2026 Frugal Living Challenge

RateTartExtraordinaire

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82010905#Comment_82010905

Hi @startin_again,

Better late than never, as the saying goes :)

I'm also trying to get my head around retirement in the next 10 years. I've got an old small work pension due when I'm 62 and another old pension, slightly larger, due when I'm 65, and finally the state pension at 67. I've been putting money into a SIPP and ISA to help top up the small pension and maybe stopping working at some point before I'm 65.

But, I think while I'm still fit and able, I may just keep going with work for as long as possible (self employed). You never know what is round the corner. My partner recently got made redundant. He had a reasonable payout and has budgeted how long it would last him and cut back any excess expenditure. Our finances have always been separate as he had a poor credit history when we first met, though he is excellent with his finances now :) My frugal ways may have brushed off on him.

I love a spreadsheet for budgeting.

My first spreadsheet was originally from the MSE website which I filled in.

Once I learned how to make my own simple ones I made my own to forecast how long it would take to pay off the mortgage if I made overpayments.

Good luck with your new budgeting. You sound like you have it sussed.

RateTartExtraordinaire

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82013767#Comment_82013767

Hi @kayannie ,

Thanks for the tips. I looked at my screw top plastic containers, but I think they have seen better days. I have bought a couple of glass bottles with swing top stoppers as I was visiting relatives who live near a big I K E A store and it seemed a good investment.

They had various sizes, if anyone is interested: 1L bottles £2, 500ml bottles £1.50 or a set of 3 smaller 15 cl bottles for £3.

I found this recipe on an old thread on the forum (below). But I also watched a YT video that said you shouldn't wash as it's the pollen which gives the flavour. They suggested to just leave them out to dry on a tray and make sure there are no bugs. So I'm a little conflicted.

All set to go though. Neighbour said, "Fill your boots!"

BBC food - elderflower cordial recipe

Ingredients
30 elderflower heads
6 pints (approx. 3 litres) of boiling water
2lb (900g) caster sugar
1 packet of citric acid (available from chemists)
2 unwaxed oranges
3 unwaxed lemons

Method

1. Gently rinse over the elderflowers to remove any dirt or little creatures.
2. Pour the boiling water over the sugar in a very large mixing bowl. Stir well and leave to cool.
3. Add the citric acid, the oranges and lemons sliced, and then the flowers.
4. Leave in a cool place for 24 hours, stirring occasionally.
5. Strain through some muslin and bottle.

Quantaqa

@fionaandphil, thanks for the recommendation. I'll have a look at them for next year.

I spent some time yesterday doing a new freezer and pantry inventory. I want to run the freezer down in the next couple of months to do a defrost and we have quite a bit in there. DH and I have made a food plan base on using up freezer bits for the next couple of weeks. Tonight we are having baked potatoes with chilli (from the freezer) as we wanted something straightforward as DH heads out to his night-shift at 4.45pm.

Other frugal goings on:

We made the most of the weather during the week and got up to date with laundry. All loads hung out on the line to dry.

No takeaways or eating out. A takeaway was something that we used to do regularly but are doing less and less now. Gone are the days when a takeaway felt like a treat on a Friday night. The ones local to me have become really expensive and the quality has fallen too.

The heating is now OFF. Happy Days. Ideally I like to keep it off until mid-October. I am hoping for a warm Autumn😊🍁.

I returned a pair of new trainers that didn't fit properly.

Have a good week fellow frugalers.

Sallyp2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82017652#Comment_82017652

we used to get a takeaway weekly many moons ago. Agree they are very expensive nowadays & poor quality. We froze some of an Indian once and if you saw the frozen fat level that separated out you would be off them for life. Best making your own - at least you know what was in it x

Prudent

Welcome @startin_again . You have made plenty of savings already, well done.

Thank you for the tips about recovery services. My car tax, insurance and recovery are all due in July. Thankfully my car tax is just £20, so that helps keep the overall bill down. It is OH's birthday in July too. I bought him a new-to-him bike this week as his present as his elderly bike got beyond reasonable repair. We visited a local bike recycling hub and were able to pick up a mountain bike that would have been £700 new for just £100. It included their full service which is usually £75.

I haven't spent much on food recently as we go on holiday at the end of this week. I usually like to use up all the fresh stuff before we go. I also tidied some of the kitchen cupboards and put all the things that need using up to the front. Dinner this evening was a fish and cannellini bean puttanesca from a BBC good food recipe and I would definitely recommend it. OH lunched on homemade cheese straws so I could use up some puff pastry and cheese and I had a salad from what was left in the salad compartment.

startin_again

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. 

@RateTartExtraordinaire thanks for the advice. When creating/working on your spreadsheets. Do you use a desktop, laptop, tablet or smart phone? I’m current using a smart phone to communicate with the forum and it’s awkward as the screen is so small.

My first month with my new budget is going to be a trial run. There’ll be a lot of tweaking and adjusting. It may take a few months to get it right. The budget started from pay day on Wednesday 27h.  I’ve allocated £200 a month for food, this is for two adults.  I’ve spent £71.41. Which makes me think I’ve blown the budget already. My daughter is a fussy eater so I like to buy her the food that she wants to eat. I’ll eat anything. Today I bought food mostly for her. I’m going to eat from the freezer. Which is overflowing. 

I’m impatient to see results..which dangerous. I know patience and persistent will pay off.   I just want to stop spending money but  for some reason everywhere I turn I need to spend money. The car is suddenly making a noise…no joke. This is also going to be a spendy month as I have two big family events. 

The shock of the week was going to the garage to get air in my car tires…£2! I couldn’t believe it and had no choice but to pay it.

Weekly round up…

There was no popping into shop on the way home from work. No parking in car park at work. Pack lunch every day. 2 NSD from Wednesday Washing and reusing freezer bags. Batch cooked chicken curry.

• To do…look at saving accounts for yearly bills and long term savings.
  

• Hope everyone has a happy frugal week.
  

Nelliegrace

DH will fetch a small portion of fish and chips just occasionally when I have got over-tired. (I would prefer it if, just for once he would cook something, and do it without asking dozens of pathetic, stupid questions, so I give up and take over.)

It is a local business and we have known them for some forty years. I hope they will continue, small businesses need our support.

Sallyp2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82018037#Comment_82018037

Men! Btw is it all women on here?

frugal females

annieb64

We occasionally share a portion of fish and chips and I freeze half the chips and reheat them in the airfryer on another day.

moginstein

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82016364#Comment_82016364

morning @PipneyJane I have a work around, sending money via P*yPal. I have 2 P*yPal accounts but you could send money to your other half and he could send it back or withdraw to a joint account. Just send 1p via P*yPal using your Chase card, or Chase account as direct debit. I've sent 1p, then 2p, then 3p etc… It's a little bit of a faff, but it doesn't take that long, and I see it as a challenge. Had to make 20 transactions to meet the T&Cs on another account!

(You don't have to send different amounts, I just found it easier to count and check).

Or you can do some of your Sainsbugs shopping at the self serve, one mushroom, one carrot, one onion, on separate receipts. Transactions don't have to be bananas ;-)