FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE part 3, July - Dec 2010

NualaBuala

I guess that's the way with all eatling plans Jayne, just do the best you can even if it's not always 100% perfect. You have such an interesting life ... please remember us if some director discovers you and you become the next Julia Roberts lol!

I had some transactions show up months later on my statements. It'd been long enough that I assumed I'd already paid and thought I was richer than I was.:mad: So maybe you could set the money aside just in case they bill you later?

Erme

On the good side I got all the mixing bottles for the nicotine for the ENI off the chemist for free cos they mucked up my propylene glycol

On the bad side I have since last night lost my zispin and I have searched high and low and have no idea where I put it

I was completely zombiefied till yesterday lunch (about 2pm) on it having taken it @8pm and then had low blood pressure. So last night took extra chlorpromazine to help me sleep.

It wouldn't be so bad but like I only got it off the hospital doctor on Tuesday and like there won't be a note @ the GP's by today when I now need to get some more cos I've hunted high and low and can't find it.

So I need to find it or like get another script :eek: and due to trying to get used to the side effects preferably before the weekend.

Bit worried about all these cuts to the NHS though don't exactly know what they are....

Anyhow so far budget going better this week than last month so here's hoping whilst I'm half awake (having not taken the zispin last night) I can do a grocery shop and stuff....

E

Frugaldom

Just popping in to say congratulations, XNatX! Swim school sounds like it's following a very successful route and I'm glad you got a payment sorted for the kids. Hope all goes swimmingly well for you in November!

alec_eiffel

Hi everyone,

Just nipped onto this thread for the first time yesterday and was inspired to sit down with DH last night and look at our budget on an annual level, rather than just the month to month we usually do. It was such a great thing to do and we found it to be a real eye opener. It really hit home that just because we can afford something doesn't mean it's a good idea to spend that amount on it - some of the totals were not huge but really not value for money. So, when we didn't think there were many areas to save we have a new found vigour for the budget. Thanks!

Best wishes to you all.

Erme

I got another prescription yesterday for zispin but then run out of coffee and the cigs aren't going very well this am...Just had one though not had one since 5am and aim to go till 9am without any...Did 5.5 hours yesterday on e-cig :j which considering I'm far from well etc etc is okay...

Also got a good find in a charity shop (at least I think it's a good find) a never been used Butterfly Elite 3 litre stainless steel pressure cooker :money: so will be making houmous soon

Anyhow don't know if I'm going to vol work this am or if I'm going to make bread whilst awake (took proper coffee before bed - whoops and had 2 this am so am wide awake!!!) and then go food shopping...

Hope everyone is well

E

Frugaldom

Welcome Alec Eiffel, thanks for taking the time to pay us a visit. Guaranteed, no matter how skint or how prudent we may think we are, there is always space for frugalising the budget. It gets better all the time, because no debts + frugaling = savings in the bank (or wherever else you might stash your cash).

Erme, I'm surprised you have any space left in your kitchen by the number of bits and pieces you've accrued over the past year or so. Did you ever get the washing machine problem resolved? (Sorry, I can't remember what you said about that.)

Hope everyone's doing OK on here, apologies for having taken my posts elsewhere. I do still read and comment whenever I can.

Erme

Argh yes indeed..I am the QUEEN of useless gadgets LOL

Some I freecycle..some are in cupboards waiting to go on ebay once I'm well (think Kenwood food processor) some just get put on the top shelf and forgotten about...

It wouldn't be possible but like the council put in a new kitchen about 2.5 years ago so it's very much possible

Map of kitchen (if I can do it)


|-|---Scales----coffee machine---|
FF Micro
| Slow Cooker
Food Processor Oven
Juicer Coffee bits and bobs
| |
Chair |
|Door----Sink (washing

---

Cookbooks
Machine
Below)


There are cupboards below scales and coffee machine, above/below everything else bar oven and FF. Below sink and above and below FP and coffee stuff and Micro. The cupboards go upto 3 shelves high I think...In the corner where there's cookbooks there is corner unit (very deep) for pots and pans)....The washing machine is second hand (refurbished) and came out of savings (£150) and the FF is also second hand and was £139 (bad overdraft)....

DV I've finally paid off this stupid overdraft this month (yay) and like now I save till January when I start paying extra off the loan

E

PS. That didn't work...the micro, slow cooker, coffee bits and bobs and cookbooks are all on the right hand side (cookbooks in corner)...the window is above the coffee machine)

JayneC

HI everyone,

Well I checked my e-mails to see if my Chicken food transaction was in there but , no... Only the dispatch e-mail (well 2 dispatch e-mails actually) I can see where my parcels went and who dealt with them but not how I paid?? Ah well just need to make sure I have enough in my account to cover it.

Am struggling a bit this month as have had quite a few big payments to make, hoping I can stay within my overdraft - daily checks of bank account will be needed. I have some mystery shopping payments due, but that won't be much. All helps though eh? Will be needing to be extra careful.

Have loads of stuff for carbooting but weather has been pants last few weekends and am looking after DGS tonight so will have him in the morning (no fun carbooting with a 2 year old!) plus DS has mates staying for birthday sleepover so won't get there again tomorrow. Think they finish at the end of Oct so hopefuly will get there next week.

Take care everyone x

NualaBuala

Hi folks :wave:

Am snuggled up on the couch catching up on all my favourite threads and watching The X Factor (one of my many guilty pleasures lol).

Erme, well done on the cigs. Your kitchen sounds fab! I love seeing other people's kitchens so your layout description is the next best thing.

Jayne, hope you manage to stay within the overdraft - hopefully you'll get to go carbooting soon and make a fortune! I've never even been to one. I have lots I could sell but no car so not much good.

I spent what feels like a fortune today on a big shop in Mr T - but then realised that includes a big tin of Roses which were half price and will be a good standby Christmas pressie for someone. Not sure if it's the same in the UK but there were lots of special offers on what I'd call Christmas pressie chocs, might get another few bits and force myself not to eat them.

Hope everyone is well and hugs to anyone who'd like one.

N x

Erme

I did the same thing with a Mr L shop today and an approved foods shop (inspired by frugaldom)...

From Approved foods I got

• Hovis Strong Wholemeal Bread Flour 1500g £0.50 10
• Easy Washing Up Liquid Antibacterial Action 625ml £0.59 Bertolli Polposa Passata Tomato Puree 700g £0.39 1 £0.39
• Traditional Biscuit Assortment 1kg £0.99 2
• Ainsley Harriott Tomato Tango Cous Cous 200g £0.29 3
• Sammys Snack Pack Couscous Chicken and Mushroom 70g £0.17 6
• Sammys Snack Pack Couscous Tomato and Roast Vegetable 70g £0.17 6
• Chefs Larder Mayonnaise 2500ml £1.49 1 £1.49
• De Identified Caesar Dressing 260ml £0.39 1 £0.39
• Hellmanns Light Ketchup 465g £0.39 1 £0.39
• Kraft Milk Chocolate Caramelized Almond 100g £0.20 5

Sub Total £16.97
Shipping £7.50
TOTAL £24.47

The biscuits are for the student veg garden (We need biscuits) and the choc is was to get the cheaper postage for being over 29kg...

The mayo though looks HUGE and such a good price......

I'm just stocking up in case I'm bed bound next weekend

You never know..

So feel bad for going like £35 into next week's monies but so long as I only buy milk, coffee and cigs I should be okay...

Hope everyone is well

Hugs

E