Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

minnie2

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

minnie2 never never never think that it's not worth the bother! Everyday that is hard is a day towards being debtfree. Everyday you struggle is going towards the day when being debt free you 'll really appreciate it because of how much you did struggle! Everyday you manage to make it into bed after another day like the one's you're having is a day that you say to yourself, 'well done we got through today!' Everday is a day towards the light at the end of the tunnel. And though you might not be able to see it now eventually you'll start to see a little chink of light that will get brighter and brighter and when you get to that tunnel you'll go through it whooping with joy because you worked damn hard to get there!!!!
Luvz dizzy x

ps. we are allowed down days though, but not giving up days!

thanx well i am doing my best and im sure itll all add up just easier when you see results!! this thread is so helpful and supportive though!!! wonderful!! just realsied i havent added my 3k overdraft to signature - how depressing!!! better change that!!

lynzpower wrote: »

thanks I know it never rains but it pours.

I have explained to the advisor at th council she was really lovely. we are not entitled to Council tax benefit but we look likely to be entitled to a bit of LHA due to OHs low income but because we paid upfront for our 6 months rent, we cant get it right now as we have paid off, she said we should apply in February.

She said we should appeal and write down anything that would help such as if we have debts ( not really but I am living off an overdraft right now) what my savings will be spent on this year when I move them and any other income we get ie nothing.

We are running the washing machine again, there is a ever so slight chance it is the door seal in which case that is fine as we can probably do this ourselves instead of paying someone. This will save us at least 70 quid so it is worth the effort!

Likewise if it does then i will sell it on ebay for parts, it is worth it.

Minnie it is always worth it doll, ALWAYS

I might be having a down day but Im not giving up ( although I was just looking on the warehouse sale to cheer myself up I have weaned myself off as it is not cheap enough I have already ordered shoes) and tomorrow I will go to matalan clearance in the hope of finding some work clothes.

Minnie have you any old cds to sell on music magpie? I have a box full must get on with it

Well good luck!!! its worth doing!!

got loads of cd but we threw all the cases away as they are in material holders!! will see if theres anything else for ebay!!

23rdspiral

sorry for the long post, i'm just too excited!!!

I had achieved another No Spend Day! i successfully didnt go in Lush and put down and walked away from the magazine in WHSmith. but then a friend invited me over for lunch tomorow (bring cake), so it was either supermarket tonight or the little shop on the way there.

boy am i glad of my decision...

... doughnuts now 19p, then danish now 50p... then fruit pie was 1.19 now 39p!! (AND i put the others back!) :EasterBun
it got better in the bread isle... sandwich baguettes was 99p now 55p.... cheese cob loaf was 79p now 39p... cream muffins was 1.55 now 75p (my all time favourite cake!);) :T

then in the meat isle i could have fainted... 4 marinated pork leg steaks 4.16 now 1.19 (got 2 packs)... gammon shanks was 1.59 now .59 (got 2 as make s/c pea&ham soup lots!!)... minced steak was 2.94 now 99p.... and the killers?....

....silverside beef was 8.23 now 2.49.... and ..... salmon cut silverside beef was 8.07 now 1.99... :eek: :eek: :eek:

that's 35.22 worth of meat and bread for 11.11 !!! :j:j:j

(sorry, but i just had to record this shoping trip somewhere other than my spreadsheet of wonder!)

luckily with moving a few things around i could get it all in my freezer, bar one gammon i'll s/c tomorow. (had to take out some breaded fish, but that'll stop us going to the chipshop tomorow) OK, so i wouldnt normally ever buy silverside or steak mince, but as the store was almost empty i didnt feel bad stocking up on the good stuff at those prices!

It's enough meat to last the 2 of us us well over a month, maybe two! AND i've still 2.68 in this weeks food budget!!!!!:D

lynzpower

Yes it is great when you get loads of cheap meat. Im not too fussed about cheap bread, as we can make it and dont eat a lot but its great to get cheap meat. I was even thrilled with my M&S 3 for a tenner job the other day and will rotate the freezer round to go again this weekend I think.

Saying that the only time I pay "full price" for meat is when I get it from the butcher! Getting waitrose or M&S meat reduced makes me happy! ( but if not standard "offers" will do) Sometimes I cant get chicken cheap enough (i dont buy battery chicken but understand those that do) in these cases we have mince, sausages or veggie. Never stick to the same meats as it gets routine to pay silly money. Sadly OH wont tolerate too much veggie food, maybe half of the week.

I also ordered the pet food, I just cant see things like this getting much cheaper this year so might as well stock up if we can. ( i got quidco obviously and free delivery from PAH and saves me having to haul it on two buses ( which costs me too) with my duff hand!

