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

NualaBuala

Morning everyone :wave:

I hope you're all enjoying your long weekend!

Erme wrote: »

PS that sofa was only £5 from thrift store and the aim is to cover it completely in afghan and the pile of laundry @ the left side is actually my ironing pile :P

Wow Erme, you are brilliant at crochet - it's huge already and looks like a very complicated pattern. BTW your laundry pile is very tiny compared with mine! :rotfl:

You got great bargains Blairweech. We don't seem to have many carboots over here, none at all near me. That may be just as well cos I am feeling very spendy at the moment and the lure of bargains would loosen my purse strings even more. Thank you for sharing the reusable sandwich wrap idea - I love it! Green and frugal! :T:T:T

Jayday, I have overspent this month too but don't have the excuse of weddings or birthdays!

After months of being quite disciplined, I sort of cracked this month and spent lots on groceries, a book (although I'd vowed to buy none till I've read all I've got), takeaways, cuppas out. Expensive antvirals didn't help either! I must strengthen my reslove for June.

I found a site called Grooveshark that lets you search for songs/artists/albums and you can listen to them online for free. I had tried some others but they only had trials and then you had to pay - this is totally free. Thought I'd share the link in case anyone likes that kind of thing - it seems legal, no downloads or anything. I have a great mix of dodgy hits of the 80s as well as some less embarrassing stuff lol! Which reminds me - did anyone watch the Eurovision? I really enjoyed it - hard luck UK! I was delighted Ireland didn't get nul pointes but beyond that, I just enjoy it for the spectacle and don't really care who wins.

I hope it stays dry this week as I need to get a lot more garden waste bagged up for another trip to the dump. Am also overhauling the overgrown flowerbed in the front - partly cos I enjoy it and partly because we are planning to sell the house and the prettier things look, the better.

Hope you all have a lovely day. Hugs to anyone who'd like one!

grandma247

There are a few different bags for lunch on here too
http://www.sewingsupport.com/sewing-how-to-free-patterns-and-projects-bags-lunch-bags.html

landregistrylass

Afternoon all - I haven't been around much, and over the next week definitely wont be. Work has been long hours, and then the allotment calls, and going through the clothes I have in the loft for the DGS. We call it "Nanny's next time box cos whenever we take a look there is always something that's just a little bit too big, but will be great for next time they are here. Going to Yorkshire for the twins 6th birthday in 2 weeks - how can that be??? I remember the day they were born so vividly. All the seeds are now in the plastic greenhouse or straight into the allotment - looking good Heuston Control. Or was.......... until the wind blew over the greenhouse yesterday. PANIC.......... we managed to save everything, but made changes to the way we are holding it down. Don't want to come home from work and find it on next doors garden!! Hope everyone is well. I see there are many congratulations to be made, and commiserations for some....... but beaming good vibes everyone's way, whatever your position. See you soon.

cw18

Just put the last spends of May into my spreadsheet, so can now report my 'year to date' position



I've jigged a few of the budgets around this month.....

Decided to reduce my C/H cover one to reflect the saving made by shopping around - even though I eventually decided to stay with the same provider on a price match Dropped from £228 to £192 (a £36 saving)

Dropped phone and broadband, as I don't seem to be spending as much on calls as I'd anticipated (partly due to making sure I wait until we hit the 'evening' or 'weekend' hours as that makes them free, and partly due to remembering to use the call allowance on my mobile when I have to make a call to a geographical or mobile number during daytime hours). Dropped from £276 to £252 (a £24 saving)

Reduced groceries to take into account the fact DS is moving out in September. I've currently allowed for him being here for 15 days between 1st Sep and 31st Dec, so may have to make a small increase once he decides when he's actually moving and where he's spending his Uni breaks. Reduced from £1304 to £1122 (a £182 saving)



This means a reduction in allocated money of £242 - all of which has been added to my contingency fund, increasing that from £648 to £890



Still overspent for 'year to date' budgets on Mobile Phone, Dog Expenses, Vets Bills, Breakdown Cover and Road Tax.

