Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

patentgirl

Afternoon everyone
Not been on here for few days thread has grown loads skim read through so far but quick well done to Cheryl on your run and belated Birthday greetings
Welcome Sascha you did really well on sticking to your budget had a quick peek at your blog and welcome Sarah
End of first month nearly over for me as my plan goes from payday always 25th have done well no unexpected bills might not be so easy next month as 4 family birthdays and car tax , pleased as I have kept to food budget
Quote:
Originally Posted by SandraScarlett



But even not, I bet that everybody has spent less, whether it's by £50 or 50p. I'm just pleased that I've been more creative with my shopping, that I've paid all my bills, and that I've got some extra money put by for when my proper Heating Williams arrive next month - I call them "Williams", cos they're far too big to be merely "Bills"!!

Any saving is better than no saving, or bigger spending, so a huge group pat-on-the-back - Didn't We Do Well!! :T

xx

very funny but so true

Ruby Tuesday have you tried slo cooker for your casseroles you dont seem to get hard carrots then know what you mean about oven though
Most importantly a NSD here today :T

SandraScarlett

rubytuesday wrote: »

:hello:Hello Sarah.

Sandra your 'Williams' really made me laugh!
I have just rung Eon who I have just changed to, as they gave me a direct debit amount and then this morning I had a letter from them with an increased amount even though I don't start with them til Thursday! I think it was even more than I'm currently paying!
I'm aiming for a NSD today. I'm carrying on with my attack on the drawers (not knickers!) and will go for a walk to the park later.
I've put the heating on for half an hour to take of the chill and have made a hot water bottle. I'm really feeling cold right now!
I've lost a couple of Ibs too this week so I'm really pleased!

Well done on your weight loss! :T Apparently you burn more calories when you're cold! That is awful about having your Eon d/d increased when you haven't started paying yet. I do worry a lot about heating costs, because you can't say "stick yer 'eating up your a*se" like you could with, say, cheese?

If you change from one provider to another, chances are that as soon as you're "on board", their charges will rise in line with the one you've just left.

I'm happy with what I've saved on shopping, but I can't do anything about the rates, the water, or the heating. Though having said that, February and March are nice months, cos we pay the water and rates over 10 months, and get 2 "free".

xx

CRANKY40

saschaw wrote: »

Oh sorry NualaBuala - I wasn't supposed to be promoting the blog - just was too many words to put on here! Will remove details from previous post and try to type more details in the body of this post instead. Just was good fun proving we could feed ourselves for only 20 quid if we planned!
Thanks for your advice and look forward to more tips on here in future. X

You can do a link to your homepage though on your profile. A lot of people link to their blogs that way.

rubytuesday

patentgirl wrote: »

Ruby Tuesday have you tried slo cooker for your casseroles you dont seem to get hard carrots then know what you mean about oven though
Most importantly a NSD here today :T

Thank you - I recently got rid of my slow cooker as, I know it will be sacrilege to some, but I am not a fan. I don't cook much meat besides chicken and I don't like that in the slow cooker. I gave it to my sister in law who is absolutely delighted and making good use of it making lots of meat stews etc and I have valuable cupboard space back.

Well it has been like wading through treacle getting on here this evening! Not sure if it's my browser or the site.
It's also been like wading through treacle sorting my paperwork drawer so I needed a rest on here but have just been frustrated instead!

On a frugal note I am making a chicken pie with the leftover chicken and it was a NSD as planned. I didn't get out for my walk though because of how long the bloomin' drawer was taking!

SandraScarlett

rubytuesday wrote: »

I didn't get out for my walk though because of how long the bloomin' drawer was taking!

Don't know about you RT, but I get such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when I have cleared a drawer. :T

Donkey's years ago, I sold Mum's house to fund her Nursing Home fees, and she had about 12 huge chests-of-drawers, each with 4 big drawers and 2 little ones. Each time I visited her, I took the contents of one of the drawers with me, filling several carrier bags, so that she could say what she wanted me to do.

I had a devil's own problem getting her to part with receipts for items such as, a sewing machine - that she had got rid of decades before! I vowed I would not leave my children with such a problem, so every so often, I clear a drawer I feel I'm helping future generations!

Mind you, what I keep and consider important, my kids would probably think of as junk, but at least I can find my own junk!

xx

rising_from_the_ashes

sarah0404 wrote: »

Hello! I am a bit late, but I'd like to join. Looks like my "frugal" budget for the year is going to be about £15k :eek: Thanks!

Hello Sarah - welcome to the challenge, I've started recently too and am really enjoying it. Cheryl's spreadsheet is great (bit scarey when it works out the annual totals though)!.


Evening all, hope a good weekend was had by all and glad Monday's over! (3rd NSD in a row!)

I'm quite embarrassed to say it but I'm actually feeling rather proud of myself .....

In my 1st month of MSE posting (lurked for a while) & finally getting my act together - for the 1st time in a long time (many, many years!), I'm going to get to payday and:

- have paid off final amount on CC
- have not reached/gone over OD limit
- have reduced OD amount
- have set up pots on my bank account, put money in & not raided them
- have a proper budget in place & have stuck to it
- have set up several spreadsheets & kept them up to date

I must say a huge "thanks" to everyone on here (and some of the other threads/challenges I'm doing) for all the advice, support & everything else :A as I really couldn't have done it without you all!

minnie2

got £8.66 to last us till the 31st - just need razors so we should be ok

lynzpower

Hi sarah :wave: 140 per person sounds fine for clothes IMO.

I have budgeted 150 for me and 150 for OH and im sure by shoppingh around for bargains we will come under!

dizzy_lizzie

Welcome to sascha and sarah
rubytuesday I found that with carrots too, so now I cut them ultra thin and give them a few minutes in the microwave first before adding to a casserole, kind of defeats the object but nothing worse than hard carrots when you were expecting soft.
Had a little spend today and treated myself to a new bag, and I did need one. A side zips has broken on the one I'm using now. My new one was from accesorize greatly reduced to £9 from £30. So a big save there
Not made anyones tea as not in the mood at all. DS bought a huge pizza from Mr As so the lads shared that and DD has had a jacket and coleslaw and I've got a jacket in at the mo.
I go from one extreme to the other were I can cook and bake like a good 'un all day then other times I really do not want to make anything and hardly step into the kitchen. Haven't worked that one out yet
I am really tired though and I'm definately having an early night.

Do you think we'll all feel better when Spring arrives?
Luv dizzy x
♥

lynzpower

I cant wait till Spring i need the boost! ( maybe im getting older?) Had a hard tiring day ( was so tired this morning) so off to bed early myself.

I have volunteered to go to my placement for something in the morning, then to uni, then to town to take these books back and clothes back for my refund for house of fraser.

I have to get u at 4am on thursday for an early uni shift I feel shattered already!

A busy week, im so glad all the meals are planned and made, there is no way I can face any cooking this week ( it hasnt even started and i want it to be over lol)