FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE part 3, July - Dec 2010

Kerry_Woman

Cheryl - Congrats on your achievement today. Hope your injury gets better soon.

Puddleglum

Great work Cheryl, from the people I know who run, all the injuries seem to be worth it! (I can run for a bus, but sometimes I find myself thinking about breaking into a jog, just for the hell of it.)

For the past couple of weeks I have thought about posting this and then not done it. Since August I have spent my Sundays cooking for the rest of the week, including the following Saturday. It means that Sunday afternoons are generally spent in a grump but come Monday evening when I get back from work to find the rest of the Glums with their mouths opening and closing, muttering about starvation - I am suddenly really happy that all the cooking has been done.

Lots of folks have passed on this little tip before - it really does save money, time, washing up and energy.

Best wishes to all

Puddleglum

top_drawer_2

hey,

Has anyone got any recommendations for straight forward soups?

Today I have boiled up some broccoli and puree it, now its frozen waiting for me to decide what to do with it. I also have a largish amount of ham I have bought cheap too. I was hoping to use some of it in the ham but then I will still have quite a bit left over...
I want to do something new with it but I'm not sure how much I will end up with and I definitely dont want the salty mess I made last time.... I also have three radishes which I have not a clue to do with.

Also can someone clarify whether I can re-use the soil in my garden? I didnt have a lot of success with the carrots with nothing growing but some green foliage ......... the kale seemed to be more bush that actual leaf the GP's would eat). I'm planning on planting garlic and onions, Im also hoping for winter lettuce and some more kale.

Jen

Erme

If anyone wrote any horrid critcisms of my impulse spends I didn't see them...PMT so much better since starting anti depressants...tad hyper this am...so on with the last 2 months of ironing :rotfl:...Hope everyone is well

Vol work could be finishing due to like funding cuts but over that and onwards with routine and afternoon coffees out (either Uni @ 80p or with Mr S card @ £1)

Finally finished the whole of the veg box for the first time since getting them in the summer :j Yay...go me and they really help the budget...Because they work out only £4 a week though still struggling with the cigs..

Might actually phone the elec supplier in a mo with my meter reading because for the last month I've hardly used the fan heater at all since getting in touch with SCARF and I wonder if it'll be down....seriously thinking of giving them a meter reading every month to try and get elec down...what do ppl think to this...

Anyhow WAY past the time ironing should have started so have to go...

E

cw18

Erme wrote: »

Might actually phone the elec supplier in a mo with my meter reading because for the last month I've hardly used the fan heater at all since getting in touch with SCARF and I wonder if it'll be down....seriously thinking of giving them a meter reading every month to try and get elec down...what do ppl think to this...

I have an on-line account (and tarriff) which requires me to submit on-line readings for my gas and electricity every 3 months.

I actually do it every 4 weeks (next due tomorrow), and I find this has made them much more amenable when I want to discuss reducing my Direct Debit due to them having a very accurate picture of my useage trends.

NualaBuala

Hi folks,

Welcome Hollysmum22!

Jayne, great news that your DD got a job!

Thanks Kerry Woman, I will look that up on the internet.

Hope you’re feeling better soon Fishcake

Well done on your race Cheryl and I hope your injury gets better. I like your idea of a stocktake and meal planning around it. This time last year I did something similar and lived off my stores till I did the big Christmas food shop but this year I am just stocking up what I can week by week rather than do one big shop in December.

Jen, I don’t tend to follow recipes for soup – I just use whatever veg I have in (usually onions, carrots and celery). Lately I’ve been adding a little bit of garlic and ginger, and/or a teaspoon of curry spices which makes it very warming. I am also going to try adding soup mix (barley, lentils, split peas) to make it more substantial.
I once used radishes in a stirfry and they were lovely, or else just in a side salad maybe?

Frugaldom wrote: »

Hellooooo... welcome to newbies, welcome back to those who have been AWOL and Erme, an ebook reader? :eek: Sorry, I can't agree with the others, there's no way you'll scrape together savings and clear your debts if you keep letting the impulse buying get out of control. This is a frugal challenge, afterall. No offense meant, but it's not setting a very good example of how to clear debt and live within our means, is it?

Sound advice Frugaldom, although I don't think any of us endorsed the Kindle spend! The nearest to encouraging the spending was my comment on the 20p chocolate being a good price .. but then I am a confirmed chocoholic after all!

