Frugal Living 2011 - the preparation stage

mooomin

I've done my last top-up shop of 2010 now - the shop was so busy that I forgot most of the things on my list. I remembered to buy Ben and Jerry's though Still, it was paid for with a gift card, so free :money:

I've just spent a little time updating my Christmas/birthday spreadsheet. I have a note of everyone I have to buy for next year and what I'm planning on getting them. I've now added a tab which shows how much I paid and what it should have cost - this will be a motivator to only buy things on sale hopefully! It's currently showing as:

Total spent: £58.80
Should have cost: £156.98
Money saved: £98.18

This does include a lot of gift tags that I bought but they are going to be "crafted" and hopefully sold on at local craft fairs along with my cards.

pagangirl

[Oldest Gnome - Pagangirl your posts inspire me as a newbie! Keep up the good work] - Thank you



[i m hart - i have read through most of these threads and am shocked at how low somepeoples gas and electricity monthly payments are.] - depends on how many in your house etc. I'm a singleton, live in 1 bed apartment, so keep heating bills down by only having radiator on in living room (and bedroom when it gets very cold). Don't heat hot water unless having a bath, boil kettle for washing up - cheaper than putting gas on, find it cheaper to heat mug of water for hot drink in micro rather than putting kettle on. Heating very rarely gets above 18' but quite happy with that. can live with 15' but if lower then need to layer up. Would overheat it it ever shot up to 21' :eek: I also pay quarterly by cash - no way would I ever pay DD - heard too many horror stories about the increases they make. Also try the preparing for winter threads - loads of great advice on them.



[Itsallinthemind - Pagangirl, I think I will struggle this year not to overstock.] - I have learnt so much from OS threads, have overstocked before on wrong things, now know what I will use - still make mistakes tho


Still have a £5 sainsbugs gift card in hand, also got £30 John Lew*s vouchers - really chuffed as found out I can use them in WaitrosE - just got to find local one :j:j:j

Hugs to all going through hard times
xx

Marru

I have been carting B00ts gift voucher in my purse for more than three years. Today I finally swapped it to lots of shower gel so we should be nice and clean now for a very long time with that. And it didn't cost a penny

However I did get some loooovely shampoo and conditioner from B0dyshop instead the very cheap one I normally get from supermarket but they should last me a long time as well.

And yes got new boots (from sale) and new handbag (not from sale but it is beautiful ), both should last years, the old ones did.

Puddleglum

Hello All,

Haven't posted here for a while as I was putting off doing the budget for next year as I knew it would be tough.

Feel a bit like the three guys on Top Gear with a battered up embarassing car following them across the desert/ African plain/ inhospitable terrain. That's the Glums with the threat of taking in a lodger. We didn't have to do it last year as we won the pools just as we were about to give up. DH is trying to cheer me up, making lots of oodles of wonga noises, and I have managed to get the budget into the happiness terrain - just.

Oh well ignore my moaning, we were very lucky last year. Hope that next year is good for all of us despite what our Prime Minister says. Will post budget next year!

Best wishes Everyone

Puddleglum

maccanut

can i please join the frugal thread as need to really watch the pennies but dh got head in the sand but i think he is slowly coming round to my way of thinking.
blessings
abigail

slowlyfading

Just a quick post from me Been shopping today and spent some pennies - got some much needed things clothes wise to see me into the new year it was heaving and I wasn't really in the mood, so didn't stay too long.

Looking forward to starting afresh with a new spreadsheet it's so sad!

Have a good evening everyone, and happy new year xx

JayneC

:wave: Hi Nuala, I was in a panto, just a small part but it was good fun, thanks for asking. We're doing another showing for the local hospice next week - it was supposed to be before Christmas but there were problems so it was postponed.

There seems to be lots of new people joining and some old friends popping back to join us - welcome everybody. I've not kept up with this thread so I'm going to have a trawl back to see what you've all been up to.

What's everyone's frugal plans for this eve? I'm staying in with DD and DGS we're just going to watch a DVD and chillout.

I'm avoiding the shops even more than usual lately otherwise I'll get caught up in the Sales Frenzy - keep telling myself I really don't need anything - it's not a bargain if you weren't going to buy it in the first place!! Managed to avoid succumbing to the Christmas shopping frenzy, but only just. Had the momentary 'have a bought enough, have I missed anybody out??' thought, but managed not to cave in and stuck to budget - think that may be the first time!

Anyway off for read back. Have a good evening everyone x

cw18

JayneC wrote: »

What's everyone's frugal plans for this eve? I'm staying in with DD and DGS we're just going to watch a DVD and chillout.

I'm partying with the NSD Challenge folks

And waiting for someone to get home from a walk (in about 15-20 mins), when the emails will start flying again. "Chatted" for just over 2 hours this morning before I had to get ready for work......

kezlou

hi xnatalie81x this is what id did this t didn't come through quidco , they said i had not done it properly. Its the full package from the aa, home start etc. Which unfortunately we really needed this year with the car of doom. Its in my partners name and i ahem paid for it all, in one lump sum off my credit card. So its not on a direct debit, so they try and take money off my cc i will not be impressed.


Well been a NSD for me today, were not going out tonight, instead the kids are playing , OH is dozing and were all chilling.
Going to keep going through everything tonight, but also going to crack with the decluttering and post some more bits up on ebay. Came downstairs to find another £3 worth of vouchers, so going to put them away for the next shop.

Sorry to hear about the poor kitty x

NualaBuala

Wow - you're an official star Jayne! I think you're great to get onto the stage, I'd be terrified!

The shops were nuts today - I felt a bit overwhelmed by it all and all I came home with was 2 leeks! :rotfl:

Have been having a lovely New Year's Eve. Cried at The Sound of Music and have made a huge pot of veg, lentil and barley soup with HM turkey stock - it's simmering away smelling rather scrummy. Will have that for supper with a crisp sandwich which I am craving thanks to whoever mentioned it earlier!