Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

NualaBuala

Not waffling at all Laushappy! I love hearing how everyone is getting on.

Nothing much to report here except my grocery budget has gone over this month. Hopefully I can make it up in Feb.

Hope everyone is ok - hugs to anyone who isn't. xxx

Erme

Aril wrote: »

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

I just did an online search for this at my libaries (all of about 10 of them) and they don't have it so maybe I'll have to go in and specially order? Can they do that? Does anyone know? Sounds like just my kind of book too (not that I don't already have too many books :eek:

And if not does anyone have any good easy slipper pattens?

It's a random request...kind of on a tired, achy have too much to do day

rozeepozee wrote: »

Another thought: does anyone else here find Martin's weekly email sometimes counter productive as it can encourage one to spend when you otherwise wouldn't? I keep following links to bargains and sales and then have to keep reminding myself that I don't need these things and it's not a saving if I wasn't going to buy it anyway.

I haven't succumbed so far and i can't wait for the car boot sale season to start so I can get my shopping fix on the cheap!

Yeah I find that with martin's emails so I just try and skim read them.....can be lethal...seriously this is one of those sites you can spend 24/7 on and not get bored...You can't even do that with FB or twitter (actually maybe you can do that with twitter :rotfl:)

Well not tracking my spends properly but trying to keep them minimal. Most of this week's spends have been on others. (postage etc)

Anyhow one thing I did get was 8 tins of crown magnolia paint from the charity shop at the corner for £16 today (couldn't get any lower....the shop opened at 10 and I turned up at 9.10 - whoops) and a simply gorgoeus handbag that's really chic and different for 50p...:) so that beckons a bag purge on thursday when the climate change project have a car boot :T....

(I normally can't do car boots cos they're normally on Sabbath )

So yeah.......

Will try and catch up on posts later...right now I have to skoot to meet someone @ Uni chaplaincy for 2.30...

Thanks for all the kind wishes...Am okay just not sleeping fab (it has a name...4.30am risings :eek:) so not a lot gets done getting up at such an ungodly hour though today I didn't rise properly till 6 which is no small achievement...

E

lynzpower

Afternoon all

I have had to take another sick day. I just canot get right at all. I feel exhausted, sneezy, cold, snotty, and aheadache that feels like a rugby team have just landed on my head .I dread to think how many people i might have given this too.

I need to be better for monday, I cant let this drag on. Im meant to be meeting freinds tomorrow but my mate suggested we postpone as she is immunocompromised and picks up everything and she doesnt want it ( dont blame her!)

I have popped out and had my hair trimmed at supercuts tho ( this place ahs gone up as well!) I didnt have her dry it as this saved a tenner. and done the meal plan and bought the very basics to see us through the week, hopefully we dont need anything else and that is a spend of: £8.50. Includbing finally managed to offload the KP voucher and bought lotys of crisps from farmfoods.

No sign of my bursary yet, but thats OK i can live. ( ish) for now!

Had a reply from the council, no sadly they are not going to refund the court costs oh well I tried.

Frugal dinner tonight using up odds adn ends from the fridge, bit of roasted veg, pitta, a bit of chicken maybe a small jacket pot from the bag.

Otherwise not to much to report, feeling the need to head back to bed!

Hope everyone else is OK, hugs to all xx

Lily_The_Legend

Hello everyone! :hello:

I'm not really up-to-date with the thread at the moment, I hope everyone's ok and getting on well with the challenge. I'll try to read back a few pages this afternoon.

I got paid yesterday :j so my month came to a close! I haven't kept running totals in all areas, but I finished the month with money in my account and didn't have to put any over from my savings which I sometimes do! :T

I did intend to keep track of running totals, but have decided that's not the best way for me. What I'm going to do is once I've got paid, put a certain sum in savings, pay my rent and bills to DH, then watch my spending for the month basically.

1) I've made a few small changes in January which have helped to save money - I brought a home-made lunch in to work each day rather than buying from the sandwich person or from a supermarket. :A

2) I've been using the car less. I need it to get to work each day but I've been driving less at lunchtimes and weekends. I've really noticed the difference, and we're definitely filling the tank up more often. We've also been using the Morrisons miles card to get points on what we spend on fuel. :money:

3) I've spent less on cards and gifts. I got Christmas card and wrap in the sale and also bought a few cards for birthdays in the Card Factory last weekend. I looked for a CD for my Mum that she wanted for her birthday and found it on play.com for £2.69! :j I'm not just giving her that by the way. :D

4) I did a meal planner one week which helped to use food up from the cupboards one week. I wasn't very organised this week, so need to get myself sorted out this weekend.

