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

grandma247

I think everyone who stockpiles does it for different reasons. I do it because I know it saves me money in the long run.
Also I was not going to post this here but last week I was surfing the net and found an article that was worrying. Because of bad weather conditions last year in America and some other countries food prices will go up and there could be shortages of some staples. I then realised that was possibly why the powers that be are pushing for people to grow some of their own food. Apparently it is deliberately being hushed up.
For my piece of mind I try to keep in a large stock of staples that are shelf stable and I keep some in the freezer. Whenever I see a bargain on something I use I get it even if it means leaving out something else on my list.
I have been doing this a long time now and it has become a habit, even dh is on board with it now. If you buy when you are doing your normal shopping and not when there is a shortage then that is good planning. To go out and buy whatever is on the shelves when there is a shortage is hoarding and is very selfish. If you already have a stockpile then you can choose not to shop when there are shortages so others can buy what they need.

ceridwen

Agree with you grandma:T

The thing is re "the powers that be hushing up" that food shortages are on the cards - I dont actually think they NEED to hush it up IYSWIM - as most people dont actually seem to read the quality newspapers ever/or in much detail. Most people dont seem to make the connection between living on a Planet with limited resources and a population thats STILL steadily growing at a rate of knots. I can only say "thank goodness that some level of sense seems to be percolating through at last" when I see the number of articles starting up in the Press clamouring for Britain's population not to be allowed to go over 70million (still a figure thats at least twice as many as our optimum population) and I still dont know just how one gets the message through "This means YOU doing YOUR bit" to everyone. One only has to walk down the street any day of the week to despair - as you count up cigarettes and junk food eating and cigarettes and junk food eating etc etc and realise what a high proportion of people seem to be set on "self-destruct" - hence why WOULD they care about those of us who havent pushed that "self-destruct" button?

Sorreesss....rant over..

But yes - we DO need to get into a mindset NOW of growing food/not wasting food/etc. I never got the "now eat whats on your plate - thinking of the starving in Africa" comment when I was a child personally. My parents dont think that way..:rolleyes: - but...I do remind myself of that comment now and am working on not eating anything unless I actually feel hungry for it - and squirrelling away leftover food for future meals for myself. I tell MYSELF off now if I throw away food that could be eaten:rotfl:

lynzpower

Can I just ask a quick question to those who bread-make using value flour.

I do have a stockpile of strong flour, wil use this up forst obviously, but wondering- d yo uuse the same amount. Is there any difference in texture- please tell me it is a bit lighter?

I am unfortunately going to have to have a SD today again as we have totally ran out of SRflour. and only a dreg of plain left too.

However, lunch has been cobbled with remnants from the cupboard and putting the loaf in the old roses tin has kept it from going stale so will eat that instead of making another one. I am taking cupasoup/chocs from the tin/drinks from the fridge/old jar of quick-tea. With a bit of luck that should do me, although im in the area so can pop in for lunch ( and to bring the flour back).

Aim to do loads of surveys later. I am thinking if I get my surveys done- I can use this for much of my clothing budget this year. I have 30 quid gift card from next, a 12 lovetoshop from toluna on way and 20.00 amazon vouchers. The amazon vouchers are good to save for printer carts and other consumables I hate to spend on although this year I was thinking about trying to refill them. I did do this before though and wrecked the old printer as ink leaked all over it and was not salvageable.

Dinner will be left over chicken from last night with a veggie curry from the freezer and some mini samosas. I hope OH makes some naan as well. I have to say his bread making skills are getting SO good.

Hope everyone has a good day

larmy16

I just wanted to add that I have done no shopping since the beginning of December as I could not face the craziness of the shops, so we were using up all our stock plus emptying the freezer, so any shopping I have done is absolutely needed and as an effort to succeed at this challenge by internet shopping and not being lured by offers etc.

I hope I did not come across as someone who is grabbing everything in sight as I think that by us using the UHT it frees up fresh milk for people who don't like it. Plus if any neighbours get desperate, I will be able to help them out.

Kiwisaver_2

Mooloo wrote: »

H Kiwisaver, Just wondering where your Mum is, and if there is anyone you can get to check up on her?

That's a lovely thought, she's out in the stix in Essex, but my Bro only lives a short drive from her. She asked him to get her some milk and was most miffed that he brought her an out of date carton of UHT from home. :rotfl: She's fine, just a little cabin fever, if she can't get to the shops she panics and is the type who would say she was running short if she was down to her last 24 joints of meat in the freezer.

ellemm wrote: »

Managed to cook some Lamb Kleftico in the oven and a batch of mince so not a completely lost night.

