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

Erme

You can make a basic campfire using an old washing drum for the container...in fact pretty much anything....Just go down the scrap yard and see what you can find

Well the ironing board was a disaster ...bashed and wonky so got a new one off freecycle :t and had to get a new iron (cos seriously this wifey hasn't ironed properly in years.! :eek:) So now have a new project of ironing all the airing cupboard (Bar the towels and the books obviously ) and sorting it all out this summer. It's just about doing half an hour each day.

Looked up irons on which and their best buy for less than £10 was the sainsbury one @ approx £10 but I ended up with the JL value one. It's okay but like the temperature dial moves a lot (not always ideal when you don't want full blown steam and it's on III). But I was looking @ the display models in Mr A yesterday and they all seem about the same whether you pay £10 or £30 so why worry. Even the £10 ones have self clean. Am keeping my £4 one from argos just for my crocheted stuff cos it's lightweight.

Have been doing a tonne of crochet. Almost May and not even half way through my afghan :eek: so lots of work.

And a few bad buys (like the iron from the charity shop or £2 with the canadian plug and the new coffee machine for £4 - oops) but otherwise not a bad week. Have enough to live on and it's officially a skint week and might even save by the end of the week so not complaining...

Ma in 2 weeks. Feel a lot better now I've budgeted for her but I still know she's going to be hard work. She should have visited last year but no, I wasn't good enough for her then...So tidying up has begun . Just so busy barely have time for internet let alone sleep...:xmassign:.

:money: Got 2 bags of Taylors of Harrogate coffee beans for £2 yesterday from Mr. A...think it was some mistake...said nothing...(they were listed @ 2 4 £4...still a good buy cos they'll keep) but noticing how everything in the supermarket is going up.

Hugs

E

Skint_Lynne

Top drawer,
re: the soup, could you not water it down quite a lot, add lentils to thicken and then simmer? This might help with the saltiness. I learned about ham soup to my peril many years ago when I just started cooking.:o

Added the ham, water, lentils, onions, carrots etc and lots of salt.:o
I diluted that quite a bit and it was edible, good job I like salty things anyway.:D

I'm still here, checking in and plodding away. I've only spent money on one day this week which was yesterday.

Will check in later. xx

slowlyfading

:hello: everyone

I'm still reading the thread everyday, but never seem to have anything to contribute! I have a diary thread on the DFW board where I write down my ramblings too, so most of it is on there now. Everyone is doing so well though!

Winchelsea

Had earmarked today as a NSD, but have spent £15 on a birthday present. DD3 phoned for a chat, and in the course of the conversation said they all went out for an Indian meal last night, and that it was for DSIL's birthday. I was mortified that I'd forgotten, as I'm usually on the ball !

Didn't have much time to decide what to buy. Had a suitable card in my drawer, wrote and stamped it (1st class even!) Got the bus in to town with DH, and bought a £15 i-tunes voucher to stick in the card. Not very imaginative, but I know he'll really like it.

Spent no other money though, so not too bad.

ceridwen

NUALA

I would be interested to know how your experiments with the solar oven work out. I've thought about it before now - and then wondered if we simply dont have enough sun here in Britain to be able to use one much/if at all.

That PathtoFreedom website family - the Dervaes family - seem to regularly use one. I seem to recall Albert Bates goes in for this as well ie of:
http://www.thefarm.org


Sounds like you've been reading similar websites to me:D

Blairweech

Hello everyone,

I was going to update yesterday - wrote my reply, hit submit then lost it as I forgot the forums were closed :doh:

So, have been down to see OH this week - had a lovely couple of days, went to Lanhydrock and walked the 'Hall Walk' around Polruan/Fowey (not on the same day!). Spent some £ on lunch out and ice cream, but I don't mind. Spent £72 at the dentist too , although my brother says I could claim this back due to my JSA

Have received my forms about accomodation for uni, so have to fill them in (when my Dad is not around, as he would certainly have qualms with the cost _pale_). Other than that, today I will be doing Ebay listings and a bit of gardening.

Hope everyone is well

NualaBuala

Hi everyone :wave:

lynzpower wrote: »

Oh Nuala

Please please can you build a wood fired pizza oven in your garden! I wanna see how its done!

I obviously cant build one on my roof terrace lol

:rotfl:Probably a good idea!
I love the idea of it and if I manage to put it into practice I'll be sure to take a lot of photos!

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

. Anyway my next op. does not involve my feet but my undercarriage. :eek: Ive had it done before but needs doing once again.
If you watched 'Embarassing bodies' last week you would have seen a woman who had the same as I'm having, not nice but essensial at the moment, 'Nuf said on that subject.

