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

xnatalie81x

aeb wrote: »

Hello


Natalie - Great news about the swim school and the planning, such a shame you're not nearer, I'd like to have my pool put to good use, but alas, it will be at least two years as it needs major work (also cosmetic work but I can live without that). Decisions - it has a lovely painted wooden structure housing it but it is rotting. Logic tells me double glazed UPVC/plastic is the way to go but I like the idea of natural wood look. More research when the time comes I think. Also a very old yet productive grape vine growing all down one side which I would want to keep, although the previous owner said they do tend to fall in the water!

NSD today, boiled water and rich tea biscuits for tea:D

mmmmmmmm let the grapes all fall in and MAKE WINE!!!!!!! lol lol - there are lots of companies that will fall over themselves to do our pool house. I have been brochure collecting for years - it is my dream :A

Hardup_Hester

DD popped in to see if I had any ribbon she could scrounge, I did.
I sent her home with a bottle of squash & a tin of biscuits. I need to squeeze my budget a little more, she is being made redundant & I'll help where I can.
Hester

aeb_2

xnatalie81x wrote: »

mmmmmmmm let the grapes all fall in and MAKE WINE!!!!!!! lol lol - there are lots of companies that will fall over themselves to do our pool house. I have been brochure collecting for years - it is my dream :A

I'm resisting the temptation to even look, not even Googled yet.

Aril

Hello fellow frugallers:j:j
Well it's not been a frugal couple of days here really- I shall fully confess:D The Wii arrived yesterday and the small person and his Dad had the most fantastic evening with it whilst I had a great time at the 40th party which I went to with my friend. We have also booked a 4 day break away at the end of Feb for OH and myself at a place that's got a pool and a free DVD library [it's a benefit from a bond that my parents own]- my Mum bless her has gone from telling me it would be a good idea for me to go away for a complete break to a command before Christmas when I had another bad spell and had to up my med levels so I did as I was told;) Tonight we've had a Chinese takeaway which we do with friends every 3 months except our poor friend has got shingles so had to cancel. Having said that all of the above has come from careful budgetting and savings.

Did the weekly shop in Mr T today- this week's frugal recipe [I'm trying one new one a week] is to be sausages in cider from Delia's Frugal Food [pressie from my Mum]. Still need to get milk as can get a better deal elsewhere;) but will come in under the threshold this week again.

Frugal news- took 5 bags of decluttered items to the jumble sale this morning. Bad news is that I bought 5 bags of different clutter back:rotfl::rotfl:Perhaps I haven't got the right idea:D:D the look on OH's face was priceless but one bag had demijohns in for his winemaking that I had been instructed to get if I saw some. A few bits of frugal clothing that took my fancy [one piece replaces a top that's had it], a jumper for him so another of his holey ones has gone into recycling, a necklace, 2 books [will read and pass on], a gorgeous leather handbag [much better condition than the elderly one I've currently got] and lots of books that the small person chose. Only £3 spent!!

One small frugal tip- OH was on the point of chucking out a jiffy bag that had really had it but I retrieved the bubble wrap for packing [he uses it for his orders] before I put the outer layer into the recycling.

Hugs to those who need them- sorry to hear about your dog Cheryl. That side of things is the hardest bit about being a pet owner.

Arilx

Fishcake_Random

Hey all,
I'm having a pretty good couple of days really. OH brought £10 worth of meat from the local butcher earlier at mates rates so I now have lots of lovely quality meat in the freezer. Including some garlic chicken breasts, any ideas of how best to use them??? We've never had them before.
Today I also won 2 competitions which are my first wins of the year and inspired me to go comping mad today lol. I recon I've entered at least 4 million lol.
Popped into Mr.T on the way home and picked up 3 massive pepperoni pizzas for £1.55 and 2 Olay body wash and wipes sets reduced to £2 to finish off mothers day baskets. Also couldnt resist a cuddly santa claus toy for babys first xmas. He was only £2 and I've been stalking the price drops since xmas as they were originally £10 then £6 £4 and finally £2. I hope she likes him!!!
Tonights entertainment is watching family guy and entering some more comps.
Hugs to all
x x x x

landregistrylass

Dear all Mrs lurker here. Although I have not posted a budget I am trying to reduce last year's spend by a mile. Your inspiration and suggestions are gratefully received. My attempt to do so has been started by planning ahead - when I come home late from work it has been all too easy to pop into the supermarket on the way and bag a ready made meal. No longer! Lists, slowcooker (freecycle!!) and breadmaker (ebay 99p!!) are the norm. Lets hope I can keep it up. together with my whoopsie habit, I hope this will form the basis of a sensible timetable.

grandma247

chika wrote: »

Have a good weekend - just be careful about using sparklebox - many schools have banned it. You should be ok if you don't download the toolbar it turns out the owner is a !!!!!phile - link here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8462650.stm

I am sorry but this is rubbish. The owners are taking legal action against some of the media who have caused all these problems. As usual the media sensationalises stuff that only has a tiny bit of truth if any. Schools banned it because they mistakenly thought that it had a chatroom and did not want kids using a chat room. Kids do not normally go on this site as it is for educators to download various things for their classroom such as banners, posters and worksheets among other things. I have been using this site for a long time and have never had any problems with it. There are no online games or other "live" material on it it is just printables.

savingfortravel

I have sparklebox posters/banners/pictures all over my classroom walls. I love the site, especially that it is free. This article worried me but Mr SFT told me that a school he works at uses it and they have just been inspected.

Frugal achievements of the day

• No breakfast (another naughty lie-in)
• Lunch at my sisters (including divine smoked mackerel)
• Free shower at the gym using their products
• Dinner at our friends (cod and mushroom sauce)plus dessert and wine.
• NSD except buying a mons*on cardi on ebay for £15 for school.

Have a good evening all

sft

chika

Re Sparklebox - the warning that our LEA gave was about the toolbar - nothing about a chatroom. Well before the media got hold of the story there were worries about the toolbar it makes you download to access some of the content. Anyway lots of people are happy with it but think twice before you use the toolbar. I fear this is way off topic so lets get back to being frugal and happy.

lynzpower

Including some garlic chicken breasts, any ideas of how best to use them??? We've never had them before.

I would probably grill or oven and serve with rice/ scalloped pots/hasslebacks with stuffed mushroom and a cream sauce :drool: