2026 Frugal Living Challenge

Gem-gem

Lovely feeding post @Frugaldom. I'm sure it won't be long before the local wildlife are enjoying their new feeding post.

Frugal activities: 1. Treated my hair with leftover treatment rather than visiting the hairdresser. £60 saved. 2. Washing dried outside (again). Tumble dryer not used. 3. Washed the back windows. Window cleaner only does the front and side of the house. 4. Up cycled a head band that I made two years ago (from leftover wool from another project) - turned it into two cup cosies for family members. The buttons I was given. Little gifts that cost £0 to me. 5. Made six jars of blackcurrant jam for £1.35 plus the cost of fuel.

Kerry_Woman

Have been really careful about spending. Checking banking app frequently. Heard in work that admin posts at risk. Waiting to get the paperwork through next month. Already booked and paid for two holidays, coaching ones, one to Yorkshire in April and other one to Lancaster in June. Still looking out for free local events. Have booked a couple of things in London, but trying to be careful about booking too much.

patentgirl

morning everyone

@Penny2myName Sorry to read of the passing of your mum haven’t been on for a while as picked up Covid recently.

No premium bond win for us this month sorted out our ISA’s reliased hadn’t topped up this years allowance.

No unexpected bills to date this year just paid our share in air b and b for a trip we booked next month to Northumberland with friends.

Trying to stock up freezer and store cupboards this month every thing seems to be running low but keeping to budgets nearly succombed to fish and chips tonight but on second thought got chicken out freezer to make a curry gave myself a talking too will have some on our trip next month.

Helping DH finish patio off this weekend he refuses to pay anyone to help still thinking he’s 30 not nearly 70 but sure we will plod on and get it done.

Mamma2004

It's lovely to read so many updates today - thank you 🥰

I've noticed that my spending habits are changing a little bit since doing the MSE forums/challenges (No Spend days, £2026 in 2026 and obvs this lovely one).

Recently, I have doubled up on a few things that we use regularly to a) get a cheaper price and b) get free postage. For example, our vit d is £6.40 for one month's supply - I saw it reduced on Amazon for £4.97 plus a buy 4 get 5% off offer. This works out at £4.72 a month for 4 months, saving £6.72 😃

I really feel like being in this community is giving me more confidence and knowledge 🙏🥰 Oh, and more money!

On the flipside, yesterday was a pretty spendy, but super fun, day with a uni visit with DS2 in Bristol.

We visited the lovely St Nick's Market for the first time, and had delicious street food (he had a BBQ beef brisket bun and a salted caramel brownie, and I had Korean noodles and tea).

It was such a rare treat, as we don't often eat out, but it was extra enjoyable after working so hard on my financial health 😊

Sometimes we need to remember why we are doing this 💞

Arrietty

Good morning all,

I'm so sorry for your loss @Penny2myName - I think I missed your original post but have seen others' messages of support so I apologise for not commenting initially and I hope you're doing ok.

Another week at work done and thank goodness as what a week it was! I had a very tricky person trying to get information on a partners behalf and the organisation is very strict about that. Person got very angry and started shouting over me when I was trying to explain and offer other contact numbers and eventually I lost patience and said I was transferring them … and put them through to the special 'abuse line' number we have. I really don't get paid enough for that!

Anyway, I received the PB payout and with my TCB earnings and a tidy up of my current account I added £90.23 to my Four Day Fund. 94 week to go until my target date and another £8784.70 still to save…

I still have £175.37 left of my Budget and 10 days until it resets. Need to get some fresh fruit and carrots and capped for HRH today, but otherwise going to try to live out of the freezer and cupboards.

Have a lovely day all 😊

Mamma2004

Waitrose 750g 15% fat beef mince on offer until Tuesday 17th March £4.66 (£6.22/kg). I just cleared out my local store - 13 packs 🤩

Edit:

I also had a £10 off £50 voucher

Currently, this mince is £9.47 p/kg in Tesco (where I normally buy it). So, I got 9.75kg for £50.58, £5.19/kg saving myself £41.73 🥳

Quantaqa

Good morning All, I haven't been active on this thread (or any thread) for a while now. My own health issues plus my Dad's cancer have meant I have taken my eye off the ball with regard frugal living. However, I need to refocus as I am now at the point I am regularly overspending and dipping into savings each month.

Today I need to:

Do a freezer inventory

Do a pantry inventory

Food plan based on what we have in

I did a big stock up at the start of the month on butcher meat so should have enough to last until the end of the month.

Temperature is up today so I plan to have the heating on less.

I have a hair cut shortly and when I get back from it I'll have a proper look at finances and see where I am at until the end of the month.

Quantaqa

@Penny2myname, I am so sorry to read about your Mum passing. My condolences to you and your family.

Mamma2004

Celebrating freebies today!

I invested £100 in Trading212 and got a free Porsche share worth £50.69!

I complained to Walkers about some black crisps and got £6 vouchers in the post!

I also complained to Taylors of Harrogate because my Yorkshire teabags weren't perforated! A pet peeve of mine and I had to use scissors!

They are sending me a free box though 🤩

I used another £10 off £50 Waitrose shop today, and got some great quality meat. I did check the prices against what I usually spend to make sure it was a saving.

My chest freezer is now totally full!

In Waitrose, I also got a voucher for a free pack of Waitrose scones worth £2.10, and a free box of Twinings worth £3.15. I gifted the scones to a lovely couple in the cafe, as I don't eat them.

The sun shone all day here in Somerset and I'm feeling like I need a Frugaller badge 😆

Prudent

Frugaller badge awarded @Mamma2004 .

Like @Quantaqa I haven't been active online for quite some time. Also due to my own health issues and trying to care for other people at the same time. I have been exhausted so I haven't found the time or energy to post. I am trying to pull back a little to focus on some self care and hopefully have time to plan a bit better. I have missed the chat on this board in particular so tomorrow I am going to have a catch up read.

Thankfully finances haven't been widely off course. This month's food spend seems high for the mid month point, so I will need to do some meal planning. I think that is partly because I have been so busy and haven't had much time to make use of veggie boxes or hunt for reductions. March is always a good month to refocus as most of the household bills seem to rise in April.