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

NualaBuala

nykmedia wrote: »

It's a dawn start, dusk finish 365 days of the year. Bad weather means wrapping up warm and wearing waterproofs & wellies. , Getting away for a few days is almost impossible, although I guess if you just have a couple of chickens, you could get a friend or neighbour to help out. A lot of livestock means not a lot of chance of leaving the place empty at all. I managed to get previous neighbours to help out for the day of DD's wedding, but until we get the new neighbours moved in, our household can't all go away at the same time.

Aw, there go my romantic notions of living The Good Life! Fair play to you Nyk, it's not for the faint-hearted and that's for sure. But it must be so satisfying all the same and I admit I'm still a little bit tempted to relocate to a rural area with a patch of ground when the house is sold. I think I'll make do with growing stuff in pots and buying my eggs at the market for now though!

FrankieM

Morning All,
Thanks nyk for that insight into your meals. I find it really helpful to see wat other people eat.

I found some mince pies in the freezer so I got those out for lunches instead of baking. Also got out some leftover turkey and some turkey stock and some reduced crusty rolls. I'm going to make soup tonight and then perhaps a sponge pudding afterwards if people are still hungry.

I'm at Uni this morning. Will come back and use the afternoon to do 'homework'.

In regards to the Cambridge diet...do you feel like you do when you've been fasting? I quite like that 'thin' feeling. I'm doing weight loss the old fashioned way...eat less, exercise more...it's going to take ages...!

Hope you all have a good day.

gilligansyle

rozeepozee wrote: »

I'm still having to skim read posts which is frustrating as I get so much motivation and good ideas from them but my back just can't take sitting at a computer for long nowadays

I sometimes find it easier to print them off. I know its a waste of paper, but if you can print double sided not too bad. I don't use paper for much else and its really cheapo stuff.

Won't be a NSD here as today is payday. Need to do list and make sure I only buy what we really need, unless on a really decent offer.
All the talk of Branston beans, I bought some last week to try. Never again. They'll have to go in chilli,or soups; I'll stick to getting decent stuff when its on offer. It's false economy for me to buy cheap beans, they don't get eaten. Have tried to disguise them but it doesn't work.

nyk impressed with the detail of your costing for meals. I know its probably essential for you, but hats off to you.

annie123

Morning all

Bit worried about those of you planting your tomato seeds so early.
Doing it this soon can produce leggy and weak plants, which at best will have lower yields.
I'm in the south and I won't be sowing mine for at least another month yet.

But if you really can't wait:rolleyes:, time to turn into a blue peter presenter:D
and make one of these:






Old box with tin foil over it, will reflect lots of light around the seedlings, and can be used with any sowings.

And don't forget that if they are on the window sill when you pull the curtains at night it will be a lot colder between the curtains and window than in the room, (which is of course the whole idea of closing curtains at night) so maybe bring them room side of curtains at night and put them back in the morning, or you could try putting a bit of fleece over it.

I put all my seedlings in the foil reflectors and they grow straight and strong, puts a stop to them all trying to grow towards the window.

Right back to boring housework, free exercise with the hoover:rolleyes:

Kiwisaver_2

G'Day Frugalfriends

Nuala Buala lots of people emigrate here to take up 'lifestyle' properties because land is relatively cheap. There's a saying which I can't remember that says most only last two summers and one winter. The first summer is lovely, them winter comes along and reality sets in, hence they move on before the next winter comes along.

For many it is a dream lifestyle, but the reality is very hard work. I know a few people who do it semi-rurally and commute and it does seem to work best if one half of a partnership can earn a living away from home, but the other HAS to be fully committed to looking after the land / animals etc as a full-time job. Also many people here play at living the Tom and Barbara lifestyle, keep a veggie patch and lease their paddocks to real farmers, so they don't have to do any of the hard or mucky stuff. :rotfl:

Here's a great website for would-be farmers and lifestylers: http://www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/vforum/index.php

My frugal plan for today was to get OH to buy me dinner after we went to the bank. I realised as soon as I said it, that this was a no-goer as we were only likely to be going to the Food Court, where we both go our separate ways (our choices of food are vastly different). He goes for Big Mac and I went for Thai, so had to pay myself. It wasn't as good as I've had from there before and I ended up wishing I had gone with Plan B and cooked egg and chips.

*Note to self for next time and eat whatever he chooses*. It's not a regular occurrence and we were actually trying to remember the last time we did this and conclusion was it was almost a year ago, as he never comes shopping with me. :eek:

Mealplan and list done for another Friday shop tomorrow - the weeks are flying by and I've hardly anything needed, mostly Sunday dinner stuff, so I'm not planning on spending very much.

Keep up the good work, it's nearly the weekend. :T

[Deleted User]

annie123 wrote: »

Morning all

Bit worried about those of you planting your tomato seeds so early.
Doing it this soon can produce leggy and weak plants, which at best will have lower yields.
I'm in the south and I won't be sowing mine for at least another month yet.

But if you really can't wait:rolleyes:, time to turn into a blue peter presenter:D
and make one of these:






Old box with tin foil over it, will reflect lots of light around the seedlings, and can be used with any sowings.

