FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE part 3, July - Dec 2010

Erme

Och in a few days I'm going to apply for a paid post (just 6 hours a week) at one of my old charity shops ...should be good....

and like my welfare check is going from weekly to fortnightly beg of sept - sounds madness - tis not cos middle week I get my big 4 weekly check.

and I so need to sit down and do my stats for the past few months for this challenge but hey ho....can wait

E

JayneC

Hi everyone.

DS is fine - was pleased to be home but he was ok.

Have just updated spreadsheet and have spent less than half my budget (although it's not completely accurate as I've had lapses when not filled in properly but it's not too far off) was feeling quite pleased then realised got to pay for hols yet and back to school stuff (reckon it will be £200 to kit out DS for secondry school:eek:) and Christmas. Thinking a close look at what's needed and where can cut back is needed!

Going to cash in some Tesco vouchers before I go away for eating out and entrance to Alton Towers!! We decided we're going to camp for a few extra days in Buxton on way back from Off - Grid so promised DS we could go to Alton Towers as iit's not too far from there.

Will be off to my 'other' garden today as sun is actually shining - been peeing down all week!!

Hugs to everyone X

Erme

Just found out approved foods have 10% off today cos it's their birthday....just enter the code Birthday :j

E

grandma247

Erme thanks so much for that code. I just placed my first order. I got two of the buckets of apple so there will be a lot of baking done here but will either freeze or re-bottle some of it.

Frugaldom

Still frugaling, still recording all the spends, still reading, just not posting much these days. Appropriate responses where due re health, wealth and happiness.

Grocery budget going a bit wonky owing to price rises in certain categories, so had to put that back up to £1200 for 12 months for 3 of us. Anything less is getting to within ridiculous levels, even with the fruit & veg from garden, baking all my own bread, cakes & biscuits and shopping from Approved Food & Food Bargains. Have had to increase it simply to afford to have Scruffy kitten cat as part of the household.

Get fitter, not fatter challenge going quite well, have lost over a stone, so far, but still got same again to go. Aim is to reach original target by New Year and then go from there.

Making most of this glorious sunny weather - working in garden, getting some painting & repairs done, collecting firewood and planting the winter veggies.

Savings target only £300 short for this year, so that's going well, but absolutely not a hope of filling an ISA unless I win the money. Work is thin on the ground, but I have no intentions of going out and working for anyone else, so frugalisation is still my main priority.

Went run into town today to top up on a few essentials. My 'EEK' challenge is in credit and, of my original £4k, I've spent £2,074.02 so far. That's equivalent to just under £65 per week for everything household related.


Think that's me summarised just about everything for now. Hope some of you are able to enjoy this glorious weather - don't grudge us it if you have rain, it's usually us with the rain.

top_drawer_2

Hey,

Sorry I havent been around much lately, studying for exams which start next Tuesday. On the upside I havent spent anything at all really as I simply dont have time too, what I have spent has all been food and essentials. I am finding though that I have spent a bit on fast food more than I would norrmally, stresses induces me to want to eat bad things!

I have just been out in the garden now and picked some spuds for tea and come across this - WHAT IS IT? Any ideas??? I also opened up a bag of compost I have had for awhile and on all the compost there is like a white stuff, any ideas what this is and whether I can still use? I'm going to cross post on the veggie thread too as Im quite worried.

Thanks all,

Jem

NualaBuala

No idea Jen ... but just wanted to say




When do they finish?

grandma247

TD the potato looks like it has scab. Just google potato scab and lots of images will come up. Also the white on the compost is likely a fungus but is probably not harmful it is just part of the process of compost being broken down.Airing the compost should get rid of it.

top_drawer_2

NualaBuala wrote: »

No idea Jen ... but just wanted to say




When do they finish?

Exams finish friday of next week. I have five in all, two on Tuesday :eek::eek:

I will do as you suggest Grandma, thanks everyone!

Jen

NualaBuala

grandma247 wrote: »

TD the potato looks like it has scab. Just google potato scab and lots of images will come up. Also the white on the compost is likely a fungus but is probably not harmful it is just part of the process of compost being broken down.Airing the compost should get rid of it.

Grandma247, is there anything you don't know?! :T

Jen, at least they'll be over and done with then ... hope you've got some kind of reward lined up for yourself