Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

23rdspiral

well as anticipated, yesterday was a spendy day going around fabric shops - but Everything i bought was reduced and quite a bit by 50% or more, so i spent 21.46 on fabric that if full price would have been 49.33! so i dont feel guilty at all (but maybe i should?)

These 'OTHERS' spends are what i need to think about carefully... i know im spending more now that i would normally as i've had opportunities for cheaper spends that are unusual and i want to 'prepare' for redundancy with having enough to do if i cant find a job - and selling things i've made or at least making all presents seems like a good idea.

i've not budgeted for them exactly, but this month is a little alarmingly high... but then i've never added these spends up before!

Jess - sorry to hear about your redundancy notice. i'm dreading the post at home/work everyday. you're planning sounds sensible, well done. (unlike mine perhaps)

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

rubytuesday poundland had a bit of money from me too today, it's lethal going in there!

isn't it! i work round the corner from one, i've had some amazing good deals and things for presents you'd never think cost that little! but then i've also got many things i could have done without!


???????? if i'd have gone on this day out alone, i'd have taken a packed lunch... but my friend had a windfall so wanted to treat us to lunch... so i bought drinks for us.... where'd you put those drinks costs? (cheaper than buying lunch, but way more expensive than i'd have paid if alone!) in groceries / others or presents?! ????????

cw18

23rdspiral wrote: »

???????? if i'd have gone on this day out alone, i'd have taken a packed lunch... but my friend had a windfall so wanted to treat us to lunch... so i bought drinks for us.... where'd you put those drinks costs? (cheaper than buying lunch, but way more expensive than i'd have paid if alone!) in groceries / others or presents?! ????????

I wouldn't (personally) put it under presents - unless it was a birthday treat for someone instead of buying them a present.

The only time I hit this was in August 2009, when DD and I took GDs out for GD1s birthday. We went to the circus at Blackp00l Tower, and stopped at K.F.C on the way back afterwards. As I'd have not had this expense if it weren't for the outing, I stuck it under 'others'.

redglass_2

l.m.hart wrote: »

http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/simple-white-loaf-recipe_p_1.html

I'm relieved to see that he uses an oven, not a breadmaker. I sometimes feel I'm the only person left on earth who doesn't have one, but I don't eat enough bread to justify the expense (more a potatoes and pasta girl) and there's only me in this house. I do have a recipe for making bread in a slowcooker but have never dared have a go, has anyone actually done this?

Welcome to all our new Frugalistas!

Jess, sorry to hear about your trouble. You'll get lots of support here.

midwinter

Just finished colouring my hair. A treat for me

Used to have it done at the hairdressers until the costs started to rocket several years ago.

And the colouring I use, is always on offer at some point, either at super drug or Mr M's, so stock up when it's on offer

redglass_2

23rdspiral wrote: »

???????? if i'd have gone on this day out alone, i'd have taken a packed lunch... but my friend had a windfall so wanted to treat us to lunch... so i bought drinks for us.... where'd you put those drinks costs? (cheaper than buying lunch, but way more expensive than i'd have paid if alone!) in groceries / others or presents?! ????????

I have a category called Eating Out and everything of this nature goes into it,whether it's chipping in with drinks, a coffee for myself, or a full meal (though there haven't been any of those so far). If I buy it over a counter and consume it on the premises, it's Eating Out.

slowlyfading

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

slowlyfading friends like that are priceless

They certainly are

It's a gloomy day today - not venturing far I don't think, apart from driving back this afternoon at some point. Then just need to sort myself out for tomorrow! The weekends always go so quickly....!

CRANKY40

I think I'm doing fairly well. I still have the same amount of cash in my purse that I started with last week, so don't need to draw any more out for the coming week. The grocery shopping comes out of my bank account and is paid for on my credit card (nectar points) then paid by bank transfer the same day.

We haven't had any takeaways, or eaten out anywhere this week and we've just iced the second half of the chocolate cake that I made last week. Rather than eat it as fast as possible, I cut it into two and froze half. It's defrosted fine.

I was contemplating taking the house elf to the cinema, but in the end we settled for getting into my bed and watching one of his dvds that he got for Christmas. Very good it was too.

Take care all of you

23rdspiral

cw18 wrote: »

As I'd have not had this expense if it weren't for the outing, I stuck it under 'others'.

thanks! i've moved it to Others now. (i then moved some presents out of 'others' and into the reg sheet and did what you said about "= 2.99 + 3.99", then wrote the names in the spare colums and then added a 'note' to say what/how much) :T i think i'm getting the nack of this spreadsheet! *touch wood*

redglass wrote: »

I have a category called Eating Out and everything of this nature goes into it,whether it's chipping in with drinks, a coffee for myself, or a full meal (though there haven't been any of those so far). If I buy it over a counter and consume it on the premises, it's Eating Out.

humm, that sounds really sensible. have you put this in one of the spare rows in the 'regs' page?

natnat13

HowlinWolf wrote: »

typed a long post but it's been eaten by the internet gods.

We have £5.60 in the food budget to the end of the month but the cupboards and freezer are well stocked so we may only need milk and maybe a little extra veg.

The mortgage statement came and we have a couple of months longer left on our fixed rate than I thought so we're safe from rate rises for a little bit longer.

On the down side the house insurance renewal has gone up 150 and I can't find it cheaper elsewhere so I'm going to have to try and claw back some savings in other areas of the budget but it's all so tight I'm not sure it can be done.

Morning everyone
Howling wolf are you going to fix your mortgage rate again? We have been on a fixed rate for 2 years and ours is coming to an end in April. Don't know whether to fix again and how long for? Do you think the rates will go up a lot?

I have taken the children swimming this morning, my 4 1/2 year old really isn't keen and is going to be going with school in September so I need to make an effort to get him a bit more used to the water. I was pleased when I got there you don't have to pay until they are 4 so my youngest was free. It was still £6.20 for me and my oldest though at a cold scanky local pool! Never mind, they enjoyed it!

I think DH has fixed the dishwasher which is good. Nothing else planned for today apart from a bit of tidying up. Left over chiken pie for dinner and I have a pizza in the freezer for tea.

minnie2

lump on dog has gone!! woo hoo!! on two counts!! firstly not tumour - i had wondered if he had clunked it on his bone while he was messing about!! secondly - ive cancelled vet appointment!!!! so no cost there!!