With all that talk of bunions I checked my feet for any signs but all clear so far. At least you know what to expect for the "undercarriage op" - that word made me smile, thanks for the giggle! Didn't see that episode but I'm not very squeamish/grossed out so never found the conditions on that programme particularly embarrassing - I have no shame! :rotfl:Hope you're recovering ok anyway.

ceridwen wrote: »

NUALA

I would be interested to know how your experiments with the solar oven work out. I've thought about it before now - and then wondered if we simply dont have enough sun here in Britain to be able to use one much/if at all.

That PathtoFreedom website family - the Dervaes family - seem to regularly use one. I seem to recall Albert Bates goes in for this as well ie of:
http://www.thefarm.org


Sounds like you've been reading similar websites to me:D

Ceridwen, you've hit on a crucial problem - I live in Ireland and it is not known for its sunshine! But for the occasional "heatwaves" we get, I thought it would be an interesting experiment. Thanks for the link - will check that out. I can't remember where I heard of it, I've been reading so many websites these days!


Am off to the food coop for veggies and a few bits. The stuff there is dearer and no BOGOFs etc. But it's very hard to buy unhealthy stuff so that's good. I've prepared chickpeas to make falafal for dinner so going to get some nice salady stuff to go with that.


Hope you all have a Super Saturday!

Kiwisaver_2

I'm still here plugging away, two steps forward and three steps back. Starting to feel the winter coming and finally given in to putting the heating on last night and now I'm too hot. Decided in Friday that it was pretty stupid to keep clinging on and pretending like it's still summer, when I was shivering in my sandals. They're fine during the day but by the time I get home at 6pm I've been desperate to get my socks and slippers on.

I had a naughty week as far as spending has gone, bought myself a pair of trousers (first clothing of the year) that were way more than I would have liked to spend, but my backside and trouser sizes here don't get on, so if I can find a pair that fits nice then I suppose I can't begrudge having to spend a bit extra. Trousers were $140 and I got $20 voucher back for spending over $100 and put that towards a cardigan that would have been $50 Also had to buy a bag of compost so that I can plant my celery and leek seedlings.

Have to try and keep it cheap for the last week of the month, so I just went and had a good browse around the library today, picked up Delia's Happy Christmas book (woohhoo), it's so the wrong time of year I know, but I will spend a while studying that and write out any recipes I fancy. Also picked up a couple more 'Greeniology' books to peruse.

It's been a month now since we had the new dual tariff night / day electric meter installed and being ahead of the game before we get this month's bill (OCD meter reading, who me?) I figure we've saved over $20 already in just one month - so the $60 paid out to fit it was well worth it and will be recouped many times over. I've been running the dehumidifier a few hours overnight to help keep the chill at bay and putting the washing machine and dishwasher on at the stroke of 11pm.

Still working my way through 10kg sack of potatoes that I bought two weeks back, inventive potato dishes galore. Tonight I did Delia's jacket potato wedges from the Christmas book - so it all ties in nicely.

Also today had a go at cleaning the oven with cloudy ammonia, think I got that a bit wrong. Stunk the house out to high heaven and the oven is no cleaner than when I started. I think perhaps the oven was too hot as the ammonia and water solution totally evaporated - don't know if that's supposed to happen?? Has anyone else tried this?

enjoyfinancialchallenges

All this talk about a solar powered oven has made me realize I've missed something....where did I miss it?

I could do with a bit of solar powering myself today it looks lovely outside but its not easy for me to get there still having a problem with steps and, perhaps in a week or so though I will be better on the old Zimmer frame!....Has anyone though of a solar powered one I ask myself might be a good idea. Mmmmh.

Thanks for your support NualaBuala I do appreciate it, when I first came onto this site I felt quite left out because I didn't seem to get any replies and I began to think I was alone and invisible but I suppose it just takes time and if my comments are not relative nobody will comment anyway! Good to hear I make you laugh anyway.

slowlyfading dont put all your energy into the DFW site we like to hear from you here please. Hope you are feeling OK.

Fishcake_Random

Hello all,
Things are a bit dreary this end, my health visitor thinks I am showing signs of PND but I think its just my regular depression back. I'm finding my frugallings as a very nice distraction though, as well as Fishfinger.
I've been getting lots of washing dry in the sun and my veggie patch has grown to include mix salad leaves and carrots.

I have also joined bookcrossing I recommend a google for any avid readers on here. Basically you can go to selected places or zones and get free books to read, all you need to do is log in online and record where you found it and what you plan to do with it. Once you have read it you can exchange it for another one. Quite fun to see different readers opinions. MIGHT BE WORTH A FIRST POST LINK?

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