2026 Frugal Living Challenge

2Scratters

When out driving to mums yesterday in another town I spotted 2 lads taking down a tree. I pulled up sharpishly and certainly not dressed for it. I asked if it was possible to have some wood for the boot of my car. I offered some dinner tokens not too many though (I won't be telling DH that 😉) There is plenty left cut on the ground and am thinking of how to get a bit more. I may need the muscles of our son to put a cake in the boot of my car if there is any left tomorrow evening as he lives quite nearby - fingers crossed. 4 nights in a row of eating from home is a bit of a record at the moment as I have not been good at planning and organising meals as the kitchen is stuffed into the living room due to WIP for the new kitchen. Might nip to our butchers on the way to mums on the way through.

My laptop is pixilating I have a sun eclipse up on the LHS of my screen and another one is now beginning to start. I'll keep it going for as long as I can.

2 Scratters xx

Nelliegrace

I cut my long, straight hair, a skill I learned from Youtube during lockdown. I clippered DH’s hair. The clippers have paid for themselves many times over. Mended the back door where DH had kicked off a strip with his heel as he went out, and just left it.

I reused a sheet of coloured tissue paper to wrap a present, without sticky tape. I am certain that my sister will reuse it. Reused a small package from Amazon to send a present. I taped the back of a Christmas card on for a clear place to write the address. The Post Office person was going to charge parcel rate, but it measured through the gauge easily as a letter, half the price. Worth checking. I have the proof of posting.

Daisy Dog had her annual health check and vaccination, I paid £100 for vaccinations for life, and this is the 12th. The cats got to 17 and 18 years so that was a good investment.

joedenise

We changed to Tesco Mobile from O2 when they decided to put up prices mid contract by more than they had told us - so still using 02 signal but at a much cheaper price. Don't know if you can still get out of contract if it's going up again but if it's the end of your contract you can just ask for your PAC code to move to another provider.

sheilavw

I had been with the same mobile phone provider for as long as I have owned a phone. It was T Mobile. Last year I got notification that it was going from just over £10 a month to over £15. I rang to see if I could get a deal as I have done several times in the past but they weren't interested. I changed to ID mobile which is just over £7 a month

mumtoomany

Good morning all.

@Gem-gem , sorry i posted a reply yesterday, but it has somehow got lost. Possibly operator error! Glad you've had lots of other responses re lebara. OH has been with them for around 6 months, much better customer service than Vodafone. They even managed to talk him through porting his old number to the new provider, without the aid of any children! A big achievement for him.

We went shopping again as we were running out of fruit, and the dentist had recommended an electric toothbrush for OH. Spent £3.70 I the veg shop. £20.32 in morrisons, including the toothbrush and reduced bread. £3.22 in aldi on cereal, tomatoes and reduced crumpets. £5.96 in farmfoods on (drumroll please) dried kidney beans. And £11.30 in the cash and carry, all on reductions. These included, 12 dented tins baked beans and a catering size tin of pears. 2kilos of sausages. Yogurt. 24 breakfast muffins and 4 leaves. And a 1 kilo block of ardennes pate. I'll total these up and add to my signature.

hugs to all, mumtoomany.xxx

Quantaqa

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81855681#Comment_81855681

Hi @Gem-gem, I switched to Lebara last October. I used the link from MSE to pay £1.95 for the first 6 months. This was after my previous provide put the prices up for no apparent reason. I am really happy with Lebara, signal good including when we've been on holiday in rural areas of Scotland.

Frugaldom

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81855265#Comment_81855265

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81855647#Comment_81855647

Thank you. I'm so non-techie that I couldn't understand their website and our current phone won't fit into the existing router. I'm out of contract but also don't want to commit to another 2 year contract but with no mobile signal at home, it's leaving few options. I'll look again and see if I can fathom it out somehow.

fluffycatling

Hi,

Very new to all this - so nice to read about all the tips and ideas - thanks!

I am becoming a pro in using Too Good To Go and checking my local options. Some better than others but recently managed to get a fruit and veg bag and a groceries bag from local petrol station market for £5.38! Partner said that it was easily worth around £30 before reduction :) So having a mix of work leftover type lunches to get us through long January.

Take care everyone:)

Sausageroll14

With regard to Lebara, I have been with them on and off for a few years now. Great customer service, signal and the app is very informative. I sign up for the best intro offer. Sometimes it cheaper to get more data..... Surprisingly. Then I switch once it goes up. Usually I just switch for a month or two and then go back to Lebara on a new deal.

I am surprised they let me do this but they do.

I am currently with Spusu for my month away. No issues with them.

Frugaldom

Thank you for joining us in our annual challenge, @fluffycatling I hope you can have some frugal fun while saving. Well done with the TGTG bargains. Have you checked out the Olio ap for your area?

I am checking out the new features in the forum, as per the latest updates, and it looks like we can now post our photos on from mobile devices - excellent! Apologies if this goes awry but it's my first attempt since moving onto the mobile app version of MSE...

We are now feeding 4 feral cats (possibly 5) so food can be costly. I've worked out we need a tin of cat food each day (or 4 sachets) plus around 4kg of dry cat food per month. Has anyone spotted any great bargains or offers with delivery available? Currently buying supermarket own brand but if anyone spots any discounts or real bargains, please let me know. These are 4 of the 5 feral or stray cats that we are aware of. I request any Olio foodstuffs that are suitably animal friendly and friends help but I would buy in bulk if it was going to save money. Looking for best price for sachets or tins.

End of month freezer inventory got done today and I haven't done any grocery shopping this month at all. Haven't needed any petrol as I've not been anywhere so only the regular DDs. I'll book a £1.50 delivery slot from M0rrisOns or Asd@, possibly even both, depending on their cat food prices.

Olio wins this week - jar of mincemeat.