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

ChinaTea

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

Chinatea where did you get the download from??

Thanks

Shaz

I got this from the Homeschool resource site sorry don't have the exact address as i got to it through a link, you should be able to google it though. They do a different download each day, there were a couple of others yesterday along the same lines. I think the downloads are on there until the friday of the week they're shown.

[Deleted User]

chika wrote: »

Hello fellow frugallers. I had to do it I went out and spent some cash yesterday because for some reason my bread didn't rise do ended up with to loaves the colour and consistency of concrete blocks. I used the last of my yeast on those to went over to Ald! to buy more - but they don;t sell it. So I had to spend £1 on a loaf of rubbish spongy white bread all they had left.) I stocked up on onions and garlic and some mince while there. I spend about £8 but i won't have to get anything for the rest of the week so that is ok.

Does anyone bake with fresh yeast - I remember people getting it for free from the supermarket bakers. Is this still true and is it easy to work with?

Frugal activities this afternoon - finally getting round to using up some of the pulses in my cupboard. I've got a daal curry with black eyed beans and lentils in the slow cooker and I'll hunt around for a receipe for naan bread. I have a mate coming for tea so I'll be prepared this time. I'm also going to make this cake http://savorysweetlife.com/2010/01/chocolate-wacky-depression-cake-recipe/ It looks interesting and the lack of eggs and fat is a frugal bonus. If it tastes terrible then I'll make some buttercream and fill it. It should be ok with tea.

Yes, I have just begun using fresh yeast, I will never go back to dried yeast again. The result was sooooo much better. I only kneaded the dough for about 3 minutes. It rose beautifully and had a much better texture. I have now made several loaves this way and am extremely pleased with the results. Dried yeast never seemed to work at all well for me

lollol

please add me to the list. Thanks

homegrown_life

Ooh thanks for the Long Winter download link. I loved reading those books which I've bought for my daughter. Read them last year at some point. The Long Winter sounds like it will be appropriate for just now!

Shall download later

grandma247

Its an excerpt from an old time radio show. The 1888 blizzard one seems appropriate too

grandma247

Lots more free oldtime radio shows http://www.oldtimeradiofans.com/
They are American but I like them.Our laws are different so it is almost impossible to find british radio shows.

batcatz

Hi, please add me. BATCATZ.

Broadband 75
Gas/elec 744
Sky talk?72.72
Water 232.32
BT Phone line rental?133.32
TV Licence 145.46
Mobile phone 120 if I top up £10 monthly
SUB TOTAL 1522.82

weekly budget £100 = 4800

Total: 6322


Pay home/car insurance annually so not included. All the other expenses will come out of the £100 e.g. groceries, gifts, petrol, cat food, entertainment etc.

No debts and living of my savings so I'm simply doing this to try to stick to or reduce the £100 weekly budget and to get some good tips to help stick to my budget. I must use the slow cooker more as I didn't realise it used so little energy.

Have already got the DDs down as much as I can, but might find a better phone package. I have freesat so no sky subs.

Bread pudding is a good way to use up stale bread. :-)

An OWL electric meter is really good for seeing what uses up your electric. Made me turn off the AV receiver except for films!
p.s. I've had the heating on all day. :-(

rozeepozee

Did some spending today. £1 on parking and £13.89 on lunch in town for me, DP and our son (didn't buy a spearate meal for him, just put some of our's on a plate - he's only 3 so there was plenty). Complained about the quality of the asparagus in my quiche and got a free latte!

Decided to bypass Argos and the slow cooker. I know if I buy one for £20, I'll see one at a car boot sale for a quid a week later! I can hang on and see if there's a bargain to be had. Then if I don't use it, it's not cost me much and I can Freecycle it. I find it really difficult to get rid of things if I've bought them new and just end up hoarding.

I've had to amend my budget as I've not included enough. I've upped it to £10,000 for the 3 of us and intend this to cover the 5 of us when the twins arrive - I'm hoping that, if there are any extra costs associated with the new babies, I'll be able to incorporate these into any extra Tax Credits and Child Benefit we get. It's hardly living on 4K a year but this isn't about being super frugal and living like a monk for me. It's about being more in control by knowing where my money goes and not wasting. Even at this amount, I calculate that there'll be an excess of about £6K to go into the savings pot.

Paulgonnabedebtfree

Ches wrote: »

When mashing potatoes for the freezer its best not to put too much butter in as it can make it a little sticky. I used to use an ice cream scoop to put blobs onto a lined baking sheet. When frozen I knocked them off into bags to store. When wanted I put the required amount onto a greased baking sheet and put still frozen into a hot oven. Instant duchess potatoes.

I can't remember who asked but I take out freezer meals in the morning and defrost all day in the kitchen or fridge if kitchen too warm.

Spaghetti with a sauce made from storecupboard ingredients for dinner tonight and the rest of the apple pie for pudding. Snowed in so it will be a NSD today as couldn't get to work in the charity shop.

Thanks for the info. A bit late for me with the butter tip though I went fairly easy on it anyway.
So it's better to let them defrost slowly?
Will bear that in mind.
Cheers.

rictus123

Need to do a budget overhaul. Hopefully i can stick to a £6k all in buget as i need every penny i can get for my debts Alot more than i thought.