Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

23rdspiral

??? has anyone ever bought glasses off the internet???

i've had my eyes checked and i do indeed need new glasses. i've been round the ususal suspects like specsavers but can't see anything i like let alone anything i'd want to spend lots of money on! i've read Martin's articles on buying online and wondered if anyone here's done it? :cool:
i saw a lovely pair of designer specs in an independent shop, 110quid (more than i've ever paid but they were Perfect); the lady had me reaching for my prescription then told me the lenses and anti-reflection coating were extra!!!! needless to say i left! i've found them online at select specs for 85.00 all in... But that's still more than specsavers cheapies, but i really like them! argh!!!!!!

cw18

Fruittea wrote: »

Hi CW18 is it you I need to ask if I can join. Let me in please..... :rotfl:

No need to ask for permission to join.... but I'll happily go and add your name to the list

Aril

Evening frugallers:j
If you want to go out and feel you're likely to spend perhaps one strategy would be to just take your library card with you- you can read the magazines and papers in there and then bring home lots of books to refresh you. With me it's often the need to have something new to enjoy but with this method there's no cost. The other thing I do is to visit the supermarket and pick up the free inhouse mags or some recipe cards. If you're absolutely desperate just take enough cash with you for a takeaway coffee:D
After doing that I feel like I've spent money even though none has left my purse- just diarise when the books are due back so you don't incur late payment fees
Aril
PS NSD today

Fruittea

Many thanks CW18 - Started right away with a slow cooker meal for us tonight. All store cupboard goods nice and frugal.

gelmc

Laushappy I'm sorry that you had a panic attack. I'm a sufferer too - since the age of 19. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is great for challenging the racing fearful thoughts that you get when you panic. A book that really helped me when I first experienced these blighters and that uses CBT is written by Dr Clare Weekes and called 'Self-help for your nerves'. She teaches accepting and moving through the fear rather than fighting it. Ir sorted me out when I thought I was cracking up all those years ago.

Took dress back to Mr As as was wrong size and got marked down milk and some lovel new potatoes (picked my own and they cost 47p!!!) just roasted them in the oven.

Erme

gien wrote: »

Thanks for the Lovely welcome. As it's Sunday all the shops are closed and we didn't go swimming (colds and coughs here) so a NSD.

Yesterday DH needed a hippy outfit for a party so we tie dyed a t-shirt. First time I've done it and it was really succesful. I have dome very tired old tops and kids Ts which I think I'll perk up with a bit of tie dye and get some more wear out of.

first question (sorry it's so late....been unwell..crazee sleep and not on MSE for a few days)...did you do it in the washing machine and was it easy cos I have a pinafore I'd like to die back to navy (it's ancient but I like it) from when I did weird things with bleach years ago (over 5 - pre current consultant) and it splashed on it

chika wrote: »

Hello Gelmc, Nice to meet you! Minnie I'm glad your dog is ok now, that must be a massive relief for you. Re the gammon, either cut it into meal sized pieces and cook seperatly or cook the whole thing at once and freeze into portions. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/162305 This is a thread about gammon in coke with a link to a rather nice Nigella receipe. I had it in cherry coke at a friends before and it was lush.

Had a couple of spendy days this weekend, but thankfully I managed to finally get some whoopsies in Mr A. Smoked haddock 50p was £4.70, 12 free range eggs 10p and some other bits of pieces for pennies. I was rather chuffed!

How on earth did you manage to get eggs for 10p ...well done you :T....Am jealous as now am eating again (properly just hate processed stuff) eat quite a few eggs and also use them in baking

cw18 wrote: »

Wow! Folks have been busy while I've been out (again!) But I managed another NSD, as I took over food from here to cook over there (he should have been coming this way, but wasn't really well enough to be driving)......

Bit of an 'experience' though as he doesn't currently have an oven/grill/hob, which meant I only had use of a (pretty naff) mini oven I've lent him (makes toast reasonably well) and his big-standard microwave. Jacket spuds and salmon I can do in a micro OK, but it's a loooooong time since I've used one to cook fresh carrots and brocolli !! Turned out OK though

gelmc - check the links in the first post for 'my FREE spreadsheet', and welcome aboard

Does anyone know how many quotes are currently coming up on the multiquote system or do I have to cut and paste stuff with a new tab open? It's a bit long winded but possibly worth it..

Welcome newbies. I think I joined last february a good 4 weeks into the challenge so no worries about being late...lots of newbies this year so welcome everyone

Well....did I tell you guys I blew £10.99 on a new mouse cos like the hardware on this acer is DEAD....literally synaptics device dead...it's taking some time to get used to having about 80% of the time used the touchpad on this netbook for the last year(got to love the netbook with the amount of junk in this place LOL) but did order some spare mice from ebay today for about £1 - £1.50 each...


Still to menu plan in 10 minutes :eek: pre nightly reading...fed up of doing my last sock for a friend (hopefully the first one is HUGE) but thanks to that wifey (forget her name on here) who gave me the link for silver's sock class....really a good thing to do in the winter evenings...

