Frugal Living 2011 - the preparation stage

itsallinthemind

pink_numbers wrote: »

I'm not sure exactly what has caused this flat line though, so I'm not sure when it'll all go haywire again I'll just have to keep going and try to claw back any overspend I do. At least this year has taught me that it IS possible to make up for the over spend!

I'm sure it can be an awful battle, the sheer frustration must be overwhelming too I'm really chuffed for you that you managed to turn it around this year One of my friends has had a period of calm for about 9 months after complete mania-total mania. So, maybe you will too. Obviously you will worry about the financial implications if you get mania hit, but just try to enjoy everything being calmer. How dare any of us fall off the FLC Wagon with your achievement hanging over us, well done you :T

(Still doing this

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never_too_old

pink_numbers wrote: »

Do you have the radiator turned off on the rooms you don't use? (I can see at least one bedroom not being use if there's 3 of you in a 4 bedroom house)

Do you have all your curtains lined with thick thermal stuff?

definately going to turn the rad off in 1 bedroom,most rooms have wooden blinds and curtains, couple of bedrooms need proper curtains, should really look in the sales.front room is currently a pleasant 21 degrees and my dh has about 3 layers on and his hood up.house was built in 1905 and just had some extensive work done on it,

Marru

In my previous house couple of years back I always kept heating off most of the time, even when it was really cold but last winter I kept it on all the time but kept it low apart from few hours in the evenings turned the thermostat to 20. Even than my gas bill was more when the heating was on all the time during the coldest spell when I looked at the units I had used less. And I was more comfortable.

I am trying the same where I am living now but I am not sure if the thermostat here is working that well. I shall need to keep checking the readings.

Kazsaver

hi

I would like to join in with you all for the following year if possible.

My plan for the coming weekend is to go through all our finances and work out budgets etc which I will then post

I am thinking of borrowing someone's garden to grow some veg as ours is to small, has anyone else done this and did it work out ok?

still reading through previous posts for ideas and tips.

Kaz x

pink_numbers

cw18 wrote: »

And with regard to the second Q, it's just something I've never gotten around to. I don't even close the curtains in the living room (:eek:) as I keep the blinds closed all day (living room is in the back of the house, and I back onto a main road - so if I leave the blinds open anyone on the top floor of a double decker bus can see right in !!)

I totally recommend doing this, it's made a HUGE difference to how warm our house is. I'm not sure how much it's saved us so far (no bill yet) but we have definitely had the heating on less. It's quick and easy too (if you're not picky about interior design), just pin fleeces behind the curtains

never_too_old

itsallinthemind wrote: »

Mine is slightly more, house is ancient, so freezing, totally not energy efficient. If your house is anything like this that it will eat gas and electric.

Mine thermostat is on 16 degrees(children still layered up) and I do not think the radiators would go off if I did not keep turning them off. 21 seems really high to me, could you not try turn it down a degree, then one more etc? I'd actually think 21 too high for any young children sleeping?

dd is now 16 and i dont have the heating on during the night,my house is ancient too but boiler is supposed to efficient, dh is as we speak moaning about it being freezing (21 deg) and has 3 layers on and his hood up. lets see if come tomorrow he notices if i turn it down to 20 he will yhank me in the long run if i can reduce our outgoings, i have just added everyting we spend a month ( not including food, petrol and diesel and x 12 and its frightening:eek:

pink_numbers

itsallinthemind wrote: »

I'm sure it can be an awful battle, the sheer frustration must be overwhelming too I'm really chuffed for you that you managed to turn it around this year One of my friends has had a period of calm for about 9 months after complete mania-total mania. So, maybe you will too. Obviously you will worry about the financial implications if you get mania hit, but just try to enjoy everything being calmer. How dare any of us fall off the FLC Wagon with your achievement hanging over us, well done you :T

(Still doing this

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> )

you are ever so kind, it's great to know people that have dealt with the same issue I fall off the FLC wagon soooo many times, cw18 and NualaBuala keeps a rope around my waist so that they can just drag me along the wagon!!

oldestgnome

l.m.hart - You can get cheap white / cream fleece blankets in the supermarkets for between £2 and £4 which can be turned into fleecy linings for curtains there are also a massive range of thermal linings available through ebay. Because larger curtains suitable for doors etc tend to be more expensive a good solution my sister used was a beige stripey throw lined with a fleece blanket hand stitched at the top end - it matches her colour scheme and cost her just over a tenner to stop the mother of all draughts from her uPVC front door!

cw18

pink_numbers wrote: »

cw18 and NualaBuala keeps a rope around my waist so that they can just drag me along the wagon!!

I think the one (and only) rule with this challenge is that no one passes judgment on anyone else. The most important thing is that we're all trying the best we can - and even I find some weeks/months much easier than others.



But I shall be starting 2011 off as I mean to go on......

I'm meeting someone on Saturday, and as we're both strapped for cash we're each taking a flask (he drinks coffee whereas I drink tea) and I've offered to take some turkey salad butties. So this muppet who doesn't dine al-fresco at any time of the year is going for a picnic on New Years Day

(Yes, I'm meeting up with my 'wannabe suitor'. And yes, a friend has all the details I have on him plus time/location of the meet which is within a 5 minute drive of her home..... and she's expecting regular text updates to let her know I've arrived / am OK / am still OK / am leaving / am home. And if I can get the dog guard fitted into the car tomorrow morning I'm taking the mutt with me too - though I've never yet seen him get nasty around anyone...... dogs yes, people no)

pink_numbers

cw18 wrote: »

(Yes, I'm meeting up with my 'wannabe suitor'. And yes, a friend has all the details I have on him plus time/location of the meet which is within a 5 minute drive of her home..... and she's expecting regular text updates to let her know I've arrived / am OK / am still OK / am leaving / am home. And if I can get the dog guard fitted into the car tomorrow morning I'm taking the mutt with me too - though I've never yet seen him get nasty around anyone...... dogs yes, people no)

GOOD

(and we all want a full report too )