Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

rubytuesday

lingojingo wrote: »

Thank you, just ordered some :T

Me too! Thank you Midwinter!

rubytuesday

Well my day ended up being very spendy. I went to Lidl. Bought a lovely Whistles dress for four quid from the Sally Army shop. Bought some presents in the museum selection sale (spaving) and then decided to do an online shop, mainly to stock up on cat food. I seem to be feeding five cats rather than four as my neighbour's cat comes in regularly for dinner! Made ten pounds worth of savings on that and having plenty of cat food means I don't go into Mr T's for that and spend a fortune on other things.

SandraScarlett

lilylass wrote: »

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

QUOTE]

Don't you dare feel embarrassed about your achievements - they're wonderful! :T :T :T Any single one of them would be worthy of praise, but to triumph over half a dozen, is exceptional.

Notice I use words like "triumph", because these are all on a par with Oscar-winning, and Olympic successes, in our own personal worlds. We may not make News At Ten, or the front pages of newspapers, :cool: but each achievement is another brick laid in our personal aims of building a more secure financial future.

Even cupboard/drawer-clearing is noteworthy, as it normally means something for the charity shop, which in turn will earn much-needed funds for the organisation, as well as a bargain for someone else.

Lilylass you have every reason to feel proud of yourself, because you have laid really solid foundations, so well done you! :T

xx

natnat13

midwinter wrote: »

For the green fingered:

Free tomato seeds are on offer here!

http://www.britainonshow.co.uk/promotions/#entryform

Me too! Thanks arrrrrh...freebies make me smile

rising_from_the_ashes

Hello everyone, hope you've had a good day.....

An extra big thanks to Green-Queen, redglass, rubytuesday and Laushappy for the kind words..... very chuffed (especially for January)! Hope it's a sign that I've finally turned the corner!

As SandraScarlett put it so well, it's the wee bits here and there that all add up and every little bit makes a difference. I always used to be "oh, it's only a £" (or £5 or £10 etc) and just wasted money all the time.

23rdspiral - glad to hear your birthday was fab!

CW - thanks for the tip re checking about hens - will do this. I bet it's a "no" (would be very frustrated, especially as one of my neighbours has something like 18 guinea pigs and at least 10 rabbits)!

flying_freshan - enjoy the rest of your hols, the Highlands are fantastic! (Best time of year to go before the dreaded midges arrive)!

Hope I've not missed anything/anyone out - going to have to find an old pad to write things down on as by the time I've got to the end of the days' posts, I've forgotten everything I want to say.


DM arriving with my slow-cooker tomorrow - went to Mr T @ lunchtime & got 4 packs of casserole beef reduced to £1 so that will be my 1st attempt!

Have a good evening.:D

23rdspiral

i've just done a little catch up... oh and i had a NSD on sunday, as OH got the parking!

midwinter wrote: »

Talking of birthdays, happy birthday to those who have one today~sorry, can't remember who they were!

Thank you!

flying_fresian wrote: »

Well, I just made my first ever mortgage overpayment Only £100, but every little helps!

bravo!!!! they really do add up!

rubytuesday

Well I finally got round to making that chorizo and bean stew. Not too sure. I really liked the sauce but I didn't like the chorizo in it and my daughter didn't like the look of the couple of ordinary sausages I put in it. Might just make it bean stew next time as that would be cheaper!:rotfl:

Aril

Hello frugallers:j
Thank you for the link for the free seeds- duly ordered.
Made a start on my slippers last night- my friend's using the pattern from the following book which is available in my local library:j
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sewing-Green-Projects-Repurposed-Materials/dp/1584797584/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295986485&sr=1-1
So far I've cut them out- they're purple and are going to cost well under a pound to make even allowing for the electricity I needed to finish felting the jumper. They're a bit little pixie boots- I don't think I shall be making them for anyone else but it's another skill isn't it!
I've had a bit of a minor spend today- was feeling sorry for myself and hard done by so I prised open my purse and spent the princely sum of £6 [my purse is still trembling from the aftershock:D] but I now have 3 gorgeous scarves which I hope to use to make up some new outfits from my existing clothes.

Next frugal/OS plan is to make some more chutney- we ran out some time ago and the Sainsbury's basics although absolutely fine and cheaper is not quite the same.
Aril

wornoutmumoftwo

midwinter wrote: »

For the green fingered:

Free tomato seeds are on offer here!

http://www.britainonshow.co.uk/promotions/#entryform

Thank you, have put my details in. OH has spent two days building a greenhouse base, can order the greenhouse soon (out of last year's birthday money) and then I can get started

JayneC

:wave:Hello everybody,

Sandra thanks for your posts maybe you should be a motivational speaker:D

Dizzy thanks for pointing out that website about using bamboo, I did google but didn't find much. I have tons of the stuff and theres only so many you can use as beanpoles:p

Nuala I was going to use large cup hooks to hang the bamboo ploes but I know you can get attachments from DIY shops for hanging wardrobe rails etc, there's some you can screw into the walls either side or some with little arms on that you can screw above (Like normal curtain rail fittings), so you don't have to screw them to your window frame. If anybody wants some bamboo and can get to Scarborough let me know you can have some:D I wonder what it's like for burning? Tho seems a bit of a waste as I'm sure it could be well utilised.

Lilylass I have a tiny yard and my chicks are ok, my lovely dad built me a big walk in run along my back fence (it does take up half the yard!!) and the hen house is made from a cut down shed. If you make sure any spilled food is cleared up and don't leave food about over night you shouldn't have a problem with rats/mice. Wild bird feed is just as likely to attract pests. I have my compost bin in the run as the chicks like scratching for bugs in there - yummy I'll try and post a piccy.

Midwinter thanks for the heads up about free seeds - ordered:p

Changed my library books today - I do get stupidly giddy about new book Got the bad beekeepers handbook by Bill Turnbull as I'm thinking of getting some bees now and also got the Edible Garden (from the TV programme last year).

Even been Flyladying today - sorted my odd sock bag Now I have to spend 15 minutes under my bed, not sure I'll make it out alive if I go under there:rotfl:

Hope everyone's well - off to find a piccy of my chicks

Jayne x