Frugaling my way to FIRE

lilian1977

Percentage to £100k net worth: 91.4%
Percentage to £500k target: 18.3%

Morning everyone

A fair bit of spending over the last few days although all in budget - food at the football, plus clothes for DS that he needs for a school trip later this month.

I'm very proud of myself - I had some VERY out of date jam in the fridge (unopened, a flavour I didn't fancy that I got in a hamper) so used ChatGPT to make some oat and jam flapjacks. However, I didn't have enough oats, so substituted some wheatgerm that has been in the oat tin for AGES - the flapjacks were very mealy and not very sweet. I was planning to just put them out for the birds, but then used ChatGPT again to see if I could make granola - with the addition of some syrup, raisins and nuts, I now have a big jar of granola that will see me through the next fortnight! So pleased - that's two lots of food that would have gone to waste turned into something useful, and therefore out of the house!

Just done our meal plan for the next few days so off to the shops in a minute, once I've pegged out the bedding on the line - trying to get as much washing done over the next few days as possible. 

All Vinted sales now cleared and money added to my S&S ISA. Creeping ever closer to that first 100k!

Have great days everyone. 

Sausageroll14

So glad I found this!!! We are on our journey to FI. We definitely don't want to retire in the traditional sense. We just want options and freedom. 

So far we had a blip earlier this year so all investments have stopped while we sort that CC out. Not ideal but then we certainly aren't perfect beings......

Money has been escaping this month with unplanned for expenses like rubbish removal and part of a new kitchen area (just cheap, basic cupboards and worktop). 

In the meantime I make every penny squeal 🤣

lilian1977

Sausageroll14 said:

So glad I found this!!! We are on our journey to FI. We definitely don't want to retire in the traditional sense. We just want options and freedom. 

So far we had a blip earlier this year so all investments have stopped while we sort that CC out. Not ideal but then we certainly aren't perfect beings......

Money has been escaping this month with unplanned for expenses like rubbish removal and part of a new kitchen area (just cheap, basic cupboards and worktop). 

In the meantime I make every penny squeal 🤣

Welcome and thank you for joining me!

Those unplanned expenses are a nightmare aren't they - you think you're getting somewhere and then out of nowhere you feel like it's all come undone. But this is why we live frugally - once it's ingrained, it's easier to think of ways to tighten belts without feeling like you're missing out. 

Today is a WFH day for me, have just seen DS off to school and now doing banking, washing etc before starting work. I boiled the kettle and filled up our travel flask for coffees and pasta for lunch, still had some hot water in the kettle so have put 2 portions of rice on to boil, and will freeze once cold to be used in a stir fry another day. 

Had hoped to put the washing on the line but it's quite drizzly so will get the dehumidifier out. Uses electricity but better than putting on the heating and putting wet things on the radiators as will end up with damp on the walls.

Had some of my HM granola for breakfast with raspberries that are too soft for DS to eat. Lunch will likely be a toasted sandwich from a TGTG bag from Costa, and tea will be pasta. 

Percentage to £100k net worth: 91.6%
Percentage to £500k target: 18.3%

Have great days everyone!

Sausageroll14

Thank you 😁

I've been practicing varying degrees of frugality with varying degrees of success over the last few years and it always brings me a certain level of peace. 

My biggest 2 struggles are moving towards healthy, ethical eating and our 'herd' of rescues. Ah well. Perfection is over rated. 🤣

lilian1977

What rescues do you have?

Morning all

Ended up feeling rotten by mid afternoon so didn't go to the quiz night I had planned, saved money and stayed in watching Traitors instead. Very annoying cliffhanger considering it's not on again until Wednesday!

Nothing much else to report. In the office today, all food from home. Fish and chips tonight I think. Moved £1.90 round down from current account into S&S ISA, and transferred money from car savings for the MOT.

Very grey day, hoping for a quiet weekend. I think I've now been ill for a month - since getting back from holiday in fact. I understand more and more why people move to warmer climes for their health when they get older, it's so damp here!

Have happy, healthy days all.

Sausageroll14

lilian1977 said:

What rescues do you have?

Morning all

Ended up feeling rotten by mid afternoon so didn't go to the quiz night I had planned, saved money and stayed in watching Traitors instead. Very annoying cliffhanger considering it's not on again until Wednesday!

Nothing much else to report. In the office today, all food from home. Fish and chips tonight I think. Moved £1.90 round down from current account into S&S ISA, and transferred money from car savings for the MOT.

Very grey day, hoping for a quiet weekend. I think I've now been ill for a month - since getting back from holiday in fact. I understand more and more why people move to warmer climes for their health when they get older, it's so damp here!

Have happy, healthy days all.

We have a mixture of beautiful felines and stunning bunnies. They are all pretty amazing. They cost a small fortune but are worth every penny. 

Sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. The cold weather certainly doesn't help. 

Wishing you warmth and sunshine x 

lilian1977

Percentage to £100k net worth: 94.4%

Percentage to £500k target: 18.9%

Hello all

I haven't posted for a few weeks and I've noticed the lack of focus in my spending habits, so I'm back! 

November plans will be to batten down the hatches, close my purse and try and get healthy before the festive period begins.

It's cold and wet here so no plans to go out anyway!

Hope everyone is well.

Humboldt

lilian1977 said:

Topher said:

I’ve always derived a sense of pride from how I focus on the day to day details such as you describe; amounts saved here and there with tweaks and alterations to my lifestyle and habits. We had a financial advisor look over our situations years ago, he looked through my financial records then laughed. He explained that he couldn’t believe that I was aware to the last penny of incomings, outgoings projected budgets for utilities and accumulating savings yet I hadn’t changed the initial mortgage from the rather desperately acquired one I had. After a detailed discussion of how to move forwards (which we did saving thousands in the long term) with a new mortgage plan, it dawned on me that focussing on the details (eating foraged food for example) which is necessary and to me enjoyable - (little victories), my tendency is to forget the bigger picture, or not even be able to visualise it. The advisor back then tried to get me to see my retirement future and to be honest I couldn’t. My current attempts are to plan in enjoyment derived from things other than successful frugalling. 

Thank you for the comment and you're completely right. It frustrates me so much how little education I had on this subject when o was younger. Before the days of automatic pension optin at work, I just ignored the possibility of paying into my pension, thinking the money was better spent there and then. And to be fair, I've travelled a fair bit, and had a great time in my 20s. I just wish I'd started sooner.

There is a very interesting article in the Guardian this week about the little luxuries that are now too expensive and it really got me thinking about how even those little things aren't bringing joy any more because I'm aware that money could have been saved.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/03/coffee-pizza-express-changing-britain

So. Finding the joy in the free things is now even more important!

Hi @lilian1977 I am very much enjoying your thread, and just wanted to pop in and wish you well on your journey.  Life's simple pleasures cost little, or nothing and bring their own rewards.  

PipneyJane

I shall watch with interest @lillian1977.  It’s only recently, having turned 60 two months ago, that I’ve started thinking about retirement.  That won’t be possible until our current fixed-rate mortgage expires next year.  (And then we can pay the damn thing off.)

- Pip