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

trex170104

sophiesmum wrote: »

Good morning frunchkins

Not much happening today here just pottering and working on my budget. lso doing a few weekly menu plans. If anyone needs a template I use this one http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010183031033.aspx?CategoryID=CT101423511033

Cheers for that! I was planning on doing this today so now you've saved me a job [more time for decluttering and organising! xx

skintjenny

Hi all,
happy second of january, I've spent the morning getting used to CW's excellent spreadsheet (good to see what all the fuss was about!) its amazing but im really tempted to spend so that i can fill more in! nooo!
was going to drive back up to sunny carlisle today but due to weather warnings 'NO unnecessary journeys!' mother has insisted I spend another day at home.. shame!
having a nsd today, but dont know whether yesterday counts or not cos I had 2 dd's come out?
sorry about the snipping tool mix up- maybe it is just a vista product?

grandma247

What can I use as an alternative to oven cleaner? It gives me a beast of a headache. Also, I tend to favour Fairy washing up liquid and wondered what your experiences were about the best frugal alternatives.

Thanks!
[/QUOTE]

If you need to scrub it I have found that astonish in the tub is very good for the oven but once it is clean you can just wipe it with a paste of bicarb and water.

I use any washing up liquid providing it says concentrated (why pay for more water?)

se999

flying_fresian wrote: »

Also, I tend to favour Fairy washing up liquid and wondered what your experiences were about the best frugal alternatives.

Thanks!

I've tried a few different ones and always come back to Fairy, you use so much less than the others, it cleans the dishes, and isn't too bad on the skin.

As it lasts so much longer, I'm not sure it's any more expensive, but not actually calculated.

Sorry if I sound like a Fairy advert

knithappens

grandma247 wrote: »

What can I use as an alternative to oven cleaner? It gives me a beast of a headache. Also, I tend to favour Fairy washing up liquid and wondered what your experiences were about the best frugal alternatives.

Thanks!

If you need to scrub it I have found that astonish in the tub is very good for the oven but once it is clean you can just wipe it with a paste of bicarb and water.

I use any washing up liquid providing it says concentrated (why pay for more water?)[/QUOTE]
Biological soap powder is brill, I used it on my oven recently saw it on Kim and aggy, plus on a forensic proramme, as the inredients eat through most things given time lol

cw18

skintjenny wrote: »

I've spent the morning getting used to CW's excellent spreadsheet (good to see what all the fuss was about!) its amazing but im really tempted to spend so that i can fill more in! nooo!

:rotfl:

That's NOT the idea at all :rolleyes2

The best used one will have the least number of completed lines

the_cat

I would say that best frugal alternative to Fairy would be Stardrops. A huge bottle costs about 70p and you only need a tiny bit to get lots of bubbles. Seems to cut through the grease better than washing up liqu IMO.

Oven cleaner. Make up a paste with water and bio washing powder for the inside of the oven. Shelves can be soaked in the bath with hot water and bio powder for an hour or so. The gunge just wipes off them after that!

Fishcake_Random

Oh dear, I spoke to soon. Waitrose near me is reducing all its left over xmas goodies to silly prices (for them anyway). They have only just started so I nabbed a box of posh biccys for 69p down from £3.?? and will go back in an hour to see what the rest goes down to. The biccys are good till August 10 so I'm thinking of maybe nabbing a box for each mum for mothers day.
x x x

findingmyfeet

hello everyone,

doing well so far...not spent a penny as ive not been near any shops yet!!!!
Doing well using up xmas left overs and not had an unusual type meal yet. Just got 5 bananas gone very brown but will turn them into a cake tomorrow.

will be needing phone credit shortly but that should be all until milk later in the week.

hope everyone else is off to a flying start, cu soon off to read the last ten pages

mommyof4

I totally agree about stardrops, they are wonderful. I get rashes on my hands with lots of products, but not with this! Also, it's the only thing that brings my cooker front up (glass and shows all marks). Very, very versatile.

After watching a little of spendaholics this morning, I have been inspired NOT to buy any magazines this year. Hopefully, I may get some passed on by DD), who feels she 'deserves' them as a treat now and again!

Tea tonight is sausage casserole with mash. Also have some Bramley apples so will make a crumble and custard for pud. Soup for tomorrow in SC at moment.
Just been to Booths (nearest supermarket to me) and they had Tetley Tbags on offer at £1, so bought 3 boxes (quite pleased with myself... how sad?! lol). Hubby going after work to buy sack of spuds (£3) cos I couldn't carry them and didn't go in car (pat on back for that hehe!).

Not doing traditional Sunday lunch tomorrow, as we had it yesterday instead and DD and GS1 joined us. Might have soup for lunch and lasagne for tea. DS2 and DS3 aren't that keen on Sunday lunch so they will be pleased at least.