Would love the Kleftico recipe, if you wouldn't mind sharing. I adore Greek food.

I had to post a letter on the way home, so went for a wander round the nearby supermarket to see if they had any 'specials' on, I picked a few things up and ummed and arrred, there was nothing I needed and so I left with NOTHING. Go me!! :T

Promptly came home and spent £19.49 on one Jamie Oliver cookbook, ordered from CDW0w (with Cashback and freepost) from my new found windfall money. BUT I will play it straight and add it to my spends for this challenge.

Picked up parcel, which was a belated Xmas gift from my Bro. A lovely little gift basket with all things Chilli; dried and hot chilli sauces, plus a book all about different types of chillis and peppers, growing them and recipes for all kinds of pepper and chilli things. I'll not need to buy chilli stuff for a while.

Rubbish collection day tomorrow, so had a shuffle about in the fridge and used up a few bits so I could throw the packaging away. I made special fried rice with sweet and sour sauce (all storecupboard and bits of lurking veggies) plus I used up some very old spring rolls from the freezer. I chucked in a handful of the beansprouts that I had frozen at the weekend and they were fine.

Currently thinking about whether to indulge in the last of the weekend's cheesecake with a cup of coffee or throw it out. Eat it or throw it out?? I don't know.

loopychriss

grandma247 wrote: »

I think everyone who stockpiles does it for different reasons. I do it because I know it saves me money in the long run.
For my piece of mind I try to keep in a large stock of staples that are shelf stable and I keep some in the freezer. Whenever I see a bargain on something I use I get it even if it means leaving out something else on my list.
I have been doing this a long time now and it has become a habit, even dh is on board with it now. If you buy when you are doing your normal shopping and not when there is a shortage then that is good planning. To go out and buy whatever is on the shelves when there is a shortage is hoarding and is very selfish. If you already have a stockpile then you can choose not to shop when there are shortages so others can buy what they need.

I agree with you grandma. In this recent bad weather we've not had to buy milk (except for my daughter who couldn't get out and needs it for the baby) because we always keep 4 or 5 of the 2 litre bottles in the freezer, plus I've got a pack of dried milk that we use in the breadmaking that could be used in emergencies.

I too buy things as I see them, to save money in the long run. My trouble though is buying stuff that I think we'll eat but never seem to get around to using. I just think maybe I could have hung onto my money for a bit longer!

We do need to have a good stock of stuff in because we live in a village 5 miles from the nearest supermarket, although we have a local Spar but I don't get much in there. There is a free range butchers, an egg farm and a fruit farm within a couple of miles so all the meat, eggs and apples/pears come from there at the moment.

In theory I have enough food stocks to last the end of the month, but we'll have to see. I just have to face it - I like buying bargains!

mooomin

Kiwisaver wrote: »

Currently thinking about whether to indulge in the last of the weekend's cheesecake with a cup of coffee or throw it out. Eat it or throw it out?? I don't know.

People throw out cheesecake?

Eat the cheesecake

Still off work, still full of snot. Mr Fresian has been to the shops though, so another NSD for me! I did offer to give him money for the milk/bread, but he didn't want it.

Frugality is low on the list today, keeping warm and tidying the kitchen being my main aims for today. I also need to make sure that the house is in a reasonable state for visitors as a Freecycler will be coming to pick up our old telly today. I would like to get some tidying/bagging up of old things done but will see how I feel. If it's anything like yesterday I will mainly feel like sitting on the couch watching telly

Kittikins

I've managed 5 NSDs this month already - that's due to cabin fever with being too scared to go out of the house in all the ice *shudder*. I do need to venture out and buy fruit and veg today though, as poor DD is going to have nothing for her packed lunches if I don't.

I've been working from home in tropical 13 degree heat, just putting the heating on when DD gets home, don't want her to be frozen, although when she took her sweatshirt and jeans off yesterday because she was too hot, I quickly popped the heating off!

gilligansyle

Hi all, can't possibly reply to everything but thought I'd throw my two penn'orth into this one

ceridwen wrote: »

AMost people dont seem to make the connection between living on a Planet with limited resources and a population thats STILL steadily growing at a rate of knots.

