2018 Frugal Living Challenge
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DESCENDING INTO LAUNDRY TIPS AGAIN
With the laundry gloop, I dissolve mine in warm water to make the batch up to 5 litres, which fits nicely into a plastic lidded bucket. I then either use a laundry ball - the type you get free - or else a small ladle. By using the remains of water from kettle boiling (as I don't have constant running hot water at home) it can be dissolved in a jug and ready to use. It's usually a low temp economy wash setting we use but every so often, I run through a boil wash, which ensures any residual 'gloop' gets washed through the machine.
MONEY-SAVING & SOCIALISING
My biggest moneysaving tip here is to have a supportive network of friends, neighbours and/or family, including extended family. I find neighbours the most helpful and it gived you a real sense of community once everyone knows and understands each others predicaments. If you don't have the money to spend on going out, invite them in - chatting is free. A small chilly room soon warms up with several people in it and a cup of tea (or homemade refreshment, if you follow those tips) goes down well on a regular basis. As we each get to know one anothers lifestyles, some trading begins - I have hens & ducks, I swap them for other things and sell the surplus to neigbours. I'm known in the area as a recycler and one who uses up anything, past BBE date or otherwise so it is now a bit of a standing joke that nothing goes in the bin without it being offered here. I love this aspect of frugal living and plan on hosting many more get togethers over the summer months when heating isn't an issue.
FrankieM, for me it was very difficult movig away from friends and family initially but I do tend to be a very 'chat to anyone' type person - as many of the challengers will testify, as we have had several meet-ups over the years. :rotfl::beer: Now, some of us actually meet up for things like wildcamps and event weekends and I have made sme fabulous friends along the way. It still saddens me that we have also lost some wonderful people over these past years but each and every one of them is remembered fondly and are being commemorated in a special garden we are making.
Frugal living isn't just for Christmas (or clearing debts), it's life itself - even if frugal just means prioritising your spending to a stage that you can afford to help a friend in need if/when that situation arises.
I reserve the right not to spend.
The less I spend, the more I can afford.
Frugal living challenge - living on £4000 in 20240 -
Your internet and (especially) TV setups sound very suspect to me - to the point of being illegal.
It sounds like you can get away without heating because your 'external' walls are heated by neighbouring properties. I don't have that luxury as I'm in a detached property - and my heating only cuts in if the internal temperature falls below 18, so your heat comfort is currently considerably higher than mine (and most of the others who replied are also in the 18 vicinity).
My internet is not illegal at all, nor is my TV, just technically complicated, there are easier services, for example Netflix which could be justified on the savings of not having to pay TV Licence.
I am lucky to benefit from just two outside walls in living room and one in bedroom and bathroom, however, upstairs has no heat or light and the building does become very cold below 5 degrees. I have previously lived in large detached houses and they were not freezing cold like the old thick walled cottages etc. I also lived in two flats with Storage Heaters, they are useless and I pity anyone on a budget who has to put up with those.
In military I had months in -40 and so I have a real aversion to cold, but I also condition myself, for example yesterday was sunny, I nipped out to run two errands, then when I got back I took off jumper so I did not get too used to warm, then late in evening when I felt cold I put jumper back on and was fine. It was actually quite warm, temp indoors stayed at 21, rose to 21.5 after half an hour of ironing.
When it is below 16 I have this great ski jumper I got years ago.
I get the whole baby/family washing thing but my parents never had driers and they had 9 kids, nor did their parents AND they had towel nappies.
I guess it depends on how often you change your clothes and how often you feel the need to wash them.
If other half insists then have him pay for extra cost!0 -
I had storage heaters put into the bedrooms of my first house as I couldn't afford to install gas central heating - hated them with a passion, and in hindsight wished I'd coped without for a year or two whilst saving for the 'real deal'.I also lived in two flats with Storage Heaters, they are useless and I pity anyone on a budget who has to put up with those.
