2025 Frugal Living Challenge

Bunga12

Working_Mum said:

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))

Thanks for the tips. I've just ordered her book (from World of Books so second hand and cheaper. Couldn't get it from the library..)

Bunga12

@Siebrie thanks. I bought some from the garden centre and they have little sprouts already. I'm going to try and get them sorted this weekend but will check out the other forum. 

@MissRikkiC this is my 7th marathon. I wouldn't say I enjoy them but I enjoy the sense of satisfaction I get when they're done! I'm a bit of a big time Charlie though - I only do the big races where there are crowds! I've done London twice, Berlin, Chicago, Newport and Exeter. Next one is Southampton in five weeks then I'm hoping to get into New York in November. Ballot results are out next weeks so fingers crossed. I've got achilles tendinitis at the moment though which is causing me some strife. Lots of strength training to support the training. Which one are you doing?

DawnW

Quantaqa said:

Has anyone used the Aldi potting bench that's been popular in the past few years?  Is it worth getting/does it last if outside?  I am thinking about getting one this year and I think they should be in store next month sometime.

I have had one for a few years. It lives outside from about March, but is put in the garage for the worst of the winter. It is fine, seems to stand up to Spring / Summer rain fine. It gets put in from about the end of September - around Mid March, mainly due to lack of space outside (it lives in front of the log store while outside, and it is a nuisance to keep moving it to get at the logs while still needed). I would say it was a good buy, and good value for money.

Quantaqa

Thank you @DawnW for that. I think I'll go ahead and get one then. I appreciate the advice.

Katiehound

Aldi gardening special buys: details here
https://www.aldi.co.uk/products/specialbuys/garden-shop/k/1588161416584106
Potting bench 6th March

Quantaqa

Thanks @Katiehound, I knew it was soon but not the date. I'll head to my local one on the 6th and see if rhey have any.

Gem-gem

Good evening everyone, 

This week started off very frugal, using up food from the freezers, DH suggested getting fish and chips one evening but I dug out some cod fish cakes, so that was £15 saved. 

This afternoon, I got two bags of cherry tomatoes out of the freezer and made two types of pasta sauce. First one, is just olive oil, tomatoes, garlic and herbs - roasted for 1 hour, cooked, liquidised and then passed through a sieve - two tubs frozen. The second one, as above plus onion, courgette and aubergine (I've just realised that I forgot the pepper!) after cooking for an hour I puréed it. Five tubs filled. When I defrost / reheat it I will add the pepper. 

Dinner tonight was YS tuna, salad and chips. 

DH and I shared a bar of chocolate that we bought on holiday - dark chocolate and passion fruit. 

Today, we had a spend day. I had to go the shops to buy my DM an airer and for us a new wok. I found a wok for £24 and then got a £5 discount. (My JL rewards). One of the shops that I like had a 25% discount in store, I went along to buy two pairs of Pilate / yoga socks and also came out with a jumper and a long sleeved t-shirt. I avoided temptation to buy any chocolate. I did treat myself to a new book (£2 off), which is the third in a series. I got the fourth book in a charity shop last weekend, but wasn't able to find the third one. I know really that I should have borrowed it from the library but I've had a bumpy week and I do love reading a new book. I also allocated myself £20 spending money last weekend when I was away and had enough left to buy it new. 

I imputed my spends into my spreadsheet for last month and reviewed my budget for this month. A local boot fair starts up this week. I will be reviewing the early morning temperatures. Fingers cross that I can do one before the end of March. 

Two days ago, I purchased another £25 of PB. I won £50 last month. My second win in three months. I don't have many bonds as I prefer the guarantee of an interest rate but I am happy to have a few so that I can dream.
Only two more days to the next draw. I wonder what agent millionaire looks like?  Good luck to everyone who has some. 

ancientmum

Happy Sunday everyone

I've bought 6 books to read on holidays this year and spent £2.60, (the library was having a sale of paperbacks for 20p) so have closed my personal challenge to see how many I can get for £5, as I won't need any more and £2.40 can go into Christmas savings pot.  I normally borrow books from the library but I don't want to risk losing them while I am away.
I've been to the pictures with a friend to celebrate her birthday, and have tickets for two more trips this month, leaving £38 from my January PB win. 
Had a long walk in the countryside in the sunshine yesterday with a lovely group of people.  It lifts the spirits to get sunny days at this time of year.
Just started a new volunteering task which pays travel expenses, so as well as getting out in the fresh air and meeting people I don't have to worry about how much it will cost.
I hope every one is managing to rise above the awful world events of the past week, but it is difficult when the news is everywhere and difficult to avoid.  I'm only on FB to keep in contact with friends and relatives, and have decided to come away from the site for a few weeks and go back to the old fashioned ways of letters or phone calls.  It's healthier for my brain, I think. Currently listening to some calming music on Radio 3.

Mags x

sams247

I'm the sort of person who goes in to the shop to get some milk and comes out having spent £30 on stuff I didnt know I needed.  So I am setting myself a challenge not to go to the shop until Wednesday.  I have enough stuff in cupboard and fridge I think (I dint have a freezer sadly) to last.  My main test will be Tuesday as I go to the library and charity shops on Tuesday....

Gem-gem

Good afternoon everyone,

Started the day very productively, stewed apple and blackberries from the freezer ready to have with our porridge this coming week. Made a batch of tomato and basil soup, tomatoes frozen last autumn and we will have this for lunch at the beginning of the week. Some will also be frozen. Also, we finally had enough space in the freezer to chop up the large butternut squash, that we grew last year. I make a lovely vegan curry with it, we have it as an additional dish when we have a curry. The seeds in the middle, I chose the fattest  ones washed and they are drying naturally. I will plant them soon. The rest I dried, put a little olive oil over them and then cooked them. They are tasty as a snack or sprinkled over a salad. 

At lunch time DH and I went for a walk, we pass several local shops / supermarkets on our walk. Sadly no road kill or yellow sticker bargains found today. DH found an old £1 coin the other day and went to the bank and swapped it more an up-to-date coin. 

@ancientmum, I agree with you, the sun does definitely lift the spirits. I have checked the weather and have decided that next week I will be venturing back into the garden. I find that working on my small plot of land is good for my soul.