FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE 2010, part 2, April - June.

Puddleglum

Hi Folks,

I have just updated my signature and budget sheets so that everything is exactly right as of this minute (10.17am Mon 5th April). My E-Bay sales stand at £158.62 since I listed my first 3 items earlier this year, and created such a palaver over it!

That money has been used to buy lots of Mouldy Food (our affectionate name for APP FOODS) and 3 sleeping bags for when we go camping next weekend.

There is still plenty of stuff that can be cleared out of the house before we start noticing gaps where the furniture used to be so I am really optimistic that I should be able to keep to £31 p/w for food for the 4 of us for some time to come. I may even be able to reduce it a bit in the summer when our own veggies come through.

Right, off to the shops in a minute to make a lie of the signature. Marg, coffee and flour required!

Kiwisaver_2

phoebe03cat wrote: »

Mind you have just been reading another thread about the bogoff tuna which doesn't appear to have been bogoff at all. I think I got caught on that one; I was aware the price went up a bit prior to the offer but I didn't think it was the whole price difference. Have not been sure about stockpiling for some time , so think I will now buy just what I need,generally speaking;and preferably at stickered price!

Hey Phoebecat, having been caught out a bit like that myself recently and noticing even more since I have been recording itemised spends how the shops are getting ever more underhand at highlighting 'bargains' that are not really bargains at all. This weekend I have been reading 'Frugal Living for Dummies' (from the library) and the lady that write that book suggests keeping a price book in your handbag where you note the best prices only so you know exactly when to go into stockpiling mode.

So today I copied and pasted all my grocery spends into one spreadsheet, sorted it by item and then by price and jotted down the lowest price of everything in a little notebook, so I won't be making any more mistakes. Relying on numbers in my head works mostly for regular stuff, but from time to time I do forget how much I paid the last time especially on those things that are obvious candidates for stockpiling like toothpaste which I don't buy weekly.

They're so cheeky, you have to stay one step ahead of their games: a classic rip off in my local supermarket last week, they have an annual $5 Week where they do lots of so-called bargains and bundle things together 2 for $5 etc. I noticed they had a big sign up 'Special' Only $5 for 8 Croissants. The unsuspecting would fall for this, but I knew they were usually $4.85. This week they have out them up to $5.20 something. :mad:

COOLTRIKERCHICK

i have dug out and dusted down my copy of the tightwad gazzette book, which i am going to read in the evenings, just to remind me and get me back in the mode....lol..

after a very long time of not putting any books on Amazon, i put a few on last night, and hayho i sold one this morning..:T,

at the moment i cant get my head around the spreadsheet:cool:, so i think i will go for a file with various dividers for various spends/savings, will have to try and dig out my old one that i used to use..

i have now started using my teapot again:rotfl: as its normally me who drinks the most tea, i use a teabag once and then put it on the compost bin, so going to see if i can use the same teabag a few times.

I think for the next few weeks i will go for £ 150 per week spend, and then try and reduce this over the coming weeks/months. which i think will be easier this time of the year, with the weather getting warmer ( hopefully) and veg growing in the garden.

there is someone giving away raspberry canes on freecycle, so i will email them and asked to be considered( fingers crossed)

ooo ye and we now have 5 chicks ahtched:j

enjoyfinancialchallenges

Hi Everyone I hope your Easter holiday is going well and there are no new frugellers during this time, unless its what you want of course. If my memory serves me right I think NualaBuala will be next.

I havent been outside at all today and dispite my garden calling me loud and clear I'm managing to resist.:( Some days its so much easier than others and I know full well bit sized pieces is the way forward for me but today its just not happening I would actually rather just doze on the settee

CTC, I just love your pictures, keep on sending them. What about Nyk have yours arrived yet? I know you were worried about the power cut I just hope you managed to keep the eggs warm enough.

I had forgotten the garden centres were closed Easter Sunday and called in on my way to a friends for lunch to buy my runner beans seeds but found them shut, I told my friend about it and she said she had loads she was trying to give away and thought I had already bought some, so now I have some and am very excited about them and actually think that I'm getting more motivated to get into the green house today. Oh dear it doesn't take much to please me does it? :j

Goes to put jacket on now and exits through the kitchen door into the garden, Hurrah :j

lynzpower

:wave: Hello all

Frugaldom- adore the chicks. So so lovely.

Minjara - huge hugs to you- I hope you have a great holiday x

Fishcake- hope you are getting the rest you need too x

Update from me :

Right need to get back "in the mode".

Have been away for a few days. Yes, on Saturday went to http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/Leisure_and_culture/Markets/Great_Homer_Street_market/index.asp if anyone is in the area.

It was brilliant, I did try to be restrained, however everything was a want not a need However, did get set of MnnnS underwear rrp31- £5, MandsS satin nightie rrp 18, for £3, a next shirt reckon this is about 30rrp for 5er and a mons000n blouse for £3. A la senza underwear set for 5er. MnnS pjs for £4. This is brilliant for gifts btw, labels still in tact just a tear to the paper label.

Hardly spent anything else really for the 1st 2 days, as staying with the parents. Mum gave me a pair of trousers and a lovely M&S Mac she found for me in the sales. :j so that was nice. She also gave us her old microwave and her small George forman grill as they bought a bigger one Thanks mum!


We then decided to go into the Peak district and booked a wonderful hotel in the stunning derbyshire dales and went out for a long walk..My I ache! Did go on Heights of Abraham which has now gone up to £11 :eek: Still, worth doing Hotel 60, 3course meal 60. I think this will come from our underspent budgets on holidays and entertainment from last quarter.

There has been some talk of us moving there - watch this space :j

As we had no meal plan, just went and spent 15 on food, thats almost the spend for the week, so I shall have to start the meal plan. Bought a gammon so am using that with the stale coke hanging around and a HM loaf and whatever I can find to make a meal from.

I absolutely have to get sorted with the spreadsheet this week, I too struggled the first time. Must press on, have lots to do this evening and a busy week at work planned.

Hugs to anyone that needs them , love to all xx

Frugaldom

Hello to all, hope everyone had a good weekend.

CoolTC - love the chick photos, I should have had 4 due to hatch tomorrow but after having the 16 hour powercut last Wednesday, it's looking doubtful. The eggs definately went stone cold. Because there's a slim chance that they could still hatch, I left them in the incubator and will hope they arrive, even if they're 16 hours late.

At last the rain has stopped here. It's still cold and very windy but no more torrents and the floods have drained away again. Neighbour brought me in a 10kg sack of carrots, so I'll need to get them all sorted out for using & storing. Brilliant buy at only £1.80, beats Aldi's 49p per kilo hands down!

Not much to tell, other than that. Enjoy your holidays if you have them.

slowlyfading

Just saying a quick hello as I am in Kuwait - flew out yesterday probably won't be around much but just popping in for a few minutes today.

Am also on my 4th NSD for April, so doing pretty well so far I think

Hope everyone is okay and enjoying the bank holiday weekend

ChinaTea

Not been on for a few days. Have a chest infection and a virus that is affecting my throat and eyes. Not good for looking at any sort of screen (lappy and TV) or for reading so not been doing much of anything. Getting better though but don't want to push my luck with reading on here but will be back.

Frugaldom

Say hi to your dad from us all on here, SF! Hope you have a great time there and steer clear of any troubles. Any camping expeditions this year?

Get well soon, Chinatea

Kerry_Woman

Hope you will feel better soon Chinatea.