Also still overspent on Groceries, but the £37.15 overspend at end of April is now a £60.75 overspend :eek:
As previously mentioned, this includes a substantial amount spent on orders from App F00ds that will keep going for a few months - and I've since realised I've also stock-piled quite a bit of other stuff for later in the year (including almost £10 spent on cod fillets from work when they were on half price). Aiming to try and primarily base June meals around stuff I've bought since 1st Jan, as this should help bring the budget back under control......

I'm now also substantially overspent on Toiletries & Cleaning, which is due to buy some highly recommended (by friends) products to try and strengthen my finger nails. (Stopped biting them at Easter 2009, and at least 1 still splits almost daily)

And also overspent on 'Anything'. This is due to finally replacing some bedding that's be screaming to be allowed to 'retire' for a while, and spending £73.50 in the process

Of my £8k budget, the aim was to spend no more than £3383.33 by the end of May - and I've currently recorded spends of just £2699.44 :T

grandma247

CW you also can strengthen your nails from the inside.
Good quality protein from eggs,meat and fish.Almonds and walnuts, seeds,dark green leafy veg,peas and beans

NualaBuala

Hi everyone and Happy June! :j


Cheryl,

Just in case my ideas are any use to you or someone else, my frugal nail products are:

• Almond oil (or any cooking oil would probably do). It's only a few quid in the pharmacy. Massage it around the nail. Stops hangnails and am told it can strengthen the nail. Probably it is the massage increasing blood flow rather than the oil that works. The oil does leave it nice and shiny so so need for nail varnish (which weakens the nail and requires remover which causes further damage). And now that I think of it, it probably helps the nail withstand the effects of water and detergent for a while.
• Glass or cystal nail file. I got mine as a pressie. In general I like reusable products as they are better for the environment, and usually work out cheaper too. I think you can pick these up relatively cheaply on ebay. They seem to last forever, and unlike emery boards, they don't leave a jagged edge on the nail. I'm told you can file back and forth rather than edge-to-middle as they are so gentle. But I haven't chanced it!
• Salt - ok, this isn't for my nails per se. But it does minimise dry skin around them that catches and turns into hangnails. I get a blob of oil and a bit of salt and give my hands and elbows a wee scrub. Rinse or wipe off and your skin will be beautifully soft and moisturised. Confession: when rubbing oil and salt on baked potatoes, I use the excess for a mini-scrub

Haven't analysed my accounts for May yet but I know it's not great. I have a month to sort out any discrepancies as I want to be fully on track by our midway point.

Have a great day folks and hugs to anyone who'd like one.

Optimisticpair

Hug for you if you are in need of one.

I'm £66.66 over on the "Frugal 5k yr" budget for May due to doing a June grocery shop in May. Our Utility company say they sent the estimated electricity bill but I didn't get it so it didn't get paid, I gave them a reading so I'm awaiting the revised bill which may throw me off meeting the 6 month target.

On the "Everything All In Budget" the car insurance to get this month looks like it will be satisfyingly lower than the estimate which will help a great deal. I hope my PC will last the year out, that would help. More had to be spent on renovating than the budget was set at but some extra cash came in which covered it.

Could be worse.

Erme

Sorry can't reply to posts...feeling rotten ...found out friday friend had gone to Glory...really miss him. Appetite gone and like have bowel trouble (fortunately I got the cream on prescription - free ). Want to go out but too hot and like weak. Don't know what's up with me....Don't want to be phoning the doctors AGAIN!

E

NualaBuala

Huge hugs Erme. :grouphug: I'm so so sorry about your friend. Wish I lived nearby so I could offer you a bit of TLC. And don't you worry about bothering the doctor - that's what they are there for. Will keep you and your friend in my thoughts.

Love,
Nuala x

slowlyfading

bails wrote: »

And SF, did I see you have a job too hun? x

:hello: bails - nice to see you! I do have a job - I sent my first application off in Feb, got an interview and then got the job! Bit daunting, but definitely exciting and I'm hoping to move in with the BF in the next month or so so it's all change this end. I'm SO pleased you got the job :j :j and you sound busy as always, hope you're well x x