Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

Laushappy

cw18 wrote: »

Two good bits of news today...

First is that spending time with me over the weekend (which included meeting DS2, DD and GDs) doesn't seem to have scared my chap off - or at least I think that's a fair assumption as we spent at least 1.5 hours on the phone earlier this evening

Second is that while his Dad is still in hospital, it seems to be more of a precautionary measure - and they're hoping he'll be home again in the next 2 or 3 days

Thats great news

NualaBuala

Erme - have PM'd you hon. x

Cheryl - good news that your chap's Dad will be home soon.

Marru - well done!:T I'm trying to cook from scratch more, when I'm exhausted I have often resorted to takeaways to the extent they are not a treat now, just means I have a full tummy. I even made a separate category for them on my spreadsheet so I face up to the waste of money. I think I would be better with having ready meals for when I am too wrecked to deal with the raw ingredients to cook from scratch.

Jayne and Ruby (if I remember rightly!) - how do you attach the bamboo pole to the wall for curtains, I love that idea!

Edit: sorry, memory is rubbish and there were loads of others I wanted to reply to!

cw18

Marru wrote: »

Cheryl - well done for your run. Why don't you pop into the DFW running thread for a chat. Not everyone there are marathon runners (yours truly included).

The what? Didn't know there was a runners thread on MSE

rubytuesday

Erme have you got a care coordinator you could contact or what about 'out of hours"? I know it's difficult when you're feeling like this. Hope you are soon back on a more even keel! x

Marru

NualaBuala wrote: »

Marru - well done!:T I'm trying to cook from scratch more, when I'm exhausted I have often resorted to takeaways to the extent they are not a treat now, just means I have a full tummy. I even made a separate category for them on my spreadsheet so I face up to the waste of money. I think I would be better with having ready meals for when I am too wrecked to deal with the raw ingredients to cook from scratch.

I find that after work the worst thing that can happen to me is to go to the shop (more tiring than actually coming home to cook) so I try to keep stuff that is quick to cook. Like I had taken couple of chicken breast from the freezer and then I only need to cook it, cook some pasta and mix with some pesto sauce (from jar) and serve with tomatoes and cucumbers (for the veggie portion). Quick, delicious and DD loves it.

Yesterday I baked fish in the oven and had it with boiled pots and boiled carrots. Today the leftovers got fried in a pan - same ingredients, different meal and DD preferred it (and managed to get one portion for lunches out of it )

cw18 wrote: »

The what? Didn't know there was a runners thread on MSE

It is HERE I will join again after I get rid of this flu/cold/something but I need to start from scratch as I have hardly done any runs since I did BUPA 10 last May

rubytuesday

NualaBuala wrote: »

Jayne and Ruby (if I remember rightly!) - how do you attach the bamboo pole to the wall for curtains, I love that idea!

Edit: sorry, memory is rubbish and there were loads of others I wanted to reply to!

Mine fits into two hooks screwed into the top of the window frame.

cw18

Marru wrote: »

It is HERE I will join again after I get rid of this flu/cold/something but I need to start from scratch as I have hardly done any runs since I did BUPA 10 last May

Thanks - will try and grab some time to have a read of it tomorrow

But I do need to try and get out for a run (before my calf muscle knots up completely!), and I also have to go into city centre to collect my specs (been ready since 15th Dec!)

NualaBuala

Marru wrote: »

I find that after work the worst thing that can happen to me is to go to the shop (more tiring than actually coming home to cook) so I try to keep stuff that is quick to cook. Like I had taken couple of chicken breast from the freezer and then I only need to cook it, cook some pasta and mix with some pesto sauce (from jar) and serve with tomatoes and cucumbers (for the veggie portion). Quick, delicious and DD loves it.

Yesterday I baked fish in the oven and had it with boiled pots and boiled carrots. Today the leftovers got fried in a pan - same ingredients, different meal and DD preferred it (and managed to get one portion for lunches out of it )



It is HERE I will join again after I get rid of this flu/cold/something but I need to start from scratch as I have hardly done any runs since I did BUPA 10 last May

Good ideas there Marru, thanks a mill. I'm at home sick with ME (hence the lack of energy) so don't have the problem of facing the shops which I do once every week or so. I'm very well stocked up with ingredients and then when I'm wrecked I think how am going to turn all this into meals! I will try to plan some easier things like what you suggest. I am trying to go veggie and haven't got it sussed properly yet in terms of easy things. One thing that will help is doing more batch cooking - I've used up everything now so need to do more.

rubytuesday wrote: »

Mine fits into two hooks screwed into the top of the window frame.

That's very clever Ruby! Mine are PVC but am more thinking of it for at some stage in the future (am moving house). And I can imagine that working on doors. Would be nice for a wall hanging too I think but harder to put the hooks into a wall I guess.

SandraScarlett

Please remember what I said before. Even if you've only saved 50p this month - it's something. January's the longest of the long months, with 31 days. March might mean cold winds, and even snow, but it also means Spring's round the corner.

May means lots of gardening time, and light evenings and July and August are happy Summer months (even if you have children that have to be constantly amused and you feel like a Butlins Redcoat!). October days can still be pleasant, and December brings Christmas.

But January's so long and bleak and endless. If you've only managed one packed lunch, or made-from-scratch meal, and it's something you don't usually do, that's a huge achievement. :T

I apologise if this sounds patronising, because it isn't intended to be. But it's like encouraging people who've been on a diet for a month, and found they've lost a pound, whereas someone else is 2 dress sizes lower - and you hate 'em!!!! :mad::mad::mad:

I know I haven't made the economies that others have, but I'm pleased with what I have done, and that's what we should all do. Let's pat each other on the back, but give ourselves a huge "well done" too. :T :T :T

Keep going everyone. The first finishing post (end of Jan) is in sight, and February is next week - and the shortest month. And even if you haven't saved 50p, but have been reading this thread, that's an achievement too.

I'm cheering everyone on from my armchair, where I'm waiting with virtual orange slices, and refreshing drinks ......... chocolate cake for those who want some ...... in fact, anything you like (as long as it's virtual ) so hang on in there - you're wonderful! :beer:

xx

NualaBuala

What a lovely encouraging post Sandra, thank you!:A