Uber frugal month challenge

Back in July, I took the Uber frugal month challenge with the Frugalwoods. There is always more to learn about saving and I managed to cut my budget even further.

Start with why

To set yourself up for the challenge and to make it through those tough moments when you want THAT takeaway coffee, it is very important to start with why. On Day one, you outline your goals and later you write out these goals and put them in your wallet to serve as a reminder when you’re tempted to spend. Keeping the big picture in mind is important and resets your mindset to distinguish wants from needs. 

Compulsive Behaviour

Mrs Frugalwoods advocates for a 72-hour waitlist before buying anything. This serves as a cooling off period and helps you to work out if you really do you need something or if you’re just trying to make yourself feel better. If the rush of shopping is what you crave then the same rush can be had with a better return if you purchase shares for example. Tracking your expenses and income makes you hyper- aware of where your money is going. I use the Pocketbook App. If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. – Peter Drucker 

Kill Bills

Most of our money is spent on the big 4; house, utilities, transport and food. As Frugalwoods is an American blog, I used the tips from the excellent book, “Kill Bills” by Joel Gibson to Australianise these categories. I was what Joel calls, “A Sleeping Beauty”, just staying with the companies I selected yonks ago and not realising they’d shifted me to the dud deals. I switched electricity companies (saving 10%) and internet providers (saving $20/ month) and will switch phone/ insurance companies or ask for a price match when my contract ends. I also became more mindful about knowing my mortgage rate, seeking out the best priced petrol within proximity, bundling together errands to drive less and only using the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full. I attempted to do a fortnightly rather than weekly Aldi shop (with a fresh stuff top up as needed) and use what I already have. I am becoming a Straw-headed Warrior of savings.

Creativity and Comfort Zone 

Committing to being Uber Frugal was actually fun and I was reminded to be grateful for what I have and to use it. Shopping my own pantry and wardrobe forced me to be more creative with it. 2020, I definitely have plenty. It was outside my comfort zone to research and switch companies as I’m very much a set-and-forget and don’t rock-the-boat. It was actually much easier than I thought, the new companies did most of the leg work and I could still be polite about it. It’s in their best interests financially to retain you as a customer too so remember you have the power!

I’m going to continue in my quest to be Uber Frugal and this month-long challenge was a great reset. You can take it anytime, link below. 

Love and light and silly rabbit-Trix are for kids xxx Yvette

https://www.frugalwoods.com/category/uberfrugalmonth/

https://onebigswitch.com.au/campaigns

https://www.booktopia.com.au/kill-bills–joel-gibson/book/9781760853495.html

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