FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE part 3, July - Dec 2010

JayneC

http://www.littlebrowndress.com/brown%20dress%20archive%20home.htm

Found this - about a woman who wore the same dress (that she made herself) everyday for a year, now that's frugal! It was as much about making a protest about commerciality as saving money, maybe I'll give it a go

Mooloo charity shops are my downfall too - have stopped going into them now, in fact I avoid shops altogether as much as possible. Especially supermarkets, the local food group that I belong to held a public showing of the film FOOD Inc on Saturday, very scray stuff. Not only did it show food production methods as unpleasant but also downright dangerous, I'm now going to make a concerted effort to avoid big supermarkets altogether. We have a local independent supermarket here that sells locally produced stuff so I'm going to make an effort to use them instead of Mr T or Mr S
.

CW you're doing fab with the weight loss, what a turnaround to have to force yourself to eat more and still be losing weight. Might it be worth having a look around charity shops for black trousers?

Landregistrylass I work in local government too, scary times indeed. I work in Children's Social Care and hoped we'd not be too hard hit (with baby P still being on everyone's mind) but the axe is already falling, job vacancies not being filled, people being forced to take unmanagable caseloads and becoming ill and good projects being scrapped. Still you can't live your life worrying too much about what if, have to think about what you can do and you're having fun with your DGS's!

Erme good to see you back, was wondering where you'd got to. I'm sure comments weren't made to upset you, we're all friends here and sometimes friends are the only people to say the things you don't want to hear, anyways you take care of yourself x

Thinking about why we're doing this and motivation, mine is to try and reduce my outgoings to as little as possible so that I can work (for someone else) as little as possible! It's really hard when you're bombarded with images of 'stuff' that will allegedly make your lefe better but it's all a load of carp! I don't watch TV anymore (unless it's a specific programme I'm interested in) don't buy glossy magazines and avoid going into supermarkets and shops taht are designed to get us to part with our money. I come here, read books and magazines that will inspire rather than depress me and think about what I value most - my kids, my time, my health and having fun!!!

Well it's piddling down here so maybe I'll sort through all the car boot stuff taht I never managed to take to car boot after all and see if any of it is ebayable, if not it's off to Freegle. Maybe I'll get some baking done too.

Have agood day everyone x

mardatha

Nuala, try some porridge oats in a bag and dunk it in the bath or hang it from the taps. I guarantee you'll be amazed at the difference in the water. Its a softener. Lenor for skin LOL !

landregistrylass

Morning all
Thanks Nualabuala - we ARE having a good time! Today its cinema with Mr T vouchers - so basically free. Spap bol for tea with whoopsied mince and roasted toms from our home grown glut. Tried on halloween outfits this morning, to much hilarity, from my "Next Time" box ........ (I buy things from car boot sales as I see them and pop them away til the boys come and it doesnt fit it stays in the Next Time box til it does!!!) We have a Formula 1 pit outfit, a Red Indian chief (sorry should that be native american???) and Superman. Sorted. think I will have a glass of wine tonight, not frugal.........but necessary LOL

knithappens

managed a NSD yesterday, cant say the sme for today as bought a tesco sim, £10 onthly contract for 500 minutes, 3000 text etc - so hopefully will save me some money. looks like we will be staying in today as the rain is not letting up plus i have to wait in for my dell netbook to be picked up as it weent poop again and wont switch on

busy listing bits to sell on netmums,and baby centre, if they dont sell there will post on ebay - off to take soem pics,

pink_numbers

NualaBuala wrote: »

It seems RV is a man of many talents! Hmmm, this is interesting cos I have a 6kg bucket of Epsom salts. I love them in my bath but it doesn't exactly look pretty. I like the idea of turning it into bath tea. Hmmm, I have a bit of muslin somewhere. Think I might have some lavender. Have porridge ... although I do not want to sit in a bath full of porridge. :rotfl:

you can make really pretty bath snowballs with epsom salt, colouring and essential oils. It's also much easier than bath bombs because if you put too much water, well, the snow balls aren't going to start fizzing away on its own!

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/natural-beauties-bath-snowballs

NualaBuala

Thanks Pink and Mar, I think this is something I could have a go at! I don't really do pressies for adults but am wondering if anyone would like these, I reckon it would depend on how nicely I packaged them. I will do the porridge Mar ... I had heard it's really good for dry or senstive skin. But I had a vision of me sitting like a big prune in a bath full of lumpy porridge. Not pretty!!!

Landregistrylass, I've read so many books on frugal living but your ideas top anything I've read. I LOVE the frugal fun you're having! :T And the Next Time box is a fab idea.

Knithappens - I am jealous, you got a great deal there. I have the cheapest mobile phone package I could find over here. I pay €10 a month for 50 minutes and 50 texts. Which means I hardly ever ring anyone! I worked out that PAYG would be dearer for me than the tenner I'm paying at the moment. I know the UK is a bigger market but I am having price-envy!

JayneC wrote: »

Thinking about why we're doing this and motivation, mine is to try and reduce my outgoings to as little as possible so that I can work (for someone else) as little as possible! It's really hard when you're bombarded with images of 'stuff' that will allegedly make your lefe better but it's all a load of carp! I don't watch TV anymore (unless it's a specific programme I'm interested in) don't buy glossy magazines and avoid going into supermarkets and shops taht are designed to get us to part with our money. I come here, read books and magazines that will inspire rather than depress me and think about what I value most - my kids, my time, my health and having fun!!!

Well it's piddling down here so maybe I'll sort through all the car boot stuff taht I never managed to take to car boot after all and see if any of it is ebayable, if not it's off to Freegle. Maybe I'll get some baking done too.

Have agood day everyone x

Jayne, I loved the little brown dress thing. I hate consumerism and it's a fab idea. I'm not saying I want just one outfit but I love the idea of simplifying my clothes, simplifying everything really.

I agree that telly, magazines, shops etc - they 're all designed to make us feel that what we have, what we are isn't good enough. So I avoid it all as much as possible ( I do watch TV but avoid the ads), then I feel I have plenty, too much even.



I have just copped that I have PMS today ... feeling really irritated and over-emotional - but have nobody to take it out on! So my plan for the day will probably involve eating any choc I can lay my hands on. :EasterBun

thriftylass

Hello frugalites,

Not sure if some of you remember me but I've not been on this forum properly for over a year I think and wondered if you'd let me join back in, please :T (as a trainee/lurker for the rest of the year and than full time next year)? It's been a busy/stressful year with loads going on (maybe explain later) but my main reason for coming back is that i'm finally pregnant (14 weeks ) and need to start tightening the purse strings again. I've not been too bad spending wise but need to get my budget hat on again.

I try to catch up a bit today after work and do my signature.

thriftylass

Kerry_Woman

mardatha and pink - Thanks for your tips. A great idea and worth a try.

Nuala - I also heard that oats for good for dry skin. As my Mum and I both have psorasis, I think we have do give it a try. Would not cost a lot either.

slowlyfading

thrifty - welcome back and congrats! :j

I'm still doing this, just got nothing exciting to post. I am enjoying half term though

thriftylass

slowlyfading wrote: »

thrifty - welcome back and congrats! :j

I'm still doing this, just got nothing exciting to post. I am enjoying half term though

Thanks, and congratulation to your engagement, just saw your signature.