Small saving

Pasta doesn't take long to cook, but did you know that if you soak it, it will cook even quicker?  Just put dry pasta to soak in water for an hour or two before boiling. It will then only need a couple of minutes of cooking time, because it’s absorbed the water it needs, and only has to heat through.

I find that I can then put it into the pan with the sauce I am making (maybe just chopped tomatoes, pepper and onions) and heat both together.  That way I've saved both time and money.

Keeping it clean!

 

Laundry is the bane of my life.  Largely because of the last three letters D  R  Y.  Washing is fine, drying is the tricky bit!.  

My clothes don't get very soiled but they still need washing if I am to keep my friends.  I use the "mixed fibre" setting on my washing machine a lot.  I save my "dirty" clothes and sort whites and coloureds but beyond that they usually don't get sorted much.  Towels and bedding get a hotter wash sometimes but the rest is OK at 30C or even 20C.  I try and do as much as possible on Sunday to take advantage of cheaper electricity

I try and dry smaller items on the airers.  I put the airers outside when I can but I can't move very quickly if it starts to rain, so often the conservatory has to suffice.  It gets quite warm in there if there is any sunshine.  Sheets go in the drier, at least in the winter, and towels are finished in the drier.  I like fluffy towels.

Free holiday

 

My friend Holly

A couple of years ago I was at a coffee morning when a lady whom I knew slightly was bemoaning the fact that she couldn't find a dog sitter.  We got into conversation and somehow I offered to look after her two dogs.

Two years on I'm still looking after her dog.  Sadly one dog has died but I still look after Holly, a delightful Border Terrier.  I'm now looking after her for the ninth time.

It's no hardship!  The house is in the countryside about eight miles from my home and in a village where I have several friends.  I treat each visit as a holiday.  I don't take any "shoulds", "oughts" and "musts" with me.  I take prepared meals and some sort of project to do, and I just chill.

So it's win:win for my new friend and me.  She can get a dog sitter at very short notice pretty well whenever she wants, and I get free holidays.  

Sam Vines boots

 

You probably know about boot theory: that people in poverty have to buy cheap products that need to be replaced repeatedly, proving more expensive in the long run than higher-priced items.  Put more simply it's buy cheap and you need to buy twice (or even more!).  I am able to set money aside to save me money long term, eg I bought an air fryer and thus save on energy costs, but others can't afford that investment.  

Although I try to be frugal, my frugality is by choice.  I have a fair income (state and occupational pensions) and my needs are modest.  I am aware that there are many who have to choose between heating and eating.  There are parents who go hungry to feed their children.  There are many for whom Christmas is a time to dread.  Frugality is not a choice but a life sentence. 

My frugality is about getting value for money rather than getting the cheapest possible.  It's also about avoiding waste as a matter of principle.  It's about mindfully using my money, possessions, skills and time.  

I take my hat off to those who have far less choices and still live a glorious life.  

What? why?

  

I am very conscious that, although I am pretty careful, there are those who are much more frugal than me because they have no choice.  Some may find my calling myself frugal offensive.  

I've decided to leave my "Frugally Challenged" blog for a while and to take a year looking at how I use my money, possessions and time.  It will be a very personal record but if others read it I shall be very happy, especially if they find anything useful in it.  

I'm by no means wealthy but I have an occupational pension as well as the state one.  I try to use my money, possessions and time wisely.  I've been retired nearly fifteen years.  I live alone.  

My hope is to write very short posts on this  blog, each highlighting a saving or a failure.  I will use labels so that I, and any readers, will be able to find what I did.