Space Chick Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Following 2014 Let's do it again!! I'm making it my mission in 2015 to buy less new and to be as frugal as possible. Who's in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Me definately! I will start to pay of my student loan from this month on, for the next 15 years... Yeeeh... Which means a lot less spending money and almost not able to save any. I did treat myself to a nice face cleaner from Philips, but technically I still bought that in 2014. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Hmmm I would like to but moving house and the new house needs LOTS doing to it. I am a bit of a coupon demon though, three times this year I have halved a grocery bill with various coupons and vouchers I have earned through doing ssurveys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 I had a very frugal 2014 - I really cut back on coffees, bought lunches etc, I didn't buy any new clothes till July and even then it was a very carefully considered shop, and I didn't have a holiday. I also discovered Lidl! I'm sure there is more I can do, but it really paid off last year and I was able to achieve a major financial milestone that I hadn't expected to reach till next year. I have two stacks full of free wood, the freezer is full - this year I'd like to make the garden more productive, and make more birthday and Christmas presents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 I'm up for this and will be joining in. Packed lunches/ flask coffee at work for me no unnecessary shopping trips to big supermarkets when all I need is a litre of milk and can get it at my local Co-op.. growing as much food as possible More wood wombling for use in my wood burner Using my petrol wisely, e.g. planning trips carefully so that I can do several things en route... Asking myself 'Do I REALLY need this, or can I do without?' (That is the big challenge...) Good luck everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Me too... again Over the years, it has become second nature to think frugally, and it has paid off in many ways. I use only free wood in my log burner, and have an endless supply. I trade chicken manure for fresh organic vegetables from a friend's smallholding.... the list is endless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 I already failed at being frugal... Needed to buy presents and couldn't find the book I wanted, so bought a different one. Ended up ordering the right one online as well... Also managed to break my glass tea pot... And I just bought a tea light to enjoy hot tea for longer than 5 min... Immediately bought a new one (which wasn't cheap). But from now on, I'll try harder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Don't think we can do much more, but we keep looking at ways. We switched to a water meter then fitted a water butt and use that to flush the downstairs loo. Cold water run from the hot tap is saved for the chickens' drinkers. The car is washed with water from the butt. Everything that can be done on Economy 7 tariff is, so bread, washing machine and hot water heating. Fitted an extra jacket to the hot water tank to minimise the heat lost, which is considerable and nearly a quarter of our electric costs. Internet telephone makes calls free. Mobiles are PAYG and only used in emergencies. Anyone have more ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Wow, Beantree, thanks for that. I'm also on a water metre but my kitchen tap seems to take ages to get hot for washing up. I think I will start to save the cold for the chickens, too. I make most of my own bread now and buy flour in bulk which works out cheaper. I also nip into my local Co-op at the end of the day for reduced items - but only those things I will definitely use straight away or can freeze. I've invested in LED bulbs througout my house. They're expensive, but should not need replacing for the foreseeable future (though one has burnt out ) I put an insulating curtain across the inside of my front door to help keep in the warmth. I've started taking cash to the shops - rather than my debit card. When I'm spent, I'm spent. There's no temptation to buy that extra item. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Bought some 'reduced' items at my local Co-op; a packet of hot cross buns - 39p, a big bag of carrots - 25p (will make some soup), tomatoes -49p and a pack of 2 garlic nan breads for 29p. There were other things, too (mainly cakes ) that I didn't buy. How's everyone else getting on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I'm not really doing this - I'm too impetuous - but I did get a whole lemon sole from Sainsburys half an hour before closing for £1.04 yesterday. Baked in foil and served with new potatoes, broccoli and peas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 One of my dirty secrets is to scan along the condemned shelves for anything worth freezing... luckily I don't often go to the supermarket I have had boxes of lovely veg from my friends, so have been busy making soup and veg stews. All get frozen and either used as they are, or as the basis for another dish. Not bad in exchange for chicken poo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Sounds a good exchange! I love bartering. I often swap eggs and chicken poo for other things. Once I swapped for freshly caught trout - then had to go on Youtube to find out how to gut them. Still, I am developing all kinds of life skills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 One of my dirty secrets is to scan along the condemned shelves for anything worth freezing... Nothing to be ashamed of in that! I rarely pay full price for fish or meat as I usually snap up reduced bargains and stick them in the freezer, bread is another item that freezes well. Although I usually try to buy free range meat, if it's been knocked down I reckon I am saving it from landfill so I relax my rules a bit on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 When we're in Portugal its easy to be frugal because a)the cost of living is cheap and b)literally there are very few shops closer than 45 minutes away, and even when we go to the city the choice is small. The concept of online shopping and delivery is still very much in its early stages - we've had one or two cycling things delivered - the courier came from a town which is 2 hours away I have found that the lack of temptation is the easiest way for me to not buy stuff. However, the knock on has been that I have been very keen on browsing and shopping back in the UK, and I have bought more things than I would do usually, I think its the equivalent of dieting and then binge eating. However, all that was in 2014 and the novelty has worn off so it will be back to the usual round of frugality. One new thing I have discovered is the local auction room. Its not posh, so its not full of antiques, in fact its mostly full of junk. However, if you need to equip/re-equip a house with cutlery/plates/glasses/decorative things/things for the garden/furniture and you have the time to sift the rubbish out, there are massive bargains. I picked up a beautiful white china Spode dish, which I am using as a soap dish, for 20p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 The Co-Op is great for reduced bread at the end of the day and they are usually very significant reductions - their instore-bakery bread for 20p per loaf for example!! I'm a veggie, so meat isn't an issue, but I do make LOTS of soup at the moment and have found that bags of frozen veg are just as good in soup as fresh and work out a lot cheaper - I will probably be shot for suggesting that!!! I'm struggling with mint at the moment - pea and mint is my favourite soup - but I've used up all my frozen mint from the garden from last year and I'm struggling to find a cost efficient replacement. Will need to grow lots more this year!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 A great thread. I was made redundant just before Christmas and am going to have to wait 6-8 weeks for my redundancy, belts are most definitely being tightened around here! I've always made our lunches for work as I have never been able to bring myself to pay ££££ for a shop bought sandwich. Have switched our usual washing powder, kitchen roll, loo roll etc. for aldi versions, much cheaper and I have to say definitely comparable if not cheaper. Now I'm not going into the office I only have an Aldi and a Booths local. Booths is great for selling off meat and fish at the end of the day from the fish and meat counter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 I'm struggling with mint at the moment - pea and mint is my favourite soup - but I've used up all my frozen mint from the garden from last year and I'm struggling to find a cost efficient replacement. Will need to grow lots more this year!!! This autumn I dug up a root of mint planted it in a big pot and kept it in the kitchen window sill. It was a bit weedy at first but is now really lush and productive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