Also Nualathere's an alternate site to https://www.sparkpeople.com - the daily plate which is basically the same (though noticed recently you had to pay for premium membership ) and you can do pretty much the same stuff but has more UK foods.

Basicallly SP/ DP / WW and the like are all about food diaries and like low fat non processed food. A fave of mine whilst on SP was fish in foil...Just fish (cheap from the freezer shop) wrapped in foil with chopped up green veg, marg lightly covering the inside of the foil and a bit of fine grated strong cheese - bake in a mid high oven for 20 mins or so - YUM and all for less than 250cals (don't forget your sliced tatties for some carbs)......


.....now only 5 mins to menu plan :eek:


BTW...got Ma a bargain today...she really uses her juicer (she has a thing about carrot juice) and today I found her a whoopsied juicer in Mr Ar for £19.99 reduced from £59.99 and it looks the same as the Phillips at about £100 :A

E

midwinter

Hi there Fruittea :j

Just done the Mr M's reduced price shop...... disappointing veg and meat wise..... but boys happy, as 30 mini chocolate covered doughnuts for 9p ... as if I could deny them those!

So ultra frugality went by the by:rotfl:

midwinter

23rdspiral wrote: »

??? has anyone ever bought glasses off the internet???

i've had my eyes checked and i do indeed need new glasses. i've been round the ususal suspects like specsavers but can't see anything i like let alone anything i'd want to spend lots of money on! i've read Martin's articles on buying online and wondered if anyone here's done it? :cool:
i saw a lovely pair of designer specs in an independent shop, 110quid (more than i've ever paid but they were Perfect); the lady had me reaching for my prescription then told me the lenses and anti-reflection coating were extra!!!! needless to say i left! i've found them online at select specs for 85.00 all in... But that's still more than specsavers cheapies, but i really like them! argh!!!!!!

Not bought online before, but happy to advise you otherwise 23rdspiral, if you want to PM me.

HowlinWolf

I have written an e-mail of complaint concern to Mr A as they had put the wrong bottles of Persil in the offer at the store I went to so I ended up with 54 wash bottles instead of 85 wash bottles. I bought them as I though the 85 earlier in the thread must have been a typo but I have since checked online and it should indeed be 85 washes which would be a £10 discount off rrp.

Erme

itsallinthemind wrote: »

Mum's :mad:

Mine is the one with baking powder/no milk as I think it makes it lighter (plus granulated brown sugar on top instead).

Her's is vegan though!

Baking is a serious matter

Here here and so true...not least when your baking periodically gets devoured by your consultant psychiatrist (he's one of my fans of my baking) and the clinical director....Only Cons Psych is now 'Mr frugal' cos last appt he gave me back a 10p cookie box from the cash and carry I promptly stood on...Next challenge is not to wash hair for 2 weeks and use my bicarb and cornflour recipe when it gets greasy (often) and see if he notices and if he does if he upps my meds LOL (maybe this isn't such a wise idea cos the chances are if he notices he will up my meds and that's one step from admisssion and february is TOO busy to get admitted LOL)...He notices ladies hair but I'm just as observant so keep him on his toes :T

itsallinthemind wrote: »

Approved Foods
Anyone live near Abadeen who wants a order for free RRP £220 - actual cost £70?
You have to pick it up from Ellon
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000118757303 reply on profile FAST

I couldn't find it just now..:( and I'm in the Deen (so now it's out...I live in Aberdeen) and like can you reallySee me bringing back a £200 food order on the bus from ellon...don't think I'd be able to lift it LOL.....that must take up LOADS of space.....:rotfl: :rotfl:...where's my psych's landrover when I need it

natnat13 wrote: »

I have just spent all afternoon clearing out my kitchen cupboards! Found some stuff for car boot and ebay and feel like I've achieved something!

Found a jar of pasta bake at the back of one cupboard so thats for tea I have decided, I just had fish written down on my meal planner so going to add a tin of tuna, a tin of mixed beans and a pepper chopped up.

Quick question, I'm venturing to pound land on Wed, which I don't do very often as it's an hour away but need to go to the city for other things, can anyone reccommend what to buy? Def going to look for green bags, toothpaste, any other ideas welcomed please.

Just an idea for anyone wanted free cosmetics, I USED to (so not promoting myself, don't think we're allowed to do that are we?!) work doing body shop doing party plan and for hosting a party you got freebies, as long as your sales reached a certain level. It's like that with all the other parties you can hold to, kitchen stuff, chocolate, jewellery etc. So if anyone wants some freebies, you can just get some friends round and for a few cups of tea you might get some goodies. Only a thought.... Nat x

You can get some good e-book on homemade cosmetics....it depends what you want...since the beginning of the year I use bicarb and cornflour for deodorant and homemade dry shampoo and the former fixes painful hormonal pits :T. If you just do a search on amazon in the kindle store sure you'll find something and lots are really easy and quick.... Also the kindle app is a free download for 101 things so you should be okay

10 past 8 woe is me....best get off MSE and read my Boston

E