2026 Frugal Living Challenge

Kerry_Woman

Paid the bills that I usually have for January, eg service charge for flat, contents insurance and pre paid prescription.  Glad they are out of the way. Now to concentrate on the rest of the year. Have put 3 things aside for now, don't want to rush my decision before paying out for them.  Need to stay more focused.  Got plenty of books to read, wordsearch puzzles and, dvds,  jigsaw puzzles to keep me busy.  Got work to also keep me busy, luckily it is local.  Working for organisation for 5 years this month and 3 years at where I am working.  Very grateful for work, even though stressful at times. 

Penny2myName

Hi, I really want to do this this year. After going through a DRO in 2024/25 mainly 25, I want to get a better grip of my finances and be able to start building an emergency fund and pay towards a pension investment, I have 14 years and 11 months from today til I hit retirement age, add in the notice so roughly 15 years from today. Will work out my budget tomorrow and add it in here as off to work in 45 minutes. 

I did join the original 4k a year back in 2007 or was it 8, I can not remember now, so much has happened over the years. I even found my financial book from then earlier last year whilst going through boxes I still had to unpack from my move back in 2023. Food seemed so cheap back then in comparison. At that point I was on benefits, but went to college and then uni as a mature student and been in work since
2026 is the Year I get a true grip of my finances for good.

Thank you Frugaldom for all the effort you have put in over all these years.
EDIT: As promised my lose budget as estimating for increase to rent, council tax and utilities. 
All my unsocial hours I want to move the pay straight into savings and personal pension.

Goal £14,000 This is just under my basic wage without unsocial hours

5400 Rent
1440 Council Tax
3480 Electric & heating combined (community heating with is 3-4 times higher than gas)
684 Water - Metered so hopefully will be lower but this is based on present DD
384 Internet - for just under 1Gig - family of gamers and streamers.
240 Mobile 
323 Contents Insurance
404 Critical Care

All Shopping
1645


Any monthly underspends from electric and heating will go towards shopping fund that month.

mumtoomany

Hello  to all newcomers and returners, hope the new year has been good to you so far.

Spends so far, nothing. I have my first 1p towards the interst beater. Found on the floor as I came out of the supermarket yesterday. Tea was interesting and frugal. On new years eve we went shopping, running out of milk. The cash and carry had large tubs of chicken and bacon sandwich spread for £2. I mixed just over a third with fried shallots and peas. Mixed with cooked pasta and topped with grated cheese. "Sort of" carbonara. Follow by Christmas pudding. 

Need to update my signature, if I can remember how to do it!

Hugs, mumtoomany.xx 

Gem-gem

Hello to all, 
NSD 1 of the year / month / week. 

Stayed in, started to make a blanket for BIL's partners 80th birthday. Two balls of wool cost £5 (bought last year) to go with wool that I was given early last year. Pleased because a) present will be homemade b) using up materials that are already in the house c) help declutter seven balls of wool from the cupboard - create space d) not breaking the bank. 

Dinner - sourced from cupboard / freezer. 

@Frugaldom, your interest on spending challenge got me thinking. Up to now I have stock piled items - shower gels / shampoo / soap / cream / wool / chocolate / books to read is just a few to name. But this has meant that the money is in the product / retailer and no longer in my saving account earning interest. About three years ago, I stopped buying beauty products and said that I will only buy new when I have finished it / nearly finished and only last year, I had to buy shampoo / conditioner and face and eye creams. I am still working my way through body lotions, hand creams, soaps, shower gels etc. I have around 50 unread books! Jigsaw puzzles that I was given last year still not done. (Many books were presents or bought in CS, puzzles were presents).
My New Year's resolution is going to be... don't buy anything until I have nearly run out - but ensuring that I do it at a time to get the best deal. No point waiting till I have run out and the paying more. This will result in my money not leaving my savings accounts until it really has to. Thank you for opening my eyes. 

Rowan9

Great to read how everyone is doing. I find it so motivating! 

I have plenty left over cold meats and cheese which I’ll freeze for my work sandwiches for the next while. I have teas and coffee in my locker so I’m sorted. I start back on Monday. 

Still enjoying the holidays though! 

moneywastingexpert99

I'm joining this and looking forward to tips and ideas. As my name suggests I'm a chronic money waster, I have never tracked my spending. Have racked up £14.5K cc debt, destroyed my credit score and need to get this under control.

moneywastingexpert99

Char95 said:

I'm planning a clothing no buy for 2026. Just for myself, I will buy things my kids need. But I am no longer growing, at least not upwards, don't care about fashion and already have more than I need. 

I just wanted to post it somewhere to make myself accountable. 

I'm hoping to buy for myself only from vinted etc and trying to sell on there to balance things out. The teenager will have to have new clothes.

Frugaldom

Good evening to all and welcome on board to all our newcomers - it's always good to see a few more frugal living folks, especially as we are supporting others who may have lost their way a little. It's been busy here at Frugaldom but we are now all settled into our various locations for a frugal new year wildlife watch. So far, two of our four feral cats have been to help themselves to the donated food.

I made today's soup, warmed pies and boiled up the veg on top of the log burner and roast the potatoes in my gifted Omnia oven on top of the gas ring. Several visitors popped in, one after the other, with a new year tipple after all the outside work was done and our first footer brought the customary lump of coal and some shortbread. No leftovers from the days meal but we managed to claim some Olio items.

I'm still finalising my 2026 budget. The overall amount can't really change as that is the budget but how it gets spent can. Yes, I do have an emergency fund and my living expenses covered for the coming year but I'd prefer to add to that for retirement in 2031. Early retirement isn't an option.

Frugaldom

Penny2myName said:

... I did join the original 4k a year back in 2007 or was it 8, I can not remember now, so much has happened over the years. I even found my financial book from then earlier last year whilst going through boxes I still had to unpack from my move back in 2023. Food seemed so cheap back then in comparison. At that point I was on benefits, but went to college and then uni as a mature student and been in work since 2012.

2026 is the Year I get a true grip of my finances for good.

Thank you Frugaldom for all the effort you have put in over all these years.

Welcome back  

Gem-gem

I have just applied to be a Presiding Officer and do the count in the May elections. If I get both then I should reach my £500 target - interest. If I do I will up the target. 

Last year, we found £36 in roadkill. 😀 This will help pay for a meal or two whilst we are away on a football weekend. 

DH found 2 x £1 coins today. A great start to our roadkill fund. We pool the money. Keep it in a tin for the whole year, so I won't be counting this in the interest challenge.