Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

slowlyfading · 6 February 2011 at 2:56PM

Been to Mr T's today for some food so not a NSD today. Got lots of lovely things including some bargains from the reduced section

Added some bits to the freezer too so that's good. I think we've got enough food for some meals next week as well.

enjoyfinancialchallenges · 6 February 2011 at 3:06PM

Hi everyone, hearing some of you talking about car booting has really excited me, I can't wait to get back onto the field again. Some of you may remember I make and sell scones, biscuits, shortbread and variations of. This year because I made so much jam in the Autumn which I rarely eat by the way, I'm going to try and sell them and make some lemon curd as well. I wish there was something I could make now to help myself when its 'full on car boot time' I bought a spare freezer last year very cheaply to keep solely for car boot products but its still a bit early to start cooking. My biscuits keep for ages but I tend to give small boxes away to friends, family and anybody else who knows me if I make them early!, which may be friendly but not very frugal as all the ingredients have to be bought first. I've even thought of doing those boiled egg things people buy in pubs....another senior moment here, please help me somebody. Trouble is I will have to find a large enough jar to put them in. Just remembered they are picked eggs, I'll phone my local pub and see what they do with their empty jars before I consider buying some. It might bring in a bit extra money for me and its something I could start now as they need to stay in the pickle for a few weeks before being eaten. Money is going to be tight for me this year if I want to continue living at this present standard.

I've noticed most people buy Whoopsies, unfortunately I cant get to the shops when they are there but do occasionally find some and buy only if I need them 'Now'. Generally though I find I spend more because the invitation to buy is very strong, which isn't very frugal at all for me.
Welcome to all newcomers better to go frugal whilst the pressure is not there than wait until it is. You will find loads of friendly people offering tips on this thread.
Hugs to all who need them or deserve them or just want one plenty around to share with everyone.

By the way grandma the idea of posting my message and then editing it was a fab idea for me it saves me loosing the massage, am using it now, thanks a lot.

natnat13 · 6 February 2011 at 3:24PM

Really pleased, just picked u a bike for DS1 from ebay for £4.99 + some fuel. Popped into Mr T's as passing, got some reduced bread, cheese BOGOF and the boys wanted those mini sausages, they were half price so I said yes! Just going through 2 massive bags of books, CDS and DVDs my dad gave me to sell, some are going on ebay but I think I'll car boot the rest then put them on amazon / green metropolis or music magpie if they don't sell. Dad and I are going 50/50 which is fair enough.

lingojingo · 6 February 2011 at 5:02PM

Quick check in to announce I was £16.81 under budget :j for January, despite paying half the cost of my new glasses (paid the rest and collected them yesterday).

((((((((HUGS))))))))) for all who need them, so sad to read about all the redunancies

LolaLemon · 6 February 2011 at 5:09PM

this thread has sure flown since i was last on!
im trying to stay off the computer, unless its uni related as i find its a time eater,

still trying to be as frugal as possible, think ive got my weekly shop down to around £10 (excluding the milk thats got to be goats st helens farm stuff) i have an awful lot of tins of tomatoes in varrying degrees of skin, plum n chopped.... loads of herbs, tinned veg and freezer is full...

i also got a job! woohoo! working in a pub, every weekend night, means mondays i just want to sleep all day. if only! Uni started back.

got the flu last week, still feeling rubbish as ive not been able to rest and recover, so loads of tesco branded lemsips or my own (diluting juice, cooled boiled water and a disolvable paracetamol)

