Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

midwinter

Just had my first look at music magpie, and the returns for my CD's are pitiful! So they'll be packaged up for a car boot sale instead . . .

elly68

hi well have done my shop and for the first time in 4 weeks i have went over the £100 however i bought hubbys razors ,a double size of washing powder ,hairdye and lots of deodarant as they were on special .i got the morrisons brussels for 50p feel happy with what i got and going to sort it out by only spending £80 next week
i also expect to be £20 in the butchers but going to dock £5 each week for this i think i'm going to try and not shop for 2 weeks and only buy essentials lets see

cw18

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

I hope today goes well Cheryl and that you enjoy your birthday. When I read about the 'two old folk' playing on their computers together my first thought was, come on Cheryl you can do better than that but I suppose if its OK with you then its OK with you IYKWIM.;) I was going to offer my terminology of LOL = Live Out Lover but I think I was leaping ahead too much. :rotfl:Whoops!

Deffo leaping ahead too much :rotfl:

We've agreed to take things slowly and in baby-steps, so the evening we had was great as it shows we can spend time together without feeling uncomfortable in each others company. The few times I've been to his he's not been well, so not really 'real' time spent together (if that makes sense), but yesterday was a lot more 'normal'......

Just waiting on comments from the neighbours about my having had an overnight visitor now, as it's the first time I've had anyone over But I wasn't even nervous about the fact he was in the house (in a different room, but I know assumptions will be made), which I think again shows I feel comfortable around him.

Unfortunately we had to cut the visit to DD and GDs shorter than planned, and then he had to shoot off as soon as we got back here! About 10-15 mins after the race kicked off he got a call from his sister to say his Dad had been taken into hospital (cancer), and asking how soon he could get there.....

I apologised that I didn't think I could call the visit off completely (GDs have been badly let down by someone else several times recently, and DD had made me a cake), but he was fine about nipping over as it had been pre-arranged. In fact he was very apologetic that I felt the need to cut the visit short - but I told him that family should always come first, and I'd have wanted to be heading over to the hospital ASAP had the roles been reversed.

So I'm now debating what weepy film to stick on and watch while I scoff the box of chocolates my DD/GDs gave me as one of my pressies Think I deserve them after the run - still waiting on official time, but indications are it could be under an hour which is fab Clocked a time of 1:07:00 for my last 10k, and was just hoping to beat that. If I have manged it in under an hour, then I think it'll also give me my fastest average running speed to date :T

Erme

goldrush1984 wrote: »

Hi Ive been lurking on this thread for a while now and think it's time I started doing something about our situation..the credit crunch has finally hit us..hard! Im soooo shocked with my diesel consumption!!

So ive just got my breadmaker down and cleared it of dust, got my basic ingredients last night from Mr T's along with a couple of reduced sandwiches for OH s lunch and 2 takeaway meals for tonight- not ideal I know but a damn sight cheaper than our usual £15 takeaway a week!(not done that in a while though!)

So getting back on to subject...can I bake a small basic loaf WITHOUT the skimmed powdered milk?? I am really keen on getting it done...there's always a stumbling block! In the meantime I'll make pizzas & freeze!
Thankyou!!

Yeah believe it or not it'll be just dandy without the milk powder and will keep fresher for longer ...just try it and be pleasantly surprised..

Now onto the not so nice topic of phones..I've read all the jibes and listened to all the comments and taken them on board....and I fear the subject is going the way of my kindle purchase which resulted in me reporting a heap of folk for their unhelpful verging on bullying comments and threatening to take the whole board to the police...

Please therefore have respect...I can appreciate if you didn't like my comment about Noah's ark - that's got less to do with phones and more a cultural/religious issue as I am a calvinist/wee wee free at heart and subscribe to the westminster confession of faith and read the KJV (cos modern versions miss tonnes out!!! and confuse issues :eek:). I also believe that the earth is approx 6,000 years ago. I believe heaven is a place to be won and hell a place to shun etc etc and am a fan of the Rt Rev Ian Paisley as well as Sarah Palin...

If you have a prob with that please say so.... Because any sectarianism hidden on this board is not hidden from God and he will pardon whom he will pardon; bless whom he will bless and likewise have mercy on whom he desires to have mercy...

