Great '2011 MoneySaving resolutions' Hunt

Barros

Hello!

I decided to see how well I could this January (and thereafter) on saving cash - last week I spent £11.94 on food and this week just £9.87 on food, yay!

I've spent £3.60 on transport and that is IT! I have £50 to do me for 2 weeks and a friend is staying this weekend so i should hopefully be ok - fingers crossed.

Gonna try to save a bumper amount at payday and keep up the frugal ness as much as I can - so packed lunches ahoy, meal planning and early nights so I have time to walk etc

Good luck everyone!

kippers

I will carry on on making own bread, meals from scratch, packed lunches etc.

Stay focused on the Grocery challenge.

Only spend if we really really have to and then shop around before we buy.

Make sure i use everything i grow (it's very easy not to use things up)

Turn off lights, plugs etc when not being used.

Turn down thermostat if it's warm

Continue to hang our washing if it's dry.

Stop buying chocolate, sweets to eat



If I think of anything else i'll edit my post

amancalledmartin

My big one is not buying lunch when I'm at work. I'm making sure I take my own sandwiches every day.

Using the Park and Ride because it's cheaper.

Reorganising all my direct debits and switching electric bill, etc.

But the big one will be getting DH onside and trying to organise his spending. That could be a toughie!

bluebag

Everything and a bit more. I've just seen on my financial programmme that the futures market for grains, cocoa and sugar has risen 40% or more, this means futher price hikes later on.

Oil, gas, electric, food, vat all up. The squeeze is on, hope I'm up to the challenge! Reminds me of the 70's.

Toonie

At the moment I'm looking at long term goals. It sounds ridiculous, but I'm spending money now, to save it (or earn more) later.

I've just sent off for my provisional licence, as if I learn to drive I'll be able to earn more money at work.

I've just invested in a new set of bake ware so I can cook more meals from scratch (I've bought pie dishes and a couple of baking trays-mine were falling apart, fourth hand when I moved into my own place).

My parents have just given me their large slow cooker as soon they'll be retiring and moving somewhere a lot smaller, so I'm using that quite often to make stews and soups using cheaper cuts of good quality meat.

I'm also going to try growing a few herbs and salad leaves on my window sill. I live in a second floor flat and we have a small balcony, but it's too windy out there (at the top of a valley). Our tomatoes got destroyed by the wind, but the ones we did manage to rescue were lovely so I'd love to have a go at salad leaves. I have a nice wide window sill in a bay window, so I can use that and my Mum has said I can come to her to pot everything up.

When the time comes, I'm also going to help friends pick their fruit as they always give me loads for helping and I give them a crumble in return (same for my parents-my Mum has very bad arthritis so can't do much anymore).

Gemmy_2

Something we plan to do is eat less.
We want to loose weight and this will save us money on food.
I'm guessing we spend probably about £20-£30 a month on junk food (I know - its terrible).

Also with that, we plan to meal plan, and therefore ONLY buy what's on the list.

psso

Toonie wrote: »

I live in a second floor flat and we have a small balcony, but it's too windy out there (at the top of a valley). Our tomatoes got destroyed by the wind, but the ones we did manage to rescue were lovely so I'd love to have a go at salad leaves. I have a nice wide window sill in a bay window, so I can use that and my Mum has said I can come to her to pot everything up.

Could you attach some netting to provide a windbreak to filter the wind and protect your plants ? Or maybe that`s not allowed ?

http://www.allplaz.com/acatalog/Plastic_Mesh_Netting_Windbreak.html

LJM

writing everything that i spend down so i can see what average weekly and monthly spend is so i can see if i can save any from there, have my xmas/holiday pots set up and going again for this year. i am also sorting through loft/toys clothes etc to put on ebay and to car boot and i am busy making bits and bobs in the hope of doing a craft fair at some point this year.

Toonie

psso wrote: »

Could you attach some netting to provide a windbreak to filter the wind and protect your plants ? Or maybe that`s not allowed ?

http://www.allplaz.com/acatalog/Plastic_Mesh_Netting_Windbreak.html

We can attach things as long as it's not permanent, so as long as I can just tie things on, we can. I hadn't thought of that before, I shall look into it. Thanks :beer:

[Deleted User]

Well so far this month I have actually only spent a quid and that was yesterday on a huge pineapple.I have been using up everything I can from my fridge/freezer and cupboards.basically staying away from the temptation of the shops.I have managed to do a lot more reading,knitting ect and by only using up what stuff I have I am very pleased at the moment I will have to get some bits probably next monday as I am out all day tomorrow and sunday and this afternoon I am at a Uni class so my time is taken up.its been a very busy week for me this week so I havn't missed the shops at all.
Also with the price of petrol going up I shall try to use my bus pass more and walk a bit more as well, and use my car a bit less.it will take me longer as I do have a mobility problem but I also have more time than most so its a case of reorganising my time a bit better .this afternoon I will have to use my car but tomorrow I will use the train and bus.
My DD was laid off from her job in Christmas week so she needs some finacial help at the moment so my extra saved cash will help her out for a few weeks .
I have become so much more concious of prices now that I just think ,mmm I could definitely make that cheaper myself .i have adapted stuff that I have in the cupboards rather than just going to my local shops and buying willy-nilly.I have always been quite good at being frugal but this year I am determined to be even more so.Every penny will be spent to best use and certainly not wasted on anything I went out for the day visiting yesterday and took instead of dlowers a bag of veggies for my friend.She too is a pensioner and was delighted to get them.
I hoep we all managed to get through the tough times ahead of us this year.
JackieO xx