not been able to make much either feeling like this.... and i have my sons birthday party to organise, cant remember if i posted here what we're doing, but here it is; booking local country estate's ye old laundry house (£35 for 4 hours! local sports/community centres are £48 for 2hours!) as its spring/easter, i bought loads of cream/caramel eggs from tesco when on offer, 6 for £1.50 (the 12 box was costing £5 if i remember right) and i intend on making an egg cosy for every single child that comes (rough count is 52! but i sent out a facebook event to gage how many will come/be in country and a few have said they wont make it, yey! lol) going to do veg in a metal long planter, so it looks like veg plants, and make dips for them.... i have a link somewhere will add when i find it.... some cakes and sandwiches, diluting juice, at the moment its cheapish... but my son wants owls to be thier... yep real live owls, for a th birthday party. its the only thing he has asked for - no presents! and he has asked consistantly since last summer when we seen them. the owls are costing me £75 for 2 hours, (in context, if he had went for a clown or something similar they are £120 for 90mins here!) the venue is protected woodlands, has a fantastic play area spread out over the estate, massive wooden structures to play on, one is a forte, double decker tram/bus, pirate ship, old fashioned train, thiers a zip slide... loads... they only charge £3 in normally and £2.50 for kids. loads of bbq sopts and great for picnics. so ill do the cake within the first half hour, then the owls and then a treasure hunt (for the eggs) and thier parents can take them to play on the play equipment.. although i have it for hours ill take the first hour and half to set up and then the rest for party and clean up.
no party bags this year. but looking into buying cress seeds and collecting (well get others to collect) yoghurt cartons and take school grade paper towels and let them make thier own cress heads...... anyone know if i can do this with tights and paper towels? or does it have to be compost for those ones?

link to see the owls and planters n stuff http://debbiesdelights.weekendexplorers.co.uk/#home

this is the planter im planning on doing, one with fruit, one with veg and one filled with popcorn

i would LOVE to do this, but i think its too much for a 4 year olds party.
i love the ornamental cabbage flowers tho!

1 egg cosy, ive done a plasticy one, made with parcle twine type stuff. only got another 48 to go!

sorrythe pics have came up too big.

hope everyone is great...
need to go and gett he apple n cinnamon loaf/bread out the oven before it burns! (made using wrinkly apples!)

redglass_2 · 6 February 2011 at 5:49PM

LolaLemon, I'm knocked out by your plans and I think it's so sweet that your son likes the owls so much that he wants to have them at the party more than he wants presents. Aww.... !

rubytuesday · 6 February 2011 at 6:11PM

Hello everyone thought I'd better let you know I am alive and kicking but have had no internet access for the best part of the week - an engineer should be coming tomorrow! I'm in the internet cafe now so I'll have to catch up when I'm back online at home.
I've managed to get a lot done whilst I've been away so that's one blessing I suppose. Didn't even get terrible withdrawal symptoms like I thought I would!
Hope everyone is fine and dandy. xxx

23rdspiral · 6 February 2011 at 6:31PM

hey everyone, just checking in before reading back. Yesterday was a NSD,and today was almost 15 on groceries, barely any woopsies and no meat reduced... so am trying Asda value pork chops for tonights tea... would usually have a chinease takeaway for their new year (any excuse!), but am to cube them and add to Kung Po sauce from a Jar to save some money. and i dont really need a calendar gift do i?!

fun today was free and included a nice walk. I saw my first snowdrops!! so am now going to celebrate Imbolc (calendar said 1st or 2nd but i go by nature).

Happy Chinese New Year and Happy Imbolc to those that celebrate them! x

itsallinthemind · 6 February 2011 at 7:04PM

Hi

Hope everyone is okay or at least plodding along!

I have only flown on the last few weeks to quickly visit grabbit for bargains as I've lost half the house contents in a disaster. Then had gastric flu gr. I am now trying to rebulid the house(no insurance as renewal was on my to do list

)/entertain staying family/organise a huge local event/volunteer/moderate forums etc etc etc.

Thank you for the PM's, sorry I have not replied, life has just been VERY manic(and expensive!). Groceries budget healthy though as we have just wanted toast, if anything, the last few weeks!

See you all shortly when life is more settled and keep going folks x

23rdspiral · 6 February 2011 at 7:14PM

NualaBuala wrote: »

(((((23rdSpiral))))), sorry I missed your bad news re your job as I skimmed through. I admire how strong you are being and that attitude will get you through the tough times .. and we are here to rally you on too.

thanks Nuala, no need to apologise though! i'm trying to stay posative, but it doesnt always work! it looks like i'll get a months extra work into the new financial year, and that'll help soo much with balancing my budgets for the forseable future. and hey, thanks to this tread, i now actually have budgets!!
~~`~~
ITsall in the mind - gosh. i'm so sorry to hear you've had so much bad luck.

*hugs* to anyone who'd like them.

Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

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