2025 Frugal Living Challenge

Quantaqa

Hello, can I join please?  I am looking to focus on living frugally this year.  I'm going to take some time over the next few days to go back over the thread so far and the links/tips at the start and write down the strategies that I can implement to make a proper start.  My job situation will change later this year (end August) and up until then I need to make sure I make the most of every penny and save as much as I can. 

dND

I was pleased with myself today, I managed not to spend even though I went into the charity shop, right next to L1dl, with donations. 🤣 

I had a couple of very good shopping trips before Xmas and got lots of reduced foods so my new freezer is stuffed to the gunnels.  Xmas purchases and leftovers have more or less been processed and frozen too as I don't want to waste anything.  Yesterday it was leftover double cream which I whipped, stabilised and piped into small rosettes before freezing.  Doing that helps me with portion control and my diet.  Tomorrow is making chicken stock from the carcass I stripped tonight. I think that will be used for curried parsnip soup, (from the 8p parsnips at L1dl before Xmas).😁😁

Last week I had vouchers for a reduction on lactose-free milk and the Greek yoghurt that I more or less live on so before they ran out yesterday I bought enough of to see me through at least a couple of weeks.

My plan now is to see how close I can get to the end of the month on what I have plus one TGTG box per week from A1di.

Apart from that I totalled up my December expenditure and even after taking out the building/renovation expense my outgoings were way over my state pension.  It doesn't help that the basic household bills, council tax/energy etc are over half of it and I have a cat with a chronic illness, (vet bills!!!).  So I'm going to have to get a bit inventive somewhere along the line. 😁

With that in mind, thank you to the person who pointed out the Principality accounts.  I'm hoping to open one tomorrow to put aside money for the cats.  I was going to do it online but there's no way I can enter my previous address in France - you have to give 3 years of where you lived.  Ho hum, telephone call required tomorrow.

I think it's going to be an interesting year! Dx

Gem-gem

Good evening everyone. 

NSD no 2. 

Went to the gym. Worked on cardio and lower body weights.
Opened up a 2yr ISA with Kent Reliance - 4.42%. Good luck to all those with PB - hope you have a smile on your face tomorrow morning.

Dinner - spaghetti bolognaise (bolognaise from the freezer - batched cooked).
Now finishing off the scarf. Edit... scarf finished - 1st Christmas present for 2025 made. Yippee!

Janeryan

Hubby and I are practicing for retirement and living on a set figure each month to see what we can manage on so needing to think frugal! 

MissRikkiC

I’d really like to join too if that’s okay? 

My goal for 2025 is to live both slower but also for less. I’m in my 30s so have a very different life to lots of people here with 2 small children (4 And 2) but I have a real yearn for slowing down and living more simpler. 

I work almost full time hours holding a senior role, have a team who work very hard, but I don’t wish to continue with it, or climb the career ladder any more. Since I’ve had my children and lost my mum a few years back, instead I want to enjoy life and make every moment count. For some time I’ve had an interest in a simpler life, but having just purchased our dream house, the mortgage which came with it means I do still need to work but maybe not so much. 

Since reading page 1 I’ve already opened the principality account someone mentioned and cancelled a subscription so I really do mean well. I just need to be here to be continually inspired. 

dizzyblnd

Totally new to this forum, regular poster on debt free forums, can I just ask, some of you are setting goals of spending less than £6000 a year. Do you not have holidays? Days out? 

I try to cut back and keep to a budget every month but I honestly get so much joy out of my one holiday a year and a few days out here and there. With growing children, I save money where I can buy it’s a balance between making memories and saving money. What do people replace a holiday with? How do you spend less than £500 a month. 

Love the ideas of FREE Christmas 2025 and make £2025 in 2025. I will be reading the thread with interest as I feel like I have a lot to learn. 

Duchess2

@Janeryan good idea to have a practise run before you retire. @MissRikkiC no reason why you can’t have a slower simpler life at your age. It just takes a bit more effort than it does for us wrinklies. Best of luck. You may have to try short bursts to start with. @dizzyblnd I don’t confine our frugality to specific figures. We try to be generally frugal in most areas of our lives, but that means that we can afford holidays. It would have to be something very serious to make us give those up. However, we do self-cater and do everything on a budget. It’s a hard habit to break.😂  We all have different reasons for economy and different budgets and circumstances. Just do what’s right for you and if you can afford to do the things you love by making economies elsewhere, go for it!! We all have a lot to learn, even if you’ve been doing it for years. Swapping hints and tips on here is great fun and everyone is so supportive. Best of luck on your frugal journey🍀🤞

Gem-gem

Janeryan said:

Hubby and I are practicing for retirement and living on a set figure each month to see what we can manage on so needing to think frugal! 

@Janeryan I did this for about five years before I retired and placed the rest of my salary into savings. I also wanted to test the water to ensure that I could live off my pension.  

Catlady2025

Please can I join the challenge too? 

I have a lot of trouble with impulsivity, so even though I'm not in major debt I keep dipping too far into it. At the moment I have less than £1,000 in debt but I really need to change the way I live. ATM I moved it to 0% card and have put some money aside in a savings account in the hopes I can pay it off when the offer runs out. 

Mostly I'd like to rack up a lot of NSDs. 

Today I rediscovered Prolific Academic and managed to score an £8 study, and so far I'm 2/2 for NSDs. 

Also. Isn't it a good job that we live in 2025 and not AD28 otherwise the challenge wouldn't work so well.  

Sausageroll14

Had 3 wins yesterday. Got my car insurance cheaper than expected but with all the cover I wanted, due to MSE guide, then got £15 as I bought throught money supermarket, then found out I had already got £10 as I bought pet insurance from them. 

Who doesn't love a free £25 😁