2026 Frugal Living Challenge

wishus

Sorry for your loss @sheilavw

I often make soup in my instant-pot or in a sauce pan on the stove. Leek and potato soups, for instance, don't even need blending, you can just take a masher to break up the potato. Same goes for anything you don't mind being chunky.

Frugaldom

sheilavw said:

read but rarely post! had a sad end to the year with the loss of my lovely Brother on 11th December. He had Downs syndrome and us siblings cared for him for 14 years. We are heartbroken. I have more time now but looking ahead to a new Grandchild (my 2nd) in June.

I've just had tea at my Daughters, a lovely roast and she was making soup in a soup maker. Just wondered if anyone on here uses one? I tend to buy tinned soup and take it to work in my soup flask

Sorry for your loss @sheilavw, there is never a good time for such sad events. Nice to hear of impending new grandchild. Can't help with the soup maker as I just throw everything in a big pan on the stove and let it simmer for as long as it takes. I have several frugal soup recipes listed on my blog if you want to try any of them. I'll add in the link once I go get it. Hope it helps as much less expensive than buying tins or buying a soup maker.

Link to blog where you can search for all the homemade soup recipes - https://frugaldom.blogspot.com/ 

@Gem-gem Human nostrils are similar - can work independently, which is why things can smell different if you've a stuffed up nose and only breathing through one nostril, I believe.  

Welcome to our latest arrivals to the frugal bandwagon. I hope you can all hang on tight as we navigate and twists, turns, highs, lows or major crossroads. ☺️

Today was a leftovers day mixed with more of the Olio sausages, which got cooked then simmered with last night's leftover stew. Nothing very productive done other than chopping and splitting logs, which is a daily occurrence during these cold winter nights. -7C just now but toasty warm with the log burner lit and a long length hot water bottle.

Kerry_Woman

Very sorry for your loss @sheilavw.  

sheilavw

Thank you for your messages of condolence. Just thinking with the snow and cold weather it is definitely soup weather!

Gem-gem

Good morning everyone,

Very sorry for your loss @sheilavw. Losing a close family member is never easy. 

Van_Girl

I will be lurking again this year, I've been reading along and occasionally commenting for many years now, under this and a previous username. I'd love to join in one day, but not quite ready to get things as organised as you manage to do!

But I do pick up some wonderful tips and tricks from you all, and enjoy the general chatter, it's a lovely thread to be on. Best of luck for the year ahead

pearl123

Hello all, 
I'll be joining once again. I had a good (financially tight) year last night. (Xmas spending was higher, than I would have liked.) I aim to do even better this year. 
Wishing everyone a good and Happy New Year. 

Arrietty

Morning,

so very sorry for your loss @sheilavw, thinking of you and your family. 


It's cold and sunny here and I'm so used to drinking my coffee in my bedroom as I get dressed and ready to get out the door for work that I'd forgotten how warm and sunny the living room is in the mornings. I've been fully enjoying it while I browse MSE, think of some routines for a healthy retirement ( I know it's not for years but visiting my aunt at the weekend made me very aware that this is going to be essential for me ) and also think of various  gentle plans for this coming year . 

I need to fill my outdoor pots with some bright and cheery plants - pansies & cyclamen come to mind for this time of year. I didn't plant up any of them last year and consequently didn't get those little moments of joy when I either came home or opened the front door in the morning. 

I know that's not really frugal / essential spending but as long as the plants come out of my regular monthly budget I guess that's ok? 

I feel that last year I was purely in survival mode and despite my need to s[end as little as possible, I think I'll have to add some sprinkles of joy to keep me motivated.

Chan2019

Sorry for your loss @sheilavw, sending much love 

Rowan9

@sheilavw thinking of you 
you’re right it is soup weather. 

I plan to make lentil and sweet potato as have loads of both. I’ll make it in my biggest pot. 

I’ve had small grocery spends and am happy with that 
booked a few days down to Norfolk next month to see little grandchildren. That’s from the holiday budget. 

Planning to have a go at cutting my own hair. What could possibly go wrong