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

Frugaldom

Ceridwen, I use a soup ladle to measure out the gloop and put it in the machine. One scoop for a lightly soiled wash, 2 scoops for the really grubby outdoor stuff. I've been putting the gloop straight into the drawer for the past year whilst telling myself I'll search under the sink for the old laundry ball measure thing! :rotfl:

CW, sorry to hear about the Yorkie, it's never easy with pets, but you know it's the right thing to do.

Kitchen reshuffle STILL hasn't progressed beyond some measuring and shelf clearing! I've sent out an email to fellow LETS members requesting a few bits and pieces and have been watching Freewhatever it's called nowadays for those same items, but without success. I've been racking my brains for a solution to a particular problem :idea: and I've just had another daft idea! Off to see if my madcap scheme could work. Will let you know later. :rotfl:

Appropriate responses to everyone I haven't responded to individually, I do read the posts.

FrankieM

Afternoon All,
Hugs to everyone who needs them. I'm struggling to remember everyones news but am skim reading it all.

I'm at home today. Spent the morning doing my Uni work. I read 4 chapters of an Accounting Text book, not sure I understood much so I'll be reading that again before class!!

Not sure what I'm doing for dinner, only 2 children at home...hardly feels worth cooking I'll magic something together though...

Hope you all have a good 'rest of the day'.

ChinaTea

Cheryl, so sorry to hear about your little dog.

Went to the Co-op garage yesterday for petrol and they had loads of bread and cakes on whoopsie. I don't buy bread or cake but on the counter I spotted a bunch of brown bananas reduced to 28p, eventually found 4 bunches with 4-5 nanas all at the same price. Went to pay for them and the girl asked if I really wanted all those 'rotten' bananas and when I said yes she only charged me 10p for them all. Have now made 2 x banana loaves and frozen the rest of bananas. DGS is coming from school and he loves banana loaf and I have bread in the oven as well so that's him sorted for taking home with him.

No3 puss at vet this morning for check up, booster and worming. £42.69 :eek: and got free sample bag of dry food. The vet agrees that it is fine to replace 1 meal a day with raw food as long as they are wormed regularly which they are so will carry on with this.

Will be a NSD weekend hopefully, already have petrol for hospital visit tomorrow and shouldn't need anything else.

gilligansyle

NualaBuala wrote: »

I've a question for container gardeners: what type of compost do you use and do you put stones in the bottom of the pot for drainage? Wonder if I could collect some from a shingle beach - want to keep this venture as frugal as possible!

I use the cheapest compost I can get, sometimes you can get grow bags on offer, and I don't usually put drainage in; but I do keep broken crockery etc. and any plant pots that have cracked too badly in the frost get smashed and put in the bottom of them. Theres also bits of slate off the roof, but thats another story

Frugalling has been at a minimum today as it was payday yesterday so will be stocking up. Trying to keep to below £40 and that includes soft drinks that DS has paid for.
Waiting for brother to arrive to go with me to pick up small chest freezer (Freegle) so can now buy bread when its whoopsied.
Got some lightbulbs in Somerfield 25p for 2 - Philips ones, not energy saving, but for the cupboard under the stairs so I can put stuff in it and actually find it again. going to use it as a larder sort of thing for tinned and dried food.
Mum's 'gentleman friend' is going to go through his greenhouse and see what veg/salad stuff he can give me, so will make him something in exchange.

lyndasharp

Cheryl, sorry about your little dog.

Natalie, I'm so glad to hear your house is getting sorted.

I'm sure there were other people I was planning to reply to, but forgot to take notes. Sorry!

A NSD (probably) for me today as I'm still at my Dad's (though I don't know about direct debits as didn't bring my bank login with me). He's doing fine, still a bit tired from the anaesthetic. He had a checkup yesterday and they decided the op has worked, the pressure in his eye is down to a normal level. Will have to buy petrol to get back home tomorrow! I've been to see the chaplain to finalise wedding arrangements, good to get a bit more sorted out. I've also got a bit further with my longest running unfinished object - a cross stitch of a William Morris design, which I started during my GCSE's. I used my own paper for the chart (converted the design to cross stitch myself) and have spent some time drawing the lines back in, as they have faded too much to follow!

Kerry_Woman

CW - sorry to hear about your dog.

The things I have done today were: bringing my own lunch and flask of tea to my temp job(was not sure with regards to tea, was only there for a few hours) and updated my spreadsheet. Keeping a different total for the food shopping, as my Mum pays for that. It would be interesting as to how much that is each month. I go and do the big shop each week.

taka

Cheryl - Sorry to hear about your dog.

candygirl

Hi everyone:D
Haven't stopped today!Have done the floors, kitchen, bathroom , washing and drying, and have made soup and lentil pate as well:D:DI love it as a change from cheese;)
Went swimming this aft, then to the docs for a weight check n bp check and both are
fine, as my bp has gone down the more weight i've lost:j:j
Haven't spent owt today, so am quite chuffed wiv myself, and am hoping to have a frugalish weekend as there's nothing I need really:D
CHERYL really sorry to hear about the dog hun, but it's prob for the best in the long run:(:( From experience it's never an easy decision to make though:(:(

rictus123

Hey everyone how are we this fine PAYDAY :beer:

Will be hanging onto every penny and hoping to keep living costs to a minimum, even over valentines and 2 years with my gf 2 days later:kisses2: Hopefully once iv got a bit together and my van is motd(middle of March) Il be able to clear the credit card altogether and maybe throw a few hundred in my ISA before end of the tax year. I have road tax due but i think i might order it online with my card :think:

Everythings going well though, hopefully i wont ever end up with no money to my name again!! :dance:

slowlyfading

Evening everyone.

I made it through my first placement! :j :j :j I'm so pleased with myself it's been hard work but worth it - I've enjoyed every (!) minute.

I'm going out for a meal with my subject mentor tonight, her husband who also works in the department part time and the other girl on placement in the department. I'm looking forward to it - we're going to a little Italian place in town, should be lovely

Cheryl - sorry to hear about your dog sending big (((HUGS))) your way xxx