Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

Lesley_Gaye

cheryl, have been using your spreadsheet of wonder every day, it really does the job

thought I might find it useful if the totals for each months categories showed as red if I had gone over budget for that particular month. Some things go over because they are paid, say, annually, which is fine, but I would like to see if say, Jan I spent too much on groceries, but caught up in Feb and was back on track

(that is not the case BTW, I am doing a storecupboard challenge, and so far, we are well under budget)

so I have been doing the conditional formatting you explained to me and it is working fine. However, it's a bit tedious to do as I have been doing 1 cell at a time and haven't worked out how to do more than 1, I can't do the normal 'select a range' type thing as the formula doesn't come out right

do you know of a way to do a row of cells? Or is it 1 at a time?

seriouslyfrugal

Hi everyone


Another NSD for me today :j but I was doing my open uni assignment I think I should get it done and dusted by the weekend as the forecast is for heavy rain


welcome optimsticpair :hello:

Esme : I hope today was better for you If it is one thing I hate its bad service and rude people - there is just no need for it and thanks for the tip about ebay ( scaffolding dept ) going to look at it when I need some new ones !

cw18

Lesley_Gaye wrote: »

cheryl, have been using your spreadsheet of wonder every day, it really does the job

Thanks

thought I might find it useful if the totals for each months categories showed as red if I had gone over budget for that particular month. Some things go over because they are paid, say, annually, which is fine, but I would like to see if say, Jan I spent too much on groceries, but caught up in Feb and was back on track

will have a look at this as an improvement for next year. would you want it to show red if (for instance) you spent more than a months allowance for something in June but were still under budget for the year-to-date at that point?

so I have been doing the conditional formatting you explained to me and it is working fine. However, it's a bit tedious to do.....

do you know of a way to do a row of cells? Or is it 1 at a time?

Will have to ask DS2 next time I see him, as he's the one taught me how to use it. I'm sure he showed me how to use it for ranges, but I've not been able to get it right that way myself since he moved out

JayneC

Hello,

Just popping in to say Hi,

Have been spending a bit today. It's DGS birthday on Fri and bought him a nightlight thingy that can also be used as a torch. It's Toy Story which he's really into at the moment, cost £20 tho which I thought was overpriced but at least I know it's something he'll use (he doesn't like the dark) and not disappear into the bottom of the toybox!! Also DD2s BF birthday today - not a clue what to get him so just got some choc from local chocolatier (sp?) and will bake a cake for him tomorrow as he'll be coming for tea. Then it's Son-I-L bday on 14th and then DD1s beginning of march.....
called into Poundland and they have seed potatoes and onion sets in so got a few varieties of pots, red onions, white onions, shallots and garlic. Just need to get a spot cleared to plant them out now I'm getting quite excited about getting back into my gardening!

Heard from a friend today that I've not seen for ages ( I e-mailed her last week) and it was lovely to catch up. It cost nothing and really brightened my day, those are the things we should value aren't they. One of my resolutions was to try and keep more in touch with my friends and it's something I can do that won't cost me anything but a bit of effort!

Jayne x

natnat13

My 5 in a row NSD has failed
Went to post a parcel which was fine as postage had already been paid but DH was ill at home and DS2 kicked up when I said no chocolate so I gave in and bought some for him and DH to cheer him up!
I also have a dribble of milk left and am running low on a few other things so a visit to Mr L is in order tomorrow I think.

Note to self - must plan better (or consume less:rotfl:)

Been walking loads to school, kids are enjoying it and my petrol gauge has hardly moved :j

Got free graze box today, yum! And applied to be taste tester for Mr M at free UK stuff, fingers crossed becuase you get free food and products obviously and also a £20 voucher

Catch u tomorrow
Nat xx

dizzy_lizzie

Optimisticpair wrote: »

Add me please CW and can I say thanks to you for running the thread.

