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

Thriftkitten

Oooh errr Eastie's was good wasn't it Sf!!
Well not so frugal day here, got called out of work as dd1 was throwing up, which I thought was down to over eagerness to finish the squirty cream last night (yuk) but she has since been filling up the bowl on the hour every hour, so I am assuming its a tummy bug and limiting her to clear fluid.
Well after the car drama on Monday and now losing money because DD1 is ill ,I'm wondering whats next(comes in 3s) Hopefully I dont come down with it and the trots too hahah that would just top the week off.

slowlyfading

Thriftkitten wrote: »

Oooh errr Eastie's was good wasn't it Sf!!

It certainly was! Hope your DD feels better soon.

ifonlyitwaseasier

RE EE - oooh SF and ThriftK i really wasn't expecting it to be them!!!

not been very frugle, bought some new trainers (amazon half price free postage) and some of the RfL goodies so i am suitably kitted out!!

katey1979

RE Eastenders, I had an inkling, but couldn't think where said person was at time of death. Very annoyed! Shed a little tear too...

rictus123

I though ee was rubbish! Need Grant back and a johnny allen type rival for Phil. Get some real action going again.

looby-loo_2

Back on topic I bought a cherry, a plum and a apple tree from A*di today. Lots left at 4.00 pm so maybe they stocked up.

So pleased you got the flat Fishcake but make sure you are tea maker not the shifter!
Lynzpower - a teacosy is a great idea together with some leaf tea. I have saved a fortune by using loose/leaf tea instead of t-bags. Just a matter of getting into a habit, especially in the morning.

The most frugal thing I did today - I got up early and put on a 2nd wash, did the ironing, vacuumed up and downstairs and had my shower all on cheap electric, just! DS2 was still in bed when I did his room. Saved him the job so he didn't say anything - he knows which side his bread is buttered!
Log fire tonight so heating has been off.

Moral dilema - I was defrosting 550g cubed pork and forgot to cover it. The cat got it, pulled in onto the floor and had a good nibble. (well seeing as he hasn't asked for tea yet I assume he had a feast) So, what would you do? Throw it away or cook it and feed it to the unsuspecting family. I'll normally cook it in the pressure cooked so it is very hot - would all bugs be dead?:(

enjoyfinancialchallenges

I have not posted at all this year although I keep up as well as I can but its not always possible as the forum moves ahead pretty quickly. However I'm feeling a bit cross with myself this week because before Christmas I read either on this forum or possibly the Grocery challenge that some frugalite was going to empty their store cuboards, freezers, fridges etc before buying more. I immediately thought Yes, I need to do that so my last journey to the supermarkets was on 23rd Dec and I did very well and made some very creative meals over the last weeks or so but at least I didnt starve and the cuboards became a little clearer and easier to tidy. This week however I needed to buy some cat food and a few but only note a few items. BUT once I got into the supermarket everything on the shelves seemed to be calling out to me to buy it. I felt quite reluctant to spend my money initially but then it seemed I bought all sorts of stuff I could have well done without and many that will only make me put on weight. It was as if because I had deprived myself for 2 months I just could not stop buying. Has that ever happened to anyone else?
Now I have to keep a close reign on my spending and will not go into a supermarket again for a few more weeks or until its really, really essential. I think it will take me ages to recover....then the cat got injured and I've had to spend more at the vets, not a good week really, much better to be a recluse and not go out anywere at all. Seems like this frugal living demands great restraint and keeping your eye on the ball.

NualaBuala

Morning frugalites :wave:

Thanks for the suggestions for the pressie! BigMummaF, I’m not sure what I’m after either I but I like the idea of spices etc. Erme, not sure that this friend is a thrift-fiend like us but I would like those books for myself lol! Love that Thriftyfun website, I will bookmark it. Hope you’re ok after all that hassle with your guest and glad the lump doesn’t sound too serious. Lynz – you might just have hit the nail on the head! I made a teacosy for myself and I know my friend has a small teapot. That’s exactly what I’ll do – will look for nice coloured wool that she will like. Don’t think the bf will care too much but that’s ok! Looby – I’m the one wanting the gift idea – I like your loose tea idea but not sure my friend would go for it. I want to switch to loose tea as I figure it’s greener not using the paper for the bags (and even better if it’s cheaper!). But I haven’t been able to find organic fair trade loose tea in my food co-op or even in the supermarkets and health food shops. Only teabags – weird. I still have a tea-bag stash anyway from when there was 100% extra free which will keep me going for a while yet.

