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Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.2026 Frugal Living Challenge
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Agreed, @Nelliegrace. Portion control - or lack of it - is one of the ways cereal companies make their money. When you read the side of the pack of something that claims to be "low calorie" and it says "Only 200 calories per serving", then you investigate, measure out an official-sized serving and discover that it is less than a quarter cup in size, which is a fraction of what your default would be….
My cereal container is similar to the ones that Alpen gave away.
The demon sugar.
- Pip
"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.'
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2026 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 24 spent out of 80.5 coupons (66 plus 14.5 from 2025)
12 coupons - yarn
12 coupons - 3 M&S thermal bodies9 -
Not frugal I know but I have just bought two packs of 'only' M&S cereals (I am Coeliac so it is a bit more tricky). They taste how cereals probably started out - no added sugar or oils. I have the choco hoops (more date flavour than choc) and cornflakes. I actually like the taste, they take more chewing and I don't feel the need for more than recommended portion. Much better for me than GF products too, the chemical count in those are staggering.
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How much did they cost @MayDogsandCoffee ? (My sister is Coeliac. Next time she visits from Australia, I'd like to treat her to some.)
- Pip
"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.'
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2026 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 24 spent out of 80.5 coupons (66 plus 14.5 from 2025)
12 coupons - yarn
12 coupons - 3 M&S thermal bodies9 -
@PipneyJane I think they are £2.50 a box, M&S have the best GF products I think and the other products are well labelled.
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Morning all,
prolonged absence due to a very unpleasant bout of norovirus, annoying cough and cold and post viral lethargy. Back at work now and still coughing but feel ok - just tired. Rain seems to have stopped for a while which is lovely and HRH has been naked during the day and loving rolling in the mud 😶😄
Added a total of £545 to my Four Day Fund in February thanks to not having to pay Council Tax and a lucky £200 Premium bond win. I did go over my budget for the month by about £16 but after the norovirus I just wanted to eat fresh fruit and veg, so I did - and that stuff is not cheap!
I've added £345 to the Four Day Fund already this month - final free council tax month - and have £57 in cashback to claim and a £25 Premium Bond win to add once it's been paid. However, I don't think future payments to the fund will be quite as generous as Council Tax payments resume in April and I'm expecting a water bill as well….
I want to buy pretty planty things for the garden so will need to curb that somehow!
FDF savings target = £20k by 31 December 2027...87 weeks to go!
31 Oct 2025 = £8217.86, 30 Nov 2025 = £9463.40, 31 Dec 2025 = £9785.81 [b,] 31 Jan 2026 =[/b] £10.476.12, 28 Feb 2026 = £11,060.63, 31 March 2026 = £11,493.44 April 2026 £11,889.6014 -
Jumping on the back of the lentil price post, I'm looking for the cheapest 5kg or 10kg bags of Basmati Rice please?
My local Tesco have CC price 10kg Laila @ £12 (£1.20/kg) and Sainsbury's Nectar price 10kg Salaam @ £11 (£1.10/kg).
Anyone seen anything cheaper please?
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I'm sure Laila basmati was a good price in home bargains yesterday but can't remember how much - sorry!
Interest beater challenge £365 for 2026 £180.01/£365
12 -
@Penny2myName Sorry to read of the passing of your mum. I think budgets need set aside during such times as there are just too many other things to think about, but I'm sure you will manage things accordingly. Thinking of you at this time.
I reserve the right not to spend.
The less I spend, the more I can afford.
Original Frugal living challenge was living on £4000, but that's now equivalent to £6,845.15
Now frugalling towards retirement.10 -
My life is an endless procession of sameness, day after day, so I have little to say on the money front because I'm not anywhere to spend. 😆 Not much changes and work, although I don't call it that as it's unpaid, has been 7 days a week for the past 10 years, barring 2 days away for DS wedding. I did need to buy more logs (£90) and then had a £50 win on the PBs this month again... My luck was still holding.
Olio has been a Godsend, helping keep the food bills lower. I got iceberg lettuce, carrots, turnip and a tray of dips. I use as pack of cooking bacon to make stock for soup then the bacon gets used for sandwiches or pasta dish. This week, I made chicken wraps using meat from drumsticks, freebie lettuce, and added the freebie salsa and cream cheese & chive dips, along with some grated cheese. The wraps had been from a previous Olio rescue mission. Next day, I used the sweet chilli & mayo dip as a base for tuna, are that with lettuce. There are always croissants or butteries for breakfasts.
No further forward with my interest beater challenge so I think I need to find a new mojo. 😄
I reserve the right not to spend.
The less I spend, the more I can afford.
Original Frugal living challenge was living on £4000, but that's now equivalent to £6,845.15
Now frugalling towards retirement.17 -
Sounds like our volunteering open days! 😆 Only one of us under 60 and top of the age range is 75.
@Arrietty hope you are feeling much better and congrats on the PBs win. 😊
I reserve the right not to spend.
The less I spend, the more I can afford.
Original Frugal living challenge was living on £4000, but that's now equivalent to £6,845.15
Now frugalling towards retirement.10
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