Hello Dear Reader,
It's the end of my Christmas break and I'm off to work tomorrow. I love the new start to the year and I'm always champing at the bit to get back at it. I'm one of those people who is always happiest when I'm busy and it's all very well saying this is easy or that is easy but all I can say is that it works for me. You have to do what works for you, if it means you can work less or do more with the resources you have then good for you. My simple solution for living cheaply no. 4.
4. Do it your way.
I keep an eye on my finances! I read my energy meters every Monday. I know the readings will be high tomorrow as we've all been home, showered more, laundered more clothes, cooked more and that will settle down as we all return to work. Once I got used to doing this it became easier to reduce my energy bills as I became conscious of my usage. It's the simple way I save money. I also keep an eye on prices, for example, I've stopped buying tuna as it's too expensive but tinned herring is really affordable. There are items I just don't buy any more. I know when something is a bargain and know when it's not, even if they tell me it is and I buy or don't buy accordingly. My supermarket actually reduced milk from 59p to 39p a litre today so I bought ten litres to store (I buy UHT). I keep an eye on expenses and I don't suggest you do what I do, I just write about how I pay off my mortgage by saving money.
There are many things that I do to save money that I know many don't agree with, that's OK, I don't have to be perfect. I try to avoid consumerism as much as possible as I don't feel the need to 'upgrade' anything I have but to make do with what I have, it's my way. I don't feel the need to follow trends and therefore I don't really care that my house and my granny's house wouldn't really look a lot different. I don't really care that my shoes and clothes are not fashionable as they are good enough for me.
Over to you Dear Reader,
What do you do your way? Does it simplify your life and do you save money whilst doing it?
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogs xxxxx
Another meaningful post,simple but true.Can I ask which supermarket it is as i have uht also and that is cheap
ReplyDeleteThanks Leebee x x
I did my big fortnightly top up at Lidl where the milk was on offer, they usually have a good offer a week, one week they had half price frozen food so I stocked up on frozen veg
DeleteThankyou x
DeleteFor Christmas, my lovely hubby Man Wonderful got my 25 year old Doc Marten shoes repaired for me as a surprise. Rather than worry about the cost or discomfort of 'breaking in' a good pair of shoes, these old faithfuls really are as good as new with new insoles and a ruddy good polish! FMx
ReplyDeletefab idea. I thought my dm's were old. It took me a few years to break them in as well.
Deletefab idea. I thought my dm's were old. It took me a few years to break them in as well.
DeleteSpot on, well said, we each must do what suits us, I'm sure you inspire a lot of people with all your advice & suggestions
ReplyDeleteOK, so I confess I'm a (2nd hand) Volvo owner! We've always shared one car between the two of us - not always convenient when the girls were young and with living in the country, but we planned our journeys. Now I walk to work - I do get funny looks and comments as I power walk the 2 miles each way to work - am I bothered? Definitely not!
ReplyDeleteMy supermarket recently had tinned tomatoes 4 for a £1 ( normally 59p each ) so I have stocked up each time I went. I now have 28 tins in stock but they will be used and are one of our staple items. People will laugh but I don't care. These savings are helping me along my way :-)
ReplyDeleteHi
Deletewhich supermarket was that, please?
Thanks,
Claire x
A shop called quality save or home bargains always have tinned toms 4 for £1.00. FYI
DeleteHope this hepls.
Leebee x x
lidl
DeleteMine was Tesco
DeleteI stock pile when on offer, food and toiletries. Due to our jobs and redundancies I try and keep 2 months of food in the house.
ReplyDeleteWe only have one car, I walk or use the bus. I am also the annoying one at work that is either giving away surplus veggies from my garden like lettuce or runner beans, cucumbers, heck I had those coming out of my ears last summer.
I also ask for any spare news papers (we don't buy them), and then I store them in the outside loo for fire starters. Oh and I also take glass jars from people. Sad but true, my house sounds like stig of the dumps.
Oh and finally we only eat meat at the weekends, cant afford it for the rest of the week.
Stig decorated my house too, we live on the same street as the co-op and I go through the recycling bin and get newspapers out of it, I use them to start the fire.
