FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE part 3, July - Dec 2010

Kiwisaver_2

NualaBuala wrote: »

Haribo Starmix I got for them which just happens to my be current favourite jelly sweeties.

Mmmn, now I am envious, if I were nearer I would dress as a witch and come knock on your door. I lurve Haribo Jelly Babies, Fried Eggs, Sours and well almost anything actually.

Probably a tad premature but I have finished my 2011 Budget, sticking to same overall total with a different mix of categories. I have been robbing Peter to pay Paul to afford yoga classes that weren't even on the horizon when I budgeted for this year, so I'm pleased I manage to squeezed that one in as a separate official category and have slashed my 'Everything Else' slush fund for incidental bits and bobs / books / clothes / gifts / pocket money.

grandma247

Thriftkitten A joint that big can take anywhere between 8 and 12 hours to cook but it is worth it. I just add a tiny amount of water in the bottom because the joint will make its own liquid. Add whatever flavouring you want to it. I leave mine in overnight.

Thriftkitten

grandma247 wrote: »

Thriftkitten A joint that big can take anywhere between 8 and 12 hours to cook but it is worth it. I just add a tiny amount of water in the bottom because the joint will make its own liquid. Add whatever flavouring you want to it. I leave mine in overnight.

Thanks for that grandma, D'oh left it a little too late as I wanted it for tonight's dinner, may leave it in until about 4pm and then finish in oven for an hour that way it would of had about 6 hours slow cooking.

Erme

landregistrylass wrote: »

Erme - you are so naughty showing pics of that delicious baking when everyone has been talking about losing weight. Will let you off if you send me a slice. .

Yeah you can have a slice...it was a very cheap cake apart from the nuts and very easy to do...

Having a semi veg day this am...so wish I could have a normal day of routine but I have like training scheme this pm.

My weight has gone up with all the doughnuts etc I've been eating lately...Upto 10 stone 3 from 9.5 stone so like whilst that's a semi good thing I figure I will have to cut back on the cake and do more exercise...

Hope everyone is well

E

Fishcake_Random

Hello all,
Not been online for a few days as various things keep popping up. My toothache/jaw ache is finally gone thank goodness so I'm really feeling better. Fishfinger is having a sleepy day today so I am learning to crochet, my first attempt is a granny blanket and its coming along pretty well. I was thinking about using the gigantic bag of wool I brought for a £1 to make some blankets for the people at my nan's care home. Its a SS care home and some of the people there have nothing, and have pretty much just been dumped there. Some amazing people live there to, its such a sadness to see how some people consider life worthless.
I'd never let my parents go in a home unless it was for their own safety as I know sometimes things like alzheimers can make people violent ect. I fully intend to care for my parents the same way they cared for me.
x x x x

thriftylass

Hello fellow frugalites,

After having been absent since the start of the year I thought I write a little (long ) update.

Well, we finally got the house on the market, but it was probably too late as there is hardly any interest. The market is quite slow here atm anyway. So we might take it off again and put it back on after the baby is born, we’ll see. I’m also a bit worried about maybe selling and then not having anywhere to stay when the baby is due. At least we finally have heating, although it’s only storage heaters. We wanted GCH but that would have cost us £5000 rather than the £1000 we paid now, plus most of the floor would have needed to come up.

Although I’ve not been actively budgeting my spending wasn’t too bad the last months and I managed to save a nice lump sum for the new house (either to supplement the deposit and/or to furnish it), which is safely tucked away in an ISA :T. So now I’m working on building up a rainy day/ baby fund. Included in that will also be money to fly my parents over twice next year (around the due date and for our first joined Christmas with BF’s dad next year), as they can’t afford to pay for this. Expecting a frugalmite helps as I now also save quite a lot of money not going out drinking and smoking any more.

Initially, I was scared about how much a frugalmite costs but then we already had loads of offers of second hand stuff like clothes and a moses basket. The only thing I’ll probably buy new is the car seat as everyone says that needs to be new for safety reasons.

I thought I join back in because I need to learn to stick to a budget again as finances will be tighter on maternity leave and after when we have to pay for nursery (£600-750/month :eek:). Plus I really like this forum around the time of Christmas as it’s so inspirational for craft/gift ideas etc.



I think that’ll be it for now
Till later

knithappens

picked up a bissell carpet cleaner , the sweeper for 9.99 from home bargains today, wanted a bissell one for ages, my daughter keeps callingme a "saddo" - means i dont have to use the hoover as much, so less electricity.

chika

Knit happens I'm a saddo too. Our hoover broke down recently and I went out and bought a stiff brush! No electricity to waste using a hoover and it works just as well.

Good news here today. My sister got a cheque from HMRC for overpaid tax so I thought I'd see if I was due any too. I gave them a call this morning on the pretence of making sure they had my new address and asked if I was due anything back. The lady put me on hold and came back and said I was due a refund from 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 so I'm rather happy. She didn't tell me how much it was but even if it is a tenner it will help towards the new car I need. Happy days!

Fishcake_Random

Ohhhhh bargin for me, my neighbours just popped round to let me know they are away for a few days and to give me some bits from the fridge that they dont want to waste. I am now the proud owner of a beef knuckle. What on earth do I do with it??? Ideas guys?
x x x

JayneC

Hi evryone,

thanks for all the birthday wishes, had a lovely day.

had to take car for MOT today so waiting to see what happens there, also having it serviced, it's not been done for a year so really needs doing, so going to be expensive either way... Stupid cars!! If I didn't need it for work I'd seriously consider getting rid! luckily we get a generous mileage allownce so that helps to maintain it. Insurance is really expensive too as I had a lease car and so had to start agian with no no claims!!

Is lovely day again today here but been stuck inside cleaning!! It does look nice when it's been done but cleaining is not my favourite task, still not done baking!

This thread seem to be quite lively lately, it's really good to hear how everybody is getting on. Natalie, well done on your bargain trainers, and your weightloss.
Thrifty, babies cost as much as you want to spend on them really, it's fairly easy to pick up baby things on freecycle, second hand car seats are fine so long as you can be sure it's not been in an accident.

Well no more news really. Take care all, back soon. x