Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

NualaBuala

Jayne, am not too bad thanks for asking. :A Am resting up to go and do a big shop. Yay for you resisting takeaways and ready meals - I have had that exact train of thought and I am going to take a leaf out of your book and have some easy things like eggs and beans on standby. And that's a great idea to get your DD and DS on tea duty! :T

Erme, good to see you posting hon - sorry you've been having a rough time and ended up in A&E. How are you feeling now pet? Have to say I would not like to have pets (although I do love other peoples) because I wouldn't be able to go away and would worry if I got delayed somewhere. Fine if you have someone who can mind them for you I guess! Could your GP prescribe you the Gaviscon or can you register with a pharmacy to get it for free under Minor Ailments (not sure how it works where you are).

I forget who asked about the soapnuts - I've used them for more than a year and am very happy with them. They aren't as good on whites but I don't mind that - it is actually a blue pigment that gives the illusion of whiteness in washing powders and I'm happy to do without it. I sometimes add a spoon of oxy bleach powder or washing soda if there are stains. It works fine for every day stuff but I had some heavily stained tea towels and used some normal washing powder (a tiny box I bought 2 years ago and is still nearly full) as a one-off which sorted them.
I found this online in a very useful FAQ about soapnuts.

Do I have to remove the soapnuts during the rinse cycle?

No! The saponin in soapnuts is released slower in cold water and most rinse cycles are cold. The saponin released in the rinse water acts as a fabric oftener so your clothes are left very soft. Also in areas where water is scarce or in an effort to conserve both water and money, a growing number of people do not even rinse their clothes after washing with soapnuts. Since there are no chemical or soap residues left in the clothes, they are left soft when washed this way. If you want a warm water rinse you can use the liquid or just let it run throught the cycle with the soapnuts in the drum and your clothes will still be clean and soft..

Sandra, how sad to hear what your friends are going through - they are very lucky to have you though. A good friend can help us get through the worst of times. x

I think I'll be doing a big shop today, perhaps tomorrow. Got to make a list and get organised. I don't need to buy petfood but I'm glad to have been warned that the 3for2 offers are not as intelligent as we'd like!

Hope everyone is doing ok - I know there were other things I wanted to say and people I mean to reply to but I've forgotten!.

Kerry_Woman

Hugs to those in need of them at the moment.

Still being mindful as to what I buy and feeling good as to what I have achieved so far this year. Awaiting to hear from my friend about going to the Vitality Show in March. We usually go every year as a treat. Can get 2 tickets for £20, so we can both save money.

Going round to my Sister's tomorrow with my Mum for dinner, as it is my Mum's birthday this weekend.

Got some temp work, not alot of hours, but at least it is work and I get paid.

Both my Mum and I are saving money with the hairdresser's. We had a hairdresser come round and she charged quite a bit. Found a hairdresser in town who is cheaper. I also now dye my Mum's hair for under £4, which is a great saving as the hairdresser charged her £17. At least my Mum can go to M&S for more treats if she wants to.

mogan6

Hi everyone,
Well I feel a complete failure!!:o
A few years ago I was given a slow cooker as a present. After a couple of quite disastrous attempts it was relegated to the back of the cupboard, but after reading all the posts I decided to have another go with it.
I decided not to take any chances so I bought a Schwart$ slow cooker mix for Chicken Curry. I followed the instructions to the letter and at 7am yesterday everything was in the cooker and set to go. The smell in my kitchen was quite delicious and we were really looking forward to tasting the results. BUT by 7pm it still wasn’t cooked properly (should have taken 8hrs on low). The potatoes were really quite hard and the onions weren’t done either. IS IT ME? I’m really not sure what went wrong, can anyone give any suggestions as to what I am doing wrong?
Consequently, what should have been a NSD resulted in having to fork out for fish & chips!!

23rdspiral, well done for sticking at the maths. It’s so easy to give up so very well done you.

Sandra, your poems are wonderful, please keep them up. I was sorry to read about your friends, but from reading your other posts you seem to be a very caring lady who will be there for them when they need it.

