2025 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

Good morning to all. It's been a busy time here as we had a friend staying for about 10 days to help out with work at the project. Only one more week to go and we will be closing our campervan parking spot as it's not as viable the weekend had hoped so that willfreeup space for other things. 5th and 6th April, I'm planning to host a meet-up for any fellow frugalites who can get to our corner of SW Scotland. It would be great to meet any of you here on either day.

Budget rejig needed again as the council tax has come in at £135 per month (we don't have mains sewage) and I'm assuming the buildings and contents insurance will increase. TV licence has been updated to reflect £15 per month and the telephone & internet costs can't be reduced until current contract expires in, I think, August.


No seeds sown here at all but the raised beds got a good clear out ready to be weeded and topped up with homemade compost (at last). Rhubarb looks to be doing well and we planted another couple of donated blackcurrant and gooseberry bushes. We do have a £50 voucher we were gifted for a local garden centre so that could be ideal for veg plants.

Gem-gem

@Frugaldom, I wish that I lived closer so that I could come and visit and bring you an unwanted  (very productive) gooseberry bush. I have one in my garden and neither my DH or I eat them. I usually do a trade / fruit swap with my neighbour and make a small batch of jam that I give away/ sell.
Talking of selling, another BF done today. I cleared £109.00. I nearly turned around as it started to rain whilst I was driving to the field. I am splitting this money with my DM. The money will be going towards my hairdressing bill that is next month. 

Lunch today was ys roast chicken, ys sausage meat that I turned into stuffing - added herbs, redcurrants, pumpkin seeds and half a slice of bread.  

Frugaldom

I started weeding one of the raised beds today and have been contemplating turning it into a square foot garden, as I really liked the growing method and selection. We are planning a trip to spend the garden centre voucher so I'll try to make a plan of what to put in where and include some marigolds to distract the wee besties. I'm also hoping to get some peas and beans planted as I like the flowers on them but at the same time, wondering if I could grow anything else in there. I've lost touch with my normal planning and list making since spending so much time seeing to the animals so the clocks changing next weekend should help a lot.

sams247

Been away so lots reading to catch up on.  With yearly passes I bought as gifts and as a member of NT most days out with grandbabies were free so a good low cost holiday.  Site I was on had most things closed making it a cheaper stay, but we managed to fill the days with what was open and trips out.  Made food at home as restaurants closed, money saved there too.  

Gem-gem

Good evening everyone, 
I popped into my local library today and discovered that they were offering free tea, coffee, hot chocolate and soup. Nothing fancy but wet, warm and a welcome after the gym. 

Whilst my DH sat down and read a local paper I took my time and chose five new library books. Several are not in paperback. That has saved me  £50 - £70. I am like a child in a sweet shop every time I go in there. I wonder if other local library's offer free drinks? If so, handy when away or on days out. 😀

fionaandphil

Ours offers free hot drinks too but I think just tea and coffee. I love libraries so many great services in them for all ages groups and the staff always friendly and helpful

sams247

Gem-gem said:

I wonder if other local library's offer free drinks? If so, handy when away or on days out. 😀

I love a library, I'm off to see mine today to get some books, I hope they're doing this!

Frugaldom

I'm all for libraries, it saddens me to see so many closed or closing down through lack of use. Even the library buses have disappeared. If making a list of everything I'd like around me in my ideal neighbourhood after retirement, if we ever move house, I would certainly include a library, a post office (or post office counter) and a decent general store, plus easy walking distance to a main bus route. I'm planning ahead!

£49.28 spent, which included £1.50 delivery, on supermarket delivery. Prices are still looking like they are escalating so I really don't understand how the Government calculates inflation. I didn't buy chocolate but looked at the prices and everything seemed to have gone up by about 50% so cutting back on that bad habit is a must.

Quantaqa

Another library fan here.  I use my local library network and have read many fantastic books over the years I've been doing this.  Unfortunately, they do not offer free hot drinks though. It is really such a shame that libraries are being closed due to budget cuts. 

Nonnadiluca

Another fan of libraries here. I pop into ours on my way to yoga and it's always buzzing, which is lovely to see; gone are the days if 'sshhhhh" if you so much as sneezed. There's a parent and baby group singing and chatting, this week there were a couple of staff from the pre school introducing a few toddlers to the joys of books, there's a school uniform swap and a coat swap, hot drinks available too. Also a great place for finding out what's going on in the area. The cost of reserving a book has gone up to £1.20, but I don't begrudge it as the library is such a valuable resource and it needs to be funded somehow, and that's not too bad a price for a book that I really want to read. Hopefully the fact that it is so well used will save it!