Welcome to my five frugal things round up of the week. Sorry it has been a while since I have written one of these. It’s been very busy here! I did manage to publish a post you might like this week, however, if you are looking for unusual ways to save money. It’s called Extreme Frugality: 20 more tips for super thrifty living.
I have been very good at not buying stuff this month. It was supposed to be a no spend July, but I had a few fails, mainly one or two very inexpensive bargains at charity shops and boot sales. As you know, I buy to sell on eBay, but when you see something great for a pound or two that you could really use, it’s hard to walk away!
So my no spend July became a low spend one instead. Here is what I have been up to this week.
Balancing the books
This year I have been very good at writing a monthly budget and tracking all of my spending. I use this budget book*, as I find it helpful to have a specific tool rather than odd pads and bits of paper as I always have in the past. It focuses my attention better. I leave it on the dining table most of the time so that I remember to gather my receipts and record my spending.
At the end of July, I went through all of July’s expenses to see if I had stuck to the budgeted amount for each category. I also pulled together all of the income from my various self-employment projects to add to August’s entry. Now I know how much money I have and what I can spend during the coming month.
Keeping track is very helpful. I review it every week or so to see which areas I need to pull back on. At the moment, it is getting harder and harder to stay within budget, particularly for groceries. Are you finding the same?
Finding food inspiration
As I said, I am struggling to stick to my grocery budget; everything has become more expensive in a very short space of time. Even by planning meals, shopping from the pantry to use up what we have, growing some of our own food and eating less meat, it is hard to stick to our usual allocated amount.
I think we just have to accept this and increase the budget going forward. However, I have also been looking through my cookery books for frugal meal ideas. I look online too, but there is something about an actual book that will always hold more appeal than its digital version to me.
I picked up Mrs Beeton’s Everyday Cookery in the charity shop for 50p. It was originally published in 1963, but reprinted in 1974. The seventies were tough times financially, with constant power cuts caused by the ‘three day week‘, so I figured I might get some good ideas for cheap meals in this book.
I have also dug out some old favourites like A Girl Called Jack*, Delia Smith’s Frugal Food and Shirley Goode’s The Goode Kitchen*.
It’s always good to try new recipes anyway – it adds a bit of interest to what can be a chore.
Making bread
My daughter gave me her old bread maker, as she never used it and it was taking up space in her small flat. I had one years ago, but got into making sourdough. You don’t need a bread maker for that, just a starter. However, I have failed to keep that alive, so I thought I would use up some of the bread flour I have in the cupboard.
Bread is actually quite expensive now, so this should save us some money. I know I don’t need a bread maker, of course, but I have arthritis in my hands and don’t think I would do a great job of making it by hand right now.
I also picked up this bread kit reduced in the Coop, so have started with that. It’s in the bread maker as I type and smelling great!
Using stuff up
As part of my using up things from the pantry, I did some baking this week. My favourite Farmhouse Fruit Cake, to be precise. We all love this cake. It’s so moist and delicious and uses ingredients you would find in most people’s cupboards.
I also made blackberry syrup the week before last, with the blackberries and a few red currants that were lingering in the freezer from last year. It was really good, and I will definitely make it again. I showed how I made the syrup in this video on my YouTube channel.
We have also pulled out soup and leftovers and made a point of eating them up. I plan to make a bread pudding this weekend as we have lots of bread ends still in there. Enough for about three bread puds!
Planning a trip away
We haven’t had a proper holiday this year. It was tricky as we are moving house so didn’t want to plan something at a crucial point in the process. Plus both of us have ailing parents, and don’t want to be too far away at this point.
However, we have decided to book a cheap week at the chalets in Norfolk where we have been a couple of times previously. It is only an hour and a half away, is dog friendly and is extremely cheap!
I know some people pay a lot for holiday accommodation. My sister in law showed me a place she had been in Cornwall and, even out of season, it was a whole month’s income. We just cannot justify that sort of expense at the moment.
It’s no deprivation to go to Norfolk by the sea, though. The place we go to is just lovely. Look at the seals we spotted last time! We both feel we need a little break, but will wait until the schools go back, for sure.
So that is my frugal week. Do come over and subscribe to my YouTube channel. I would love to see you there!
I’m linking up with this Cass, Emma and Becky in this week’s ‘Frugal Friday’ linky.
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