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

JayneC

Hiya everyone,

Sending lots of hugs out there, seems summer isn't bringing enough sunshine Hope evryone feels better soon.

Well went to the farm yesterday and it was ok, we got covered in cow poo though but learnt a lot about cows n stuff and DS won a book in a competition - it's a nature book tho and not sure it's 'cool' enough for an 11 year old hitting puberty lol. We'll see when it arrives. He's my youngest and I'm still a bit in denial about him growing up!! It was free entry but managed to spend nearly £20 on milkshakes and burgers, etc (there was a hog roast!) - will come out of holiday budget. Would probably been cheaper and more useful to go to the car boot sale!!

My friend is having a clothes swop party on Saturday so hopefully get some new things for free. Have got DDs clearing their wardrobes too! I'll let you know if it was any good...

Garden is growing well still. Read a booklet from the farm day that said 90% of the fruit we eat in this country is imported (inc 66% of the apples we eat) so have resolved to try and grow more fruit. May do a bit of Guerilla Gardening on the field at top of the park nearby!!

Anyways off for a mooch about. Back soon xx

Erme

Yeah Jayne I keep thinking about guerilla gardening but that's as far as I get...there's a few bits near me (like neglected raised bed in the carpark etc) that could do with some tlc...sure the council won't really mind so long as it's nothing illegal...And am up early enough (no later than 6am) so sure I could do it one of these early ams....

Good luck with it...

Good day yesterday. Took dressing off burn (leg variety just now) and has HUGE blister so what do I get from the drug store to harden that up? Otherwise is fine...praying for a nice day so I can keep dressing off. I guess if I wear tights though dressing will HAVE to go back on...

And at some point must wax legs so need to look on Thrifty Fun for recipes. It is summer (supposidly)...what's happened to Nuala....hope she's okay? Maybe I should pm her later?

Hugs

E

top_drawer_2

JayneC wrote: »

Hiya all,

Top_drawer, do let me know if you decide to go to the Festival, we could meet up if you like? Made a bit of a list of all the things I need for camping and it's prob gonna be a bit more expensive than fisrt anticipated, lol:D Still not too bad tho and when I've got everything I've got it IYSWIM.

It would be lovely to go but I think it would be expensive too (especially as I dont have much of the stuff) and I don't think I could enjoy it on my own IYKWIM. I will ask around people (getting out and about more and more now) and see if maybe someone else would be interested.

Jen

NualaBuala

Hi everyone :wave:

Erme, you're such a pet noticing I was gone! I was lurking over on the vegan thread - it's soooo long and it's taking me forever to read through! How are you doing at the mo? Big mega hugs and hope you're ok.

And big hugs to whitewing andeveryone else - sounds like there are a few of us who need them!

Ceridwen - I really hope I get to go to Plum Village. I think Thich Nhat Hanh is fantastic but even apart from him being the teacher, it sounds like a wonderful place. From what I know he blends Zen with a bit of Theravada but it is quite non-sectarian - his message is peace and love. It sounds corny but that appeals to me. They practice mindfulness all day in everything they do from washing the dishes to talking and of course when they are sitting meditating. I've already stayed in one Buddhist community and loved it so it would be great to see a different way of doing it. One thing I like is that they are vegan (which I am trying to be) - because of the principle of not harming anything. In the place I stayed (Amaravati near Hemel Hempstead) the food was delicious and varied - it was all donated by the community so you never knew what you'd get!

Snugglebum - good to see you back!

And it's never to late to start being frugal F1mania - welcome! You'll find loads of info in the first couple of posts. Just jump in and start frugalising. We all have different budgets to reflect our different circumstances so maybe you could start by trying to do up a budget that suits you? I like to record everything I spend in a spreadsheet - it helps me keep track and see how much each category needs. This year is a sort of learning year for me so I'm finding out how much each category needs. There is a link to Cheryl's spreadsheet in one of those first posts in case you want to use it and she is great at helping people out with technical difficulties. Or you could use a little notebook to record your spends in. Anyway - good luck!