Hello Optimisticpair :hello:

redglass wrote: »

The really scary one is groceries :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:. This is the result of impulse buying (often on whoopsies, but that's no excuse since I'm not disciplined enough about using what's already in the fridge). Got to get a grip here - the cupboards are bursting and I just keep adding to it! Oh dear, and I was ambitious and set myself a very low amount - how embarrassing...

redglass that could be me saying that! And I don't know why I do it!
Even when I write my menu and food shop from it like this week I still add things in extra and then I get so annoyed with myself.
But I won't give up because I know for a fact that I am definately spending less so that is a good thing

natnat don't be too despondent over the nsd, look at what you have achieved and give yourself a pat on the back for that :T

Luv Dizzy x
♥

Erme

NualaBuala wrote: »

EFC - what a pain when you lose your post. Glad you managed to find it! Somebody (sorry, forget who cos of bad memory) suggested typing it up in a word-processing program (like Microsoft Word) and it's a good idea because you can save it so it won't get deleted. It will be easy once you are shown how but I find it hard to explain things when I'm not sitting down beside someone! Just had a thought - does your library have computer classes? I think some of them have free classes, also in the Adult Education Centres.

Erme - congrats on paying more off your debt! :T:j:T Sounds like a good idea to make rest a priority, hope you catch up on sleep and rest. x

So much for sleep - they chose today of all days to do the flooring on the stairs next to me - so very little sleep so far (apart from 40 mins on their lunch break)...have cancelled everything for today. Need to get sleep when I can and concentrate on tomorrow's car boot.

The guy at the PO in town I went to this am (had to take the bus even though it's not far cos knees hurt so much after yesterday and then forgot to take hiking stick which I could have really done with but once I got moving I wasn't too bad and even managed to congratulate a chap on his Bosch hoover I saw him carrying through the BA. Praise God for the concession pass. I hate the bus. I get paranoid on it but it's nice not having to worry about the cost of fares when sick or laden with shopping) was really nice . He said he couldn't understand why my local PO refused a special delivery just after (there's the workmen again ) 5 when they get bonuses depending on how many SD's they get....he was like really shocked but more than happy to take it and was lovely. We even had a joke...so that's my local PO from now...tad out my way but not too far away (unless I post stuff on tues in which case I'll go to the one by sewing class)...

It could have been a better sale if I'd left it on auction till Monday but then there would have been cons with that like the fact I'd have been checking the price on ebay half of Sabbath...anyhow £75 is better than no money and I have gotten £30 use out of it this winter .

So yeah...just have the D&G's...reduced AD's last night cos psych wants me off them. Have agreed so long as I can go on St John's wort (need something or the mini pill...trying to get that out of the GP won't be easy) which he has agreed to but SJW is not to be taken with AD's so like I have to reduce to the next dose down (which is half a tablet) and then come off. I've tried cold turkey and it's not good for me....these are really strong pils and they did work quickly and saved me ending up in A+E - fainting due to weight loss. Now I love my daily pancake (never done that before or if done it only 1/4 weeks) which the frugalistas doughnut as far as I'm concerned :A and just need to get this menu plan done before the end of today and we'll be tickety boo.

Also have emailed the Enviroment and Ethical officer at Uni re getting a refund on the RHS book and the gas (for the stove) I bought for the veg garden and she says I can do a little admin but she has to double check first as I am not a student. That'd be soooo cool..:). I don't want to carry the whole can due to my ill health so it's fine I do it with a student...but she sounded really nice in email and like the admin for the veg garden is in shambles so I don't mind doing it...

Both lots of card stock have been posted so should get those before the weekend....:)....but maybe I need to start ordering 200 at a time? Cos those 100 I bought in November that were supposed to last all year I've just finished :eek:...

And I've finished another sock but no.3 sock is a mixture of patterns and huge and so I have to do another...anyone want the web address for silver's sock class let me know or fishcake random...really am like so grateful for SSC.....I can make socks now :j

E

ps. this was originally written yesterday pm - thankfully I saved it..kept coming up with error messages and I didn't know why...I think I've just 'fixed' it

gien

Morning. Sorry I don't have a lot of time to post but I do try to keep up with the thread as much as possible.


