FINDING £20 YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING!
Welcome to fabby, frugal, fit February. Not only is it the Frugaldom month of weight control - getting it back under control after the festive feasting - it's also fix the finances month, making any corrections to overspends, bringing things up to date and making the most of not paying Council Tax if you opted for the 10 monthly installments. It's never usually about spending, that's for sure.But something extra special arrived this month! I 'found' £20. It's not like it was lying in the street or anything, it's more of a windfall, courtesy of MoneySupermarket.com and their 'What's In Your Pocket?' competition.
So where does an extreme frugaler such as myself begin when presented with the opportunity of having a little 'fun with my mun' when the opportunity arises? GOOD QUESTION!
It's a bit like asking what I'd do if I won a huge amount of money on the lottery! I'd renovate the house, have a 6 month vacation while the work was being carried out, go exploring, eat expensive food, sample fine wines and all sorts of delicacies, splash out on gifts and play at being the secret millionaire to help others realise their lifelong ambitions and dreams. I'd probably quit work and focus on helping others with their fundraising activities and generally have some fun but still keep it frugal... I just can't help it.
Feet back on the ground, it's £20 and I don't want to blow it all in a oner, so I'll need to think about it for a bit...
- I've given up the car in favour of walking or cycling, but it's a 10-mile round trip to the nearest shop when avoiding the main road.
- I've just booked to go for a long weekend hosteling and hill walking in Fort William, doubling this up as a fundraiser for our local lifeboat.
- I'm in the process of putting together a photo library of McGonks that will be incorporating many places and activities.
- I've recently updated my list of 'things to do before I'm 50' after wiping off several that were no longer feasible from a financial or fitness point of view.
Back soon with my thoughts on what to do with all this dosh!
I've just been sorting out a draw where I kept all my university things and found my purse (only ever used it for uni) and found a £5 note inside. Handed it over to DB as like the Queen, I don't carry money:0) I'm sure they would be too expensive (and haven't checked so am probably talking out my bottom) would an electric bike be feasible some time in the future. When you get tired you can switch it on.
ReplyDeleteDC are you sure you aren't BF from our local bike shop, who has an electric bike in stock for free trial in the hope someone orders one? LOL I'd need more than £20 spare to afford one of those, that's for sure - then I'd probably get even lazier than I am now. :)
DeleteI was just thinking about an electric bike ! They have come down in price so much but if I did nt have a car I would certainly invest in one of those. I think Costo sell them and I would take a small loan to buy one and just charge it up when I need to get somewhere. I would keep my manual bike also but how much energy do you really want to expend on errands and shopping etc.
ReplyDeleteI was reading that muscle power is not the thing of the future in any field. Exercise should be fun and relaxing and it should nt wear you out.
I know a lot of folk would encourage you to blow the twenty quid but I would just keep it for something that will come up in the future that you can t foresee right now. I bet the opportunity to spend it will present itself quite soon !
Lizzie, it's a competition - MoneySupermarket gave me the money to spend and I have to write about what I do with it. :)
DeleteI'm planning on indugence with my £20 - I'm thinking of a make over - hair, facial, nails, pedicure - perfume - all for £20! I'm looking forward to it
ReplyDeleteEnjoy to the max! :) The pampering is something that's kind of on tap here, you could say, as my daughter is a beauty therapist. (Cosmetics & perfumes out for me, owing to allergies.) I'm debating with myself - indulgence Vs new experience, just cannot decide between the two. Would be great if I could combine them to do both! :)
DeleteWhat a great challenge! If only for the mental exercise. How about to reach more than one goal, you split the 20 into 4-5s. My ideas:
ReplyDelete1) Spend 5 on something "indulgent" (which really isn't but can be when you are super frugal) like hand cream or nail polish;
2) Spend 5 on someone else whether it is a contribution to your fundraiser (every penny counts!) or buy someone a cup of tea and something to eat (a biscuit or scone) doesn't have to be someone "in need" just someone who could use having something nice done for them that day-could also bake them something and use the 5 for ingredients;
3) Spend an extra 5 the next time you shop. Make your bag a little heavier that day and it'll be a little lighter on another trip;
4) And keep 5 for another day when a fiver will mean the moon.
(I actually found $20 two weeks ago. It was at my company near the reception where a guest would have been sitting. But I did the "right" thing and gave it to the receptionist in case someone came down and asked for it. They might have needed it more than me. Pretty sure the receptionist kept it...but life marches on...)
Thank you for your comments. :)
DeleteI'm guessing there are going to be some disappointed readers but most of what everyone has mentioned is squeezed into my tiny budget as being things needed and/or used regularly, including charitable donations. Howevere, I've now spent the money and, in my opinion, spent it on someting completely ordinary and yet extraordinary in that it will be extremely helpful and is a total luxury for the household. :)
not sure what to do with that money. Probably buy some seeds or seedlings for the garden, so that the $20 would turn into a lot more food wise. Or maybe some blueberry bushes that would give back year after year.....
ReplyDeleteGill
Got blueberry bushes in my garden, bought with 'EEK' challenge money last year. :)
DeleteI think I would spend the money in my local charity shops and set myself a challenge to see how many things I could get with the money... That way all the money goes to a good cause and you get some 'new' things. You don't have to just spend the money on you - you can pick up some great gifts in charity shops...
ReplyDeleteNo shops here :)
DeleteI'd spend it on seeds and/or a houseplant or two that I could propagate and sell on to make my money grow quickly.
ReplyDeleteThen again having done one of your micro challenges - and made a mint doing that - perhaps its your own advice just winging its way back to you!
x
Don't get to comment much but do try and keep up - new job (well a year now) is insane but rewarding.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, much appreciated. I have now spent the money and am betting nobody will guess what indulgent items are on their way to Frugadom now. :)
DeleteI would spend half on seeds or plants for the coming growing season (food of course not flowers, I'm a veggie grower through and through).
ReplyDeleteThe other half I would spend on ingredients for home baking/cooking and see how much food I was actaully be able to make for £10 and fill up the freezer.
You know me I like a good Challenge!
Sue xx
Being of such a frugal nature, my house is packed ith foodstuffs, bulk bought ingredients and even seeds. I do have my indulgent moments and honestly considered blowing the £20 on CHEESE! LOL However, cash ha now been spent and a wee blog post written about how, where and why. Hope nobody is to disappointed. LOL
DeleteApologies once again for all the typing errors and omissions, I haven't a clue what is going on but will blame my lack of checking before hitting the 'publish' button. I can assure you all that English is, indeed, my first language, although you wouldn't know it to read some of my posts, would you? LOL
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