I have to write a list of lots of things that I need to get done, and start cracking on with it!

never_too_old

I joined this forum firstly for the competitions, stumbled upon this form just after christmas and truly wish i had found it years ago.i read all new postings and realise that alot of normal and likeminded people are in the same situation as me and dh.
dh and myself are both self employed, dh work is weather dependant and this recession has hit us hard.:eek:
last year the building society withdrew our overdraft £ 2200 and dd after dd bounced charges built up and letters arrived, we aggreed to pay in money every month to clear it and they didnt take further action. over ther christmas period they offered us a settlement and at the same time a payment went in so i was able to go in and get the £200 overpayment back. the account is now closed and im so relieved 1 debt off our back. just hope everyone else is patient. i agree it is a uphill struggle and im also hoping to see light at the end of the tunnel it just seems to be a bl**dy long tunnel.:(
good luck to all and all you that have reached the end of the tunnel keep coming up with the brill advice it makes it easier:)

SandraScarlett

I'm so sorry to hear that some people are having rotten patches, and having to pay out on totally unexpected things. That's the worst thing about a budget. However much you allow for "sundry expenses", spread over a year, the barstewards crop up in the first 3 months.

But hang on in there, cos you are all doing sooooooooooo well. I have nothing but admiration for people who are budgeting for the first time ever, cooking things from scratch, chipping away at loans and overdrafts, whilst trying to feed their families well.

Sometimes when you try to budget, you find it's like snakes and ladders. You have 3 or 4 NSDs, and then get a whopping great Vet's bill! And you can't do anything but pay up. But the good days will come again, and meanwhile, you are at least trying. :T

When I was a teacher (Business Studies), I used to have a huge home-made poster on the wall, and each year, a group of students from the current Yr 11s, would make a fresh one, improving on last year's efforts! It read:

Failure to prepare is to prepare for failure

If you don't try, you can't improve

If you don't improve, you can't succeed

If you don't succeed, you can't achieve your best

Your best is proof that you've tried

So try, try, TRY!!!!!


You are all trying so hard, and eventually it will all become second nature to you, and, without realising it, you will find that you're making a big difference. If your day's been lousy, there's no disgrace in admitting it. Everyone's here to support each other, and the person who has 47 NSDs in a row, and has never had money problems, is telling porkies!! :grouphug:

xx

cw18

23rdspiral wrote: »

......cheese cob loaf was 79p now 39p...

would i be right in thinking this was a Mr M you were at ???

(recognises all the items, and this one in particular as being one of the two 'featured' loaves for the month)

freedom2011

Right frugal buddies, I have a catering size tin of tomato's which I want top open tomorrow but there will be some surplus do you think I could freeze the rest into smaller portions? Hope it is not too stupid a question.:cool:

cw18

freedom2011 wrote: »

Right frugal buddies, I have a catering size tin of tomato's which I want top open tomorrow but there will be some surplus do you think I could freeze the rest into smaller portions? Hope it is not too stupid a question.:cool:

Don't see why not.... I put tinned toms into my spag bol and chilli, and I freeze portions of that

dizzy_lizzie

freedom2011 wrote: »

Right frugal buddies, I have a catering size tin of tomato's which I want top open tomorrow but there will be some surplus do you think I could freeze the rest into smaller portions? Hope it is not too stupid a question.:cool:

If it was me I'd batch make some of the tomatoes to go in lasagnes or bolognaises then freeze, eg gently fry an onion add tomatoes pinch of sugar (optional) and season, maybe a little stock too to make it go a bit further, but not too much or it would be too thin. Though if it does get too thin you could always add a little cornflour or ordinary flour to thicken it up again I'd then freeze it and take out the night before I want to use it. I'd freeze some plain as well to go into soups.
Hope that makes sense.
Luv Dizzy x

23rdspiral

cw18 wrote: »

I've never had any get that far OOD (drink too much of the stuff), but have found some that were about 12 months 'gone' - and they were fine.

As long as they're still in their box and not been exposed to light I'd certainly give them a try.

On the other hand my DD keeps hers in a tub with a clear lid, and even if they went from the box to the tub in the morning I can't stand the top ones by the afternoon... so I have to dig down the tub to get one that's not seen the light !!

Red_Doe wrote: »

Tea keeps for ages, am sure it`ll be fine.

thanks both! well, i had a cup and it tasted nice... and i'm not dead yet! brilliant as we'll have electricians everywhere in a few weeks so they can hoover the expensive looking tea up!

the pack's been in it's celephane in a dark panty (nan's then mine) for over a decade!! :eek:
interesting what you said CW about the light - i should have thought about that - how environemental conditions damage things is a main part of my job!
ruby tuesday - i really like the Good Earth tea too! got it once on promotion at a health food shop. it's very good.

CW18 - yep, a Mr M! bravo!! i *thought i prefered sainsburys for most things, (other than always Mr M for gammon shanks, mr A for big turkey legs), but Mr M is round the corner from work and with discounts like that i might just switch loyalty!

:T well done seriously frugal! good luck at your new job - it's at an abbey? what will you do there?