Lots of my blog posts through July seem to have been about books and also tennis until mid-month, hardly any car boot finds but I did get out on some church visits - and found them open which is always useful.
The usual income was the state pension and Suffolk County Council spouses pension and some interest on savings.
On the frugal front the month started well as on the 1st I sold my cycle for £10, it had been standing in the garage for over two years, ever since I somehow fell off while getting on. I gave it a wash down and stood it out the front chained to a tree with a price ticket. It sold in 3 days. Falling off and 'the knee' and the busy roads here had put me right off something I'd been doing and loving since I was little. Sad. When we bought the bike about 25 years ago I said I wanted a good one to see me out. I cycled miles with it when we were at the smallholding, because for many years we only had one vehicle which Colin used for work. I often came home loaded up with shopping in the back and front baskets. I'm annoyed at how I lost confidence so quickly - never thought that would happen. Perhaps an electric trike would get me out again!
Outgoings were the usual fixed ones of Council tax, phone and broadband and charity plus the variable monthly electric bill and the annual renewal of virus protection which all totalled £337. I filled the car up with diesel twice this month but the second time was just on Tuesday so it will last me most of August unless I have more than the usual adventures.
Other spending was mainly just small things like a couple of new dish-wash brushes, dish washer tabs, screen wash for the car, Niger seed for the goldfinches and the window cleaner was round again.
My personal spending was some second-hand books, card making bits, exercise group, jigsaw puzzle, puzzler book. Underwear from Morrisons for £5.The Yaoh hemp based lip balm that I use is now difficult to find and has really gone up in price - it's the only one I've found that doesn't irritate - and believe me I've tried all sorts. I ordered two and will keep one in the fridge until needed.
Food spending would have been low if I'd not treated YD and EGD for a pub lunch, had coffee out once and breakfast at Greggs twice (their £2.95 bargain) plus pensioners discount Fish and Chips meal from the local chip shop!
I thought of a few frugal bits that have happened this month to make up for those spendy extravagances!
- Beetroot from Brother in Law's garden. I gave him the packet of seed and he sowed an extra row so I can share all summer.
- Lots of green beans all month, enough to put a few in the freezer
- Courgettes all month
- And Cucumbers
- And mini plum tomatoes although they have tough skins which I'm not enjoying
- A few figs - rescued before they are really ready, to avoid the wasps.
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| Slightly under-ripe but still very tasty and beating the wasps! |
- Put away several jars of sweet and sour cucumber and celery pickle for winter.
- And a couple of jars of cucumber Bread and Butter pickle
- Made 6 jars of marrow, apricot and ginger jam.
- Used my very poor examples of aubergines + one bought to make 10 portions of aubergine and tomato pasta sauce which worked out at less than 40p each.
- As usual dishwasher only used every other day or so.
- Washing machine usually just twice a week
- Washing dried outside all month
- Got first lot of diesel for car when visiting YD as it was 9p a litre cheaper than here.
- Eggs from farm gate stall still £1 for half a dozen
- Free Physio exercise course
- Nothing spent on garden, bathroom things, laundry, 'products', gifts or postage this month.
You are indeed very frugal. The cost of food is unbelievable so I cut down by not buying meat, alcohol, anything carby and no ready meals. The only produce I have this year is spring onions which are coming along well. My bike is standing in the garage unused, a hop replacement earlier this year has knocked my confidence, may stick to walking. I have been hand washing clothes and put on line, they dry within hours, oh for lower temps and proper rain. Sandra.
ReplyDeleteMy word you've had a busy, productive month. I love this time of year when we can pick, eat and freeze garden produce although I'm so grateful that's its cooler at the moment. A shame about giving up cycling, Sue, but i can't ride either. I have a balance problem and fell off years ago. I haven't ridden since. Maybe we should both have trikes 😁
ReplyDeleteI haven't ridden my bike since the weather got so hot. I must get it out again.
ReplyDeleteAll the garden produce is a blessing, my husband works hard in our garden and we are reaping the benefit, have bought almost no fresh veg and fruit for weeks. You had a good low spend month but still nice treats factored in which is good too.
ReplyDeleteI know a couple of people who have health/ mobility issues and swear by e bikes or trikes, but they're not cheap! I'm going to stick with Shanks pony or the car.( We live in a rural area and public transport is a distant memory).
