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

rozeepozee

Cute elephant, Fishcake.

If we go to the inlaws tomorrow, we may manage a NSD or two - I've got a large roasting joint in the freezer that I can take as my offering for Sunday lunch - although there's petrol. If not, we may end up spending at B&Q or similar as we have to get the bedrooms decorated and sorted before these babies arrive! Need to do a DIY inventory first though as I'm sure we've got loads of stuff lurking in the garage.

Fishcake_Random

Thanks everyone. Its my first knitted toy so I'm really please with it.
skint_chick - I made a few cardigans and loads of booties for her so far, I'm hoping to make some dresses and bits later. I have a few patterns in mind.

I'm thinking about maybe selling some bits on folksy the uk version of etsy to make some extra pennys, but im not sure. Still thinking lol

x x x x

mooomin

rozeepozee wrote: »

The credit card company seems to have a complaint system that is dessigned to make it as difficult as possible to complain (call centre in India, no email address provided, no ability to speak to a supervisor) and they refused to return my overpayment by bank transfer saying it had to be done by cheque, which seems to be in breach of the DD guarantee which requires and immediate return of the funds taken in error, so I've composed a lengthy complaint to them today (hence my achey back through sitting at the computer so long) asking for compensation for my financial losses and inconvenience.

*admits to working in financial services*

If you have to claim under the DD Guarantee, you see your bank for this (Where you hold your current account) and they will give you the money back immediately. You would have to claim any charges incurred from the credit card folk.

Your bank will then chase the credit card company for the funds.

You just have to tell the bank that you want to do a direct debit indemnity claim - they should be able to give you the money back there and then, for this month and any previous ones where you have been debited twice.

Hope this helps!

Will be back shortly with a breakdown of my spendy spendy day

Brighton_belle

that elephant is so cute fishcake and made me laugh:T
Can't remember who asked but I have a shopping trolley and love it - farewell lugging umpteen bags. You can get some really funky ones too, though I went for plain black so I didn't have to always colour cordinate my outfit:D.

As for what is going on for me - no 'anouncement' forthcoming:rotfl:.. But i have had some potentially good news about my mosaics but it is too soon to share, as nothing is firmed up, and also I don't work well under pressure of expectation so I tend to function best quietly getting on with it until I have achieved what I was aiming for. But bails being the fab friend she is likes to make sure I not only don't keep my light under a bushel, but I acknowledge to myself that I have one to shine and is a great help and support in getting and keeping me focussed on my creative talents.

Thrifty - fantastic shift in your OH's financial thinking:T.I understand how these shifts seem so small but are so significant.
Had a look at the oldies tea party thing: love the idea but my house definitely not suitable - living room upstairs and we only own 3 chairs. Otherwise I might have enquired further.

Loving reading everyone's post even if I am not individually responding.

Aril

Hello fellow frugallers:j:j
I lurked yesterday as had no news frugal or otherwise to post:o
Your elephants are so cute Fishcake Random. My small person was elephant mad for years and years but at 11 he's decided he's just too big so we've freecycled his collection of 100 to various grateful recipients. He has however, kept the one he had from when he was a baby and Elmer [although hidden under his bed:rotfl::rotfl:] My friend elephant napped nine of them so we can still visit the rehomed herd!!
Have been a good frugaller and kept the gnat bottomed head firmly screwed on:jFound 2p which has greatly swelled the coffers and got the weekly shop in under budget. Am also still decluttering and aim to get the rest of the kitchen cupboards cleaned and cleared this weekend before I tackle anymore hot spots.
Am always far busier on the frugal front at the weekends. OH had his show cancelled that he was due to do on Sunday which as left me with a free day so I'm going up to see my Mum to continue my frugal blind which is being made out of the back of an old duvet cover and overlaid with a lovely Indian fabric remnant that I've had hidden for ahem quite a while:rotfl::rotfl:
Food wise I've discovered some lurking veg so I think that a pot of bottom of the fridge soup is on the agenda for lunch tomorrow.
My friend rang tonight and she has invited me over for an evening of frugal crysallisation next week- making crystallised ginger that is:D She and I regularly get together and create- either cooking or various other mad schemes she comes up with. In the last few months we've had a crack at bath bombs which were lovely and parsnip fudge [not so lovely and one experient I shall not be repeating:eek:]
Have a frugalicious weekend!
Arilx

slowlyfading

NualaBuala wrote: »

I'm in good form thanks! I felt rubbish all week but seem to have got my groove back today. I'm trying to crochet with my new set - don't think I'll be posting photos of my progress for a while yet. :rotfl:
How are you? Hope this week was better than the week before and no more falls!

I'm good thanks glad its friday though - its been a long week!

pink_numbers

I cancelled sky today. The guy on the phone sounded very confused and miffed when I explained I am no longer going to have a telly.

Have calculated that getting rid of the telly is going to save us £360 this year alone... that's not counting the electricity it used to guzzle up.

yay

sabs10

Hello All :hello:

Well had a SD today, breakdown as follows;
Petrol = £20
Gas (Prepay meter)= £15
Elec (As above) = £10
The girls non uniform day at school = £2
Mr A's bill = £29.95 (£24.95 for groceries, cat & dog food & cleaning items - am pleased as under budget for this week and am hoping that this will stretch for 10 days at least. The £5 was from decorating fund - kitchen needs to be reorganized, and could do with a lick of paint so have budgeted £20 all in - this will include all shelving, paint, hinges for new doors, new tea towels)

So total is now £477.55, with whole month's DDs paid and expenditure so far.

As to kitchen revamp - i have been very frugal in creating additional storage solutions. An unused bookcase has been given a new lease of life as it now holds all cook, gardening, family & pet health books, the wine rack, the soft drinks rack, and my collection of oils, vinagers and bits that I use weekly in my cooking but where taking up alot of counter space.

I saved a tall, narrow chest of drawers from the landfill that is the perfect size to sit on an unused corner of the counter top. The plan once its received some TLC and maybe a lick of paint to utilise it as my mug & teapot cupboard with 3 drawers remaining to become the junk drawer, mobile charging station and emergency drawer. All existing cupboards and wall units have been emptied, cleaned, items purged and reorganized. So today's purchase was for a new stainless steel drainer. Hoping this will be an investment as well as some nice bling for the room. Must admit as i sit here looking at the kitchen, i already feel that i have anew kitchen. A lick of paint now will really finish it of. Whilst I've £15 for paint i will visit Dad first - he always has paint pots lurking in the shed so may be able to work with that befoe visiting the DIY stores.

Sorry for the long post but am really pleased with the frugalness of the day.

Have a good weekend all :j

Sabs10

LilacPixie

fishcake - is the elephants a new business venture? I have an elephant mad 3 year old.

Lyns my barren wastland is a concrete balcony south facing and sheltered. I wuld love to do carrots onions and beetroot but worried about space

lynzpower

Lilacpixie.

Im not doing anything that has to grow underground. I could faff with making deep raised beds but TBh Im woried about placing that on a ( somewhat dodgy) flat roof. Might damage the roof. I think carrots and onions are the cheapest veg I buy, so although there is nothing better tasting than HG carrots ( yum) its not the right place to be growing.

I did read someone who did minature carrots ( eg chantenay) in buckets and tubs, would be interested if it doesnt take up too much room or need too much attention!

The good thing about balcony/roof terrace/ patio is that you dont have to turn over the soil, deal with bindweed or pests, and pots can be easily rotated around depending on the weather.

Lets swap photos tomorrow - a 'before' as a prelude to a fantastic ( hopefully) AFTER