The Compact Challenge 2010 (formally "Need help for a challenge")

Alison_Funnell

415SanFran wrote: »

Hi Alison,
I stopped buying toiletries about 6 months ago, well just shower gels not the whole lot, if you are like me and get bored with the smell after 3 uses it helps if you have five or six on the go at the same time, rather than trying to use a whole bottle of something that you really don't like for the next goodness knows how long.
I also have a favorite one that I keep as a treat as it was very expensive and makes my skin lovely and soft, for when I am going out or just want to pamper myself.
Hopefully I will get down to where I have two open, one for everyday, and one for special. But that will take about 2 years at this rate.
Now to make some head way in the lotions,,,aaaahhh

For 5 or 6 read 12++. I have a serious problem in that respect. I figure it will be atleast 6 months - maybe a year, before I actually start to run out of supplies.:o:o:o Atleast I shall be using them now rather than some lotions and stuff going rancid before I use them.

I'm finding it all rather comforting. Very bemused by that. I do have a favourite that I bought whilst travelling (it's cheaper on the ferries than here! and I've yet to find Chanel from a cheaper source). But that is a very occasional treat.

pink_numbers

Hi folks Hope you're having a good weekend! The last two days have been much easier, 2 NSDs in a row, and not as much spending urges. I think not knowing where my cards are REALLY helps. I have kept myself busy with crochet (as always).

Rang Orange to have a go at them for not cancelling my orange care when I requested it to be done two months ago, they are on to it now, and also offered me a three months refund - WIN!

OH is currently busy taking the TV area apart, and converting it to a desk space so that I can do work & craft in the living room rather than be in a separate room. He's working so hard (thank you!!)

patman99
Have you ever thought of putting him in charge of one bill? That'll soon make him the strictest person in the whole house!

soon2bjobless
I agree that it's a lot easier to do this challenge while it's socially acceptable to do frugal challenges. I have had a lot more support from my friends for this challenge than my previous challenge (no new fashion item) I did while everyone was still in spend spend spend mode. I honestly couldn't do this challenge without the support of my family & friends and people on here!

Alison Funnell
I also have a similar issue with money being thrown around, we were listening to the "quick meal for two for £10" advert on the radio for waitroses, and we both said that's enough to feed the two of us for five days. Whenever I see things I want, I keep caluculating in my head how many days worth of food it would equate to.

Alison_Funnell

Hey Pink,

Just caught up with the 'splurge' post. I agree with SF you are NOT anything beginning with f apart from fabulous. Your thread has really insipred me to take a good look at my own consumerism and that of my family.

Could you please explain to me in very very slow and simple english how the crochet? I just cannot get beyond a simple chain and I have been trying for many years.:o

pink_numbers

Hi Alison Thank you for your kind words, I have been so surprised by the warm support I have had from this thread!

wooo crochet... I always maintain that it's best if you can find someone to show it to you, as that was the way I learnt. Of course now days, there is the YouTube! Have you tried searching for a crochet tutorial on there? There are tonnes of them, and some of them are really good, I learnt the basics of tunisian crochet this way. It will take you a while to get used to crochet, but if you keep practising on small, simple things, your body will learn to do it, just like your body learns to drive a car without you thinking too much

415SanFran

Quote:



rather than some lotions and stuff going rancid before I use them.
Do you think they do? Or is it just a cunning plan to get us to chuck the stuff away after a time and "restock" I do have a sneaky suspicion that is half of it.

. I do have a favorite that I bought whilst travelling (it's cheaper on the ferries than here!


yeah duty free has a whole lot to answer for!

415SanFran

ETA: I am still going to keep up with my challenges!

To b!oody right you are, do you think we would let you back out without a fight.

OK I have looked at one or two utbe links for learning the basics of crochet, the woman just carried on at normol speed her hands were a blur, and that is when the camera was not shaking and you could actually see her hands, most of the time you could just see the work not how she was doing it as the camera was held to low.
Have you got a link for a decent shot of how it is done, thanks muchly XX

pink_numbers

Try http://www.youtube.com/user/Bethintx1

she has a new video series called "back to basics" and she really does go through everything really thoroughly and slooooooowy. She goes through about yarn & hook as well, but if you are waiting by your screen with yarn and hook in hand, you can jump it right here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bethintx1#p/u/12/pgFD4P5s-NA

I hope these help

pink_numbers

415SanFran wrote: »

ETA: I am still going to keep up with my challenges!

To b!oody right you are, do you think we would let you back out without a fight.

Thank you for this I am so grateful for the support I am getting from this thread, you don't know how much you are keeping me going!! I would've broken down and gone back to my normal ways a few days in to the new year if it weren't for you!!

Alison_Funnell

That link is brilliant. I look at her metal hook and realise I should admit how bad I really am. Whilst knitting one of those hairy scarves the other night (3-4 months in the making so far!) I managed to snap a plastic needle in half.:o

There really is little hope for me sometimes.:rotfl:

pink_numbers

Alison_Funnell wrote: »

I managed to snap a plastic needle in half.:o

There really is little hope for me sometimes.:rotfl:

!!! How did you manage that?

I make special effort into keeping my yarns quite loose, as it makes the project grow faster