Frugal Living 2010 - the final stretch

hollysmum22

she been walking for a whil lol but i know what u mean thanks for the advice may try and see if i can try them somewhere first

xnatalie81x

Have just ordered my seed potatoes for next year - 1st earlies, 2nd earlies and maincrop BUT all are 'new potato' style (salad potatoes) as i can get normal potatoes so cheap it isn't worth growing them. Should get first crop from beginning June and right up until August although will leave in ground until end October (first frost time) and then lift them all and store - need to do more googling on potato storage..........

Ordered 30 tubers each of earlies, 2nd earlies and main - so 90 tubers - they say up to 2.5kg per tuber (although realistically will be far less i am guessing) - i think that should last me, mum, dad and my 4 kids from June - Feb 2012 Total cost £15.96

Have decided for next year am keeping a running total of money spent on gardening/growing and then when i harvest the items i will weigh and find equivalent cost at the time for the same things in Tesco. I know i should use organic but i would not actually buy that so i will compare to tesco value and frozen where i would purchase that - i will not include the extra cost to run my chest freezer (not plugged in yet as no need for it)

oooooooooooo i cannot wait for next year! This year has been such a bitty mess and although i have come in below budget i have had such change i just want some stability and to get going with my 'new life' in a new year (with a new baby if he ever decides to make an appearance!)

pagangirl

Glad to find thread getting back to normal

Can't believe how much my income has reduced from last year (was working full time) Income went from roughly £13.5k a year to basic benefit level overnight (scary):eek: Thanks to all help/inspiration /wise words from people here, have managed on a heck of a lot less - something I never thought I would be able to do - so thanks all :A Have kept a diary this year, monitored ALL spends, now adopted the mantra of someone on MSE (sorry, can't remember who) DIRNI - so everytime I go out - it's "do I really need it" ??? - suprised meself many times, coz the answer's been NO. Also found if I leave things a couple of days to mull over, most things are a want not a need. Not sure where else I can cut down next year, only thing really, is charity spend, and don't really want to stop that (sponsor dog from Dogs Trust, works out to about £52 year).

Want to thank Ceridwen too, coz she mentioned in an old post about trying to keep in some spare cash for an emergency (mine happened when had to change benefits and got letter saying we are not paying you any more money) :eek::eek::eek::eek: Ok, what am I supposed to live on then, fresh air? Have worked for 40 years, feels like now I need a bit of help, no one wants to know. Thankfully, mess has now been sorted out but it was scary for a time, hopefully, when health issues sorted, can start looking for a job next year if only part time.

Good Luck Natalie - thinking of you

Hugs to all
xxx

Kerry_Woman

Jayne - Wishing you all the best for Tuesday.

aeb_2

Good evening

Just popped in to say I'm another one who will not skimp on shoes. I always buy a named brand from the shop where they are fitted by a woman I can trust to get it right. It will work out at a pair of shoes every month which is a bit scary. I try to look after them, I polish them every morning, a habit I got from DH which is kind of comforting

Leaf sweeping today - filled 9 black bin bags which was a fun activity with three toddlers and several chickens in tow! Saved on 3 hours of heating, then we wet in and had hot chocolate.

Thinking of you Natalie. I was ruthless getting rid of baby stuff after my 3rd, giving it all away at the first chance, but the good karma was repaid and I got it all back three times over when I needed it last year! Babies need not be expensive.

ceridwen

pagangirl wrote: »

Want to thank Ceridwen too, coz she mentioned in an old post about trying to keep in some spare cash for an emergency (mine happened when had to change benefits and got letter saying we are not paying you any more money) :eek::eek::eek::eek: Ok, what am I supposed to live on then, fresh air? Have worked for 40 years, feels like now I need a bit of help, no one wants to know.

Glad you found that idea helpful Pagan Girl and hope things soon work out for you regarding jobs.

Some time back it struck me that "Life throws more brickbats than bouquets" when it comes to money. I remember thinking "Just how many unexpected expenses CAN there be - I dont have either children, pets or a car?" - but then found its still perfectly possible to have unexpected expenses and/or loss of expected income anyway....

