January 2015 - Frugality

The Benjamin Franklin Experiment Part 5 (January): FRUGALITY

Frugality: Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste Nothing

What a great start to the year! How many times do I give in and buy 'that thing because it's nice and it's only £2, 3, 4' -- how much did I actually NEED it? not much. How much good did it do? Probably not a great deal. So will cut down on these purchases!

Also, I have a fair bit in the 'assets' department.... my cupboards have a fair few tins of food, etc. which are perfectly good but go untouched. And it's good food like beans, lentils, etc. I'm hoping to do our diet and our shelf-space and our bank account some good by using more of the food we already have and buying less at the shops.

11th January:
 Update on week 1: frig feels strangely empty, though I know there is plenty of food in the house. Must dig out some interesting recipes. Have reminded myself that one can be frugal also with cleansing products: face wash, lotions, shampoo, toilet roll.... even paper towels in public restrooms -- we all use so much/many of these items when we don't really need to. Daughter 2 is getting lessons in this.... if we don't tell her to count her squares of toilet roll she ends up with a huge wad that won't flush!

12th January:
Further developments. Today my American 'many miles' boots sprang a small leak -- rubber sole wearing through. I've been wanting a pair of those flower wellingtons since they came out about 3 (more?) years ago, but never felt I could justify the expense. While contemplating my leaky boot situation, I happened past a charity shop... with a pair of flowery wellingtons..... for only £3. Sometimes frugal is just waiting for the right moment and being patient until it comes. 


2nd February:
So, Frugality has taught me a few things.... a meal can be made with less than you think; there is more in your cupboard than you think; food staples don't need to be stored away if you are doing a weekly shop anyway; careful management can save you in the region of 25% on food bills in a month; it's worth waiting for the right deal to come around on a less than necessary purchase. All in all this one won't be too hard to carry forward. Although I've done well, I'm sure there are untapped depths I could dig into to deepen the Frugal Habit.