shelves of empty boxes saved from things bought years ago that will never be put back in their boxes? 

I have two boxes of items in my sons garage - I put them there when I moved, that was 2 years ago.  I havent missed whatever is in them but havent been organised enough to sort out and declutter.  I fear once I open them I will 'need' whatever is in them

Teaparty_mum

Good evening,
Ive Recently rejoined and I’m wondering if I’m too late to join ?
 

Prudent

You are most welcome @Teaparty_mum

Teaparty_mum

Thank you 

Quantaqa

Teaparty_mum said:

Good evening,
Ive Recently rejoined and I’m wondering if I’m too late to join ?
 

Morning and welcome @Teaparty_mum.  You're never too late to join.  Best of luck on your frugal journey.


@Prudent, I've never visited Frugaldom's huts unfortunately.  A wee trip to Kinloch Rannoch on the bus would be fab, I'll look into that

Editing to add that I have decluttered my first 8 items from the loft.  We have 8 tyres up there for who knows what reason!  I have held of getting rid of them as I thought it would cost a fair bit to get rid but yesterday I found a local place that will recycle them for £1 per tyre.  They will be taken there on Friday afternoon.

Siebrie

@Bunga12 Welcome! Re the potatoes: the recommended method is that you let them sprout first (for instance, in an old egg carton for a stand), then wait until the soil is 'warm', then cut them in pieces with 1 sprout each and plant them. Check the Gardening forum, or Gardeners' World or similar for more advice