Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

redglass_2

alec_eiffel wrote: »

We used to do that, it was an idea I got from my grandmother who waited an extra day each week to collect her pension so eventually she'd end up collecting two lots at once. We would shop a day later each week so we'd end up "absorbing" a week along the line. But the important thing was to just plan to buy for 7 days not 8, so the 8th day really was a case of using everything up. We kept some bread in the freezer and a packet of powdered milk in for emergencies but it usually went well.

I love hearing how ingenious people have been in managing with very little. I wouldn't want to go back to the past and its hardships but I really admire the ways people used to cope.

itsallinthemind

natnat13 wrote: »

Has anyone got a way of cleaning in internally other than buying one of those awful cleaners, I bought one before and it stank of chemicals, anyone had this problem? Thanks Nat x

My Aunt puts about 6 childrens tumblers full off value type lemonade on the top rack and puts on a hot cycle. My mother always seems to have a lemon in the cutlery basket, she uses lots in cooking. Both wipe out with white vinegar every so often to remove limescale.

viv0147

I made a menu to cover 2 weeks I am into the second week now and it's so much easier to plan ahead why haven't I done it before ? going shopping is so much easier and cheaper last week it was only fresh fruit and veg and milk and looking at the stock I have it will be quite a few weeks before I need to shop for anything else I make my own bread and have done for the last year its so much nicer and cheaper and definitely more convenient and while cooking what a great free air freshener I had Cornflakes for breakfast I will be having Fresh Fruit Salad for Lunch and my Evening meal Fish Peas and Chips Simples

alec_eiffel

redglass wrote: »

I love hearing how ingenious people have been in managing with very little. I wouldn't want to go back to the past and its hardships but I really admire the ways people used to cope.

I had a small chuckle at this because she was doing this until she died 3 years ago! She was the most frugal person I will probably ever know, she had a twin tub until about 2004, didn't get a colour tv until my mum bought her one in the mid 90's - because she just wouldn't buy something if what she had worked. And as she and my grandfather looked after everything it was in pristine condition. She had everything she wanted and didn't want for anything more, nothing to do with deprivation or being mean. What a great way to be!

When she died and my parents went through all her stuff there were bank accounts everywhere - all her frugal ways had meant she saved tens of thousands of pounds. She gave generously all her life and was glad that my mum would get what was left when she died. I know almost everyone thinks their grandparents were fantastic, but still.

And of course it means my mother subscribes to "you can't take it with you when you go" which is also fine with me!

Erme

grandma247 wrote: »

Erme I dont soak green or brown lentils. They take a little longer to cook but they are fine.

Good job I read this before nap. So how long in the pressure cooker grandma and I'll do my rice in the micro? Gimme an idea baring in mind it normally takes 20 mins for about 1/2 cup ea of rice and lentils in the micro (without water)

itsallinthemind wrote: »

See how you go, don't cancel yet. You may be fine come Thursday...just think of the £££££ going to the Doctors will save you :j

Nope I know I'm in a hyper phase (spring jumps everyone ) with loads of mood swings...really it wouldn't be wise right now... but thanks anyway

itsallinthemind wrote: »

Yes Please! I am addicted to cooking Not that I ever follow the instructions! In your own time though, I'll not use it for a while as I have pretty much meal planned in my mind till Friday's shopping night and beyond!

Don't! I am some time over the next few days sorting my under the stairs cupboard out to be the PRESENT AND CRAFT Cupboard. The downstairs toilet will then store vaccum cleaner/carpet washer/mops/buckets etc. Waste of a toilet no doubt, but it works for me, well I think it does anyway!
!

I would if it'd cause you to reach for the hair dye in the nicest possible sense...I can just see it now...Allinthemind trying to henna her hair with it going everywhere, and her sons running amoc :rotfl: :rotfl:


Anyhow the carpet cost me £10 :eek: - sure he said nowt yesterday. Never mind it's felt backed and will do just fine. My friend has tacks so we'll tack it to the carpet (not before...I have the coffee table to clear and shift first LOL) at the weekend....

