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

top_drawer_2

grandma247 wrote: »

Top-drawer do you have a garden or know anyone with a garden? it can go onto a compost heap or straight onto the soil.

Thanks no I dont have a garden and I dont know anyone who does ;( I am planning on doing pots and growing things outside but that isnt up and going just yet. I really dont like the idea of buying liners!! and we dont have a recycling point around here that I know about .... mmm

The other side effect of not spending is that I seem to have reduced my list of wants/needs. I am going into town today to do a mystery shop and I cant really think of much that I need to buy ......

I spent £16+ on food shopping yesterday but it was all supplies and not rubbish - it seems I seriously overestimate how much I eat because when I meal plan I always seem to have more meals left than I planned for... I also plan a lot for the future.... like buying in things which I know are running out but dont actually need just yet.

RozeePozee - thanks for the link!

cw - Im glad you had a good night out! Eating out to socialise does get to be repetitive and expensive - what about inviting them round to your house and playing board games/garden games.

slowlyfading

Morning everyone

Sorry I haven't been around lately - things are mad! I do read the thread everyday but don't have anything much to post most of the time.

Placement B is going well - had my official observation yesterday and it went well so I'm pleased and relieved about that. We break up on Thursday for Easter, which I'm very much looking forward to

I've had 15th NSDs in March so far, so nearly at my target I do need to update my sig as to the challenge spends, so shall do that later once I've been into town and got a few bits and pieces

Hope everyone has a good weekend

sf x x

cw18

top_drawer wrote: »

cw - Im glad you had a good night out! Eating out to socialise does get to be repetitive and expensive - what about inviting them round to your house and playing board games/garden games.

The dog's a bit of a problem for that....... apparently allergies to cats & dogs can set off his asthma So introducing the dog will have to be done in 'baby steps' to see if mine causes problems or not, and as such probably best to wait until we're sure of good weather so we can take the dog for a long walk (on the basis it's not likely to be so bad outside)

Have a feeling DS may be planning to have someone over on Tuesday night.... He was initially horrified when I mentioned I'd be stopping over (there's a spare room I've been told I'm using, as apparently I'm not driving home late on after getting up at 5:30am for work), but then double checked with me yesterday evening which night it is that I'll not be home As it's school hols I don't have to be up and around to collect GDs or do voluntary work, which means I can have a lie-in and still be home in plenty of time to get ready for work at 1pm on Wednesday



Didn't feel like 11.5 years since we last saw each other though - apart from the obvious catching-up that had to be done (which was done over the meal) - so thankfully no 'nerves' to get over. Frightening to think we've actually known each other for almost 25 years though :eek: If we do 'get together' it's going to be interesting to see how the kids react to the age difference though - he's not expecting a problem from his boys (I'm only 12 years older than the elder one, who lives with him but is away at the moment, and 14 years older than the younger one), but I'm expecting issues from at least one of mine as he's only 5 years younger than my Mum !! Seemed wierd to me, as I noticed the age difference much less than I did between me and late DH even though there's a lot more of a gap between us



Dog food from P@H just arrived, and has all been dumped in the hall for now......

Off out for the day with DD and DGs (B'pool Circus), and I'll be late picking them up if I don't put my skates on pretty sharpish Still got DD's stuff from App F00ds to put in the car for dropping off as well.......

Erme

NualaBuala wrote: »

Hello frugaleers :wave:

Hope you're all doing well!

Glad you got a bit of a discount Lynz. Sometimes I'm glad I don't drive! How's your wrist doing?

Erme, hope you're ok - haven't seen you here in a wee while.

I've been terribly unproductive here. My antidepressant has been increased and I've felt horrible ever since. On the plus side, I haven't spent anything cos I haven't been out. Another good thing is that I am now on a different prescription scheme so don't have to pay for my antidepressant. Hurray! I know people in Ireland and the UK give out about our health services but I think we're so lucky compared with America. What we have isn't perfect, but I feel really lucky to have it.

I'm contemplating getting a sewing machine from Lidl. I don't know how to use one but it would be a great skill to have. On the other hand, I'm not sure I can justify €70 as it's not a need.

One of the garlic cloves I planted has produced a tiny sprout so I'm delighted with that! I'm looking forward to sowing some flower and veg seeds when the weather is warmer.

Can't believe we're nearly a quarter way through our challenge! I'm really pleased with how I've done so far. But I'm going re-evaluate my goals for April since we'll have a brand new thread.

Have a good day folks. Hugs to anyone who'd like one.

Get that sewing machine girlie or else wait till they have them next year. I must have spent that (at least) in 2nd hand machines 'trying' to save money and failed....If you think you can use even a little - get it. They look really good...

Just take a trundle to take it home with you... I know some good books to get your started dressmaking and like if you go on the main machine sites there's some good free simple patterns. Also you can get fabric (duvet covers/sheets/ curtains - they're all fine) cheap/free from thrift stores/freecycle. I got a tonne of fabric the other week from freecycle. So much I had to take it to a friend's on the way home and off load some onto her...LOL


BTW...Frugaldom - I always thought CPN stood for community psychiatric nurse

Erme

top_drawer wrote: »

hello,

Thank you Rozee for the health bars - these will be brillant for me as snacks as Im really trying maintain my weight (I lost two stone last year) but struggle with getting dizzy every 3-4 hours and needing to eat.

I have a bit of a dilemma - my contract phone comes to an end at the end of this month, I have been with three for the last 18 months on £22 a month which has often been plus that (usually £29 ish) due to only having 200 minutes and it not including 0845 no's. I am in a bit of a quandry with what to do - to go on a similar contract, get a new phone or go on PAYG which will mean I may have to buy a new handset or get the 3 Skypephone I have currently unlocked and possibly end up costing me more anyway.... I have a clue about mobile phone deals though have a look around it seems there are some enticing ones offering cashback/free gifts if I did it online.

I bought a shelf unit on Sunday and it arrived yesterday, I opened it and its self build and its a looooot harder than I thought it would be...... not a clue how Im going to put it together!! I'm so useless at that sort of thing ...

Jen

I went to a phone comparison site (you can find one on here) and got a contract in Feb that works out £2 a month after cash back. I thought it was good at the time then had to pay £70 to get out of orange and then like needed a new phone cos the blackberry died. So that was about an extra £150 which means I'd have been better off bartering with orange. ...also for some reason bills always seem to go over cash back and when I check it's a few quid each mth which is fine - TILL THEY ADD VAT...

Be wise...do your research and think before you decide. If ya phone is in good nick do the mobile phone comparison site also (see above) if you literally ARE AT THE END OF YOUR CONTRACT and not just the time to upgrade. Check that out.... I made both mistakes

E

Frugaldom

Hello

Lynz, well done on all the progress you're making

Erme, hope things are going OK for you this week

CW - possibility of a blossoming romance in time for Spring blooms?

SF - glad things goin g better with this placement, sounds like you're enjoying it more

Appropriate thoughts and wishes to everyone I haven't mentioned, brain fries too easily trying to remember everything, sorry.

Yesterday I made my 25p loaf and 6 scotch eggs from the App F00d Sosmix but I've also made a batch of lemon curd, baked a lemon drizzle cake and made 2 batches of oaty bars. Still haven't got around to trying out any of the new recipes that have been posted but I did use up a bag of 10p apples with half a pineapple and some sultanas in a fruit sponge. So those are my frugal cooking/baking achievements of the past week. Hoping to be able to transfer the final £150 to fill this year's ISA then I'm quitting on that for a while as it just isn't worth it for me at the moment - not earning enough to pay tax at the moment, so the high interest accounts pay more and, hopefully, I'll get to open one of the government gateway savings accounts for a little bit more.

I've got more eggs in the incubators, chicks are doing fine and I listed on eBid and eBay last weekend whilst free. Also spent on eBay and eBid, so I can sympathise with those who feel the need to browse regularly.

Eventually got all my App F00d order packed away but still have some of my LETS trades to sort out. I'd also like to get some early cauliflowers into the SFG but it just keeps on raining! Arg! Let's hope we don't get that snow everyone's talking about, I'm more than ready for spring. And I MUST remember to get to bed early tonight after changing clocks as that will be like getting up at 5am with the ducks & hens. Eugh... I hope it isn't pouring rain.

Anyways, have a good weekend everyone. Hope baby fishfinger is doing OK and I hope the bumps get here soon so some of you can feel a little more comfortable.

lynzpower

Hey frugaldom ( or anyone else)

I was thinking about making lemon curd from some of these leftover lemons - I do love it especially in sponge snadwich cakes :drool:

Do you think it would be OK to use utterly butterly instead of butter in it or would, that just be rank?

lynzpower

let's hope we don't get that snow everyone's talking about, I'm more than ready for spring.

er yeah me too. I thought of you frugallers up there when i saw the snow forecast on the news . I really hope no one loses any seedlings to this imminent freeze.

I am going to bring all tender seedlings in from the roof room now and put them under fleece indoors.

Darent lose any of it :eek:

landregistrylass

Morning all. Car boot this morning so not a NSD, but am pleased with my bargains - beautiful cards for birthdays which I am sure I couldn't have made any more cheaply myself, and some stocking fillers - diablo, jacks etc for my 3 DGS. Even a pair of novelty washing up gloves (complete with feathers!!) @ 50p for OH !! Also got a (very old but un-used) yoghurt maker. OH now out on motorbike so mammoth cooking session under way. Soup, bread, yoghurt, stew and meatballs........all thanks to your inspiration.

BigMummaF

When do the schools finish for the holidays please, all over the country? My eldest is hoping to get a few quiet days but we are not sure of the actual timing of the little darlings breaks! Not having any children themselves, they are loathe to share their experiences with other peoples at times; oh how that will soon change, when they do started breeding!