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

cw18

pagangirl wrote: »

Going on frugal coach trip to Skipton market tomorrow, local Community Centre subsidises trips for our Housing Association so only had to pay £5.00 for full day out ! All coming out of leisure budget so will be covered ok.

Ooooooo..... lucky you

Wish I were coming, as I love that neck of the woods - some really lovely scenery and beautiful buildings around. Actually, that's an idea for a day out if OH and I can get together on a weekday again. I'm not due any more week days off until the first week off I've put an holiday application in for, which is week beginning 5th July - so with a bit of luck the weather should be nice by then

I might get a weekday off next month though, as the lass who does the last shift on a Saturday has asked if we can do a swap around so she can go to a 50th birthday party on 15th. Can't finalise swap until after new bakery manager comes in though, as store management want him to look at our rotas, with a view to making hours a couple of them do as 'extras' every week part of their contracts.

If he does this, then she can pick up a complete shift for me (Mon, Wed, Thur or Fri) in return for 4 hours on the Saturday. If not we've more of a problem, as she's only contracted to 3 hours on a Saturday (actually works 6.5 every week though), so we can only swap 3 - and the best way to work that is for her to pick up my first or last 3 on the Tuesday, so I can see OH either Mon or Tues night (the latter hours would work better for me, as it would mean I can knock off at 12 which is the start of my lunch break and she can cover the 1-4 I usually go back for)

Puddleglum

Hi Folks, a quick update from Puddleglum Mansions.
Puddleglum is oh so slightly tiddly! I decided to siphon last years dandelion wine from one demijohn into another and add some sugar. A couple of gobfuls of wine on an empty stomach - well it hit a spot.
The garden is coming up lovely. Saladings are doing well. The pinto beans are phenomenal, you can almost see them grow. It seems that once the plants have produced a critical mass of green leaf they just power ahead and I am begining to wonder if indeed plants are more interesting than animals.
I have sold two of my specialist books listed on Amazon. Unfortunately DH had to replace a ballcock in the loft last week and he is resisting going back up there to find more specialist books being a bit traumatised by the whole experience.
Finances are very tight but I shudder to think how much tighter they would be if I hadn't discovered all you Guys here! (shuffles off slightly drunkenly)

landregistrylass

Dear all - a very unsettled day weather wise. Didnt know whether we would need a salad or a hot meal, but went with a beef stew made from whoopsied beef yonks ago.........delicious. Seeds peeping their heads through now at last. So it is officially Spring here! Off to do a freezer hunt and weekly menu and then watch Antiques Roadshow. I know nothing about antiques, but love the way the experts bring them alive. Happy New Week tomorrow everyone. PS Came through breast screening unscathes, but the radiographer had NO bedside manner. My poor boobs were squashed into a shelf like mode - I must have looked very odd as I came out of the mobile screening unit into t*sco car park!

landregistrylass

Forgot to ask - you know the stars and things by people's names??? Well, how and who attributes them? And when it says "these 6 people have thanked" next to 1 of my posts, how do I check who that was??? Yes, I know I am dim, but if you dont ask you never find anything out.

cw18

The stars etc. are 'handed out' by the system according to the number of posts you've made. When you hit the next level the next badge will automatically appear.

When it says 'The following x people have thanked' at the bottom of one of your posts, just click on the 'show me' to the right and you'll get a list of who.

HTH

BigMummaF

Bearing in mind I've moved the categories around a bit /FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][COLOR=SeaGreen][SIZE=2][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=1]as in something that started off in miscellaneous now lives in other[/SIZE between my trial run up to December last year & starting for real from January, my figures for the last two quarters are as follows.