Erme, I know I’m only new here and maybe it’s not my place to comment but I’m really sorry you’ve had such a bad time lately. A good friend of mine suffers in the same way. Do you have someone you can talk to when you feel particularly bad?

Mo
Xx

seriouslyfrugal

Hi Everyone,


well another couple of NSD days for me ( yesterday & today) I have collected a couple of library books after my healthwalks session we where told today that we as walk leaders are award winning we won the age concern services to health here in the south - so we are all very happy today ( there are 30 walk leaders )


Erme : i'm so glad your about again I know you can have rough periods so if you want to pm me if you don't want to post & need support that's fine :grouphug:



have a frugal weekend everyone

midwinter

Some of you may remember I'd hoped to reserve 2 pairs of curtains that I'd seen in a charity shop, until I could next get there, and they wouldn't.

Went today, one pair sold, and the remaining pair isn't big enough on it's own

rubytuesday

I noticed that too with Tesco Sandra as I wanted to order some cat litter but I took it off and just stuck to the cat food!

rubytuesday

Mogan I'm afraid I don't get on with slow cookers at all. I just don't like the taste of food done in them although I don't eat much meat anyway, mainly chicken. I recently gave mine to my sister in law who loves it and have much needed space back in my cupboard. Maybe it would be worth frying off the onions first and briefly par boiling the potatoes?

redglass_2

Thank you to everyone who answered my question about soap nuts - that had been niggling me for some time!
Sandra, I'm so sorry about your friend. At least she has you to be there for her - I'm sure you are a great comfort.

RubyTuesday, my thoughts are also with you. :grouphug:I used to have a violent criminal neighbour and I know that sick, fearful feeling all too well. Let's hope that with your evidence he can be brought under control.

Can't remember who it was with the long allotment wait but you might be pleasantly surprised - I was told there were 12 people in the queue ahead of me but was then offered a plot just a few months later. Many people give up in their first year, so the queue does move, as long as your allotment society or local council is strict about not allowing folk to take plots and just let them lie fallow.

Well, it's beautiful weather here so I should be out working on mine...

edited to add: SeriouslyFrugal, well done with the Age Concern walking awards! :T :beer:

rubytuesday

Thanks Redglass though sad to say it was three girls who attacked my neighbour! The main perpetrator who lives round the corner from me and I know her family to have a quick chat to in passing! They are at their wits end with her sadly!
I decided to inform the Police that I can't make that date in July after all. I didn't even get so much as a thanks for your time from the victims family yesterday and although it isn't about that I have decided to put myself first! I think they are just a bit oblivious rather than deliberately rude but they do have a bit of an attitude too!:rotfl:

JayneC

Hello everybody,

Sandra so sorry to hear your friends are going through tough times. My son was quite lovely about what he'd do with 10 minutes left to live. He said he would say goodbye to all his friends and try to make friends with his enemies, then watch a funny film with his family, ending with killing himself so that he could choose how to die(that bit not so sweet!). He's quite a sweetie on the quiet;)

Nuala good to hear from you and that you're taking care of yourself x

All alone this eve - everyone got plans but it's quite nice sometimes as it's usually bedlam!! Succumbed to the vending machine at work but plumped for the 25p crisps that were out of date so not too bad. Did a shop at a Local Supermarket got a free range locally reared chicken for just over £5 so that was quite good and free range pork mince reduced to £1.64 - might make Italian meatballs, the steak mince was half price so got 2 packs of that too. In all spent about £20 including a few other bits n bobs which wasn't too bad considering I got more than enough meat for the week. Need to check up on my store cupboard needs really and plan for keeping it stocked up - otherwise I'll end up running out of everything at once!

I'm re-reading The Moneyless Man at the moment, looking for inspiration! I'm also reading the Bad Beekeepers Club by Bill Turnbull (of Breakfast News) which is very funny. Considering getting some bees:p

Ok going to e-mail my friend now, determined to be better at keeping in touch, may be back later x