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

aeb_2

Thriftkitten wrote: »

Hi,
I have decided to have a bash at the slow cooker again today as I got some whoopsie brisket from Mr T's can anyone give me some ideas on a recipe and any tips so that it dosent come out like a donkeys butt, thanks

Brisket is my favourite joint - my version od 'rubber chicken'

I just chop a couple of onions into big pieces and put them in the bottom of the pot, then wash the joint and put it on top. I put a tiny bit of water in the bottom and switch on. I leave it all day and that's it

Not very accurate but that sums up all my cooking I'm afraid and these days I cook as much as I can on my wood burning stove as it's on 24/7

JayneC

Hi , just popping on to say Hermum - I stayed in YHA in London, Central. It's quite new, went a couple of years ago with DD and her friend for DD's birthday. WEnt to see Billy Elliot. Anyway the YHA was lovely very modern with really nice cafe. WE stayed in a family room (4 bed) ensuite for around £80 for the 3 of us!! And paid in Tesco clubcard vouchers, very frugal! Also got the tickets for Billy Elliot with clubcard vouchers and managed to find coach £5 each return from Leeds, got a lift to Leeds going and bus home coming back so very good apart from tube fares and eating out!!!

Made some laundry gloop this morning - love it!! I've done 2 loads of washing and seems to be ok! I'm putting a scoop in the drum before putting in washing is this right? Seems to be working...

Will be doing some baking this aft. Weather still carp so prob not getting anything done in garden again.

Anyway happy Sunday everyone x

shaz_mum_of__2

chika wrote: »

Hi it was the one in Castleton in the High Peak, Derbyshire.

Castleton is one of my fave places , did you walk up mill dale?

aeb wrote: »

Brisket is my favourite joint - my version od 'rubber chicken'

I just chop a couple of onions into big pieces and put them in the bottom of the pot, then wash the joint and put it on top. I put a tiny bit of water in the bottom and switch on. I leave it all day and that's it

Not very accurate but that sums up all my cooking I'm afraid and these days I cook as much as I can on my wood burning stove as it's on 24/7

I do this but use carrots just as a trivet to keep the meat out of the water and they taste lush when the meat is ready ......chefs perks! i cook on low (after an hr on high) for 8hrs

rictus123

Well iv just paid my digs for Febuary even - £100 and phone bill - £35 even though i dont normally pay them until middle of the month i thought i might aswel(i know its alot for phone bill, deal is up end of June and il get it in my own name now im 18. Well 19 end of June and il get it down to at least £20 a month) Total spends for the month is now at £261.55 and shouldnt need to spend more than £150 for 2 debt payments and valentines card/flowers and deisel so should be under £400 spends this month! £100 less than the average is meant to be so that should make up for what i need to spend on mot next month hopefully! Total spends this year now at £705.84, aslong as its under £1,000 at the end of this month(it soo will be ) then im well on my way and a sixth of the way completed! Also gave gf £40 cash to put in my savings tin at hers, dont know whats in there but it must be at least £70 just in notes! Im going to forget about the amount and chuck in all my change and the odd notes every now and then. When its filled(might take another 6 months even) i think there will be a fair bit in there, which will go towards clearing remaining debt, which will probs be gone by then anyway so could go straight to savings:T:T:TSorry for the rant i just love this frugal living :j:j

larmy16

Hi all

Just checking in to say hello. Things are going pretty well. Keeping up with the £365 and sealed pot challenge too. Not looking forward to the gas bill though.

Re; the laundry gloop. I was going to chuck out one of those plastic containers that neutradol gel came in - its round with a clip on top when it dawned on me it was perfect for putting my gloop in and then in the machine. It is pretty robust. Just incase anyone has one they don't know what to do with!

Not had time to keep up with the thread, so I bet I have missed loads of good tips.

landregistrylass

Afternoon all Still lurking, and not posted a budget, but even by popping in to see what others are doing keeps me on the straight and narrow, so thanks. Went to car boot sale this morning - dealers galore, and mud!. Bought a couple of bits which I actually didnt mind spending on - eg a whole 50p for a pink Per Una handbag with a sequin design for the summer.......ooooh I shall be soooo trendy! And a brand new mattress protector for GS1. My local Mr T has stopped doing whoopsies. I am so disappointed. My food bill had really been much lower with this perk. Lets hope they see the light when they have to start throwing things away which dont sell.

grandma247

rictus123 wrote: »

Dont know how soon il actually get the bmw, maybe wait until next June - 2 years no claims and right before summer(dont know if it would be good in the snow) And after next summer get another payrise :T

rictus my Dh's boss has a bmw and it was useless in the snow. he had to use one of the company cars to get to work.

babyboysmommy

Things are going well. DH is now fully on board which I'm 99% sure is thanks to all the baking I've been doing. I've been sending him to work with a lunch box each day with sandwiches & cake/biscuits & he's not spent a penny on snacks so I must be doing something right He's going to bring home some old tyres as soon as I'm ready to start planting. DS thinks it's great that we will be using tyres but then he's 3 & loves cars

At least once a month after Church we go to our local park. They have a train ride there that costs £1 & DS loves it. This time I bought a pass, it cost £10 for 15 rides so a much cheaper way of doing it & as we just do one ride a visit it will last for months We fed the ducks with the left over crusts from DS sandwiches.

A whole chicken is in the slow cooker. Yesterday for the first time I made some Twinks hobnobs & needless to say I'll be making them often, very yummy! Also did a fruit cake & a chocolate biscuit cake.

Thriftkitten

Ok so today, my frugal cooking has nearly come to an end, phew...
I have a brisket of beef cooking in a small amount of red wine, stock, carrots and a few potatoes(no onions in the cupboard),
I have cooked a roast chicken with roast potatoes, yorkshire puds, carrots and broccoli, for desert, home made coffee cupcakes,
and I made up a cheese and onion bread mix and split into roll size,( 2 tray fulls) but the darn dog, climbed up on the table and knocked one on the floor and ate a trays worth whilst it was proving Grrrrrrr!

LilacPixie

Sorry for lack of posting. been chock a block here. Still on target for the month/year. Electricity consumption still falling and I still live in a building site.