Which would suffocate me, as I can't abide a temperature above 18It was actually quite warm, temp indoors stayed at 21
I save money on my electric bill by NOT ironingrose to 21.5 after half an hour of ironing
but that's pointless as it still comes our of the family income, and impacts on what can be used to cover other bills (or debt repayments).If other half insists then have him pay for extra cost!Cheryl0 -
The first grass cut has now been completed!!
I'm quite proud that I've cracked on and got it done. It would seem in some areas I can procrastinate to the point of laziness.
Now that it's cut I can see what I'm dealing with and it's very uneven/lumpy ground. The grass has a lot of weeds in it and is generally patchy.
I'm in a rented house so I'm happy to spend money on tools but don't want to spend too much on what I can't take with me...what do you frugallers suggest? How can I make it all a bit nicer?
There's also some sort of paving path and some edging that has weeds/grass growing out of the joins, so I'll also need to deal with that. I'm thinking a spade, edger and hard work will sort it out, but not sure how to stop it from coming through again or can't I?
All suggestions appreciated 0 -
Frugaldom I'm considering moving further away at some point. Probably in the same county but something perhaps more rural. The reason to move into a city (so the children could get themselves places) is no longer a concern for me as I only have the one child living with me now.
My experience of community and socialising here is that it all happens at the pub and that's just not me....
My other children are doing their own thing and living their own lives. I don't really see much of them so the thought that I should stay close to them is something that I'm realising I don't need to concern myself with. However difficult I might find it.
At the moment though, my frugal journey is about paying my car loan off and so that's this year's plan. I have a 5 year plan on the go, but that takes me to 50 and that's when I start to cry! lol. So, I think a year at a time is the way to go. 0 -
I get the whole baby/family washing thing but my parents never had driers and they had 9 kids, nor did their parents AND they had towel nappies.
I guess it depends on how often you change your clothes and how often you feel the need to wash them.
If other half insists then have him pay for extra cost!
Well good for them but it was a completely different time. My mum didn't have a drier nor did my grandma but, like most women of the day, they were neither "allowed" nor needed to work full time like I do or and they didnt do a lot of the things I do in a day. The role of women was very different then so they could devote a lot more time to housework including a whole day to do washing if need be. I couldn't do that even if I wanted to (which I don't!) . It wasn't a "better" time then, the situation is completely different so comparison is pointless.
We feel the need to wash our clothes when they are dirty! With twin babies, even doing bare minimum produces a huge amount of washing - I can't even begin to explain how much time and effort we devote to washing already and we're certainly not washing willy nilly. Withoaut a drier there is NO way we'd clear one load before the next came out - we'd literally drown in washing.
And yes, my husband INSISTS because he has severe allergies - I once made the mistake of line drying our duvet cover and he suffered for a week. His eyes stream and his nose runs, he sneezes everywhere and it's really unpleasant for us all. Any saving would be eaten up in buying extra tissues, medication, time off work etc plus all money is family money so if I asked him to pay I'd be robbing myself.
No I'm afraid tumble drier is another thing that's non negotiable here - I make sure I save my money in other areas - so I can afford such luxuries. I'm certainly not going to make my life miserable just to save a few pennies - that's not what frugality is to me.Total debts £21050! :eek: now £10941. 76. Total extra income made in Jan22 £109. 27 Feb 22 £45.25 Total extra income made in 2022 £154.52 Aiming for debt free at 45 - 41 months to go!0 -
What a month!!! Budget blown well out this month!
Iv had 5 birthdays so far! 80th nan, 40th best friends hubby, my dads and sister in laws and best friends!!!
I made each of them a cake as birthday gifts but they all wanted to go out for meals leaving me dipping into savings. However thats it now for birthdays till end of June!! Wohoo! Was stressful getting through and not having money for gifts but bears previous years of saying sodd it and going into over draft! (I never had a savings pot previously so even thats a big change!)
Budgeting is going well though, but got cars mot end of may so going to have to touch savings to get work done I need to pass! But if I can do it myself I will ( already replaced headlamp and brake light bulbs myself) new set of headlights needed and starting motor but should be ok to do this myself.
For me being frugal is about saving by doing things myself and living on minimum I can but not depriving myself.
This is so I then enjoy little luxuries every now and then eg coffee and cake out once a month.
But everyone are in different situations and therefore have different needs wants and limits of frugality0 -
Like to add I need a car as I work by travelling to different areas of the county and its a sleepy county with not great public transport.
My car however is a little 1.4 cylinder engine 500miles to tank which is £40 to fill and only £30 a year tax so great frugal car. If I am doing things local I walk.0 -
Well good for them but it was a completely different time. My mum didn't have a drier nor did my grandma but, like most women of the day, they were neither "allowed" nor needed to work full time like I do or and they didnt do a lot of the things I do in a day. The role of women was very different then so they could devote a lot more time to housework including a whole day to do washing if need be. I couldn't do that even if I wanted to (which I don't!) . It wasn't a "better" time then, the situation is completely different so comparison is pointless.
We feel the need to wash our clothes when they are dirty! With twin babies, even doing bare minimum produces a huge amount of washing - I can't even begin to explain how much time and effort we devote to washing already and we're certainly not washing willy nilly. Withoaut a drier there is NO way we'd clear one load before the next came out - we'd literally drown in washing.
And yes, my husband INSISTS because he has severe allergies - I once made the mistake of line drying our duvet cover and he suffered for a week. His eyes stream and his nose runs, he sneezes everywhere and it's really unpleasant for us all. Any saving would be eaten up in buying extra tissues, medication, time off work etc plus all money is family money so if I asked him to pay I'd be robbing myself.
No I'm afraid tumble drier is another thing that's non negotiable here - I make sure I save my money in other areas - so I can afford such luxuries. I'm certainly not going to make my life miserable just to save a few pennies - that's not what frugality is to me.
Sorry, I did not want to belittle your situation, I know how hard kids are to juggle around a job and twins are double demanding.
I do not know how my mum did it with so many and she worked in a punishing business, the night I was born she was working, she casually stopped, went to the upstair of the premises, called midwife and had me born there. No hospital even after and no maternity leave, as you say different times.
The fact is you deserve whatever helps you keep your family going, I am sure there are things each of us would prioritise differently, it is a matter of choice and you make it up on other things.
I can imagine some will have gas guzzling MPV's because they need the space while others will have the eco car.
Cars are a budget destroyer, if you buy one new you lose over 20% instantly you drive it off the forecourt and cars these days are designed to last less time. At the other extreme you buy a car that has done 80k to 150k mileage and they can become a money pit.0 -
Morning everyone
I would have my tumble dryer back in a heart beat. I miss the warm, cuddly softness and your washing is all done straight away. I just love them! But I've moved from a house with a utility room to one without and so there is just no space. My freezer is in the shed so no space there either. But when I buy a house eventually, it's having a utility room! I personally didn't find the electricity bill that much more but then perhaps it was other things that made the bill expensive.
And cars...well...not frugal there
I have a 2014 VW Scirroco R Line. Not content with a new car, I got a top of the range sporty type. They saw me coming, but, I love it. It makes me happy and makes all the hours I do worth it. I've never wanted a lot of things but the things I have are the things I really like/want.
So, there's my non frugal confession for this morning.
Otherwise, it's a day at work. I've got leftover chilli for lunch and bolognaise from the freezer for tea. I'm hoping that when I was the bedlinen tonight I'll be able to dry it on the line and I'm getting very close to turning the heating off...I know..I know...lol
In my defence, my front room is quite a cold room but I like to sit in there cause I feel like a grumpy teenager if I'm in my bedroom all the time. I've not got double glazing which doesn't help so I think this winter, if I'm still in this house, I'm going to look into thick curtains and the like to make it warm and cozy.0
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