E

Aril

Hello frugallers:j
Happy birthday to those who are celebrating today and well done on your run Cheryl. Great stuff!
It's been a frugalish weekend here- perhaps spaving would be a better description:D I invested in a suitable amount of parsnips on Friday which have now been turned into the beginnings of wine for later on in the year and we have needed to buy paint for the small person's room. We have saved a little on that front though by using Wilko OB rather than Homebase.
At the moment we are just getting to grips with making the best use of our solar panels- whereas I'm used to running the machine either in the evening or first thing in the morning I'm now setting it up and OH will run it later in the day when hopefully we're generating. We'll also be putting the SC to use during the week rather than just at the weekend as has been the case.
My next frugal scheme is to get my rump into action and buy some batteries for my bike lights so that I can start to cycle short trips in the evening rather than using the car which I do at present as I don't like to be on foot too late in the evening - during the day I'm quite happy to rely on Shank's Pony.
Aril

londonirish_3

hello everyone im still being frugal, but as on the old thread, im strggling to get online, cant wait til my insurance pas out, im going crazy withut my own laptop. im used to ordering sainsbrys online, and actually shopping instore is costing me alot more, its too tempting seeing everything!!!

i hope ou are all doing well and im hoping to be back online and joining in soon. got loads and loads to catch p on.

its my 30th birthday in a couple of days and its making me quite unhappy. I keep thinking of what i havent achieved etc etc and its getting too much, why 30 is significant i dont know, but thats how I feel.

I have an interview for college at begnning of feb which im excited about, i havent wasted ANY money since before xmas so im doing good, I have not bought shoes or clothes or, well anything!!!! im poor but not in debt lol xx

chika

Erme wrote: »

Now onto the not so nice topic of phones..I've read all the jibes and listened to all the comments and taken them on board....and I fear the subject is going the way of my kindle purchase which resulted in me reporting a heap of folk for their unhelpful verging on bullying comments and threatening to take the whole board to the police...

Please therefore have respect...I can appreciate if you didn't like my comment about Noah's ark - that's got less to do with phones and more a cultural/religious issue as I am a calvinist/wee wee free at heart and subscribe to the westminster confession of faith and read the KJV (cos modern versions miss tonnes out!!! and confuse issues :eek:). I also believe that the earth is approx 6,000 years ago. I believe heaven is a place to be won and hell a place to shun etc etc and am a fan of the Rt Rev Ian Paisley as well as Sarah Palin...

If you have a prob with that please say so.... Because any sectarianism hidden on this board is not hidden from God and he will pardon whom he will pardon; bless whom he will bless and likewise have mercy on whom he desires to have mercy...

E

Hmmmm, I may have missed something or skimmed past what you are reffering to Erme but I don't think anyone has commented or insulted you on your ark comment (which made me laugh by the way! only because I have such a phone!)

We all have different reasons for being frugal but we all have a common goal, to live as frugally as possible. What consitutes frugal may be something individuals disagree on - I personally think it involves not spending money on non essential things. However we could probably debate for hours about what is and isn't essential!

This is [STRIKE]one of[/STRIKE] infact THE friendliest and supportive threads on any forum, I have ever come across. People take the time to post alternatives and different ideas to help us all spend less. I really don't think there is any hidden sectarianism. This is a lovely place with no need to start clicking the report button! I think it is important that we respect each others opinions and stay grateful for the advice and ideas we are given on the thread. :beer:


Oh before I forget -

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y

to Cheryl and 23rd Spiral

:bdaycake:

Puddleglum

Hope that you don't mind me saying this Aril, but what a brilliant idea - winemaking. That will cheer up the year no end. Now what can I brew?

Redglass, love your location, sounds a bit like my place!

Happy Birthday Cheryl, happy unbirthday everyone else.

Aril

Parsnip is surprisingly delicious and without a hint of root vegetable and obviously kind on the pocket at this time of year:D I will freely admit that I was a bit dubious before OH made the first batch last year but it has been a revelation. To overcome the lack of warmth at the moment we're sitting it upon a heated pad we have to get it started.
Aril

never_too_old

Aril wrote: »

Parsnip is surprisingly delicious and without a hint of root vegetable and obviously kind on the pocket at this time of year:D I will freely admit that I was a bit dubious before OH made the first batch last year but it has been a revelation. To overcome the lack of warmth at the moment we're sitting it upon a heated pad we have to get it started.
Aril

how do you make this?:beer: