Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

minnie2

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Hi Minnie, sorry to hear you're having problems at the moment. Do you know what are the most precious gifts you can give to someone - your love and your time.

If you make the effort to go to a funeral, the very fact that you've attended, shows that you care. If it makes you feel better, wear something black, like trousers or a top, but don't feel that you have to be spending money on clothes. You've already given a wonderful gift by attending, and that's all that matters.

When by Dad died, the cleaning lady where I worked came to the funeral. She was dressed very casually, as she was going to work immediately afterwards. She didn't bring flowers, and neither my Mum or I could have cared less. We were just overwhelmed that she gave up her time to attend.

xx

flying_fresian wrote: »

Evening all

Planned NSD was b*ggered by Mr Fresian going home via Asda on the way from collecting me from the train station. I'd had the journey from hell (first train half an hour late, second train delayed due to cows on the line! Then the tea trolley ran out of hot water and when they finally had some I didn't have enough cash for coffee, bah!) so was quite happy to pop in for bacon, as he wanted a sandwich.

It then turned out we needed the bacon, some bread, milk, tomatoes and lettuce. I also ended up getting some whoopsied fairy cakes for me (10p!) and some condensed soup - they had 5 cans for £2 and it's normally 74p a can, so I couldn't resist that, and the cat's food was a good price too. So, that was £23+ spent and I haven't been paid yet. Pah!

Off to have a quick peruse of the forum, update the Spreadsheet of Wonder and then bed. Night all

PS...on the subject of funerals, I attended Mr F's gran's funeral the other week and own nothing black (occupational hazard of cat ownership, cathair shows up too easily on black clothes ) I ended up in a grey pair of trews and a dark top. His stepmum wore a red top and dark trews and it didn't really matter as it was all about attending to show we cared. That's the main thing.

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Big hugs and huge wishes for everyone to reach their goals. Especially you minnie, you will get there
God Bless
Luv Dizzy
♥

thank you everyone you are so kind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ive cared for him for the last 5years - it hard especially when they are just kids!!

minnie2

redglass wrote: »

Thanks, SF! :T
and nice to 'see' you again on the new challenge!
Arggh, must get to bed - long day tomorrow. zzz

have edited to say something about funerals (I hadn't read that bit when i first posted). I was casually dressed at my father's funeral, because I'd travelled in a hurry to the hospital across half England and then been up day and night with him, then I had to help Mum after his death. There wasn't time to think about clothes. Nobody held it against me, in fact I think they realised that I had been using my time in other ways and clothing was the last thing on my mind. It really didn't matter.

rubytuesday wrote: »

Minnie, Nuala and Sandra have hit the nail on the head with regards to the funeral. When my best friend died in her early thirties I wore my favourite patchwork skirt as I knew she would have wanted me to be celebrating her life in bright colours and what was comfortable for me. Just being there is more important than garments as has already been said.
I do hope it goes as well as can be.

itsallinthemind wrote: »

NSD again, no reason to spend before my month end on the 23rd.

Minnie, as others have said, just wear something respectful, especially if held in a relgious building, ie no boobs on show!

I find about 1/4 of my peers wear brightly coloured things to funerals, I tend to bar when the it is for someone in their 80's or older. The funerals I have been to in recent years, especially those of children, have been sad obviously, but they have been more about a celebration of the life and the way they touched the lives of thodse attending.

Have you got a black coat? Or formal black jacket? They may help you feel more traditional. Or perhaps could a friend of similar size lend you one?

The only thing I ever saw at a funeral that seemed innapropriate, was my own aunt(she is 70)! Pure white skin tight capri pants and top, teamed with gold belt, gold bag and gold shoes and about 40 tonnes of gold dripping from her, teamed with her big hair(to the bum), perma tan and garish make up it was just odd at any occasion to be honest. So if that is your normal attire, then maybe you should re think! It just seemed very materialistic looking in the circumstances

Sorry-Waffling! x

thank you all!!!! just want to show how much he meaned to me!

minnie2

23rdspiral - so sorry to hear about your redundancy!!!!! fingers crossed you find something soon!!!

ceridwen

Right - about to "go off" and watch that tv programme link NualaBuala kindly put up for me earlier on and thinking "Little treat for myself - here I come" - as I think that might be an interesting programme for me.

One of the things I find hardest actually about trying to be mindful of how I spend my money is what to do about "treats" for myself - now that I'm trying not to spend money to buy myself something as a treat.

I have a problem with the "just take a walk somewhere nice in the countryside, etc and study Nature" school of thought. I do what I can on that idea - because that IS a treat to me - but I have to live in an urban area:( - so thats not as "available" as I would like. So - I am at a bit of a loss for how to give myself treats that cost little (if anything). I'm also at a bit of a loss as to how to spend lunchbreaks from work (after I've used however many of them I need to to do the shopping - I've still got "spare" lunchbreaks that I am at a bit of a loss as to how to fill...).

So - I think these might be problems others face as well - so what solutions have others found to these situations?

JayneC

Hi all,

Just had a quick scan through, seems we're all a bit down today - hugs all round :grouphug:

23rd Spiral I work in public sector too, it's v scary at the mo and people just don't know what's going on. I work in children's social care and what's happening there is not good:(

Ruby Tuesday - I used to be a magazine addict and found National Magazine Group (all the popular titles) often have really good trial offers - £3 for 3 month subscription, etc. and they're reall good about you cancelling, just ring and cancel no questions asked. You just have to remember to cancel in good time before you get charged for a full subscription. Have now recovered from addiction to the 'glossies' realising they are designed to make you think you need to buy things to make your life better (expensive clothes, make-up, skincare, home furnishing, etc, etc...), but have discovered Permacutlure magazine and Home Farmer now....at least they are anti buying things you don't need and promote a degree of self sufficiency...Ok rant over

Still doing quite well frugal wise. Dropped into Boots to see if there was anything worth getting in the 75% off sale. Picked up just one item I thought might be ok for ex MIL birthday in Feb and also a THomas Tank engine toy thing that I thought DGS might like for his bday also in Feb. and then thought - I'd planned to plant up some strawberry plants in a nice pot for MIL which she'd probably appreciate more and DGS has far too many toys - I'm planning to get him a lamp for his room cos he can be a bit funny about the dark and some swim shorts (which he needs) so I put them back and walked out with nothing!!!:T

We had spag bol for tea from freezer, got 13 portions of spag bol and 2 family size meat and potato pies from 500g of mince :T

Picked up a 25k sack of spuds from a farmers cart on my travels today £6, and popped into Iceland 4 x baked beans £1, 2 x kingmill loaves £1.50 (for 2) and 4 packs of butter (Willow) £2, must make the effort to go there more often, I used to but got out of the habit. I usually only get those items and milk but trying to only get local or organic milk now - talk of this super dairy has scared me a bit, so decided it's worth paying a little more (still looking for the best price tho )

Well I think I've waffled enough, I'll let the rest of you get a word in x

HowlinWolf

Well After my positive insurance post earlier it all went horribly wrong the insurance company withdrew their quote. I've had to go to a specialist to the tune of several hundred pounds more per year. I could honestly cry buckets and I have bad physical stress symptoms which is likely to mean an early night and a few days of feeling hideous to come

Aril

Evening all:j
Hugs to all- will be going back over the thread shortly. I've continued with a frugal week here. Although my weekly shop was a little higher I noticed that they've dropped the price on some of the regular lines I buy so have stocked up as the cynic in me thinks that next time I look they'll have gone up quite a bit:D

One way I'm finding that is making my money go further is to do my price research [wherever practical that is] on an item before it's run out so I have a figure to start from eg this week anti bac spray is £1.33 in Mr S whereas I've found a bigger bottle for £1 in Wilko. I've done the same with coffee today and saved the princely sum of 11p. Not much per item but will add up over time!

Thank you for the smilies site- woo have I had some fun with those:rotfl::rotfl:

We are going out for a Thai meal on Saturday night with the small person and my parents and we are paying...it's not as bad as it sounds though. We are going to be receiving a lump sum for referring my Dad to the solar panel company we used so are using that and putting the balance into savings. My parents have done a lot for us over the years and it is very difficult to repay them. However, on this occasion they are on board with the idea and they are actually around instead of off galivanting [they're retired] It will be lovely not to have to cook and washup for either myself or OH:j
Aril

slscarborough

Well I have decided I am definately on board. Havent set a budget yet but working on one. My income has recently took a significant dive and over the next few months things will be very tight. To be honest I am not sure how we are going to get through the next couple of months.

JayneC

ceridwen wrote: »

Right - about to "go off" and watch that tv programme link NualaBuala kindly put up for me earlier on and thinking "Little treat for myself - here I come" - as I think that might be an interesting programme for me.

One of the things I find hardest actually about trying to be mindful of how I spend my money is what to do about "treats" for myself - now that I'm trying not to spend money to buy myself something as a treat.

I have a problem with the "just take a walk somewhere nice in the countryside, etc and study Nature" school of thought. I do what I can on that idea - because that IS a treat to me - but I have to live in an urban area:( - so thats not as "available" as I would like. So - I am at a bit of a loss for how to give myself treats that cost little (if anything). I'm also at a bit of a loss as to how to spend lunchbreaks from work (after I've used however many of them I need to to do the shopping - I've still got "spare" lunchbreaks that I am at a bit of a loss as to how to fill...).

So - I think these might be problems others face as well - so what solutions have others found to these situations?

Ceridwen - I totally understand where you're coming from. I'm lucky to live by the sea and can go and walk down there quite easily from home and work - never tire of it . I do sometimes work at offices that are a bit further out of town and sometimes I do just go for a walk around nearby, nosey in people's garden's, etc and have found green spaces that I didn't even know were there! Always feel better going for a walk wherever it is. I sometimes drop into the library too, they sometimes have things going on - even the village libraries and what about any galleries? Museums? that might have free entry? Some girls at work have set up a knitting group and meet at each others houses. Or maybe just read an interesting book at lunchtimes if you've somewhere to sit? HTH ?

Jayne x

slscarborough

Right I have decided to do an all in budget. Just looked at last years spreadsheet and spent a whopping £28000!!

Have no idea what an accetable budget would or could be? We are a family of 4 with 2 cats?