Anyhow new support worker @ 2.30pm so nap time SOS

And I got it home on the bus on one end (it's just over a foot wide....maybe a foot and a bit) rolled up...the chap said I was some girl...I thought 'yeah - this is Erme - BARGAIN WOMAN '

Blessings...catch yas all laters..

E

alec_eiffel wrote: »

I had a small chuckle at this because she was doing this until she died 3 years ago! She was the most frugal person I will probably ever know, she had a twin tub until about 2004, didn't get a colour tv until my mum bought her one in the mid 90's - because she just wouldn't buy something if what she had worked. And as she and my grandfather looked after everything it was in pristine condition. She had everything she wanted and didn't want for anything more, nothing to do with deprivation or being mean. What a great way to be!

When she died and my parents went through all her stuff there were bank accounts everywhere - all her frugal ways had meant she saved tens of thousands of pounds. She gave generously all her life and was glad that my mum would get what was left when she died. I know almost everyone thinks their grandparents were fantastic, but still.

And of course it means my mother subscribes to "you can't take it with you when you go" which is also fine with me!

I have a neighbour like that...he wants to die owning nothing. In his eighties - going deaf but still working as a gardener

I also subscribe to it but am far too worldly right now *sob*

But it's true....you can't take it with you when you go...so true...thanks so much for sharing eiffel.

mama67

have received my online bill for electricity today and on the last page it said something along the lines of "you are on X tariff paying £xxx if you changed to Y tariff you will only pay £yyy."

So i phoned up and got chattig to a nice young man who explained that yes I was really on the wrong tariff for my usage/needs , so it has been arranged for the meter to be changed on Tuesday next week, and I should be saving approx £50 per year based on the last years usage

elly68

well doing well family seems to have adjusted dd 10 wanted chinese tonight and i said do you and your friends want mcd's on friday she said yes so i said well then and she said oh well no chinese then they are learning slowly slowly.i'm doing well tonight with the food budget i have over £40 left and think i have enough meat left that i can wait till thursday to go to butchers will go thursday lunchtime and that will save petrol .will tally up and post on saturday.thanks all for keeping me on the straight and narrow

minnie2

forgot my lunch today!!! spent £5.43 in morrisons they have bread half price at 50p!!!!

so bought bread crisps apple juice (treat for hubby) ham and bananas all mainly for pack up!!

oh and owed some one at work £3 so paid that off!!

hubby put petrol in car today £15 i think so will be adding that onto my list tonight!!

ive come home to find however hubby has left kitchen light on all day!!! not helpful!!

minnie2

itsallinthemind wrote: »

Saying I'm sorry doesn't really help, but shucks, scary time for you It is no wonder your eye was not on your budget, plus frankly in times of stress we do not want to worry about costs, it seems so insignificant. Let's hope 2011 is an uneventful year for you and yours




thanks!!! thinking about it i think thats where it went wrong!! trips to hospital £2.00 parking a time etc!! plus being all over the place i think we just bought what we wanted and when so we didnt think about it!!! eek!!!! i should have been on the ball!!!

anyway another year to put things right!!! and yeah am hoping its very uneventful for us!!

2008 got engaged 2009 got married and bought a house!! 2010 tumour!! weve had all our events!!

rubytuesday

Hope the 'young man' gets better soon Cheryl!
Just spent the 20 pound note I found in Lidl, well 19.5o and gave 50p to the man outside who looked at me as if I was mad and was that it! I said a ''Thank you would be nice'', I couldn't help it!
I am so excited I didn't know Lidl did organic milk and I got 4 pints for 1.50. Organic milk is often the main reason I end up in Mr T's, when I've run out from my delivery and then go on to spend a fortune, so hopefully I'll be able to stay away even longer now! I'm trying to avoid that place as much as possible!