Rozee, I had visions of you unloading stuff “off the back of a lorry” when you said you were buying from the back of van – gave me quite a giggle. Great value for what you got and reminds me I must pay a trip to the Asian supermarket. I never know what most of the veg are lol! Hope you and the bump aren’t too sore.

Thanks Budgeteer, I am wearing the poncho as I type and can attest to it’s cosiness as it’s still dark and freezing at 5.40am (couldn’t sleep so thought I might as well get up). I finished it watching Easties last night (it was brilliant, I thought they did really well, almost cried at the end). Katey, I will try to do a piccy – I am not very good at knitting and picked it cos it was easier than a jumper or cardi. I got the pattern for free from Lion Brand’s website – they have lots of free patterns with a really good search facility. This is the one I did with clearance wool I got from Kemps online. I did a ribbed poloneck instead of a collar though - very pleased with my improvisation as I hate having a cold neck!


Update on my hungry birds - I have no idea what is normal but they have polished off a three quarters full hanging feeder of seed in a day! They seem to be bit like your son Nyk/Fru (sorry, old habits die hard, I am still getting used to your new name). They are also eating the snails I uncover while clearing the overgrown garden which will be good news for anything that gets planted.


Have a good day folks. I am off for a cuppa to perk me up and then will try to do a bit of college work.

Frugaldom

Good morning fans of frugal living

Cold and frosty here but the sun is shining from the other side of the hill.

Looby-loo, don't throw the meat out, blast it in the microwave then mix it into the cat's food rather than waste it. I wouldn't eat it, but I have a 'thing' about animals and anything animal related coming near my face - I find it utterly repulsive that people let pets lick their faces, never mind share their food after the pet got there first.

Welcome back EFC, I don't mind being refered to as NYK, it'll probably stick with many of those that have been doing the challenge over the past few years.

NualaBuala, I spent £24.99 (less cashback) on a 25kg bag of peanuts for our garden birds. It works out much cheaper for us than having to trip into town for the nearest pet shop then end up paying £2 for a small bag each time. Hopefully, this will last us through the winter for them.

Lily, good luck with the car hunting, there's one like that here, too, but I think we're doing without once it dies and goes to scrap car heaven. :rotfl:

Welcome Charliechopstick and good luck. If you can keep a tight rein on the household running costs then that's half the battle. There are 3 of us here and as long as the rent and council tax gets paid first, then all other costs are down to me. If it isn't household related then they can pay their own (cars, mobiles, all other non-essentials.)

I'll be single for as long as I'm responsible for my own finances. I'm afraid I'm one of those people who can't understand individual finances within a marriage, that one's beyond my comprehension. Sorry to whoever else mentioned this but I just can't understand how it can work if the wife ends up at home running a busy household and bringing up a family. Perhaps I'm just old fashioned or stupid, or both. :rotfl:

Following on from rubber chicken story, I managed to get yet another small lot of meat from the £5 chicken, so that's another meal if I bulk it out with veg and gravy for a pie. :T My 'Nile' mince looks like it'll produce at least 18 meals for less than £5. :j

have a good weekend, everyone.

looby-loo_2

It's very frosty here but the sun is out so it may clear soon. We still have 2" of snow but I will be brave and go and dig carrots and leeks soon. That saves petrol to get them. DD1 will bike to village to pick up prescription so it should be a NSD. Washing is on the line, it did dry quite well yesterday.

NualaBuala - Sain*bury's do their own brand loose organic tea for £1.39 for 125g.

Todays task is to use some offcuts of insulation board to insulate the back/cold side of the greehouse. Then I'm putting up bubble wrap and making a mini greenhouse within the main greenhouse to save on heat. Unfortunately I don't have sunny facing window sills.