February has seemed like a very long month this year – I think because of the weather, the floods stopping outings and the general dullness – and there is still a day left. Surely March will have sunshine?
Frugal February? No, not with a heating oil delivery. Anyway…………….
Income from two pensions and savings interest, no extra from anywhere this month but no Council Tax to pay. I checked some more books on Ziffit – but they didn’t want them so they’ll go to charity shop.
The usual expenses are Direct Debits for broadband and phones and charity. The wet weather and flooding meant I didn’t go out very much so only one fill up of diesel for the car. I was expecting the half year water bill which was OK and the half year sewer bill which is always more than the water bill. Both are less than they were when I moved in because of getting a water meter.
I ordered 750 litres of heating oil but they only fitted in 730L which came to £544 – £100 less than the same time last year, should last right through until winter. The bill came for the last boiler repair and I spent £13 on wild bird feed. Not forgetting the one-off spend for the professional oven clean.
The two nearest grandchildren’s sand pit had disintegrated so I bought them a new one for their birthdays (one February and one April) and I found charity shop games to add to the shelves here.
We get used to amazon being the cheapest place to buy things but they aren’t always, as I found when going to buy washing soda crystals for the washing machine. The cheapest on amazon when I looked were 3 bags x 1kg for £7.99 but I got a bag from the discount shop in Diss for £1.99. (I can remember when they were just £1 from Wilkinsons).
Personal spending was for the Keep Moving Group, flowers, photo corner stickers for my scrapbooks, a new letter writing pad, the Radio Times subscription, coffee and cheese scone out a few or make that several times!
Other spending was mainly small bits needed in bathroom, kitchen etc.
Frugal things
- Mended tiny holes in two pairs old leggings
- Mixing milk half and half with water
- Trying to pick good weather to do the washing and finishing it on the radiators – tumble dryer not used at all
- Only using dishwasher every other day.
- Home made bread, biscuits and cake
- Eating lots of my own ready made meals from the freezer
- Finding games for grandchildren at charity shop
- Reading library books all month
- Closing curtains as soon as it’s dark to keep heat in
The coffee machine is saving me money as I’m buying coffee grounds and no longer buying coffee sachets. The cappuccino button on the machine does use rather more milk so I had a search round the charity shops and came home with this for £4. Another way to use the ground coffee.
I realise I’m about 100 years behind everyone else in moving away from instant coffee – dragged into the 21st century (or maybe even the 20th) of coffee making at last! Nice to have a variety of ways for making coffee.
After their unexpected drive into a flood, Son is still waiting to hear if their car is written off – it’s a 2008 reg so probably will be but until they know, there is no courtesy car, so my car is staying the night with them so DiL can get the grandchildren and herself to preschool, school and work and back again. I can use it between 9 and 3 if I walk to the school to fetch it! Luckily Son has use of a work van at the moment – his work place is the opposite direction from the schools.
Two bags of ‘stuff’ have gone out of the house to charity shop this month. Including some roll neck long sleeved tops that were last worn under jumpers for working outside at the smallholding – so it’s about time they went. I’ve also cleared out some books, some Christmas bits that won’t be used again and a few other odds and ends. I’m filling another bag to go out next month.
Back Tomorrow for Leap Year Day
Sue
