Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

freedom2011

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.

This is brilliant, it never ceases to amaze me how these obvious things have bypassed me so far, I love the tips picked up on here:T, they may be obvious to some but they are lightbulb to me,thanks Alec.

NualaBuala

cw18 wrote: »

:rotfl: My Dad has always said I'm far too stubborn for my own good, so hopefully I'll feel able to ease back once he's well again
But at least he did as he was told - which is probably more than I'd have done
Both back at work today, though I'm still not happy he's driving :mad:

Ooooo..... what did you do/where did you go? Do tell...... it sounds like you had a fab time

Stubborn people probably make the worst patients ... but excellent carers ... he's lucky to have you keeping an eye on him. :A
I'm almost embarrassed to say what my great night out was ... not everyone's cup of tea I'm sure. I went to a meeting of The Green Party and for a drink afterwards. It was just fab to feel that I could be useful in some way (I lost the sense of being useful and able to make a contribution to society when I got sick) and also great to meet like-minded people. I have some very dear friends but none of them share my outlook on the environment so it was lovely not to feel like the only hippie in the village! :rotfl:

Kiwisaver wrote: »

Remind me not to ever try new recipes on a week night and get suckered in by yummy looking professional photographs of food that probably took a whole army of staff to make and clear up the mess. :mad:

Guess who got the Jamie Oliver 30 Minute Meals for Christmas? Yeah, like it took me one hour to make one element of the meal (Spinach and feta pie) and bung together a bowl of my own Greek inspired salad, rather than the two accompanying salads and dessert that I was apparently meant to make in the same 30 minutes, no doubt whilst sweeping the floor with a broom up my backside. :eek: I got myself in a terrible mess, stressed to the max and landed up with heaps of washing up.

The pie was delicious but not very frugal, although there is some consolation for the extra effort as it was huge and there's plenty left for tomorrow's dinner.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
Oh Kiwi, that did make me giggle ... I know exactly what you mean though. Now if only the book came with a free Jamie who would do the cooking AND clean up afterwards you'd be sorted.

minnie2 wrote: »

oh dear!!! well we do have another 11months to make a difference!!!! think weve definately decided to get rid of hubbys car so over the year thatll save us 2grand



we are nearly running on empty in cupboards - according to hubby weve had no food for weeks!!!

(((((Minnie))))) I wish I could help - if you lived near me I would happily share my stores with you as I have loads. Have you tried the Up Your Income board - it tends to be small amounts and not immediate but it's all I can think of just now. Good news on the car at least, it will be a big saving..

cw18

NualaBuala wrote: »

I'm almost embarrassed to say what my great night out was ... not everyone's cup of tea I'm sure. I went to a meeting of The Green Party and for a drink afterwards. It was just fab to feel that I could be useful in some way (I lost the sense of being useful and able to make a contribution to society when I got sick) and also great to meet like-minded people. I have some very dear friends but none of them share my outlook on the environment so it was lovely not to feel like the only hippie in the village! :rotfl:

No-one should ever feel embarrassed by what makes them happy (though there are some things probably not suitable for sharing on an open forum :rotfl:)

I think it's great that you got to meet like-minded people, and I know that sudden feeling of being 'useful' as I felt much the same when I started doing voluntary work in the local pre-school class. Having been made redundant (and widowed) the previous November, starting this in the Feb was a great way of showing me that I could still do something and make a difference to others (as well as to my own mental frame of mind)

Kiwisaver_2

Blairweech wrote: »

Kiwisaver - There are a lot of people who have found the same problem with that book! At least you enjoyed the pie though

Thanks, am glad it's not just me. I found the recipe really hard to follow with such small print and dancing around all over the place from one thing to the next, stir this whilst your chopping that..... etc. I like to think I can multi-task but jeepers that was too much like hard work, I guess second time around it would be easier once you know what you're supposed to be doing.

I also managed to somehow strain a muscle in my thigh from bobbing down to wipe a spill off the floor and getting up too quickly. :mad: If the pie had been horrid I would definitely have stamped my feet and cried. :rotfl:

Fishcake_Random

Hello All,
I haven't filled in my spreadsheet for about 3 days due to purely being lazy, so I really need a kick up the bum lol. We have been pretty good though so I'm not worried. I found a wonderfull cross stitch kit in Hobbycraft yesterday reduced to £1.99 from about £17, it's keeping me nicely occupied. Also ordered a book of card games from Amazon using a survey voucher as OH and I are hoping to learn some new games to play. Frugal fun.
x x x

grandma247

minnie2 wrote: »

according to hubby weve had no food for weeks!!!

:rotfl:MEN! What he means is there is nothing he fancies when he looks in the cupboards. My men are a bit like that but they soon find the cake and biscuit tins. I only keep a few convenience foods in, and that is thanks to ap, and before that all the food we had was stuff you had to actually make from scratch;)

seriouslyfrugal

cw18 wrote: »

No-one should ever feel embarrassed by what makes them happy (though there are some things probably not suitable for sharing on an open forum :rotfl:)

I think it's great that you got to meet like-minded people, and I know that sudden feeling of being 'useful' as I felt much the same when I started doing voluntary work in the local pre-school class. Having been made redundant (and widowed) the previous November, starting this in the Feb was a great way of showing me that I could still do something and make a difference to others (as well as to my own mental frame of mind)

Cheryl I know exactly what you mean after being made redundant I started to volunteer as a walk leader for the health walks scheme locally ( we take people for a one hour free walk ) there i have met some wonderful new friends of all ages who share my love of walking and it's amazing what we can put to right's in an hour and it the company and feeling like i'm doing somthing useful for others thats what I like

alec_eiffel

I have to say I am soooooo thankful for my DH, he is far more naturally suited to frugality than I am. Were it not for him I wouldn't stick to things. He makes bread, makes his own museli, makes houmous and packs his lunch everyday, nips to the shops at lunchtime for things we need and just supports all of the experiments I want to try but is also the voice of reason if something is just beyond - he's even eaten the odd food disaster we've had over the years. And he earns all the money.

Hmmm, think I should make a cake today as a thank you treat..!

never_too_old

alec_eiffel wrote: »

I have to say I am soooooo thankful for my DH, he is far more naturally suited to frugality than I am. Were it not for him I wouldn't stick to things. He makes bread, makes his own museli, makes houmous and packs his lunch everyday, nips to the shops at lunchtime for things we need and just supports all of the experiments I want to try but is also the voice of reason if something is just beyond - he's even eaten the odd food disaster we've had over the years. And he earns all the money.

Hmmm, think I should make a cake today as a thank you treat..!

Can we swap please,:rotfl:

itsallinthemind

alec_eiffel wrote: »

I have to say I am soooooo thankful for my DH, he is far more naturally suited to frugality than I am. Were it not for him I wouldn't stick to things. He makes bread, makes his own museli, makes houmous and packs his lunch everyday, nips to the shops at lunchtime for things we need and just supports all of the experiments I want to try but is also the voice of reason if something is just beyond - he's even eaten the odd food disaster we've had over the years. And he earns all the money.

Hmmm, think I should make a cake today as a thank you treat..!

*lost for words*