My own tip for combatting impulse spending is using a column in the planned spending tab (where I write my shopping lists etc) of my budget spreadsheet to record anything I think I need or want. I date it and leave it a while (a couple of weeks or months) - usually I realise it is just a want, not a need and so it doesn't get bought. It's interesting to look back at the things I really thought I wanted a year ago - some of the things would be gathering dust now if I'd bought them. Some stuff is a genuine need or an acceptable want but I still write it down, spend a while researching and looking for the best price and find a way to fit it in the budget (like my current quest for a hot water bottle).

Erme wrote: »

If anyone wrote any horrid critcisms of my impulse spends I didn't see them...PMT so much better since starting anti depressants...tad hyper this am...so on with the last 2 months of ironing :rotfl:...Hope everyone is well

Vol work could be finishing due to like funding cuts but over that and onwards with routine and afternoon coffees out (either Uni @ 80p or with Mr S card @ £1)

Finally finished the whole of the veg box for the first time since getting them in the summer :j Yay...go me and they really help the budget...Because they work out only £4 a week though still struggling with the cigs..

Might actually phone the elec supplier in a mo with my meter reading because for the last month I've hardly used the fan heater at all since getting in touch with SCARF and I wonder if it'll be down....seriously thinking of giving them a meter reading every month to try and get elec down...what do ppl think to this...

Anyhow WAY past the time ironing should have started so have to go...

E

Nope we didn't Erme I think phoning in monthly meter readings is a great idea, you'll have a better idea of what your costs are and so will they. Shame about the voluntary job but hopefully there will be other opportunities. Great news about PMT! Take care x


Puddleglum :rotfl: at "the Glums"! I agree about the batch cooking. When I am able to do it, I stick on The Archers omnibus podcast and it makes for a pleasant cooking session.

Hi to everyone else and hope everyone is well. Hugs to anyone who wants 'em!

Things are pretty good here. I have gradually saved up 2 month's (very very basic) living expenses - yay! It's nice to know there is something put by just in case. Approximately this time next year my loans will be finished - bring it on! I also have a bit put by for the higher winter gas bills. I added up my usage for a year and averaged it out so every month I saved a bit towards the winter bills. I am trying to keep the heating off though, making do with the open fire when it's cold in the evenings. What is not so good is that I am seeing my food bill rise so I will have to figure out a way of dealing with that. The money so far has been siphoned from other categories like transport that I have underspent in. I am starting to think about next year's budget and it won't be easy as my income is less and prices are more. But I will find a way to manage, I always do somehow.

Fishcake_Random

Hello frugallers,0
I am feeling much much better thank goodness. I hate being ill and at the moment it seems to be all the time!!!
Todays plans are watching the second series of supernatural and yet more sock knitting. They are coming along really well, although the red and green is turning out a little christmassy.
Also yesterday I went to support my brother run a 10k run for cancer research. He made it in just under an hour which was his target and raised nearly £200 for the charity. I was so proud of him and also inspired to try a run for myself. I just wouldnt know where to start as I doubt I could run a step. So I was thinking maybe getting into long walks for the winter, we have a lot of lovely sea front to walk along round here. Thats more than I do now and I definitely need a gently break in. So by the time it start warming up next year I might be ready to jog the routes, then build it up and up? I'm not sure. Nice free (ish) hobby though.
x x x

NualaBuala

Glad you're feeling better Fishcake. Have you considered the Couch to 5k programme? It starts you off nice and gentle. Cheryl is our running guru so I'm sure she will advise more.:)

cw18

Fishcake_Random wrote: »

Also yesterday I went to support my brother run a 10k run for cancer research. He made it in just under an hour which was his target and raised nearly £200 for the charity.

That's a fantastic result all round

I was so proud of him and also inspired to try a run for myself. I just wouldnt know where to start as I doubt I could run a step. So I was thinking maybe getting into long walks for the winter, we have a lot of lovely sea front to walk along round here. Thats more than I do now and I definitely need a gently break in. So by the time it start warming up next year I might be ready to jog the routes, then build it up and up? I'm not sure.

I'd recommend the Couch to 5k program (C25K) which is available on the 'net. But working up to it by walking over the winter sounds a great idea - I already walked loads (and faster than family/friends/neighbours could keep up with )

Nice free (ish) hobby though.

Other than the cost of a good pair of running shoes (which I seriously recommend come from a proper store who'll check your gait to make sure you're going to minimise the risk of injury) and properly fitting sports underwear (bras) - the former has made a serious dent into my income this year !!!

NualaBuala

Cheryl, meant to ask how things are with OH? I know you were both so busy with different things you hadn't seen each other in a good while. Hope all's ok one way or another. x