Trying to live a simpler, frugal but fulfilling 2025

FrugalHedonist · 2 January at 1:47PM

I have decided to start a diary to chart mine and my families 2025 - I have a mortgage currently which I am paying off slowly. I have just re-mortgaged for 2 years. The long term plan is to sell and buy a house with my partner and to merge our households. The whole idea of this is very stressful as I have never sold a house and buying another one in these uncertain times which will have to be larger (3 bed rather than 2 ) will mean buying a more expensive house but one that is fit for purpose. The aim therefore is to get my finances in the best place they can be. I also want to do this for other reasons - I feel that a simpler life is one that my brain prefers and a slower way of life just suits me and also I feel that environmentally it can be more sustainable. We are currently a household of 2 - one adult, one child - I have no debt, other than my mortgage - I am already pretty frugal in many areas of my life - some for necessity and some for preference. However there are some areas that need work

My aims so far are as follows
1 To continue to overpay my mortgage where possible
2.No new or second hand clothes for myself at all during 2025, I have enough
3. January - To do a pantry/freezer challenge
4. To save up for a small family holiday in the summer
5. To meal plan and also try to discover new frugal recipes out of the numerous cookbooks I own that I barely utilise
6. To try and find joy in the everyday

FrugalHedonist · 4 January at 1:59PM

Today will be a day of taking the Christmas decorations down, im not the biggest Christmas person, i enjoy the simple family Christmas we have and the traditions but i must admit all the hustle and bustle makes me want to hibernate. However there is something quite melancholic about taking down the tree and the lights. I will enjoy having the space back though

Dinner tonight is already in the slow cooker and is a veggie take on the bored of lunch mango chicken recipe but i use tvp chunks

It has not been a no spend today as i had to go to A1d1 today for bin bags and ended up buying a few of the veganuary bits, tempeh mainly but that means i need not set food in it for a while