// you’re reading...

Frugal February

Frugal February – the rules, the links, the buttons

FRUGAL FEBRUARY 2012 IS HERE! CLICK HERE FOR THE UPDATED DETAILS, AND PLEASE CHANGE YOUR LINKS IF POSSIBLE!

http://www.biggirlsbrowse.com/blog/frugal-february/

A few people showed interest in Frugal February when I mentioned it the other day, so I thought it’d be worth putting together a full page of info in case anyone fancies joining in. It’d be great to have some other people to share the torture with!

I’m not super-strict on the rules – if you spot this on 3rd Feb it’s not too late to take part, just run it into the first few days of March! Really this is about saving some cash, making the most of what you have and realising that you don’t need to spend on loads of new stuff to create some fabulous outfits. At the bottom of the post are a few hastily made buttons if you fancy popping one in your sidebar so other people can join in too. It’d be great if fellow FFers could spread the word!

So, here are the basics of Frugal February…

I vow, for one month from 1st Feb, to avoid shopping for anything other than essentials.

This means buying no clothes, shoes, accessories, makeup, cosmetics, books, DVDs, music, magazines, gadgets etc for a month.

Food and drink don’t count, though it’s worth paying attention to unnecessary expenses in this area – do you really need that bottle of wine? Do you have stuff in the cupboard you could use to make dinner, rather than getting convenience food? I also suggest banning takeaways and any unnecessary eating out if you’re really serious!

Daily use items such as toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo etc are fine to buy, but only if you’ve run out completely! Same goes for any makeup you might ‘finish’ during the month. On the off chance you use up the last dregs of your only foundation during the month, you can replace it, but only if you don’t have an alternative.

Frugal Feb doesn’t mean waving goodbye to a social life. Though you may choose to cut down on nights out to save a bit more cash, my time spent with friends is important to me! My Frugal February ‘no spend’ rule doesn’t include things like the occasional ticket or cover charge, or travel expenses. If I want to go somewhere and there’s a cost associated, that’s fine.

Frugal Feb is mostly about not buying clothes and unnecessary items, and using the ones you have, so I’ll be keeping track of what I wear, the things I’m getting use out of that I wouldn’t otherwise, and blogging about it. I would, of course, encourage anyone else taking part to do the same, and don’t forget to tweet / email me the links. Obviously this can be teamed with any other challenges you may be doing (like the 30 for 30 challenge or Frocking Fridays).

If you’d like to take part, pop a comment below with your URL and I’ll add you to my links list and check out your blog during the month. It’d also be lovely if you followed BGB using google friend connect or bloglovin’ and follow me on twitter too – nudge nudge, wink wink. I’ll try and do the same for you, of course.

I’ve made a few Frugal February buttons that you’re more than welcome to pop in your blog sidebar too (you don’t have to). They’re a bit rubbish, so please feel free to make your own if you’d rather. Give me a shout if you do and with your permission, I’ll add it here.

The Frugal February hashtag on twitter is #frugalfeb – make sure to add it to the end of any tweets so I see them!