And don't forget that if they are on the window sill when you pull the curtains at night it will be a lot colder between the curtains and window than in the room, (which is of course the whole idea of closing curtains at night) so maybe bring them room side of curtains at night and put them back in the morning, or you could try putting a bit of fleece over it.

I put all my seedlings in the foil reflectors and they grow straight and strong, puts a stop to them all trying to grow towards the window.

Right back to boring housework, free exercise with the hoover:rolleyes:

Thanks for the BP trick. I haven't yet sown my tomato seeds, but will be using your idea for as many seeds as I can as I like them to grow straight

mama67

chika wrote: »

Hello Frugalites

It's been a quite couple of days in Chikaland. I've seen a couple of teaching jobs I really want to apply for to start in September so my energy is going to be focused on doing those applications - cross your fingers for me.

I'm not eating at the moment, doing a liquid diet, normally quite expensive but for free. My cousin is paying as long as I do it with her... I came very close to cracking just now when my housemates ordered pizza. It's just not frugal to buy it though especially as I can make it myself for for less than 50p!

Took my car for the dreaded MOT and despite its age (16 years!!!) they only found a few things wrong so it should be less than £100 to sort which is a big relief. It's been granted a reprieve. On the way back I popped into a couple of charity shops and managed to buy an N0rth Face coat and waterproof trousers for.... wait for it.... £2 I'm so pleased. I needed to buy some for a uni field trip I'm going on in a couple of weeks. I love charity shops I bough £150 worth of kit for £2 and it will be ebayed as soon as I've done with it. Happy days!

The frugal savings on the car and waterproofs are much needed as I'm having a bit of a dilemma. I have a weekend job that I really can't stand. It's in a shop, the manager is currently off sick and we are being looked after by another manager who is a nightmare. I got a call today at 1pm demanding I go into work at 3pm and then much moaning when I refused. I'm seriously thinking about quitting - I have another job and I can use the extra time to do more studying (or web browsing!) Have you quite your job and stepped up frugalness to make up for it? I think i could make it work but its a scary thought!

Surely if its a weekend job they can't "demand" you go in during the week.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

nykmedia wrote: »

Thanks Mr E.ON rep man, I haven't been able to find anyone who can support the system we have, as the storage heaters are based on a remotely controlled monitoring system determined by weather/temperature, SP boost the supply to the storage heaters at whatever time is appropriate day or night, at a special low rate.

Hi nykmedia

Certainly sounds like a special metering set up. I suspect it is similar to our Heatwise product where the meter is wired directly into the storage/immersion heater circuits and controlled by radio signals sent remotely.

Don't know about Scottish Power, but we can replace our Heatwise meters with a standard set up. This allows customers to take advantage of other tariffs.

However, it's always advisable to ask an independent electrician to inspect the property first as changing the meter could have implications for your heating.

The last thing you want is a problem with your heating whilst temperatures are as low as they currently are. :eek:

I would ask Scottish Power for advice. It may not be possible to change the meter. I'm afraid I don't know enough about their products/meters to offer anything other than general pointers.

Also, depending on your tariff, it might not benefit you financially to go down this route.

Sorry I can't be more specific nykmedia but hope this is of some interest.

Malc

mama67

JayJay14 wrote: »

Well until 7pm today was an NSD but then OH rang to say he'd got eggs (FR from a girl at work) he had ordered a tray (£3 for 30 - really good deal, straight from the farm)but then he spotted her going home carrying another tray she hadn't sold - so he bought that one too.
We will share a few with the DDs and DS but they will last ages.

Then he filled up his car on the way home:eek: - £57.34 to add to the totals.

Dinner tonight was whoopsied sausages and bottom of the fridge pasta bake - didn't quite turn out how I had hoped but it was OK. Need to think of something a bit more edible for tomorrow:rotfl:

lynzpower - that is fantastic, I know how I would feel if my OH came home with the same news, you must be walking on air:j

That is a good price for FR eggs, I pay that at the farmgate up the road from me.

Lily_The_Legend

Kiwisaver wrote: »

My frugal plan for today was to get OH to buy me dinner after we went to the bank. I realised as soon as I said it, that this was a no-goer as we were only likely to be going to the Food Court, where we both go our separate ways (our choices of food are vastly different). He goes for Big Mac and I went for Thai, so had to pay myself. It wasn't as good as I've had from there before and I ended up wishing I had gone with Plan B and cooked egg and chips.

*Note to self for next time and eat whatever he chooses*. It's not a regular occurrence and we were actually trying to remember the last time we did this and conclusion was it was almost a year ago, as he never comes shopping with me. :eek:

Hi Kiwisaver, this made me laugh as it is the sort of thing I'd do LOL! But then my hubby does earn more than me

I mentioned the other day that I need a hair cut before a wedding next Saturday and I'll have to get it done that morning due to payday not being until next week and he's offered to pay for me to get it done this weekend, bless him! And I wasn't even hinting! I said I could pay him back on pay day, but he said no need.

I have budgeted to stay at the hotel for the wedding too, and yesterday my dad offered to pay for our room! :T

Must be a lucky month money-wise for me!

P.s. I was a bit silly the other day and bought pizzas for tea from Mr M (something we used to eat all the time) and didn't enjoy them one little bit. Would have much preferred something homemade like egg and chips myself!