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

candygirl

KNITHAPPENS I just love your username:rotfl::rotfl::T:TMy dgd is 9 months now and loves weetabix, natural yogurt with fruit blended in, carrot n potato sloppy mash n cheese, and her Mum still gives her jars, some with meat in:rolleyes::rolleyes:She also loves blended red lentils and potato:D:DShe is a little piglet now:rotfl::rotfl:

rozeepozee

FrankieM wrote: »

rp in regards to a lawn mower. What about looking on freecycle or buying second hand off ebay? I don't know how large your garden is, but we bought a second hand petrol lawn mower off ebay 2 years ago for £40 and its still going strong. There isn't much that I would insist was brand new these days...

I'm normally a secondhand rose and happy to go via the ebay/car boot route but it's not a small garden and it's just finding a decent one. I've put it on one of my saved searches in ebay and see what comes up in the next few weeks. We're in no rush - won't be much mowing going on for a while! Just wondered if the prices go up as it comes into grass cutting season.

shaz_mum_of__2

FrankieM wrote: »

shaz how have you managed to have so much food? I feel a bit like Old Mother Hubbard at the moment!

I buy in bulk , i buy half lambs pigs etc and freeze . i have 2 huge freezers i also buy in large quantities when stuff is on offer like beef at £4 kg at mrt not long back (got 4)or half price FR chickens at coop (got 8) this kind of shopping is cheap in the long run but you need to actually have the cash to buy in advance which doesn't suit everyone i buy flour and rice in sacks and always have about 10kg of pasta in the house

The plus side for me is if i don't go out or shop i have enough to feed us for months . We are practising for a self sufficient lifestyle and this works for us . i recently bought a sack of pony carrots (£1) and pressure canned them so i have 24 jars of "tinned carrots" also similair amounts of runner beans to.

I am trying to cut down but it is hard to resist good offer especially at approved foods ....... i really am running out of space now our next house will need a walk in pantry bigger than the lounge!!:rotfl:

doughballs recipe on grocery thread i think......

here you go http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=11350025#post11350025

slowlyfading

Blimey, this thread certainly goes fast! :eek: :eek:

Well, first day back at placement is over, and I am shattered! I wasn't scheduled to be in any lessons today, but ended up being in 4. So, I didn't have much time to myself to plan some lessons for later in the week, so I've got a fair bit to do this evening. I need to get back into the swing of getting most work done at school, and then not spending too long in the evening faffing around, so that I'm not getting as tired as I was at the end of last term.

Today has been a spend day, like predicted! I spent £20.75 at Sain$bury$ which included some toiletries and some toilet roll, so not bad got some tins in, and some nice salad stuffs for this week in school, so that's good. I'm going to aim to have the next 4 days as NSDs, so fingers crossed that'll happen

CW, I'm so glad to hear about your dog. My mum's dog has fits, and has done for a few years (he's 5) as he was beaten as a puppy. He has 2 sets of tablets, and one of them has to be cut in half on certain days, lol I'm glad she's back at home with you already

Shaz, that quiche looks SO SO SO yummy! :drool:

jtb, that's such exciting news about you being able to be a SAHM well done :j

Have a good evening everyone

ChinaTea

Cheryl- So pleased to hear you brought your doggie home with you and hope everything goes well.

Received the renewal notice for my contents insurance today-£148.88. Have been with the same insurer's for a few years and they guarantee to beat any like for like quote. With a bit of haggling they have reduced the premium to £67.62 a massive saving of £81.26. Admitted I've reduced some of the cover, mainly for my late DH tools that were stored in a shed and are no longer there, had been paying £31.34 a year to cover them. So a happy bunny today.

Weather as everywhere really cold and roads treacherous till you get to the main road. Forecast for more snow and sub zero temps for rest of week. Went to MrA at lunchtime as I was close by and should not have to shop again for at least 2 weeks. Usually bake own bread but they were reducing bread rools to 20p for 12 so got x2 as don't have room in freezer for more. I can't make them for that price.

So a nice warm frugal glow today, now off to update spreadsheet with spend and DDs.

Pippilongstocking

Hi Guys wanted to join last year but couldn't quite get there
Can I still join for this year - will post my budget later on.

Here's to a great 2010

So can you add me please - waves to lots of familiar faces - I have now officially 'de-lurked' and subscribed.

FAYJMCK

(frugalleer in training)

FrankieM

shaz Where do you get your meat from? Is it a local butcher or online? I'm looking at getting some meat, a lamb, half a pig, some beef etc from a butcher near me but wondered if there were cheaper laces online. I live in Staffs and don't know of any asian stores etc that sell rice etc cheaply. I just get the value stuff from Tesco. Though today I bought a big bag of dried chickpeas so I'm hoping that will work out cheaper. Anymore advice on this kind of thing would be really helpful...I guess I'll have to get DH to clear out some of the garage!

sophiesmum_2

Welcome on board stripey friend

rozeepozee

Seen these guys mentioned a few times and Googled them but they don't seem to stock strong flour for bread making or powdered milk. Am I doing something wrong or do they just stock things ad hoc?

chika

rozeepozee wrote: »

Seen these guys mentioned a few times and Googled them but they don't seem to stock strong flour for bread making or powdered milk. Am I doing something wrong or do they just stock things ad hoc?

They so sell things like that from time to time but do clearences and the stuff sells out really quickly. Their stock seems to change all the time.