Then turned that round subsequently to thinking ""Well - if life is going to throw brickbats - then its about time it threw some bouquets as well and I'd better be on the lookout for them as well..so as not to miss them if I have the chance". Fortunately - there HAS also been some bouquets - now I'm actively looking out for them:D.

<Note to Universe = about time for another bouquet now please.....>

xnatalie81x

Morning all

Ur so right AEB I also got rid of everything after no 3 but I have had so so much given to me! And as my swim school is not for profit and I love my swimmers and go out of my way for them, the mums have all been giving me things already x - I really am blessed, but like u say it is karma and if you do as much as u can for ppl they do the same for u!

Today I have no kiddies and am on my way to the midwife - then top up shop and hopefully collect ds2 b day pressie. Nice quiet day

knithappens

Hi everyone, just checking in, am in the middle of sorting out my budget for 2011, trying to work in more debt and mortgage over payments.

Pagan girl, I use the Do I need it mantra, my teenager as even go into this habit, and reminds me of it when we are out shopping, she is so much better than me at using her money wisley.

I also will never crimp on shoes or coats for all of us, I try to do it as frugally as possible, picked up some clarks shoes in the glitch a few months back for myself and my eldest for school, fleece lined rain coats for my son inthe sle there for 4.50 each instead of £20 frommillets the other day, and some lovely dorother perkins boots, brand new fromthe charity shop for £3.50 and am an avid satlker of the grabit boards and hot uk deals> i try to buy quality for as cheaply as possible, it is more economical in the long run. I dont care if it comes from a charity shop, is given to me, from freecycle or bought.

nyway lil lady is ill today so I am not in work - why is it i feel guilty for not being in work, argghh i hate that feeling, i know my classes will still be there tomorrow.

Anyway off to update my budget and do some bits around the house, have to post my last ebay package later, so will have to bundle little lady up, home eveyrone is doing ok, will read back through the posts now to try to catch up

knithappens

hollysmum22 wrote: »

popping in for some advice just seen some shoes for princess moo for £12 and they look quite study so should last a while do u think this exsessive for a 1yr old (nearly)

I never compromise on my kiddos feet, but at that age, what i have done, and am doing at the moment, little one is 16 months, i get her measured at clarks, ( as babies feet grow so quickly) and pick up the shoes on abay, often people have shoes on their that got very little wear or baby grow out of before wearing. So i have bought brand new shoes that should have cost £24- £30 from clarks etc for a couple of pounds - worth a look.

Kiwisaver_2

cw18 wrote: »

Made a start on working out a budget for this one this afternoon, but would greatly appreciate input from people as to 'life expectancy' of the following appliances.....

Fridge/Freezer - built in one if that makes any difference, with each half being the same size as a standard 'under counter' appliance
Upright freezer - it's about 4.5' tall
Gas Hob
Combination Microwave
Washing Machine
Kettle
Toaster
Steam Iron
Vaccuum (I have a Dys0n animal/anti-allergy, and would want to replace with the same)

I seem to have better luck than many (says very quietly) with keeping appliances going forever before they die.

I got my Dyson Animal when they first came out, maybe eight years or more ago. I hate it because it's useless on hard floors and would not replace with same but was recently looking around at new ones and have decided to stick with it and just buy the hard floor attachment after seeing people here selling five year old second hand ones for almost the same as I would have paid for it new. :eek:

In 24 years of adult life I have had only three washing machines, two of them were Zanussi, the latest was bought this year (Whirlpool) which I doubt will stand the same test of time. The previous two had served me very well.

A gas hob will last forever as long as you can bear the sight of it, cos there is nothing to go wrong, even if the ignition packs in you can light with a match or a lighter. I had a second hand gas cooker for ten plus years until I ruined it by accidentally spraying Mr Muscle Oven cleaner over the painted bits.

Toaster - my present one is five plus years and shows no sign of wear or giving up the ghost. Previous one I only got rid of because I was sick of the sight of the very uncool 1980s Fleur de lys motif that was once so fashionable in the 80s,

Kettles are another matter and I am convinced they have a two year time delay mechanism that makes them die on the day the guarantee runs out. This past week I replaced mine because it was leaking water from the bottom and the same happened with the previous model. In five years I am now on my third new kettle.

Irons tend to depend on how many times I drop them!! :rotfl: