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

Erme

this is the latest pic of me - taken by friend @ Student veg garden...



PS. I'm the one in the orange beanie...very frugal pm. No money spent (cos had no purse on me. Guess that's one way of doing it) but it was cold!!!

Erme

PS. The pot next to me had home made carrot and tattie soup in which tasted fab and they had an easter egg hunt and marshmallow to toast on the fire . Then went to another friend's for coffee. Then came home and battled with templates for business cards on Word (cos my cards are like fossilized LOL and I 'aint very good @ word) and read some more work stuff. Now getting rice and lentils = comfort food and cheap. Fabbo day and like the clocks go forward tonight - yeppas!!!

Erme

ps. Hope I'm not breaking any rules here but this is a bigger profile pic of the student veg garden . Does YOUR Uni have one and if not WHY not = very frugal - free seeds, free wee plots for GYO...campfire, food

cw18

BigMummaF wrote: »

When do the schools finish for the holidays please, all over the country?

SuzyWuzy wrote: »

Bigmumma = the children finish next Thursday here for 14 days for the Easter holidays.

mama67 wrote: »

BMF, my 2 finish this coming Thurs 1 Apr and go back on Mon 19 Apr.

My frinds boys in peterborough finished last Friday 26 Mar and go back on Tues 20 Apr.

Ours broke up yesterday for 2 weeks, so back on 12th April.

lynzpower

Erme, I am so green eyed about the student veg patch! It looks fantastic!

Petlamb

Erme wrote: »

Does YOUR Uni have one and if not WHY not = very frugal - free seeds, free wee plots for GYO...campfire, food

You know, ours doesn't. I'd never thought about it really, till now. I think I shall have a chat / email around a few people and see if they'd be willing to mull it over...

They've made commitments to lowering their carbon footprint, want to be more eco friendly - surely this would be a great way of doing that, while also encouraging students to get outside and get some fresh air, work together etc? Hmm...

grandma247

Linda That's a beautiful picture. Congratulations to you both.

Erme What a great idea. The garden looks good.

cw18

Frugaldom wrote: »

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

Guess things'll sort out one way or another in the next few weeks, but we discussed (in general) what we'd be looking for in a relationship with anyone on Thursday evening after I mentioned being surprised he hadn't settled down with someone while we've been out of contact (one reason it got sooooo late before we realised). Opinions there are very similar (long term is more than fine, but full-time isn't what either of is really looking for as we both enjoy our 'own space' too much), so that certainly bodes well

Told DD while we were out, and also mentioned the age difference as I wasn't at all sure how she'd be about it - the initial reaction was mixed (along with the comment "he's old enough to be my grand-dad"), but she seems to be OK about it in general.

Haven't mentioned the age difference to DS2 yet as I don't expect major issues from him, but I fully expect DS1 to kick off (and will be seeing him later tonight, when I pick him up from the train station and run him over to the friend he's staying with, so could be a "fun" evening - not!). So I've given myself a 'stern talking to', and am not, not, NOT going to let any issues he has with it get in the way. This is my life and not his, so whilst I'll allow him to voice his opinion I'm not going to let anything he says become an obstacle!!!


Lynda - that photo is stunning :T Many thanks for sharing part of your special day with us

chika

Erme that veg plot looks amazing - Who organised it - is it something the union did? I'm highly impressed - I think It's something I'll ask ours to consider.

Being quietly frugal here - this week's big project was tackling the stupid amount of money I spend on lotions and potions for my skin. I'm rather [STRIKE]vain[/STRIKE] self concious and my skin can play up. I'd just come to the end of my dem4logica stuff which is great but too expensive for this budget so after a hunt on here I went and bought the Aldi stuff. A serum, moisturiser and eyecream with all sorts of scientific sounding ingredients for less than a tenner. I've been using it for a few days now and so far so good. If this stuff works permanently then I'll save at least £300 a year off my toiletry budget which can be diverted into other things like the gas bill . I've already stopped having my monthly waxing sessions which has saved me £480. I keep getting random special offer emails from the salon - they must miss me

Today's big frugal prezzie was a breadmaker from freecycle. I've wanted one for a while but have been way too mean to part with the funds. Anyway just made the first loaf which looks and smells amazing. I can't believe how easy it is I also gave away some bags of clothes and the ladies who collected all brought me a bottle of wine so that's the next few weekends sorted!

Cheryl your friends sounds nice and compatable! Don;t worry about the age gap - some of my best relationships have been with men much older than myself and looking round my family it seems to be the case for all the marriages that have lasted. Ther's no need to worry about what anyone else thinks, as long as you're happy.

BigMummaF The Manchester school that the girl I look after goes to finished on Wednesday past - I think this is a bit unusual though. In West Yorkshire where I'm from they are off from the 1st April to the 19th April.

JayneC

CW - you go girl. DS will get over it!!

Hi all,

Not sure I've noted all spends this week as been absolute chaos, working late and having to be out 2 evenings has just messed me up! Think I've got it or not far off...

Had 'a chat' with OH this morning about us, an we splitting up! Was not nice but feel relieved now TBH. Will have to look again at finances after he's gone, but should be ok. Have to tell kids and family now

Back to frugal news - Have planted a few seeds, some indoors and some out. Having to keep myself in check otherwise will fill garden up and get a glut!! Need to spread it out. I'm doing deep beds so planting quite close together and decided to try a 'seed mix' . Mixed together lettuce, carrots, radish and celery and sowed near front of bed so will make a pretty edgiing (well that's the plan). Also planted out some sweet peas and indoors did celery, cucumber, toms, nasturtium, more sweet peas and more lettuce. Already planted shallots, red onions, broad beans, mangetout and sugar snap peas.Looking forward to getting some HG goodies now...

Need to do a meal plan and shopping list for next week (and remember it's Easter weekend).

Hope evry one doing ok - hugs to anyone that needs one x x