Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

mooomin

Large (about 2 litres...) pan of bolognaise is now simmering on the hob. It's worked out reasonably frugal too I think. Rough costings below:

Onion 8p
Peppers £1.60 for five
Mushrooms 85p
Mince £2ish
2 stock cubes 16p
3 tins tomatoes 75p
2 good handfuls of red lentils 15p (ish)
2 good handfuls of porridge oats (Ssh, don't tell Mr Fresian ) 15p (ish)
4 cloves of garlic 6p

Total cost is therefore £5.80 and it's going to do two of us for five meals so £1.18 per meal and 59p per portion, which I'm really pleased with.

Marru

I have now finished my work assignment abroad and am back. Bank account and cash has been counted and reconciled and damage assessed. BF had spent almost £100 over two weeks for food :eek: and this is on top of the £30 I spent last weekend and a veg box that I got delivered. Also I had almost £90 bill for gas waiting for me (and that was only for just over a month :eek:). Have updated my signature.

So the result is that after two weeks I have spent more than my monthly budget. Didn't really want to start the year behind but just need to be extra frugal now. I have some stuff to try make my own yoghurt and also I should have enough stuff to try some spelt bread in the BM. Need to nip to the shops tomorrow for some veggies as I really need to start taking soups to work with some bean pate sarnies (also should have stuff for the bean pate in cupboards).

On the positive note I am ahead on my rent payments (meaning that I paid two lots from my previous salary) and still have some money left before this months salary. I haven't been in this position for years :j

dizzy_lizzie

Welcome back Marru I've also started batch soup making for work and I love it when all I have to do is wrap up some bread, get my soup out of the freezer and it's all done. Plus it's healthy.
I've got to go shopping now, I keep putting it off, but I'm going to go to Mr Ss and use my nectar card, though I've no idea what I've got on this or how it works properly lol
I need a few vegan items and it's easier to get from here because of the good labelling but usually I'd pop to Mr A's. Will be interesting to see if there's much difference in price if I do my main shop there :think:
Catch you all later maybe for a shopping update.
Luv dizzy x
♥

Kerry_Woman

jess444 - Sorry to hear about your job. Hope things work out alright for you.

rising_from_the_ashes

Wow, can't believe how many pages I've got to catch up on!

seriouslyfrugal

:hello: Hello Everyone


Welcome to Sacrsie :wave:


Jess I'm sorry to hear your news


Been to mr A tonight ( with mum so this is her budget ) got some items reduced :

mushrooms 30p , cuecumber 25p ( whole ), carrot battons 35p , celery 15p, blueberries 25p , granery loaf 2 @ 20p each granery battons 2 for 40p


Items that were on offer :

milk 4 pts £ 1.25 ( iceland is £1.10 )

persil ( all types) £5.00 ( 85 wash ) :j:j

NSD for me today :j:j

summertea

Hi All,

Have been very inspired by all the frugal recipes and decided to whip up some soup to stash in the freezer myself.

I picked up a bag of organic watercress for 75p in Mr S so it was watercress soup.

sweated 1/2 an onion and i clove of garlic in 1/2 tablespoon of oil on a medium heat chuck in the watercress to wilt then add 1 litre of vegetable stock, simmer for 15 minutes and blend.

There is not a lot too it but i like to have it as a starter if i'm having a meal with a low vegetable contingent plus it has a nice peppery taste.

also scored a few charity bargains 2 dvd's for £2 and a smart work cardigan for £2 its all going suspiciously well this year.

natnat13

Thanks for your comments, will def look at ebaying the lego, the boys have loads already!

Thank you for the dishwasher tips, I'm sorry I can't remember who it was now, it has definately helped, I think the problem is one of the blades that spins round is wonky and keeps getting stuck in the basket! Hopefully DH can fix it!

Is anyone doing anythnig nice tomorrow? I think I might start going through all my cupboards in a spring clean / ebay hunt!

I am jealous of all your supermarket bargains! My nearest are Mr T and Lidl which are about a 10 minute drive. Then Mr M is 20 minutes away in another direction. Mr A and Mr S (small one) is a good half an hour. Iceland, poundland etc are all nearly an hour away! It's probably a good thing in a way as it stops me spending!

Nat x

jess444_2

Thank you to everyone for your good wishes. A very scary time, but feel much more prepared due to finding MSE a few years ago and sorting out my debts and overpaying the mortgage.

A good day today. Bought some 'cooking bacon' from Lidl for £1.45 (ish) yesterday. I have used this for breakfast, made bacon and lentil soup for lunch and plenty left for pasta carbanara (sp) for tea tomorrow - a bargain.

Jess

midwinter

summertea wrote: »

I picked up a bag of organic watercress for 75p in Mr S so it was watercress soup.

also scored a few charity bargains 2 dvd's for £2 and a smart work cardigan for £2 its all going suspiciously well this year.

I just looooove watercress, haven't had it in ages!

And well done on the charity shop purchases too!

I've managed a NSD day today, only my 5th so far!