FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE 2010, part 1. (Living on £4,000 a year)

grannynise

I keep dried yeast ( a large packet) in the freezer and take out as needed. The pack I'm currently using was opened in Feb 2007. It doesn't seem to have deteriorated at all. Even the little individual packs would probably benefit by being kept frozen, I think.

xnatalie81x

FRUGAL CHALLENGE TO DO TODAY LIST (will edit when completed in red)

1. Post add on freecycle for sewing machine, material and patterns (DONE - and now been offered so i HAVE A SEWING MACHINE YAY YAY YAY - CANNOT WAIT TO GET STARTED! )- you lot have got me back into the mood to try although i too was useless at school and the only thing i ever made was a hat - also check prices for new ones just in case...

2. Defrost mash that froze ages ago to top cottage pies(IN FRIDGE) (made from mince i bulked out yesterday for bolognese) and do that for dinner with broccoli, cauli and allotment frozen carrots

3. Go out and check chickadees plus give warm water and food - plus pick out poo from house

4. Frugal housework to include washing powder for dishwasher (before H2B sees lol), water and vinegar to clean kitchen and bathroom, wagter down fabric condtioner (before H2B sees)

5. Frugally clean kids room (check through all clothes that no longer fit and use clothes for either freecycle, cleaning rags or save to make new clothes with freecyle sewing machine i might get) - also sort through toys and clean windows with newspaper that i may have to get from neighbour

6. Do recycling and sort garden (all cans etc to tesco and rest out for my own recylcing)

7. Dump run (as they only take purple bin liners here and we have used our 52!!! and so take black bin liners to dump - purple bin liners 30p each!!!!!!!!!)

Hope all frugallers have a good morning - off to dress and feed the troop

Fishcake_Random

Morning all,
Exciting news from the home of fishcake.........as there was no snow overnight and it isnt tooooo cold out OH is taking me out for a coffee and wander round tesco and a trip to Hobbycraft!!!! I'm going to leave the house whoop whoop.
I may let myself have a few spends as I havent seen the sales in Hobbycraft and I need/want some batterys for my digi camera, I will hopefully finish my elephant today and post a piccy for you guys.
x x x x

Thriftkitten

Up early this morning and made cookies for the week, nipped upstairs for a shower and came down to 90% scoffed, Grrrr must remember to place them on an airing rack in the loft!!!!! Pugs outside eating snow(will save on water lol!!

Kiwisaver_2

Still keeping the frugal flag flying, with no spends at all today. I've been a busy bee, ironing, housework and gardening. Did roast beef in the slow cooker, with plenty left for tomorrow and I made a raspberry cheesecake. Used up half a head of brocolli that's been lurking in the bottom of the fridge since Christmas and decided to have a go at freezing the leftover beansprouts from Friday. At worst they'll do as some extra floaty bits for some soup or perhaps in a sweet and sour sauce. I decided even if the're not great, they can't be any worse than the one's you get in those frozen stirfry mixes anyway.

Thanks to Paulgonnanbedebtfree I signed up for the Olympic Challenge too.

Nyk I had a go with the Budgetbrain gizmo and it said:

Not Bad! That's a good start; you're more-or-less matching up what comes in with what goes out, yet the margin is very fine - so it's still worth taking a defensive stance and trying to nail down the savings.You spend most money in the 'In Your Home' and 'Big One Offs' categories, so pinpoint these to make the biggest savings.

The home expenses is of course the bit we're mostly working on here in this challenge, so I feel pretty good things are going in the right direction. The 'Big One Offs' was mostly about Christmas expenses so that can and will be worked upon.

kayharcombe

Just a quick update, am doing really well on low grocery spends so far this month, today have lamb shoulder slowly roasting in oven, will last 2-3 days with leftovers, have some home made pastry in fridge ready for 1 apple and 1 rhubarb pie, using frozen fruit from last year. Have spent 100 on garden so far, but some of that is fruit trees, which im not sure yet wether to include in budget, as it more an investment for future years, and to do with the house, rather than housekeeping money, seeds im definitly including in budget, but not sure wether trees should come out of seperate home budget.

Am now on waiting list for allotment locally, she said maybe end of month as rents are due this month, if not probably next year, there are allotments available less locally, but id rather wait and have one down the road, so i definitly keep it up, and dont have to pay to drive there to work.

I have a large veg garden so seeds will still get used even if i dont get an allotment. my ex went to farm yesterday to stock up his freezer, and got me a sack of potatoes, tray of 30 eggs, and some bits and bobs of veg, to save me going out, that was very nice of him, it only £7 so he doesnt want the money back.

Shouldnt need to go shopping for another few days, except maybe milk, plenty of bread and veg in freezer

poorbutrich

Hi NYK
I feel really bad as I think I am one of the Johnny-come-latelys who has turned your thread upsidedown. It's testament to the success of your frugal ways that so many people have joined and changed the rules.

Blairweech - hope you are ok...keep safe.....

warney27

Morning all!
Woke up this morning, checked outside and was white, so phoned work and said i won't be in. I don't feel to guilty as they are dead quiet.
Anyway i have been rummaging through the cupboards and freezer to see whats about. and i have got a mixed bean and chick pea curry on the go. naan breads in the freezer and micro rice in the cupboards. Found some parsnips in the fridge so i have got a spiced parsnip soup on the go and i have got a french loaf going in the breadmaker. just having some toast and a cuppa, then going to crack on with some baking, choc chip and hazelnut cookies, spiced fruit buns maybe some flapjack got some old oaty cereals in the cupboard
cheers

Thriftkitten

Oh warney, I didnt realise you were in Cornwall, I'm in St Ives, how about you.

warney27 wrote: »

Morning all!
Woke up this morning, checked outside and was white, so phoned work and said i won't be in. I don't feel to guilty as they are dead quiet.
Anyway i have been rummaging through the cupboards and freezer to see whats about. and i have got a mixed bean and chick pea curry on the go. naan breads in the freezer and micro rice in the cupboards. Found some parsnips in the fridge so i have got a spiced parsnip soup on the go and i have got a french loaf going in the breadmaker. just having some toast and a cuppa, then going to crack on with some baking, choc chip and hazelnut cookies, spiced fruit buns maybe some flapjack got some old oaty cereals in the cupboard
cheers

top_drawer_2

hi everyone,

Well I had a bit of a blowout yesterday ... I went in bhs and came out with a new cardigan and a skirt (which I am going to alter) at £9 and £12, both were on sale and are needed but still ...

I also went in home bargains and bought two photo frames and some ice cube boxes which I was hoping to use as water bottles for my guinua pigs - if I can find a way to stop them chewing through the plastic. Total spend £2.55

I also went to Aldi and got veg for the piggies and some slipper socks at £2.99 - theyre amazingly warm and for the first time since living in this house I was too warm last night... total spend £6.11

My worst spend and weakness is Abakahans fabric shop £3.70 on black velvet to make a skirt, I bought some other matieral at 50p awhile and I am going to use that as godets and the stuff I got yesterday for the rest. I also got some clearance fleece and two lots of coloured fleece to make bases for the piggies - I do love spoiling them as they are so appreciative! Total spend £20.48.

Total spend for the day was £50.14

Jen