DeleteHi Froogs, just wanted to let you know that I tried the sun-dried tomato bread recipe you put up back in December,, yummy! And as Miss Piggy Bank has done,, I often stock up on long life things when they are on offer. Heard you on the radio today,,
ReplyDeleteForgot to say I listened to the radio also. You sound like a natural. No pauses and you didn't do what I do when public speaking and say UM all the time.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree, we also bought our house where there is public transport and close to a motorway junction.
Free newspapers light fires well, so we never go into the feed merchant without picking up a few freebies. We burn pallet wood, as you do, and actually pallets do a lot of other things too, we have at least a couple of pallet gates. I have a yogurt maker which only had one set of jars so I asked on freecycle and to another set of used mustard jars - they do the trick perfectly! (we milk goats so yoghurt making is a frugal too!)
ReplyDeleteI got 12 of the cartons of milk too. great saving.
ReplyDeleteI have the same lunch nearly everyday at work. Simple but filling sandwich from home. People think I am strange but I won't buy takeaway for a gulped down lunch and having the same thing means I don't have to think when I am busy in the morning.
ReplyDeleteWe've been careful with our resources. We've refused to upgrade possessions simply because some marketing group says the new and improved version will simplify our lives.
ReplyDeleteWe chose to homeschool our three children for primary school, so we could give them a "private" education with minimal cost.
We choose to splurge in areas some frugal folks would frown on, such as travel. I'd definitely say that we've done things our way. It's not always easy, as just about everyone thinks they know a better way to do anything. But we know our priorities and keep to them.
I am surprised that you published those two images. When you write your blog and talk on the radio you are offering advice to assist people with debt reduction and lifestyle change. This is superhero action, albeit no machine guns or personal violence. You have put yourself in the public domain, not kept silent. You are not rowing just your own canoe, you are offering guidance through your experiences. It may not be anybody's duty to save the world, but ... There are people writing comments every day here who are thankful someone is trying to save them.
ReplyDeleteI have an ebay store, so am always looking out for bargains (steals) to resell. I end up keeping a lot of things i like better than what i already have and selling what I already had instead. So I upgrade while making money at the same time. Just sold a great bedspread w shams and skirt for five times what I paid. Very fun making money doing what I love. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat pic! Love it :)
ReplyDeleteI'm rather disappointed that I have not managed one no spend day since Jan 1, but hey at least they are not (well mostly not!) frivolous purchases :) Yesterday I bought some basics to start an embroidery and I've started knitting a dishcloth, so I'm hoping to entertain myself with these crafty doings. And soon have a no spend day!
Judy xx
Frogg like you I do not follow trends. I have been making my own skirts and I accessorize with the jewelry I create. Yes, I could buy all these things but I'd rather pay off debt. Today hubby made our meals for the week and lunches so there will be no money spent. Back to teaching I morrow so like you our utilities will not be running all day. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteI am a reader and have the best time reading in the evenings or on weekends. Sure I like to do other things but I enjoy a good book (free from the library of course). Now apparently I am alone in the world I travel in because it seems like no one I know (personally or at work) reads much. It's a pity.
ReplyDelete(Also wanted to say I made lasagna yesterday and the last time you did a post on it, one of the comments mentioned using lentils to stretch the ground meat. I don't eat meat but including the lentils made it so much yummier!)
Mrs. Froogs, I've finally read through all of your posts and am current. Many posts so good I bookmarked them for future use (generally recipes).
ReplyDeleteSo many people reading your blog look up to you and want to do exactly as you do - this post is a great reminder to them that we each need to look at our own lives carefully to find the best ways to economize and plan for our specific needs. My own situation is close enough to yours that I get to "cheat" and follow the path you've set. I'm grateful for that.
This month marks the official first payment on my smallest debt - my teeny tiny little handful of snow that will soon enough grow into a giant debt-crushing snow boulder. All will be paid off, including my land purchase, in 34 months.
