New Financial Year, New Budget

What's in the pot for the 2025/26 financial year at Frugaldom?

For the past 4 years, we have trialled the concept of 'aires', which we were led to believe were the most frugal, affordable forms of safe, legal, overnight park-ups for campervans and motorhomes. During the lockdowns imposed on us all during the COVID pandemic, local councils were faced with the massive problem of where to send folks in campervans and motorhomes if they had no other places to go. Our local council here in Dumfries & Galloway were actively seeking land suitable for parking up to 3 such vehicles at a time, so we volunteered our yard. 

Through this, we met many fabulous new friends, many of whom have remained in contact and still visit to volunteer here at Frugaldom. When the council licensing ended in 2022 (I think), we were then able to remain open under the guidance of the recently formed CAMpRA - a group established to introduce and encourage new Aires - with an exemption licence being issued by MotorhomeFun. Another year on and CAMpRA had formed their own rally group to issue aire certification. Things weren't all that we had expected in the beginning. Our vision of offering peaceful, off-grid overnight parking where people could get back to nature, relax and share the enjoyment of watching the local wildlife while paying just £5 per night, however, wasn't quite what most motorhomers were seeking and as we had no intentions of going down the campsite route. The decision was taken to close our Aire completely. Huge thanks to all who did visit during the past 4 years but, sadly, it just wasn't viable when we were averaging less than 2 vehicles per week over that period plus facing escalating bills to cover maintenance, repairs and extra public liability insurance. As of 31st March 2025, our yard is no longer open to the public for overnight parking.

WHAT NOW?

Now, with the new financial year upon us, we have returned to focussing our attention on nature and the wildlife garden while caring for the resident ponies and goats, plus developing our off-grid hutting project. Frugal living is still at the cite of all we do. 

Harvey is still creating environmental artwork that stands on display within the orchard areas, wildlife garden and tree planting zones. The wildlife is being encouraged and our membership of supporters is slowly growing, although we still have a few places left to fill. Members can choose to pay from as little as £5 per month to become Friends of Frugaldom and either support the project from afar or visit whenever possible. Funds contribute towards the care of the animals and wildlife. Pony partners pay from £10 each month to help cover extra costs of caring for rescued, rehomed and retired ponies here while wildlife watchers pay from £25 per month, which affords the luxury of using a hut for wildlife watching. 

For those with the dream of a cabin in the woods, we offer our happy hutters option - £50 per month - which pretty much provides you with a holiday home in the shape of an off-grid cabin for regular, short stay accommodation throughout the year. The huts also provide fabulous opportunities to observe the badgers, pine martens and wild birds up close by way of the various feeding stations that have been created nearby.

As you can see, we have an unusual mix of what I now refer to as Scottish pandas (badgers) and pine martens.

There is no knowing what our trail cameras might pick up through the night so we always invite visiting members to bring along their own if stopping over for a night or few. Over night parking is now readily available in the yard while wildlife watching, volunteering or staying in the huts. 

Watch out for the feral cats, especially this one. We named her Caramel, she is the only one of 5 or 6 who shows up during daylight hours to follow us around as we work. We do have a few feline fans among the Friends of Frugaldom and to those, we say thank you for helping us feed the cats.

Frugaldom is run entirely as a voluntary project. We receive no financial support other than that provided by our group memberships and occasional donations. The ethos has always been, and will always be, about sharing, caring and offering opportunities to those who may not, otherwise, be able to enjoy art in nature, wildlife and the animals in our care. Frugal living is what affords us the luxury of running the project. Not all things that seem 'too good to be true' are too good to be true. 

The Frugal living challenge is still running within the forums of Moneysavingexpert.com website where you are also welcome to join us.