2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

LolaLemon · 30 May 2012 at 9:50PM

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Should be a pic of my first attempt at a baby bouquet ... it is only 4 'flowers' next one will have a half dozen

LolaLemon · 30 May 2012 at 10:00PM

Ahh wrong pic posted, this is the better one.
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dizzy_lizzie · 31 May 2012 at 1:10AM

Lola love the little bouquets. Not seen that idea before. Well done.
And you're right, the names come from One Tree Hill

Glad to hear the twins are doing well.
What an awful tragedy for those poor little ones in Saudi. Another time to count our blessings.

Sandra so sorry to hear your news. Very very sad. Huge hugs.

Slowly you inspired me to get a bit of baking done as I hadn't done any in a while. I've made a vegan coffee and walnut cake. I'm taking it to work tomorrow but I'll take a photo to add at some stage. I really enjoying making it as well. I don't know why I don't bake more often...oh hang on yes I do, calories!

Frugal wise I've been quite careful. Trying to stay out of Mr As unless absolutely necessary as I can still get a bit carried away when I've only gone in for a couple of things!
Still not had to put petrol in my car yet and when I do I've got a money off Mr T petrol voucher. Think it runs out soon though, must check the date on it.
Been really tired today and need to get to bed now. Otherwise I'll be shattered again. One more day in work then off a week for half term. Got some more decluttering planned and lots of chilling out, whatever the weather!
x

Kerry_Woman · 31 May 2012 at 5:53AM

Sandra - Sorry to hear about your news. Sending hugs.

slowlyfading · 31 May 2012 at 8:28AM

Lola - they're lovely! Haven't seen that idea before

slowlyfading · 31 May 2012 at 8:29AM

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Slowly you inspired me to get a bit of baking done as I hadn't done any in a while. I've made a vegan coffee and walnut cake. I'm taking it to work tomorrow but I'll take a photo to add at some stage. I really enjoying making it as well. I don't know why I don't bake more often...oh hang on yes I do, calories!

That sounds lovely! Please post a pic

I love seeing pictures of things from other people

I love baking but yes, the calories in things can be scary :eek:

fuddle · 31 May 2012 at 1:01PM

I've just realised I haven't told you that I sold my car on Saturday. It is such a relief to not have to worry about paying for unexpected repair bills.

I was worried I was going to have a hefty insurance cancellation fee to pay but £30 was ok. Also cancelled the breakdown cover.No petrol to pay for so we're up £100 before repairs, road tax, MOT and service. I am getting such as warm feeling by doing this. I feel like I'm growing up and putting my needs ahead of my wants.

Also on the look out, come September when both children are at school, for a shopping trolley so I don't pay out for shopping to be delivered weekly. The butchers/fruit/veg warehouse and supermarket is a 3 mile walk. (6 there and back) I don't at all mind a walk so looking forward to really feeling like I'm working hard as a mum and homemaker. These feelings of doing my best for my family are really something to hold onto in these times.

Also, plan on getting DH to take me to Aldi (in the company car) once a month for the cereals/washing/cleaning/tinned supplies.

I was gifted some rhubarb so crumble on the menu plus making custard with powdered milk.

slowlyfading · 31 May 2012 at 1:23PM

fuddle - congratulations on selling your car :j :j I bet that's such a weight off your mind. And YUM to crumble and custard, could just eat some of that :drool:

mcculloch29 · 31 May 2012 at 1:23PM

Sandra, huge hugs to you. Does this diagnosis entitle you to any extra support? There is something in the back of my mind that says it does.

Alzheimer's is a desperately cruel condition. My friend's mother has just moved into the latter stages - she is in a very good local care home.
No point in my visiting as she gets upset when she cannot recall people. Thankfully she still knows my friend, but this smart, funny, witty lady has gone and a stranger is in her place.

I've been searching for someone to repair a catch on a window, it's an old system so had no joy. Then got a call from the people who replaced my door, offering me a deal on windows. Another window was damaged during an attempted break-in 20 years ago (house was empty at the time, as my tenants had moved out). I've never got round to doing anything as it looks OK, but couldn't be opened.
The first quote was £2100 (they are big floor to near ceiling windows). I said 'Just do the one then' and lo and behold the price was down to £1600 for 2.
Repairs would have been a more frugal solution but I am pleased with this outcome.

rising_from_the_ashes · 31 May 2012 at 7:26PM

Well errrrr now carrying quite a large overspend

BUT the last of my big annual bills (house insurance) now paid:j

Landline / broadband

Will be re-doing the advance line saver on the landline tomorrow (earlier fiasco at trying & failing to switch provider - but have now had the refund from them

) - so that's £113.88 but does save £3.50 / month (which will cover the cost of having anytime calls).

Costs of landline /broadband will have fallen from £23.50 (landline - was getting stung with unavoidable daytime calls) + £12.99 (broadband) = £36.49 a few months ago to ...... £19.58 in total for both:j
Groceries

Finally under budget this month (first time this year:o) - so hoping the bulk buying / stocking up will now start to balance itself out!;) I certainly have enough toiletries left for another couple of months & loads of bits (washing liquid, fabric conditioner etc) to last until the end of the year:T

Dentist / clothes / hair / anything else

New pot for these seems to be working well (as well as the combined "house & car" and "pets" pots - I've gone from 12 down to 3 :j) and haven't (yet!) lost track of what belongs to what IYKWIM

Massage

Have had to cancel 2 of my appointments today as now on hols those weeks (try to go every 4 weeks & book them at the start of the year as they get filled very quickly) so that should be a £50 saving there ...

Fuel

Still struggling on this one, even after transferring amounts from other budgets

- not helped that I'm now coming home at lunchtimes to let the new dog out so that's roughly an extra £12.50 / week (but she's worth it!:))

Dilemma .....

Now that the new dog has arrived (yay!) - I have to put insurance costs in for her (which will be separate from her main fund as with the cats) - however, this is going to mean I'm over my annual budget as this wasn't built in (nor was the dog walker I'm probably going to get a couple of days a week - which will be offset by fuel savings) so ....

Do I increase the annual budget to £14,000 to incl these or just go over?

2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

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