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

Brighton_belle

rozeepozee wrote: »

OMIGOD. I am not worthy!

oh, there's even more than that to aeb's story - but I am sure she will be back to tell you more.
Congrats on the twins though

NualaBuala

Hi everyone! I hope you're all having a wonderful and frugal 2010 so far! I'm really enjoying reading all your posts - I feel that you're all being so much more frugal than I am. I've got a lot of room for improvement.

I was wondering if anyone here buys organic food or makes other ethical choices that push the costs up? I challenged myself to spend only a fiver a week on food for the month or so before Christmas (in addition to a well-stocked freezer and cupboards). What I found hardest was that I couldn't afford free-range and organic produce. Also, I have a budget category for charity - for me I think that is probably more important than giving gifts. I know these are not essential and if I cut them out I could repay my loans more quickly though. Just wondering if anyone else has encountered similar issues in trying to be frugal?

Of course in an ideal world I'd be vegetarian and grow my own veg but I'm not there yet!:D

Nelski

landregistrylass wrote: »

Sorry, I was hoping for a recipe for elderflower champagne! I am a new girl on here ans obviously am not doing everything right at the mo

dont worry but hope you printed my recipe off anyway;):D

Try this link about 2 down B]Elderberry Champagne[/B]

too much vodka this end i guess;)

ceridwen

NualaBuala wrote: »

I was wondering if anyone here buys organic food or makes other ethical choices that push the costs up? I challenged myself to spend only a fiver a week on food for the month or so before Christmas (in addition to a well-stocked freezer and cupboards). What I found hardest was that I couldn't afford free-range and organic produce. Also, I have a budget category for charity - for me I think that is probably more important than giving gifts. I know these are not essential and if I cut them out I could repay my loans more quickly though. Just wondering if anyone else has encountered similar issues in trying to be frugal?

Of course in an ideal world I'd be vegetarian and grow my own veg but I'm not there yet!:D

Yep - me! Organic and ethical that is - eggs are only ever free-range and a high proportion of other food is organic. Milk always is and other things that usually are:
basic type cheese/butter/dried beans and lentils/flour/pasta/apples/salad veg/tomatoes/potatoes/onions/yogurt

- hence my £37 per week I bargain on for my combined food/social life cost (at a guess - the food part is about £25 of that - but counting out the coffee - then I think I would probably come in at about £20 per week for food alone).

I figure its moneysaving in the long-term - by saving money on healthcare costs. Obviously I've no way of knowing how much potential ill-health I am avoiding by eating a healthier diet - but its worth it in my book for that reason alone.

EDIT: I know that if its not possible to afford for everything to be organic - then there are certain foods that its more important than others to have as organic if at all possible. From memory - I think its milk (therefore obviously milk products as well), salad vegetables, tomatoes and apples. I think theres others - but I believe these are the most important. With milk - its down to the antibiotics "standard" cows have. Apples - I believe they get sprayed with chemicals a mind-bogglingly high number of times as they grow and I think lettuce/etc is the same I believe.

Glad

nykmedia wrote: »

Hi Glad, I'd be more looking at ways of making it last for as long as possible by combining ingredients into basic meals and meal 'parts' then freezing some for future convenience (if you have a freezer). In this house, our most regular meals consist of curries & rice, stir fry & noodles, sweet & sour type dishes, pies, soups, stews, pasta dishes and bog-standard meat, potatoes & veg. Haven't a clue about the alcohol, as it only features here at New Year, so lasts for years. That alcohol shelf in this house just magically restocks itself, as I can't remember the last time I bought any for us. That's what homebrewing does to you. :rotfl:

I do have a freezer which we use to freeze leftovers

I need to think of meals that can use up what I've already got (just buying the meat maybe)

larmy16

Just saying Happy New Year and getting myself subscribed to this new thread.

I have defrosted my freezer today and used up some left overs to make tonight's meal. Getting it ready for my delivery from Tesco on Tuesday when I start my food budget/menu planning in earnest.

Skint_Lynne

It turned out very well, DH said it was well better than the army ones that he loves. I think that next time, I will get individual pudding basins to make them in, I'll find out if you can cook and freeze these as it was a long drawn out process to make it.

It would have been worse if I did not have the slow, I just walked away and left it this morning as I had to uplift all the party animals and deposit them home.

Think I'll make a clootie tomorrow, haven't made one in a couple of years as DH moans about the steamy windows.:rotfl: He's going back to work tomorrow morning so I'll be in myself. Dad likes the dumplings so he will appreciate it. Also might do some tablet, will need to get all the 'bad' things in before I'm back on the diet.

I'm all proud of myself.:j

edaniels1983

cw18 wrote: »

More than happy to send a copy of the spreadsheet to anyone who asks - active members and lurkers alike - but please remember to let me have an email address to send it to

At the moment I can only say with certainty that it runs on Excel 97 onwards (let me know if you're on 2007), but someone is currently trying it out on some free software that claims to be compatible - so there may be an option for others to run it once we know the result of that

i use openoffice.org(free software) and it works fine xxx

Puddleglum

NualaBuala wrote: »

I was wondering if anyone here buys organic food or makes other ethical choices that push the costs up?

I put aside money each week for an organic veg box, local free range eggs and organic unhomogenated milk. Other organic stuffs I only get these days if I can afford it.

The way I see it is that I get enjoyment out of the veg box and seeing what can be created each week. It is really nice to have the cream on the top of the milk and I am helping the local economy. Things would be a bit easier if these principles were given the old heave ho but I hope to keep on this way as long as possible!

nikki20022008

Happy new year all I have had a very busy day and thrown out half a wheelie bin of rubbish and had a NSD here's to many in 2010.