2011 PARTICIPANTS

Gemma | @GemmaCartwright
Blog: Big Girls Browse

Emma | emma_cossey
Blog: Emma Cossey

Sophie | @sophcrownglory
Blog: Crown & Glory

Lauren | @LaurenEACooke
Blog: A Typical Atypical

Abby | @abbzzw
Blog: Abbzzw

Michelle | winyeemichelle
Blog: Daisy Butter

Lauren | @dollipopsB
Site: Dollipops

Courtney | @knorkyat
Blog: What Would Darcy Do

Alyse | @AlyseIntegral
Blog: Integrating Alyse

Helen | @ohthedecadence
Blog: Clear Your Heart

Laura
Blog: Laura Laments

Hannah | @theroxyloves
Blog: The Roxy Loves

Alex | @alexsheppard
Blog: Alexandra Sheppard

Vicky | @utterlyconfused
Blog: Confused in Bristol

Lauren | @noirnouvelle
Blog: Noir Nouvelle

River
Blog: River’s Day Zero Project

Camilla
Blog: …And Other Stories

Ria | @RCagz
Blog: Wishing For Chanel

Seanna
Blog: Make up and Me

Aimee | @theaimeeshow
Blog: The Aimee Show

Selina | @NeverEnoughShoe
Blog: Never Enough Shoes

Lou | @Lou_tweets
Blog: Nearly Thirty…

Victoria | @VicThompson
Tumblr: Things I Thought About Today…

Leanne | xXxStundonxXx
Blog: Stundon

Kitty | @KittyBonkers
Blog: Life With (Kitty) Bonkers

Sian | @Sian_lb
Blog: Shutterbug

Tori | @mythriftychic
Blog: My Thrifty Chic

Ash | @ashvw87
Blog: Emerald Doodles

Steph | @stephsimplelife
Blog: The Simple Life…

Tamsin | @miss_believer
Blog: Miss Believer

Rae
Blog: sickbunnyy

Vicky | @Vanityfashionis
Blog: Vanity-Fashionista

Jess | @LovelyChaos

Kelly-Marie | thekeletubbie

Kerry | @egokerry

leave a comment or tweet at me if you’re not on the list and would like to be, then pop one of the banners below in your sidebar (if you wish).

[photo: Confessions of a Shopaholic, Touchstone Pictures]

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Popularity: 2% [?]

Discussion

45 comments for “Frugal February – the rules, the links, the buttons”

  • Pingback: Tweets that mention Frugal February – the rules, the links, the buttons | Big Girls Browse -- Topsy.com

  • http://mysterycreature.wordpress.com Lauren

    Ooh, I’m definitely doing this! I have to save so much before my holiday that pretty much every month will be like this for me, and anyone else doing it is going to make me more determined to succeed!

  • Sophie Crown and Glory

    Going to give it my best! Haircut/sorting inch long routes counts as a necessity though, right?!

  • Sophie Crown and Glory

    (oops, the link to my blog is: crownandgloryhair.blogspot.com)

  • Lauren

    I am totally up for joining this… I might not spread the word to my customers though haha.

    http://www.dollipops.co.uk

    http://www.twitter.com/dollipopsB

  • http://twitter.com/knorkyat Courtney Reynolds

    Have popped your button on my blog, glad to be joining you for Frugal Feb as well as the Shoeperwoman Challenge!

    Have followed you on twitter ( @knorkyat ) and my blog is http://whatwoulddarcydo.blogspot.com/

  • http://integratingalyse.com Alyse

    I’m doing this! I spend too much money as it is.

  • Alyse

    http://integratingalyse.com

    Forgot the link!

  • Pingback: Frugal February – the rules, the links, the buttons | Big Girls Browse | Google Friend Connect Blog

  • http://twitter.com/emma_cossey Emma Cossey

    I’m definitely going to do this! Found quite a few dresses I’ve never worn in my wardrobe, so have no excuse to shop for at least a month.

  • http://www.clearyourheart.net Helen

    I’d already decided to do this, as am so skint! But it’s nice to find other girls who are doing the same! I think I’ll need the support! x

  • Laura

    Roll on frugal Feb – count me in!!! http://www.laura-laments.blogspot.com x

  • abbzzw

    Hi lovely, i’m a new follower. Found you via Sophie from Crown and Glory and will be joining in with Frugal Feb! Popped the piggy in my side bar and actually can’t wait to get started! I have a problem and lots of holidays and things need to be saved for so this is exactly what I need to give you a push! I’m following you on twitter but my account is private so you may need to follow me back if you’d like to see my tweets to you etc :) My blog link is http://www.abbzzw.com/ Hope to speak soon! :) x

  • http://www.daisybutter.com Michelle

    Ooh this looks like a really good project, I desperately need to save the pennies (: Count me in! http://www.daisybutter.com/

  • http://confusedinbristol.wordpress.com Vicky

    This is a great idea! And I need the pressure of having committed myself. My work mate is sitting next to me wetting himself at the thought of me not buying stuff for a whole month. He doesn’t think I can do it. But I can. As long as I’m not trying to do it on my own… So count me in! :-)

  • Leannestundon

    EEeekkk I’m starting to get scared!!

  • http://www.biggirlsbrowse.com Gemma

    the 28 days will fly by! *fist bump of solidarity*

  • http://riversdayzeroproject.blogspot.com/ River

    I’m going to start this! http://riversdayzeroproject.blogspot.com/ Glad I discovered it today, just in time!

