2025 Frugal Living Challenge

Elisheba

Another one here that loves libraries.  I was brought up visiting them every week, and its one of the factors in the love of reading I have now.  The library in the new place I moved to just over a year ago is especially great.  The main librarian always calls me by name, and she stamps the books properly even although there is a self service machine, couldn't be more helpful, and there is pot of coffee and a kettle for free hot drinks, which I had never seen in a library before moving here.  The opening hours are slightly random, presumably due to budget cuts, and I did hear there had been a threat of closure but it seems to have been staved off by public campaigning for the moment.  Also this county does free reservations, and no library fines, which I really love!

kimwp

Libraries are brill, they are such great resources for the community. Even if they just lent books, they would be worth having, but they host so many community groups, provide warm spaces, computers and printers (I print less than once a year, so really no point in me owning one). So sad that so many are at risk of budget cuts.

Prudent

The library in my village closed this year. It was one of the most used in the county according to a friend who has just retired from the library service. The council had an opportunity to sell the building and tried to pretend that lack of use was forcing closure. It is especially sad for the elderly people and children as both groups have less independent access to the library five miles away. Our local bus service has been taken off in the evenings due to youth violence against the drivers and passengers so now you would need a car to attend to visiting author evenings. 

Prudent

Food prices are definitely escalating by way more than inflation. I was  staying with my dad who is 90 and the only option I had to food shop was the local co-op. I was staggered when one day I picked up some bananas, the ingredients to make a veggie spag bol, a bag of salad and a few yoghurts and it cost £14.92. It stretched over two nights, but even so it was a lot. 

This week I will need to sit down and work out my new budget as the council tax and water bill have come in. I also need to price a new oven. The element has gone on ours again. It is thirteen years old so I am wondering if a new one might be a better call than replacing it again. We have been considering a move and the oven is built in, so repairing would make more sense. However a suitable bungalow finally came up in the village on the day I went south to visit dad. When I got home I phoned to arrange a viewing. They have had three solid days of viewings, another three days fully booked and the agent couldn't give me a viewing slot until one became available. I don't think I will bother. We are in Scotland so it will go to a sealed bids 'offers over' scenario and I will up against buyers who have already sold their houses and are ready to proceed. It will also probably go for way over the asking price. It is a bit 'chicken and egg' I don't want to sell until I find a property as there are so few options that meet our needs. I am thankful though to be in a mortgage free home with lovely views and have the allotment.

MayDogsandCoffee

I use the library too, but the opening times seem to be reducing by the day.  It is the council office too so it must be frustrating for those who are trying to sort out council issues face to face.  So many people are unable to use an automated service and it is critical this service is maintained.  I try and get in once a week between work and get a couple of books even if I don't manage to read them all.

YorksLass

My local library is open every day, 7 or 8 hours Mon-Fri and 6 hours on Saturday.  Admittedly, it does have a much reduced selection of books than it originally did but that is possibly down to all the other services and amenities it provides.  Our local schools liaise with it for children's book clubs, there are story sessions for toddlers and parents, councillors hold their monthly surgeries there as do guest speakers at reading book clubs.  It also acts as a council hub and as a subsidiary Registry office.  This last one  was especially useful for me last year as I was able to register DH's death and hand in his Blue Badge there rather than making a long and time consuming trip into the city centre.

As well as browsing/borrowing/returning/renewing books and DVDs, there are baby changing facilities, disabled and public toilets, free Wifi and computer access, is wheelchair accessible, has a lift to the first floor, an induction loop, a BSL service is available and support dogs are welcome.  It's on a bus route, has 4 designated spaces for disabled parking and shares a large car park with a shopping centre that's handy if you want to combine your visit with shopping . 

Needless to say, it's very well used and I'd hate to see it close down.

Frugaldom

Loving all the support for what's left of the library system. It's been many years since I lived within easy reach of one and similar to that near @YorksLass, it housed the registrar, all sorts of meetings, library, museum, visitor centre, wildlife watch and all sorts of events for kids and adults alike. It was also where we held my DD's engagement party. (Can anyone remember that far back? My frugal buffet challenge to feed around 120 people on a budget of £100? 😆) I'm getting nostalgic now as there's been so much water under the bridge since then.

This is final week of hosting campervans in our yard and tonight we have the third visitor if the week. We've splashed out on extra eggs and peanuts for our resident badgers and pine martens and the lovely couple staying over tonight brought peanuts with them. I really hope they got to see the badgers. I know they're out and about as one has just clambered along the decking and sent the feeder box tumbling. Such frugal entertainment, but the type that money can't buy.

weenancyinAmerica

@Frugaldom - do you remember what you served at your budget engagement party? That was a challenge for you.

weenancyinAmerica

@Frugaldom - I have sent you a PM also 

Prudent

OH has just come back from Lidl with a veggie box. It has a big bag of something labelled paprika. They are like long green peppers and labelled as 'very hot'. I have always though of paprika as a spice and only bought it in dried, ground form. Any ideas as to what I can do with it?