My Five Year Focused, Frugal and Fun Challenge

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Hello all

i I need to update here more often!

I have now updated my sig and the month has seen a reduction of £2,425.93.

some of this was from moving bills around, getting refunds, selling things, and a big chunk from being let down on work on the house so paying that off debt.

of course I now need to fund a new to me car 

I achieved last months mini challenge of clearing the smallest credit card debt  and that was all from extra funds raised.

my lowest card balance now is £1538.03 - I want to reduce this to £500 by the 1st of July - a huge task which will hopefully motivate me to get listing more things to sell and thinking of more ideas to generate income.

i have far too much food in at the moment - I think it stems from having little food in at times as a child and as an adult… so when I see something cheap I buy it.

so another challenge is to use food that I have, whilst buying fresh food each week.

there has been no weight loss  so I really need to up my game on this. Other than some food I have in I am cutting some things I eat - although I get a free bakery item I am now passing this on for someone else to use. 

I really enjoy drinking water and am going to increase my intake - I struggle sometimes bring so busy at work but need to prioritise this.

so there’s my 4 challenges for this month

1, reduce lowest credit card debt to £500
2, only buy fresh food regardless of bargains and use the food I have in
3, no more bakery treats
4, drink more water - fill my water bottle every morning to help with this 

And, of course, I need to find and fund a new car 

Working_Mum

Well done on achieving your goals - great result on all fronts!!

I hear you about food STSS - I have been handling this in my brain for years. I have joined this Grocery Challenge over the last couple of months and it has really helped focus me(I even had an underspend for May which is a 5 week month!!):-

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6609048/june-2025-grocery-challenge/p1

Good luck with the June activity - I feel sure you'll smash it!

((WM))

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Thanks @Working_Mum I have a very strict food budget… so it’s realistic I’ll go over on this from time to time… but right now I’m cutting down to fresh things only - plus the odd ingredient if needed for a recipe.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Today has been good food wise.

i have eaten things I’ve either made, saved as leftovers, bought reduced, or already had in.

I’m also doing some batch cooking.

Sometimes the problem is the Tupperware I have tends to be 2 person portion size - anything I make I seem to eat for days which I just need to accept for now to save money.

i want to have a really good clear out and give the house a good clean this weekend too - I am sure this will also help with energy levels.

South_coast

Poundland sell takeaway-sized tubs if that would help with the batch-cooking? 

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Thanks @South_coast I have tubs but they tend to fit enough for 2 portions in them - especially if it’s something I’d eat with other things eg Chilli which I could have with jacket potato or rice 

South_coast

Aaahhh, I did wonder whether they may just be portion-sized for me because I'm a greedy so-and-so 🤭😅

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

  I definitely need to cut down my portion size - I think it’s more I tend to serve portions with things that aren’t in the tub eg rice & naan etc

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

And I’m back 

long time no post after having forum issues which were badly timed coinciding with some personal difficulties as I thought about and continue to think about where I am in life and what I want.. 

I was much happier when

I had money in the bank - that feeling of security meant so much to me 

i was spending money  I stopped focusing on the savings and lived, as very close friends were, - and well, it was lovely being able to say ‘yes’ and not worrying about money

i spent money on me - I joined a gym with a friend, raced with another friend and I loved it! I loved feeling and being fitter - and the side effect of weight loss boosted my confidence 

i loved walking daily and running several times a week because those things were important to me - I felt capable 

I loved attending classes- not just at the gym but for crochet and other artistic activities 

i really enjoyed having to be up early for training or because i had plans later and needed to get the practice in on a new craft i was learning - id know what i needed to get done and i did it

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Well I wasn’t expecting to post all that but how true it all is. And I think I need to plan and do things to bring my happier me back - and if anyone has any suggestions please chip in 

Finding my happy

When I moved I used all my savings to secure my new home - that feeling of financial security has gone
- I need to change my mindset to appreciating I do have some equity
- I need to build an emergency fund of £1k easily accessible
- and then grow longer term savings

can anyone recommend any survey sites or income suggestions please?

i stopped saying yes because my budget is very tight 
- start saying yes and make it work, it will come together 
- as long as I can pay my way I don’t need to split bills with others who I know earn / more are in long term relationships with a household income as well - accept this!

there is no gym budget 
- start walking 10 miles a day 
- as fitness increases start running - couch to 5k to start on top of the walking 
- are there any Zumba / dance classes nearby - what can I do to get to them
- why is there no gym budget- how much is the cheapest membership?

eat well
- reduce portion sizes
- cut out foods I shouldn’t have as much as possible 
- cut down drinking alcohol 
- use the 1P, slow coooker and airffryer for new recipes 
- drink more water 3 litres a day!

self care
- how much is it for the hairdressers, for eyebrows, nails 
- can I do my own nails
where there’s a cost what can I do to generate that income 

- list all the other things I loved learning and start them
- timetable my days
- start writing because I want to

Focus and think less about money - there is a plan in place so let that take care of itself

Other things I’m going to do -

no more carboot / charity shop visits until I have parted with 50 items/ read 50 books. I don’t have lots of things but I want less and I need to create income by selling and not spending more on buying

use the freezer and cupboards - cook and eat what I have first - this will save money and help avoid waste

What jobs can I do here?