  • Foreversweet89

    Hiya I will be getting involved!
    http://www.foreversweet89.blogspot.com

    Camilla

  • Pingback: Frugal February « Confused in Bristol

  • Ria

    I made the pledge :D
    Here’s the link to my blog post about it
    http://wishing-for-chanel.blogspot.com/2011/01/frugal-february.html
    I’m also encouraging my friends to do it too!
    xoxo

  • Pingback: Frugal February: Introduction « Alexandra Sheppard

  • http://twitter.com/thekeletubbie Kelly-Marie Dudley

    I’m blogless at the moment, but I’m joining in! Just made my last purchase… pink sports bra as I finally Zumbaed the life out of my last one.

    I’ve started by emptying out my wardrobe so I can see what is actually in there. Like Carrie Bradshaw, I ust found my house deposit. Do banks accept 2006 Topshop as payment?

  • Seanna

    Im def up for this! I am completely broke :(
    http://make-up-and-me.blogspot.com/

    x

  • Amelia

    Such a great idea!

    http://millie12.blogspot.com/

  • http://theaimeeshow.blogspot.com/ Aimee

    I LOVE THIS IDEA. Can I take part? I seriously love this! Just the thing I need.

  • http://theaimeeshow.blogspot.com/ Aimee

    BTW, linked my name in the comments to my blog, but if it’s easier – http://theaimeeshow.blogspot.com/

    And I made a button in my sidebar on the bottom! Check it out if you’d like :)

  • http://twitter.com/lou_tweets Lou

    I would love to join Gemma!

    http://www.loublogs.co.uk

  • Pingback: Frugal February « A Typical Atypical

  • Pingback: Frugal Feb… | Nearly Thirty…

  • http://twitter.com/lovelychaos Jessica Elvidge

    Ah Gem, I’m in, been forced rather than through choice! £200 to get me through the month so all but food has to go. Even the pub. Le sigh. Anyway, I have no blog but you’ll find me moaning hard on twitter no doubt… @lovelychaos

  • http://twitter.com/KittyBonkers Kitty Jones

    I would love to join, I’ve wanted to stop buying and start saving for a while so this might be the kick start I need!! Its a brilliant idea, thank you for the opportunity!
    @KittyBonkers
    http://goldiescrazyramblingsandstories.blogspot.com/

  • Omgitsagne

    I’m thinking of joining
    http://sheisfashionholic.blogspot.com/

  • Leannestundon

    I now have a blog spot where I will be sharing my Frugal February progress http://stundon.blogspot.com/

  • http://twitter.com/sian_lb Sian Lenihan

    oohh can i join? im gonna have to try sooo hard to stick to this! but it will be good for me and it is much MUCH needed! my poor bank account xx

    http://shutterbug-z.blogspot.com

  • Ash

    Ohhh I try to do this EVERY month but fail miserably, but maybe, knowing other people are suffering from the same torture will help to keep it up… count me in!!xx

    http://emerald-doodles.blogspot.com/

  • Pingback: Oh look, a bandwagon! (Frugal Friday) | missbeliever

  • Vicky

    I’m definitely going to give it a go, I really need to save! I say it all the time but seem to fall back to spending whenever I start to buy again.
    This is such a great idea, seeing so many fellow bloggers/tweeters doing it at the same time will motivate me even more, I will not let you down! :)
    @vanityfashionis
    http://vanity-fashionista.blogspot.com
    xx

  • Cb

    Deffo joining in- this totally came at the right time for me too, saving up for a new camera!
    @claudiahaz
    http://vogueclub.blogspot.com

  • Saloule

    Oh I am in on this for sure!
    @saloulen
    http://saloule.blogspot.com

  • Angela

    I really need to this! esp curb credit card usage, plus my boyf is moving to gibraltar in a few months, i have to save to afford flights!
    @angelalikesyou
    http://angela-raspberrylace.blogspot.com/

  • http://allieinlondonland.blogspot.com Allie

    Oh, count me in! I know I’m a bit late, but all I seem to have done since Christmas is spend, spend, spend and it needs to stop!

  • http://allieinlondonland.blogspot.com Allie

    Oh, and if it’s easier, my blog is http://allieinlondonland.blogspot.com

  • Pingback: Shopping detox, money saving fashion | | missbeliever

  • http://cincincintya.wordpress.com/ cin

    I’d love to get involved! with the next one anyway :D

About Me

Gemma, 28, web editor & fashion writer. UK size 14. Has a lot of hair. Wears a lot of dresses.

biggirl@biggirlsbrowse.com


Lovely Links

my-wardrobe.com



Follow Me on Pinterest