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

ceridwen

knithappens wrote: »

I also use it to mop the floor ad it smells delish,also if you have a stained bath, fill it with water add soap powder, and leave to soak it brings it up like new.

Hmmm...well...I'm still wondering what else I could use laundry gloop for - so I'm now thinking that maybe it would do for washing vinyl floor coverings (ie kitchen and bathroom).

I find its fine for machine washing and handwashing. So - my next thoughts are "will it do for dishwashing and floorwashing"? Whaddya think?

Frugaldom

Fishcake, sorry to read about all your troubles. Re what happened to your 'friend/neighbour', that's what happened to my last landlord. But it resulted in us moving here, which is where I want to be, so there was a silver lining to that particular cloud.

Indoor frugaling today, cooking up several jars of lemon curd and plenty of soup for trading at tomorrow's LETS meeting. Has anyone else managed to join a LETS group yet? I'd be interested in hearing what you've been able to save on so far.

Temp here has dropped to -2C but I'm hoping the snow stays away until after I've been into town tomorrow. Might indulge in a walk about the place whilst there to see what bargains I can spot.

Shaz, you'll soon get used to Frugaldom. :rotfl:

Skint_Lynne

Hi all,

I'm not long in, was out for dinner tonight, it was very nice. My brother's birthday was on Saturday past, but as he is really shy, he does not like crowds and his idea of hell is sitting in a mega busy eaterie (although, he is happy to sit in a busy pub each Friday night:rotfl:).

I did enjoy it, but now every time I go out, which is just on special occasions now, I think of the amount of cash I have spent in eating establishments over the years. All water under the bridge now though, look forward and not back.

Frankie M, Just by your acknowledgement of the spreadsheet thing makes me realise that you are thinking about the spending and that changes are being made. You cannot just flick a switch and make your old habits go away, it is a long process, I am still trying to change fully myself. Just keep trying and everything will come good.

Frugaldom, I am the same as Shaz, I love the new name, but am totally useless at name changes, eg, Marathon becoming Snickers, Jif becoming Cif, etc, it takes me ages to click on, I will just think of your home and I should soom click onto it, I am a simple soul, I know.:p

I am away for a mooch around, speak later guys. xx

pink_numbers

Very productive, thrifty and frugal day today for us

We made a triple batch of neem soap, hoping that will last us for the rest of the year now.

Had liver& onion with mash for lunch, which worked out less than a pound for the two of us. Had konyaku & lotus root for dinner, which were free courtesy of mummy dearest.

We were walking back from town at lunch time with our shopping in our hands. The sun was shining away at us, and we said how nice this was and this is how we want to live, all the way home.

aeb_2

pink_numbers wrote: »

Very productive, thrifty and frugal day today for us

We were walking back from town at lunch time with our shopping in our hands. The sun was shining away at us, and we said how nice this was and this is how we want to live, all the way home.

It's the little things isn't it? Shopping local then walking back in the (nearly) spring sunshine.

I had liver from the local shop today, with onions carrot and mash from the garden.

Fishcake - hope it ghets better soon

NualaBuala

pagangirl wrote: »

Hope you enjoy your fish n chips Nuala - I am drooling just thinking about them :rotfl:

Thanks - they were delicious! I used to eat takeaways all the time and I appreciate them a lot more now that they are less frequent! Hope I'm not leading you astray mentioning naughty unfrugal deliciousness!

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

nuala - well done on the new qualities you have acquired!

Thanks Shaz, just wonder how long that non-consumerist attitude will last for!

Night night everyone, I've an early start tomorrow but college snacks are all packed so hopefully won't spend anything tomorrow.

gilligansyle

LilacPixie wrote: »

Afternon all, on annual leave from work this week so I am DIY'd to the eyeballs.

Gilligansyle you mean swarfega?

That's the stuff, mine was 'borrowed' so is in a tub with no label. My dad used it for all sorts. Not sure its cheap but according to my friend, most people have some in their garage.

Been to friends for tea so that was a cheap tea. She is so good about cutting down on some things, but actually has no idea how much she spends, she just gets near the end of the month and starts cutting back. That used to be me! Although I don't think I was quite that bad. Her fiance will be out of work at the end of March and she is getting worried, but then told me she has spend over£5k on credit cards since the beginning of December. Because she uses the card when she starts running out of money. The reason she's running out of money is because of paying the credit card bill. Some serious talking needed I think.

rozeepozee

NualaBuala wrote: »

Hi Fru and friends :wave:

Realised a lot of you are preggers - is this some money-saving thing I haven't heard about? Are you breeding teams of workers/gardeners/soup-makers?

I was wondering that myself :rotfl:

crystals2632

I love walking
walking all the way to the bank today
expected totalish 950 thats only 50 quid off 1000 the magic number
made 2.20 on fat cheeze no spend cash back today.

great idea add up all the woopsies savings never thought of that
and thanks for the washing up gloop for lino tip

to do today
find hessian backing for rag rug, gonna ask in a carpet shop then the crafty shop.
look for discount codes on amazon
cancle subscription to napster before i get charged but down load some free music that i recieved for signing up
mooch in the secy shops.
see ya later folks

Erme

Well I'm sitting here waiting for breakkie to cool down (should be cool soon). Bad head past few days. On Sabbath I tried to quit the cigs then went back to them on monday cos I was scared of gaining 2 stone (the joys of an ED LOL)...so will try and quit in 4-6 weeks again cos I have patches off the doc (free) and a little spray (for top up).

Giro yesterday. Wasn't fab . Well wasn't fab head wise but fortunately I had my menu plan so just went to lidl's and got what I needed (3xbin bags) and all in all it came to less than £5 so I got cash back for the rest of the week bar electric. DV I'll be able to stick to the budget this week now I'm less fixated and chasing my tale. 3-4 weeks of sticking to the budget and I'm one happy bunny .

On the plus side whilst trying to quit the cigs on Monday I wanted a set square for my bag making and like I couldn't justify £3.50 in Mr S so I went to £land and got tiles that I cut and made into them for £1. I also got sermon note books for £1 (that should cost at least £3) and I got 10 .

Now what's the best thing for cleaning floors, worksurfaces, use as washing up liquid. I have loads of amway stuff I got yonks ago for the general cleaning but I'll need washing up liquid at some point. I have soap nuts so could boil those.

I've never been preggas so don't know about your sufferings but we all need to rant so hugs whoever is having a tough pregnancy...

and Rictus you just keep doing ya thing and checking in with us cos ya an inspiration for one so young! You're learning skills for life and who knows you could have the mansion with the fancy gates and a butler paid for in cash by the time ya 30 @ this rate LOL.

Anyhow need to sign off for now...Everyone have a great day...

Hugs

E