I can't think of anything else at the moment, and that's a long enough post already! :eek: Sorry!

I don't think I ever updated you about the Pizza Express birthday lunch - the in-laws paid after all that!!! They only told us they would after the meal and I'd only had a salad! I wish I'd had a starter and dessert as well! :rotfl: We also did drop in on the birthday tea for a little while the night before and got to see our nephew open his pressies, which he loved playing with. :T

Lily x

Lily_The_Legend

midwinter wrote: »

Found this site with food saving tips....

so sharing

http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/

Thanks midwinter! :T

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

if you have any veg's left over or even cook a bit extra for a couple of days for this dish, carrots, parsnips, cabbage, a few potatoes, leeks, sprouts or whatever you have. I must admit Ive never used mashed pots but I see no reason why they can't be placed at the bottom of the pie dish or put on top like a cottage pie and then covered with a mixture of grated cheese and breadcrumbs. Anyway to continue, cut the veg's into bite sized pieces, mix or layer them in a pie dish or similar, then pour over them a cheese sauce. Sprinkle breadcrumbs...made from left over crusts, nobbys etc, of course and put into a moderate oven until the food is hot and brown, very yummy. Oh! and don't forget to put a big pinch of mustard into the mixture when you make
the cheese sauce.

That sounds lovely efc! :drool:

Belated birthday best wishes to Cheryl and 23rdspiral! _party_

:bdaycake:

I hope you feel better soon lynzpower.

Lily_The_Legend

diddly74 wrote: »

I have not had a very frugal day today. I found a lovely holiday cottage in cornwall and have booked it for 2 weeks in the summer.

:j:cool2::j

That's great you have something to look forward to in the summer! :T




Minnie - I hope you're ok at this difficult time.

romylou_2

Hi everyone

Sorry I've not been on for a while but I subscribe to a lot of threads and am desperately trying to keep up.;)

Well so far, I have achieved 18 NSD's this month after setting my target at 15, so i'm doing really well there. Will have to increase it for February:D

Unfortunately, I had to go and do some food shopping today. Did get some good deals at Mr T's. Here they are:

Uncle Bens microwave rice 2 for £2 (£1 per bag)
500g Lurpak butter 2 for £4
Lynx deoderant for men (New XL size) 2 for £6
Branston Beans 4 pack 2 for £2.45 BOGOF
Napolina dry pasta also BOGOF

Ive not had a chance to total up my frugal challenge amount for the month. I will do this over the weekend and post before the end of the month.

SandraScarlett

The end is in sight! Let's just get through the weekend and then it is the last day of this l-o-n-g month. Well done to everyone, whether your savings have been big or small. :T :T :T

It doesn't matter if your savings look trivial in comparison to someone elses. Nobody has an identical life to another person. My car tyres haven't needed replacing for example, somebody else may have had 3 birthdays and a wedding to buy gifts for, perhaps you have children who seem to have had a growth spurt in their feet, and they all needed new shoes - we're all different.

So a big well done everyone, that's one month down, and a lovely short one to come. I'm pleased with what I've achieved, but, best of all, I've gleaned so many tips from everyone on here, that I'm sure I'll be able to save even more next month.

Group round of applause!! :T :T :T :T :T

xx

midwinter

Hi to everyone popping onto the thread at the end of a busy week!

Very nearly the end of the month, and we seem a happy crew of frugalists

a question if I may.... I've only a walled yard at the back of my house, hoping to grow some veg this year. Not much room, still need to hang the washing out, not wanting to splash out on containers, and wanting to clear the yard after the summer, but eyed up banana boxes whilst in Morrisons. Anyone have any experience of using these as containers for growing things? May need to use bottom/inside top, to help reduce evaporation...

lynzpower

I love you sandra you are like our very own cheerleader :T :j

so uplifting!

I think I have had a mixed month so far but Im not doing the round up until the very end lest it jinx stuff!!!