Oct-Dec 09.
Food........771:88
Other.......334:75.....Total = 1106:63
Coupons....123:32.....Total = 0983:31
Jan-Mar 10.
Food........695:86
Other.......214:47
Gifts.........28:48.....Total = 0938:81
Coupons.....15:56.....Total = 0923:25

I suppose it's no real surprise that more was spent leading up to Christmas My Grocery Challenge is not going too well, but then again I've stocked up with things like lentils & sardines that were on offer. I'd like to change utilities but don't fully understand the tariffs & am concerned that on line accounts will go very wrong with my limited computer skills
At the moment I haven't included cost of utilities but I do take meter readings every week, making a note of the weather too.

cw18

BigMummaF wrote: »

I'd like to change utilities but don't fully understand the tariffs & am concerned that on line accounts will go very wrong with my limited computer skills

I'm on an on-line tariff with Sc0ttish P0wer, and it's simple. The only requirement is that I log in and enter readings once a quarter, but I'm currently doing it every 4 weeks as it suits my budgeting / fits with my energy monitoring spreadsheet for comparing useage against last year. I did consider doing it once a month (on the last day or 1st), but as I enter readings to iMe@sure once a week it fits better to do it using a set I've taken for that.

I've been on an on-line tarrif for several years now, and logging readings every 4 weeks since September 2008.



*** wanders off to check various diaries / calendars, as have just told OH that I've nothing planned for next Saturday but now have a nasty niggle that might not be true ***

ETA: Aha! Just checked calendar, and it's my Mum's birthday. Means going to see OH is easily possible, as he's pretty close to my parents - which means I can bob over to see my Mum instead of posting her card Now hoping that's the only thing I'd forgotten

BigMummaF

I'm more concerned with the times we have trouble with the computer--how can you enter readings etc, if you're not able to get on line. And would it be easier for a hacker to nab your identity if they can get to your utilities too?
I'm still too much of a techno-phobe to trust on line everything I'm afraid

NualaBuala

Hello frugalites :wave:

Kiwisaver wrote: »

Yes, not long to go, just five more weeks until I get to M&S and shopping heaven. I'm more excited at the prospect of some decent shops than anything else. I'm sure that novelty will soon wear off.

Sounds like you don't have many NSDs planned for when you get back! :rotfl:

Puddleglum,had a chuckle at your frugal tipsiness! You will just need a frugal hangover cure now and you're sorted!

landregistrylass wrote: »

Dear all - a very unsettled day weather wise.

Same here, and it looks set to stay that way for a while. I think it's raining now but the garden will be glad of the moisture. Glad you got on ok with the breast screening - even if you weren't "handled with care". At least it's over and done with now. Do you have to wait for results or do they tell you there and then?

I spent a little more money today but after a bit of tweaking, I think I've salvaged my budget somewhat. This month has been expensive foodwise but when I did the sums, I've spent an average of €26/week on groceries this year. The first few months I spent very little which brough the average down. That rises to an average of €36/week when I include takeaways and food and teas out. That's just for me but it's a lot less than I used to spend. I know most of you are feeding families but I'd be interested to know how much you spend per person on food?

I'm out of contract for broadband and have found a better deal but it would mean entering into a new contract. The problem with that is I may not be in this house for much longer (and not sure where I'll end up, possibly abroad) and there are penalties for ending the contract early. So I'll have to think about that one.

Energy bills are ok but I'm looking at changing suppliers as a discount I was getting as halved this month.

Hope you're all well and having a lovely Sunday evening. Hugs to anyone who'd like one.

Skint_Lynne

Puddleglum wrote: »

Hi Folks, a quick update from Puddleglum Mansions.
Puddleglum is oh so slightly tiddly! I decided to siphon last years dandelion wine from one demijohn into another and add some sugar. A couple of gobfuls of wine on an empty stomach - well it hit a spot.
The garden is coming up lovely. Saladings are doing well. The pinto beans are phenomenal, you can almost see them grow. It seems that once the plants have produced a critical mass of green leaf they just power ahead and I am begining to wonder if indeed plants are more interesting than animals.
I have sold two of my specialist books listed on Amazon. Unfortunately DH had to replace a ballcock in the loft last week and he is resisting going back up there to find more specialist books being a bit traumatised by the whole experience.
Finances are very tight but I shudder to think how much tighter they would be if I hadn't discovered all you Guys here! (shuffles off slightly drunkenly)

You have made me smile Puddleglum, I hope that you enjoyed your wine. I'm still here and still being good, despite eating out twice over the weekend. I'm looking forward to next week, being off on the Monday, so a long weekend, yay!!

Hope everyone has had a nice weekend. x