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

Frugaldom

Congratulations on becoming debt free, XSpender! :beer:

Top-drawer, I didn't know you couldn't make any butter with single cream. We used to make it from the cream off the top of the milk bottles and that worked just fine. It took ages but we just shook it in a jar for however long it took (possibly a long time).

Just updating my spending totals after the arrival of my latest App Food order. Cupboards are bursting at the seems here so I really must try to stop buying anything other than the fresh fruit, veg and milk for a while.

Chicks hatching out everywhere here, so we're kept busy feeding, watering, cleaning and generally clearing up after livestock. I've managed to get out walking a bit more since the weather has been quite nice and the graden is getting greener by the day. We're a bit behind you guys in the south with fruit & beg but I have managed to cook the first of the rhubarb.

Got to go again as it's DS's 21st, so there's a late birthday dinner tonight.

Hope everyone is well and best wishes to those needing them.

earthgirl

Hi all,
I have ben really stressedout at work, but vow that all that has got to change as I only have 2 months left before I go on maternity and need toslow down a bit!

I have done a bulk monthly shop for £43 and should be able to come in under budget for groceries, and balance out the toiletries spend. Got some free samples ofwashing powder to help make what I have last, and I'll have to use soap nuts for some of the washed when OH is not looking, don't like being sneaky but I have 1 kilo of them

Rhubarb and salad ready to eat next week I reckon

I've had to use more petrol as I have moreprivate tuition clients than ever before, but this will reduce after the start of June, and the petrol money will balance out over the year when the baby arrives. I have been going late to things and not driving economically, so thats my target to improve next week.

Best weekend wishes to all!

enjoyfinancialchallenges

Hi all not been around for the last few days mainly because I'm feeling fed up and bored with having sore feet and to be honest I dont feel well enough to do much anyway.

I wonder who watched the program on 2 tonight about living the simple life? I thought it was very good but slightly different to that which most of us are doing in as much as he had his parish around him so would not let him starve whereas most of are isolated in our quest to achieve the near same results and thought to be odd by some people as well. This Vicar lived entirely without money for a period of time and used St Francis as a role model, he bartered his home grown produce and worked to obtain other things necessary to achieve his goal. Still interesting though and lots to learn.

I wonder now the election is over and a big financial squeeze may soon begin how those used to be spending lots will cope, at least we on the site have been practising and having less money will not bother us so much as it could do.

Ive managed to read up to date and send my support, praise and admiration for all who achieved part or all of their goals and condolances to those who need them. I will keep reading and post again when I feel like participating again. No, not that Ive slipped off the frugal ladder though I just dont feel well enough to write about it all but the frugal life still continues although a little hard at this precise time until my new month on the 9th. I have to admit that not being able to drive or even get out on my own certainly cuts down on the spending but not one to be recommended believe me.

ceridwen

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

I wonder who watched the program on 2 tonight about living the simple life? I thought it was very good but slightly different to that which most of us are doing in as much as he had his parish around him so would not let him starve whereas most of are isolated in our quest to achieve the near same results and thought to be odd by some people as well. This Vicar lived entirely without money for a period of time and used St Francis as a role model, he bartered his home grown produce and worked to obtain other things necessary to achieve his goal. Still interesting though and lots to learn.

I wonder now the election is over and a big financial squeeze may soon begin how those used to be spending lots will cope, at least we on the site have been practising and having less money will not bother us so much as it could do.

.

Thanks for the reminder about that tv programme - I made a note to watch it - but tend to forget about programmes I've earmarked for watching. I'll go and find it shortly on IPlayer.

I mustnt forget the latest Alys Fowler "Edible Garden" programme either.

Re the expected squeeze - personally I think there will be a little bit of "lull before the storm" in that respect - otherwise known as "time for horsetrading". The squeeze will then commence (but I bet they'll still be throwing money hand over fist at wars - Afghanistan/Iraq and anything else they come up with....:mad:). I'm feeling very puzzled as to how the HUGE amount of money spent on wars seems to be "going under the radar" at the moment. Don't get me started on that one......:eek:

I think maybe how we cope depends on what our attitude has been like all along - maybe thats where pessimists "win out" here in some respects....:rotfl:. I've been brought up by parents who went through a lot of hardship when younger - and I personally was given a far from luxurious upbringing:( by them and I've read a reasonable amount of history books. So - I guess that combination has meant that I have "learnt the lessons of history" and never believed that "Growth is Good - and Growth will continue ad infinitum" and have responded very cynically for some years now at the thought of people having an ever-increasing standard of living and there always being enough money for the Rich to stay rich/for endless wars to continue and for Jack/Jill Average to have everything they could ever want. The circle did not square - and I've been expecting this for quite some time. Sites like MSE have helped make a lot more people aware that "The Good Times aren't always going to Roll" and provide hints and tips for coping if we personally muck up on the one hand or Society "pulls the rug from under our feet" on the other hand. So - its good that we have this resource to help with "learning how.." - though its only one part of the jigsaw - it IS a start.

Blairweech

Hello everybody -

Ceridwen - There is so much I have to respond to your post but it will only make me agitated and throw the thread off topic so I will just say that I quite agree. In my opinion, the government is far far far too reliant on a 'service culture' e.g. financial services and housing to make the wheels turn, so it only takes one thing going wrong before the whole deck of cards comes crashing down (akin to the potato famine in Ireland). If there was more of a return to manufacturing and agriculture (pretty impossible with world trade the way it is - although eventually the world will run out of cheap places for companies to use) we would be more self sufficient and it would not hit us so hard when things did go wrong as we would have other sources of revenue. Still, thats progress for you and we are all dragged along with it whether we like it or not.

Anyway, back to frugalling. It's free Ebay listing this weekend, so guess what I'm doing! Got my spreadsheet alll up to date, its not looking too bad now I have taken Ebay out of the equation. I transferred £25 to my house deposit today (target £100 for May) Plus Mum also gave me two new Bourjois eyeshadows yesterday. I was going to do a carboot this weekend but the weather is bad.

Oh, and in case anyone has not seen it on the OS boards, here are two relevant threads - I have started reading them again!

If things get tougher

Things are tough NOW

ceridwen

I've just found and watched that tv programme on IPlayer - by googling "How to live a simple life" + BBC2.

Yep - I enjoyed it. I was sitting there with all sorts of comments running through my mind (mainly along the lines of "He would have more help than most - he's the vicar" and "Cars....still using cars....").

Having said that - I enjoyed it and will be watching the rest of the series with interest. I liked the style of Harvest Supper at the end of the programme and it looked a LOT like the type of social occasion I resonate with/enjoy personally.

Frugaldom and I both strongly believe in barter as one way to help us achieve the money savings and lifestyle we want - and this programme laid heavy emphasis on it. I certainly think it helps a LOT with basic social interaction and stops us all being "walled off within our own little place". I was sitting there watching it hoping that my tomato plants do well that I've got going right now - as I'm aware that I've had a few food items from a friends garden and they have made the comment that they cant go grow tomatoes. So = I owe them some of my tomatoes if I get a surplus.

So - yep - quite a bit of food for thought there in that programme...and he gets awarded honorary status as a member of the Transition Town Movement based on that.:D

Optimisticpair

landregistrylass wrote: »

I would love to be able to put pics on here, and create wonderful congrats type logos, but I cant even make my wording larger or more colourful. I can see where the icons are, but they just don't seem to work when I click on them. hmmmmmmm. Any advice gratefully received.

Words colourful - type the text (obviously) run your mouse over the text from start of the word to the end while holding down your left mouse button (the techie term is highlighting click the A drop-down arrow which looks like a v and click the colour you want to use.

Larger do the same, -highlight the text, but click on the Sizes box and pick 5 say to get the size I just used.

I've never been able to do Congrats ones or pics taken off my PC which is something I'd love to be able to do. Any help most gratefully received folks.

Try replying by quoting my post and the instructions will be there above your reply. :j

Puddleglum

Congratulations xpender, brilliant news.

When things get even tougher....:eek: I don't know, it scares me really. I feel as though we are already pared back to the bones. Although, in a banterish chat at work the other day I did realise that I could always sell my little economical car and buy a phut, phut moped. It is a 20 mile journey each way every day and this week I have had to put in £25 of petrol for the first time.

We enjoyed the Vicar's program last night, he is a remarkable man, even DS (11) is looking forward to the next one.

Fairly gloomy day here so have spent my time potting up my veggie plants. Hope everyone is frugalling happily.

Puddleglum

top_drawer_2

Thanks Blairweech for mentioning that Ebay are doing another free listings weekend, I just listed four items on there and am really hoping that I can sell them at decent prices - sick of things going for not much more than the p and p.

Are we allowed to mention our seller names, maybe we could sell to one another?

slowlyfading

Evening everyone

I need to do a mini update of my signature due to going out for a meal last night but still doing reasonably well I think. Been up two mountains in the Lakes today so I'm feeling pretty tired, but it resulted in a NSD so not all bad!

Hope everyone is well x