But yes - we DO need to get into a mindset NOW of growing food/not wasting food/etc.

larmy16 wrote: »

I just wanted to add that I have done no shopping since the beginning of December as I could not face the craziness of the shops, so we were using up all our stock plus emptying the freezer, so any shopping I have done is absolutely needed and as an effort to succeed at this challenge by internet shopping and not being lured by offers etc.

I hope I did not come across as someone who is grabbing everything in sight as I think that by us using the UHT it frees up fresh milk for people who don't like it. Plus if any neighbours get desperate, I will be able to help them out.

loopychriss wrote: »

I agree with you grandma. In this recent bad weather we've not had to buy milk (except for my daughter who couldn't get out and needs it for the baby) because we always keep 4 or 5 of the 2 litre bottles in the freezer, plus I've got a pack of dried milk that we use in the breadmaking that could be used in emergencies.

I too buy things as I see them, to save money in the long run. My trouble though is buying stuff that I think we'll eat but never seem to get around to using. I just think maybe I could have hung onto my money for a bit longer!

We do need to have a good stock of stuff in because we live in a village 5 miles from the nearest supermarket, although we have a local Spar but I don't get much in there. There is a free range butchers, an egg farm and a fruit farm within a couple of miles so all the meat, eggs and apples/pears come from there at the moment.

In theory I have enough food stocks to last the end of the month, but we'll have to see. I just have to face it - I like buying bargains!

I was working yesterday (local off license) and we stock basics, bread, milk etc. We were inundated with people wanting to buy 2 or 3 loaves because the supermarkets wouldn't let them or had run out.
Probably because there are only 2 of us, its easier, I make sure I always have one loaf in the freezer. I don't buy much milk as one pint lasts all week, but always have dried milk that I use for breadmaking so could use if necessary. I always have a stock of tinned stuff, mainly tomatoes and sweetcorn; I don't have a garden, but try to grow what I can.
Since starting this challenge, I am even more careful about throwing stuff out and was horrified at a friends on Sunday when she went to throw out the remains of the beef - good stuff as well. Her excuse, there wasn't enough to make a meal. This same friend will switch lights off as she goes round the house, takes her washing to her mothers as her mother isn't on a meter, but buys designer suits for work.

Today will be another NSD. Have got some beef leftovers in the slow cooker with assorted veg, see what that turns out like. Approved foods delivery is on its way, so will do some thinking when that arrives. I'm not very good at meal planning mainly because DS works night shift, so have to think of food that's ok to eat when you've just woken up even if it is 6pm.
Have also just found my Christmas cake oops. Forgot about it, took it to sisters on Christmas Day and left it in its box. If I take the icing etc. off it, will it be OK?:D

In theory my budget for the year is £12000, but if I take off the things that I can't control, like Council Tax, and things my DS pays for like TV, broadband and mobile phones, then my budget is actually nearer £6000. I think if I can stick to this then next year will look to reduce it etc. Which means if I get a job, I should be able to SAVE!

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

kittiej wrote: »

I'm waiting for my next gas and electric bills to come in at the end of the month so I can see if I should change suppliers, Eon want £69 per month for electric and £79 per month for gas if I pay by DD and I'm not really happy paying that much tbh.

Hi kittie

Thought I might be able to offer a few nuggets of advice regarding your impending energy bills.

Make sure the bills are based on accurate meter readings. If we haven't read the meter, I would suggest you let us have readings just before the next bills are due. You can either phone these through or pop them on to our website.

Check you are on the best tariff for your circumstances. There are extra discounts available for paying by monthly Direct Debit and managing your account online. Details are on our website (there is a link in my Personal Profile).

You're absolutely right to look around to make sure you are on the best possible deal. I would put your usage on to one of the comparison sites to see how we stack up.

Just a heads up kittie; we don't give discount on final bills, so it would be in your best interests to time a move to lessen the impact of this.

Another way to reduce bills is by cutting back on your usage. We can help with this.

Have a chat with our Energy Efficiency team. Give them a list of your appliances and they will be happy to advise of ways you may be able to save.

Ask for a booklet called '100 ways to save money by saving energy.' It's free and contains lots of useful advice.

Have a look at the energy saving pages on our website too; particularly the interactive house, energy menu and Winter Advice Bureau. More good tips here. :cool:

You might also be interested in the 10:10 Campaign. This is designed to help customers reduce their energy consumption by 10 per cent by the end of 2010. Again, details are on the website.

Hope this helps a little kittie. Give me a shout if you need more details as will be happy to help further.

Malc