Frugal Living 2010 -The Cost of Living Challenge, INTRO

pink_numbers

nykmedia wrote: »

For some reason, I can never get powder to dissolve in the machine, so I stopped using it a long time ago.

did you try putting the powder in the drum with the laundry? I find my powder dissolves fine when put in the drum, I expect our recipes will be very similar, with grated soap, borax & washing soda?

Money_Fritter

Hi Money Fritter would like to join please. I really need to shift the debt and decorate in 2010.

Thanks

Money Fritter

redglass_2

ceridwen wrote: »

Theres also the point that - with limited kitchen worksurface space - one needs appliances with straight lines, rather than round ones, in order to make best use of all worksurface space (Duh! - shoulda thought of that first too....).

Thanks, Ceridwen. I totally agree about the straight lines. I chucked out/gave away all my round freezer tubs for the same reason and now have rectangular ones.

redglass_2

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

http://www.i4at.org/surv/soldehyd.htm

http://ecohearth.com/eco-zine/food-and-garden/650-building-a-solar-powered-food-dehydrator-.html

there are free plans available on the net for building your own solar dehydrator too!! not sure if we have the weather ? i may have a go at the first ,the second is worth a look just for the workman!!

Shaz, I see what you mean about the man! If that's what raw food does for you, no wonder people are keen on it. There's also a very simple solar-powered one (dryer, not man) on the selfsufficientish website, but this house is overshadowed by higher buildings and trees so not very good for solar. You can also find web instructions for making a dryer powered by a single electric bulb and if I go the DIY route that might be my choice.

cheerfulness4

LilacPixie wrote: »

Cheerfulness don't you find a chicken cooked in the SC is moister and the meat literally falls off the bone leaving very little waste.

Yes exactly - and I love that I get all that tasty stock to use the next day in soup or a lovely savoury rice.

skintjenny

Hi all,
great to see so many people getting going. Yesterday I got 'How I lived for a year on £1 a day' out of the library and it has inspired me! I so want to try that, but feel like I can't with my phone contract and car (necessary in Cumbria!) and other contracts i happily signed up for without thinking... it has hardened my resolve to make 2010 the ultimate year of thrift though!
Also been signed off work for 3 weeks and expect to get a futher 6 week sick note after that, meaning I can now claim benefits. This is a huge relief as it means I can cut my hours right down to voluntary hours at work and finally have some sort of income (I run a not for profit company and have had no wages for 6 months- hence the debt!)
I'm unsure about doing mystery shops and such like though- does anyone know if this is allowed whilst on sick?
I'm going to spend my additional time making things such as wheat bags and knitted thingamabobs to sell once I'm back earning for myself again

hope the weather improves soon- i fell down the steps outside work on saturday and have 2 mildly sprained ankles and a bruise bigger than my fist to show for it, plus meant to be driving home for christmas on wednesday!

I want a dehydrator now!

LilacPixie

:eek::eek::eek: at the moment it will cost me 11867 to live for a year without taking on any additional debt. That does not include mortgage or debt repayments :eek::eek::eek::eek: I'll post a breakdown in a moment.

skintjenny

does anyone know if there is a thread about living on £1 a day? I'd really like to know if more people have done it and if its as easy as the woman that wrote the book made out... well not EASY but a lot less hard than you would think!

pink_numbers

skintjenny wrote: »

does anyone know if there is a thread about living on £1 a day? I'd really like to know if more people have done it and if its as easy as the woman that wrote the book made out... well not EASY but a lot less hard than you would think!

I would say it's easiER under certain circumstances, such as her situation. I think it's amazing that some people can do it!

Fishcake_Random

nykmedia- that idea was fantastic I've added it to my little book on the christmas and present idea pages. Thank you.

I am also getting annoyed with waiting for the new year to start. Christmas? pffft I have more important things lol. I've worked out all my January bills and what I have left over for food and stuff, I'm tempted to add it to my amounts in my sig now, but I'm wondering if that cheating lol.
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