SmlSave MFW diary - where to start?

setmefree2

SmlSave wrote: »

4. Build a wall in the garden

Flippin heck - that souns like a task and a half:laugh::laugh::laugh:

SmlSave

We built the wall! YEAH:D

Tis a sleeper wall, I'll see if I can download a picture for you to see - I'm sooo proud.

I have been inspired by the Use It Challange set by SetMeFree2 and found a soap duck that was given to me as a gift - its now my new shower soap. He does make me smil too.

I found a few DVD's that i bought in January so thats some Film Hampers to make. Also have some Xmas pudding gift sets, also bought in Jan, that will make good gifts to the in-laws and friends.

I'm glad to say that i resisted the M&S dinner and emptied the freezer instead :rotfl: . Found something that smells like curry so that's dinner tonight.

the wedding recep went well, only spent £5 on drinks and £7.50 on the gift.:T Went better than i thought.

Have decided that the £17.95 from WW is to go direct into my savings account.

Have a good day.

MissusF_3

just want to wish you well on your MF journey!!!! i've had a major overhaul of finances this week, in prep for starting in Feb when our fixed term ends, and i wondered if any of the things i did / am doing may help you?

1) cancelled gym membership (that was painful, but have realised i can do the same / similar routine at home if i'm creative)
2) changed fuel suppliers
3) requested a water meter (check out the MSE threads on use less water - it's fab!)
4) created a spreadsheet for xmas pressies (7 adult couples, 3 teens and 3 babies to buy for - making hampers all the way - budget £160)
5) and this is my fav - rang sky to say we don't watch half the stuff we did before due to shift patterns (another MSE toptip!) and they have reduced our bills for the next 3 months (from £40 down to £16in oct, £32 in nov, and £24 in dec!) result!
6) not watched any tv all weekend cos have been addicted to MSE!! Saving a few pence on electricity!!! lol

good luck, and i hope it all works out for you!!! x x x x

MissusF_3

doh - just realised you're hampering it up for xmas!!! apologies! x x x

SmlSave

No need to apologise MissusF, thanks for the encouragment. Did I see you've a thread of your own? At the mo I'm budgeting £300 for 20 people, Xmas pressies. but I'm sure that can be slimmed down. . Hopefully they will all be happy with gingercake! ( I gave them fruitcake last year):rolleyes:

I use the gym mainly for swimming. I used to go to the local council one but mum had to pay parking for it - she refused to catch the bus - sigh. If I use the gym four times a week i thinks its worth paying for it, but I've only been going twice a week for this month - will try harder :rolleyes:

Going to change fuel suppliers this week if I can get myself organised.

I think I've already got a water metre - it apparently got put in when we bought the place. Our Water bill dropped from £23p/m to £5p/m in Feb, do you think we could cut this further?

I'm slightly obsessed :rotfl: with spreadsheets - In fact it was my sheet with the finances on that got me thinking where does the money actually go? This month I've kept every bill and made notes where its gone so that at the end of the month I will know where it went and if it needed to go there.

Well done with sky! We are on the basic package already.

I did have a thought about the electric bill - I've candles floating round everywhere and I should use them first before switching a light on.

And there are a couple of cans of cider in the fridge...yum yum

MissusF_3

heya smlsave,
i certainly have started my diary - mine too came from doing a spreadsheet!!!

£5 for water eh?! That's fab! There's sooooooooo many tips on that other thread, tooooooo many to list here, but i've ordered my hippo already (free from anglian water) and have already put my washing machine on half loads etc etc. Be warned though, i poured over it for most of friday afternoon!!!!

I've posted a samll thread on the special occassions forum, called it 'inspired gifts for lil uns' - just basically a bedtime bathtime hamper idea folding towels into elephants and filling up with creams and soaps!!!

i'll look forward to watching your journey, and if i think of owt, i'll pass it on!

Happy MF journey!!!
x:T

BARGAINHUNTER!

You can buy some plastic film to put over your windows which might insulate them better for the winter. You attach it to the frames, make it tight with a hairdryer and effectively you will be double glazed!! Might be an idea for this winter whilst you save up for the double glazing. Might be cheaper to have the double glazing fitted in the summer too! Alternatively, b and q do double glazed windows, it might work out cheaper to buy from there and get a window fitter to fit them for you.

setmefree2

SmlSave wrote: »

I did have a thought about the electric bill - I've candles floating round everywhere and I should use them first before switching a light on.

And there are a couple of cans of cider in the fridge...yum yum

Hi:hello:

I am still burning my way through my pile of gift candles:D. This will be my 2nd winter trying to use them up!:D Some of them smell beautiful...

Good Luck

SmlSave

Good Morning!

Was it just me or was MSE hard to get onto this morning?
Got our elect & gas bills yesterday and have overpaid by £120 in all! :eek: £50 is going on Argos vouchers to buy a BBQ for a Xmas pressie and an electric clothes dryer casue the house is very damp and very thing smells musty! I'll get 10% off the vouchers by getting them throu southern Electric. The rest of the £ shall go into savings.

Went on the comparison websites today to see if i could save money on elect & gas and everysite quoted different amounts of saving - now I'm confused. :cool: HELP HELP! What comparison site is the best to use? Should I capp or not?

MissusF - I apologise for sounding dumb...a hippo is a bag to put in the cistern? I've started using my veg water to make stock and my boiled egg water to wash the dishes/water plants! I feel its a good start.:D

Thanks BH for the tip, should have a 'free' weekend soon and be able to go round B&Q to have a look.

SMF2, I really liked using the candles, especially the smelly ones in the kitchen to get rid of the smell of onion! My OH is sceptaical and accused me of trying to be romantic.
Hope everyone is having a good day, there's coffee and cakes for all!:T

SmlSave

Morning!

Planning to have a NSD today.

Spoke to some friends about needing plants for the garden and have been promised lily-of-the-valley, solomons seal, bugle and eyonumos - I'm soo lucky to have good friends!:j

Off to do my fortnightly shopping tonight, think I should be well in budget this month for food and any money left over is going to go straight in savings.

The next big thing after plants is to get trellis, I better find out how much its going to cost!