Penny
Never had a bike, so certainly don't miss one. Too many hills round here to be riding one now anyway.
ReplyDeleteI find it very hard to cut down the food bill because having 4 cats makes budgeting for them difficult - they are very fussy! I am eating less meat and making what I buy go further.
Just blew a BIG chunk of money on my NZ flights yesterday, but it's a once in a lifetime holiday and I must do it whilst I still can. I will be staying with my friend whilst I'm out there, so that saves on hotels.
It's sad when you have to stop riding a bike. I rode one for years then in 2018 I suffered a spinal infarction (a stroke in my back) and the medics thought I wouldn't walk again, thankfully I did but have lost a lot of balance and when I tried to get on my bike I fell over, tried several times but the same result. I felt really sad when I sold my bike. Anno Domini and all that. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteI am really tempted to get an electric trike, there are a couple of really smart ones that I see around town with wicker baskets on the front and a nice big basket on the back, it would take me right back to my early days on bikes. But falling off your bike whilst getting on ... now that is a real talent. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWe're just about to put our bikes on Ebay. It's far too hilly here and there's way too much fast, heavy traffic. It's sad, but we've accepted that our cycling days are done. We thought about ebikes but, aside from the expense, they don't solve the most dangerous problem which is the size and speed of vehicles.
ReplyDeleteI used to ride my bike daily, until we started getting traffic as the town grew, and I was blown off the bike into a ditch a couple of times. I decided it was too perilous and sold the bike, reluctantly. But I used to love flying about the quiet country roads, with just the occasional chasing dog to look out for.
ReplyDeleteFlying over the handlebars in the forest rather dented my confidence, as well as bruising but not breaking me. Then I had an electric bike - great fun. Now I use Shanks's pony.
ReplyDeleteMy city had a promotion in the spring - 100 ebike vouchers were offered. I think half were meant for the disabled but any resident over 50 could apply for the others. Amazingly, I was chosen and invited to send proof of age and residency. Eventually, I was sent a voucher for $800, which turns out to cover only the very lowest priced models. I could have paid about $200 more to get baskets and a sort of rack to load items (apparently some people will use these to make deliveries) but I thought it would be silly to spend more money before I know if I will use it. I placed the order in early July and am hoping the bicycle arrives soon! Goodness knows where it comes from! Someone I knew got killed riding his bicycle in downtown Boston in December so I will be very careful where I ride. I will NOT be riding it to work, even if there were someplace safe to lock it up.
ReplyDeleteI was never super confident on a bike and even worse now, so any kind does not appeal.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your end of month round ups.
Alison in Devon x
You've had a good month of conserving mixed with good times/treats. That seems ideal to me.
ReplyDeleteElectric bikes are very popular and seem like a good possibility for consideration.
I find the traffic on our twisting/winding country roads not all that safe for cycling. Lincoln, MA (one town over) has built bike paths that parallel the road and wind through woodland areas as well. This is my favorite place to ride my bike. Bikes sharing the road with cars does not work all that well. Whereas a dedicated bike path is perfect.
Do you think July is good and economical?
ReplyDeleteGreat, you did well to sell the bike,
why should it take up space when it could be used by someone else?
I'm wary of electric bikes, they require attention!!
I used to ride a bike often in the USA but I never do here. I'm just not confident on the roads, particularly in London.
ReplyDeleteI bought an ex display, pedal assist Jorvik tricycle over four years ago and I love it. They are not cheap it’s true, though there are loads on FB marketplace. It took some getting used to. I’d always cycled and it’s very different but I get all my weekly shopping in the rear basket and have taken my dog in the rear basket too. I feel much safer on the roads as the trike is wider and much more visible than a two wheeler. They are a great talking point too! Tricia (ps I am 66, 67 in October.)
ReplyDeleteI am happy as our garden has finally started to produce a few items. Hopefully even more as the month of August passes by.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I was going to say how about an electric one (bike). Perhaps you should go look at a few.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like you had a pretty frugal month. Well done! I think July was pretty costly for us, yikes.
I think you did well. We splurged the last couple weeks. Dinner at a Mexican restaurant for 7. Another takeout meal (pizza) after a busy day. New shoes for the grandson for school. Travel. But you know what? Worth every penny! I think that I am frugal just to be able to splurge. August will be much cheaper.
ReplyDelete