What a relief to have a date. Thanks for the help. :)
At the moment, its washing up liquid, clothes wash liquid, bin bags, changing my phone to sim only, buying in bulk the xmas party food [we have a few birthdays this month], which is all from Asda [bin bags and good old fairy liquid as well as various cleaning liquids and loo fresheners] and the rest comes from Morrisons. I have asked DH to go into lidl with me but he refuses! He does like Aldi and thats were we get the cheap fruit and veg from.
ReplyDeleteAlso we buy the cheap gift sets and use them, as that is the only time we can get cheap beauty products. You have heard of doomsday preppers I am a beauty and health prepper.
Also ~I have had to pay for my NHS prepaid script card which is £100+ as I couldnt remember what I paid, but if you get 4 or items each month as I have to, you save a packet. Considering each item is £7.40! Allie
I eat the same breakfast everyday during the week (and sometimes even at weekends), Oatbran Porridge it's cheap very nutricious and it's been responsible for lowering my cholesterol which had shot up to very high proportions. I also eat the same lunch, most days Egg Mayo sandwiches, homemade bread and eggs from our chickens I'd be daft not too!
ReplyDeleteDoing this keeps my mind clear for getting on with other things during the days and like you I like to keep busy, so knowing whats on my daily menu this way really helps.
I also like to menu plan the evening meals for the week ahead to make best use of the things I have that need using up first, it's a bit of a drag on the Monday morning rummaging through cupboards and freezers but once that's done I have all the food I need in one spot for the week, it really helps keep me focused, and by doing this we make best use of all food and leftovers and save a fortune.
I am also getting into the habit of simply not spending - that saves me the most money!!
Sue xx
We use UHT milk here as well. So, I always buy in bulk, but get really happy when it's on special.
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law is the most frugal person I know. She's a great one for bulk cheapies, when they are around. Back when my father-in-law was alive, they would get all the supermarket catalogues together and plan their shopping trip based on who had what on special. Their local mall had two supermarkets in it and there was another one close by, so their shopping days were always expeditions. Their list was divided up into stores and she would not deviate from it - very disciplined shopper.
She buys her craft supplies when they are on special and I do the same thing wherever possible - especially things like battings and stuffings. Often the thrift shop is out of blankets of a good size for quilts, though I have had a couple of really good wins with quality wool blankets in queen size.
I haven't been to the shopping centre for quite some time. I find it very easy to impulse buy, especially if I'm bored, so now I do my groceries at a stand-alone supermarket : no diversions. It works for me.
Hi Sue, a word of cauction regarding eggs. When my cholesterol shot up I was advised to limit the amount of eggs I ate to a mere 1 a week! Check that out as eggs are apparetnly quite high in cholesterol?
ReplyDeleteHi Froogs, following on from your inspiration I have decided this year to make the best of what I have, save as much as possible, get the debts down and re-use etc where possible.
ReplyDeleteOur year began this weekend. I made butter from gifted cream, amazingly easy, very tasty. 4 pots of cream of parsnip soup(left over parsnips) AND TODAY THE REAL BIG 1 STARTED TO KICK THE 20 A DAY HABIT! A positive start.
Best of luck to Robsmum. I have never smoked, but my parents did, so I know how hard it is to quit. I also know how expensive it is to smoke and what you probably do without so you can buy cigarettes. This is one you will never regret! And if at first you don't succeed, try again. If you are doing this cold turkey, be aware that your doctor can give you an Rx that WORKS. I know several 50-year smokers in their 70s who successfully quit with the medication. You only take it for a month or so and insurance pays for it (they want you to quit, too!). We're behind ya!
ReplyDeleteHello Mrs. Froogs..I have one question and one request..How do you stored milk? do you freeze it? I am in America and here we have big gallons of milk but can't never figured out how to store milk.
ReplyDeleteMy request can you do a tutorial on how to make Faggots?...you probably have one already I just can't find it.
Thank you and I do love your blog...I read it almost every day.
Hello Mrs. Froogs
ReplyDeleteI have one question and one request..How do you store milk?. Do you freezed it?...I am in America here we have big gallons of milk and I don't know how I can store milk. Milk is getting very expensive here too...my request can you do a tutorial on how to make faggots? May be you already have but I don't seem to find it on your blog...
Thank you ...I love your blog and read it everyday..Keep up the good work...