I confess that I have not succeeded with doing meal plans properly. I just have a load of veg that needs using so it's getting eaten in salads every day. I used to dislike salad till I learned that using a nice homemade dressing and adding nuts and seeds can make it delicious!

And I'm using up stufff from the freezer to go with it. I decided to try to eat vegan from now on but it's a gradual transition while I learn about nutrition and use up the last bits of dairy and fish etc in my freezer. I have spent my whole month's food budget already but on the positive side my store cupboards and freezer are full and my night out cost me €2.80 so the finances are not too bad. :j

Have a great day folks!

NualaBuala

top_drawer wrote: »

It would be lovely to go but I think it would be expensive too (especially as I dont have much of the stuff) and I don't think I could enjoy it on my own IYKWIM. I will ask around people (getting out and about more and more now) and see if maybe someone else would be interested.

Jen

I know what you mean Jen - although I have the impression that this is a friendly sort of event where it would be easy to hook up with likeminded people.

There are so many things I want to go to and I don't think I can afford any of them! I think I should use this to renew my frugal motivation!

redglass_2

Top_drawer, you can harvest the potatoes when the tops die off. If you make sure to give them plenty of water from the flowering period onwards you'll get bigger spuds.;)

Erme, cut the soap up and heat it in a small amount of water till it's soft. You can either press it together when it gets cold enough or use the absolute minimum of water and just let it set like a jelly, so you get soft soap like shower gloop or maybe lumpy soap! Some people microwave it in a glass bowl (I've tried this and it was OK) and/or add gycerine.

Did anybody have an answer to my V*rgin wine box question btw? I think it's probably not such a great deal but if you do get really good stuff cheap it'd be a pity to miss out.

xnatalie81x

hey all - all good here. Some major reshuffling of budget here BUT i will tell you all soon as not really ready to talk about it yet xxxxxx - bump getting hoooooooooooge!

Lots of hugs and love to all xxx

Erme

redglass wrote: »

Top_drawer, you can harvest the potatoes when the tops die off. If you make sure to give them plenty of water from the flowering period onwards you'll get bigger spuds.;)

Erme, cut the soap up and heat it in a small amount of water till it's soft. You can either press it together when it gets cold enough or use the absolute minimum of water and just let it set like a jelly, so you get soft soap like shower gloop or maybe lumpy soap! Some people microwave it in a glass bowl (I've tried this and it was OK) and/or add gycerine.

Did anybody have an answer to my V*rgin wine box question btw? I think it's probably not such a great deal but if you do get really good stuff cheap it'd be a pity to miss out.

Do I need to grate it or just cut it up? Why does it need to be in a glass bowl in the microwave? can't a plastic one do?

Thanks

Have been burning the candle @ both ends so am very tired...otherwise okay...

And short of carrots for carrot juice :P...

Blessings

E

Puddleglum

redglass wrote: »

Hiya + welcome back Snugglebum!

I'm mostly lurking these days but I do look in from time to time.

I've just switched gas and electricity and have been offered one of those V*rgin deals "get £60 off a case of wine, normally sells at £100 but yours for £44, which means luxury wine at £3.99 a bottle' - you know the sort of thing.

I've always been suspicious of the ad man so I'm inclined to hold back a while and take advice. Has anyone on the forum tried these deals? Are they any good?

PS FIManiac that's right, it's never too late!
Redglass

Go for it. They are really good deals. We get the wine case and try to limit ourselves to a bottle a week but tbh we always run out before the next one is due.

The beer case has arrived for the first time today and I am eyeing up a bottle for this evening. You know how it is after a long hard day's work in this heat!

Puddleglum

Erme

Just done the gloop. It's in a plastic dish.Took 30secs on an 800watt micro. :eek: Handmade soap was better than 13p for 3 saver stuff. Mixed than in to and it didn't melt...but the reason I did it was cos the 13p bar was on it's last legs...

Maybe you need to grate the really hard cheap stuff? Wonder what is has in it? Thought soap was soap?

E