2025 Frugal Living Challenge

Prudent

A small win here too @Frugaldom. I will put it into the Nationwide bond as I am still trying to find money to open that. 

@Quantaqa that looks a good meal plan. I have to confess I go astray every time I meal plan. Good news that you are finding fresh food in the community fridge. I am finding it harder this year to source reasonably priced fruit and veg. My local community shop is quite poorly resourced for healthy foods now. As @Frugaldom cleverly put it, some free food means waste to waist, so I have to be careful. I have had a fair bit of insidious weight creep that way. Working hard on taking it off now to fulfil my ambition of getting back on a horse, which has been nagging away at me since visiting Frugaldom and the ponies back in April. 

This month I have car insurance due, and next month I have a wedding. I have a charity shop outfit which for shoes, jacket and dress, has cost £21 so far. I still need a bag and I am hoping to take a trip to a neighbouring town on Friday to try the charity shops there. What is the right amount for a wedding gift now? I haven't been to a wedding for three years, and I am out of touch. OH and I have been invited for the day. We are not staying for the evening due to my health. The bride has been a close friend of my daughter since childhood, and I am friends with her mum. I am thinking of giving the £100 from the Nationwide fairer share payment. Is that enough? We are going to another wedding in the summer too, but that is OH's friends, so he will pay for that gift. 

Frugaldom

Congratulations, @Prudent and anyone else who had a win this month on the premium bonds.

Quantaqa

Thanks @Prudent, the meal plan is working this week.  Some weeks it goes astray   For the wedding gift I think £100 is very generous. 

I have set up Nationwide accounts for both myself and DH and for the first time ever we are eligible for the £100 fairer share payment.  I also won £75 on PBs this month.  The £200 will be set aside to pay for our share of a meal out for my MILs 80th birthday. I am assuming (hoping) it won't take the whole amount but want it set aside just in case, particularly once the drinks all add up. Even my Diet Cokes are unbelievably expensive when dining out! The £75 will be used to buy more PBs.

2Scratters

Morning All,
I have not commented in here for such a long time. I have however been keeping up with you all and your progress. 

@Prudent re your adult daughter have you tried to claim for the carers allowance? It does not affect any other benefits that she has and you are allowed an amount of income based WEEKLY not monthly before it gets deducted from the allowance. Have a look into it. 

@Gem-gem re your BF events well done on your successes. I always says it is recycled money rather than profit 

My frugal efforts will have to be re hashed due to HMRC and the tax deductions being made. This retirement malarky has messed up my flow of incoming monies and the SP being 4 weekly grr!! I will have to find another way of sorting the finances. Today I will be getting some of the rhubarb in and getting it stewed up. I need to brave a jam make too as I have never done it, I've got the jars but no idea even with some pretty vintage pinnies to wear too 
Car has been dropped off for MOT only today as they couldn't fit the service in at the same time today for some reason. Fingers crossed for that one.

2 Scratters xx

Nelliegrace

The four weekly pension messes DH’s bank interest @2Scratters, last month there was not enough going into the account so he missed out on the interest. Until recently he remembered to check and shuffle some money around to meet the requirements. I suggested that he put it on the calendar.
The basic state pension is £705.80 every four weeks, £9,175 a year.

Good luck with the jam making. Home made is almost always better than bought jam. Pam Corbin makes good jam.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AXwS-PNlo-Y

One tip, let the jam stand for a few minutes, then give it a stir before pouring it into jars, or the fruit will rise to the top. There were very few jars of jam in the Women’s Institute competitions at the County Show this year. 

Prudent

Thank you @2Scratters. I can’t claim carers allowance for my daughter. I don’t consistently care for her 35 hours a week as I live 160 miles away. It would affect her benefits as she was on legacy benefits before transitioning to UC. This means she has transition protection for her severe disability payment. She can’t receive that payment if I get carers allowance. I do get other supports that come through being an unpaid carer. Today I enjoyed a free pottery class for carers at a local arts centre. Over the years I have had a few grants for hobbies too. 

I need to make some rhubarb jam too. We have plenty of rhubarb in the freezer already and I have made several crumbles. I am giving some too friends too.@Nelliegrace thank you also. I will watch the video.

Gem-gem

Good evening everyone, 
Another couple of busy days for me. 

Yesterday, DM and I had our hair and feet done. I didn't have it cut only treated which saved £18. Having my hair done by the coast saves me a small fortune compared to London prices. 

Yesterday I could have sworn it was Friday 13th.  Firstly, the traffic gods were not kind on the way down to the coast. Secondly, when we arrived at my DM bungalow the gardener was cutting the grass and a couple of stones hit my driver's side window.

So, I spent the first hour dealing with this. Autoglass had to order the window and they cannot fit it until Tuesday!!!!! We removed the glass and put strong polythene window in. I was no fun driving 60+ miles home on the A21 and M25. 

Thirdly, when I was loading the car / carrying a heavy box I have strained the muscles on top of my right foot. 

Today, was a more relaxing day, no gym. Housework, card making and sewing. I have also wrapped up two birthday presents and a Father's Day present. Two were free to me. 😀
Tonight, we went to a local quiz. I don't have to pay as I do the scoring. We didn't win, we came third. 

Well done to all those with PB wins. None for me this month. Both my DM and Dad had small wins. 

Regarding the sewing, I am making four purses at once. I have nearly finished the fourth inside lining and will then start to put them together. Hopefully, won't be long before I post the instructions with pictures. (I haven't forgotten 😀)

Quantaqa

Nelliegrace said:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AXwS-PNlo-Y

One tip, let the jam stand for a few minutes, then give it a stir before pouring it into jars, or the fruit will rise to the top. There were very few jars of jam in the Women’s Institute competitions at the County Show this year. 

Thank you for the tip @Nelliegrace, I will try that.  I haven't made jam for a few years but want to get back into the habit of doing it regularly.  I'll watch the video, thanks.

@Gem-gem, what a shame about your car window.  It sounds like you've had one of those days where everythig seems to happen.  

It's a bit of a cooking day here.  I've made some raspberry crumble to use us some raspberrys that have been in the freezer and roasted up some carrots to go with today's Sunday roast.  DH is making Dophnoise potatoes to go ith today's roast and some Broccoli and Spinach soup which will be my lunches during the week.  I still need to make some Crusty bread to go with the soup, I'll do that later once the kitchen is clear again.  

Gem-gem

Hi, not sure if anyone has already posted this but Savers has granulated sugar 1kg for 89p. I have been Informed that other shops are selling it for £1.09

peewhyeff

Gem-gem said:

Hi, not sure if anyone has already posted this but Savers has granulated sugar 1kg for 89p. I have been Informed that other shops are selling it for £1.09

Home Bargains sugar is also 89p.