Here we've been very good - shopping at Ald* was very inexpensive yesterday even though there were no reduced items the start price is low so I got a lot of stuff for my money.
I'm getting into the habit of checking my onlin ebanking everyday, just to make sure everything's as expected. I don't have many DDs so there's very few unexpected surprises but just seeing the balance every day make me mindful of not spending.

Am going to have a coffee today with firends but otherwise should be a NSD.

HAve a good day all

mooomin

Morning folks

Yesterday was another NSD which I'm really pleased with. All my work-snacking was either home-made (tasty soup) or from my fruit stash/free Graze box as well. I also received £15 from my various Halifax Reward accounts so have stashed that away and will be adding it to the Spreadsheet of Wonder as extra income.

My spends so far today are £1.74 on my half price Graze box, and hopefully nothing else!

I have last night's dinner (tasty pasta stuff) for lunch and am also taking fruit and the contents of my latest Graze box for snacking. I've been really good about not eating biscuits this week and am hoping I can continue that into next week too. I'm not sure about keeping on the Graze boxes, as £3.49 per week works out at over £180 per year but so far I'm enjoying them and it's nice to know that I'm snacking on mostly healthier choices. In a four-week month, my Halifax Reward payments will cover this anyway so I'll keep them for a while and see how I get on!

I'm off to the cinema tonight so that's another "free" activity. I've decided to offset the spend with Mr Fresian's sister's rent money for this year and then look into paying it from savings next year. I won't count the rest of her rent money received as it went straight into savings anyway and I don't need it to live on.

Well, that's turned from a couple of thoughts into a mammoth post! Hope everyone has a lovely day!

Erme

23rdspiral wrote: »

Erme - i avoided my local (only one in my town) post office for years as they were rude and shortchanged me. i had to use them a few months ago and they were ok, changing to posatively lovely after i'd been in a few times will odd random packages (which had worried me over how theyd treat me). maybe some one braver than me had complained? i dont know, but i'm glad they are nice now.

Interesting and thanks...Well considering the same wifey overpriced me for a parcel to Governor Palin in December and I'd had such a derriere of a day - I was not happy (like can't PO clerks read? It had on it in large writing 'surface, printed papers'

seriouslyfrugal wrote: »

Esme : I hope today was better for you If it is one thing I hate its bad service and rude people - there is just no need for it and thanks for the tip about ebay ( scaffolding dept ) going to look at it when I need some new ones !

You're welcome about the tips about scaffolding. I think calling it scaffolding is quite nice and discreet and describes the garment accurately. I personally am really into Freya cos they are lovely and girlie without being too revealing (I know it's underwear but I have standards)....Just get measured somewhere good and then either get a discount or go online..don't pay more than £20 ultimate tops - you just don't need to


Anyhow aiming for today to be an NSD....I know I half killed myself on Tuesday trying to get ALL the groceries (minus menu plan) in for the week plus diving for a special delivery for ebay only to get there 2 mins to late so I was pretty exhausted yesterday and I didn't sleep well Tuesday night either... - but I'm now aiming for 5 NSD's a week bar DD's coming out...does a DD only day count for an NSD or not? Can someone please tell me? I don't want to join any challenges in case I fail and get sick but I just want to do it for me and to help me stick to budget

So yeah I have the joys of my jag in my derriere this am (at least I'd better have cos it's 30 mins round trip plus wait time) when the schedule is pretty tight as is...tomorow is a day in writing a letter to Uncle K, making cards and general HW.....

So yeah...had a good night's sleep and feel so much better plus the fact the weather is cold right now but generally sunny so that helps....

Did I post the pic of my bargain handbag (kind of CK - girlie) I got from the charity shop last week when I got my paint?

Just had an election flyer from the Lib Dems when I over optimistically thought it was postie .....How wrong could I be .....Hmmm...

Got to skoot now and do the washing up...Praying types of folk pray I make good sales and get good prices @ the car boot...

E