Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

redglass_2

Lola, Erme, hope you are soon feeling better.

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

23rdspiral I laughed at your admission that you also thought of using your inhabited barley, I'm sure it wouldn't have done you any harm anyway but its just something us British people think is not right isn't it, very frugal though.:rotfl: I remember when overseas being taught how to catch grass hoppers by tickling them with a blade of grass whilst they were in their holes so they could be fried and eaten

When I was a kid I wasn't allowed to make a fuss about the occasional greenfly in the lettuce. 'It's practically made of lettuce,' Mum would say sternly. 'There's nothing in it but lettuce, just eat it.' And I would! :eek: I wouldn't advise that now, obviously, but I don't remember ever being sick as a result. Eating grasshoppers or any insects is disgusting to most Brits (most speakers of any variety of English, I imagine) but how many of us eat prawns? Physically they aren't all that different from insects. It's just what you're used to.

And thanks for your lovely heartwarming wishes, EFC. :T

JayneC wrote: »

I decided not to send Christmas cards this year in a similar sort of protest

For some years now I have joined Jacqui Lawson's site. It costs about £7 a year and has really lovely e-cards for every possible occasion, including Pelmanism cards for kids. The site has saved my bacon many times as if you miss the post you can send an e-card straight away. They are especially good for friends overseas if you miss the early posting date for Xmas, and friends have often commented on the fine quality of the cards (no, I don't work for them!).

NualaBuala wrote: »

I've been told beans are very easy and since they grow vertically, you get a lot of food for a very small footprint....anybody here do surveys? I've had several in a row that paid me €2 each but the survey company is taking forever to credit the money to my account. Am pleased how much it's adding up to - not much really but every little makes a difference.!

Beans are great once they get going but are sometimes a bit tricky at the germination stage. I'm going to start mine indoors this year because if I do it in the lotty or the greenhouse the mice often eat them (mice also eat peas, the wee devils!). Nuala, have you tried YouGov? You do it for points (typically 50 per survey) and when you have 5,000 points you get £50. There are also 'prize draw' surveys. I warn you, it takes ages to get your £50 because you don't get surveys every day but you can do them during a spare minute and just regard them as a little nest-egg quietly building up.

redglass_2

SandraScarlett wrote: »

And what have I done the last 2 days? Made a couple of casseroles and read 2 library books! xx

If I go to heaven, Sandra, it'll be full of sofas, books and glasses of wine...I wouldn't say reading's better than sex, but you can do it in front of your mother.

NualaBuala

Thanks for the suggestion Redglass. I think YouGov is just for UK residents? Will check it out though just in case, the more surveys the better! I was advised to start the beans off inside too. I have a few very pretty red beans and was told to soak them first to soften the outer skin.
I'm a fan of ecards too - I use 2 free sites 123greeting and care2 (which benefits various good causes as well). Great for last minute cards and saves some trees too!

seriouslyfrugal

Hi Everyone,


Another NSD for me here today - weather awful not really wanting to go out anyway !! - staying in again tomorrow but will need to go out thursday


Erme ,Nuala & Lola : I hope you feel better soon :grouphug:

I am currently planning the veggie patch we also grow pea shoots inside on the kitchen windowsil we just get dried pea's ( from the supermarket ) plant them in some soil & water ( great for salads )

congrats grandma for you new arrival(s)

I hope everyone has a frugal wednesday

enjoyfinancialchallenges

NuBu I wish I lived nearby I would buy your jars straight away. Do you have access to Freecycle or is that just England? somebody would be sure to want them if you cant sell them on ebay.

SS with the talent you have for writing poems, who cares what you have made in the last couple of days. You are our resident resting poet.:A

dizzy_lizzie

redglass wrote: »

If I go to heaven, Sandra, it'll be full of sofas, books and glasses of wine...I wouldn't say reading's better than sex, but you can do it in front of your mother.

Sounds like my kind of Heaven too redglass

Hope you are soon fighting fit lola lemon. Sounds like you're really suffering. Here's a hot toddy for you, medicinal purposes only of course

And Nuala hope you also start to feel a little better too. I can empathise with the 'hiding under the duvet' part

And enjoyfinancialchallenges have lots of fun making the marmalade. I would definately buy a jar. I really want a hunk of toasted bread now with a dollop of marmalade on...mmmmmm

Sandra your poems are blimming fantastic. The one to grandma is just quite beautiful. I'm in awe

rubytuesday well done on the weightloss :T

slowlyfading and seriouslyfrugal great news on another NSD. Each one making that little bit of difference in the right way

Luv Dizzy x
♥

rising_from_the_ashes

LolaLemon wrote: »

I do strawberries.. great to get a few every day for my breakfast .. yum yum:)
peas in a compost bag do great
im hoping to do cucumbers in potato bags this year

One of my big regrets in life is being allergic to strawberries:( - the only saving thing about it is that I can't actually remember eating any so can't remember what I'm missing - do feel a bit jealous in the summer when everyone's tucking in tho'!

A cucumber plant now added to the list & I'm sure I could squeeze a pea plant or two in with the beans! thanks (hope you're feeling a bit better tomorrow).

NualaBuala wrote: »

Rising, Good luck with your growing! I had a container with radishes, spring onions and mixed salad leaves and was just delighted with myself when I ate them. The spring onions took longest and didn't fare as well as the others as I went away and they didn't have enough water but they were still easy enough to grow and if I'd kept a better eye would have been fab. I've been told beans are very easy and since they grow vertically, you get a lot of food for a very small footprint.

Does anyone here do surveys? I've had several in a row that paid me €2 each but the survey company is taking forever to credit the money to my account. Am pleased how much it's adding up to - not much really but every little makes a difference.

Ohhhh, I LOVE spring onions, don't know how I forgot about these - the list is growing nicely!

redglass wrote: »

Beans are great once they get going but are sometimes a bit tricky at the germination stage. I'm going to start mine indoors this year because if I do it in the lotty or the greenhouse the mice often eat them (mice also eat peas, the wee devils!). Nuala, have you tried YouGov? You do it for points (typically 50 per survey) and when you have 5,000 points you get £50. There are also 'prize draw' surveys. I warn you, it takes ages to get your £50 because you don't get surveys every day but you can do them during a spare minute and just regard them as a little nest-egg quietly building up.

DM has a huge garden and greenhouses so she's offered to start the seedlings off for me when she does hers!

I've just signed up to a survey site - only done 2 so far (started a few more but not got through the "test questions" to select participants bit) but we'll see how it goes. I find the bits about how many kids/adults live in your house etc very annoying! Will also have a look at the YouGuv ones, cheers.

rising_from_the_ashes

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Ohhhh, I LOVE spring onions, don't know how I forgot about these - the list is growing nicely!

Just read my post (usually do to try to catch the typos) - there was no pun intended, honest!

enjoyfinancialchallenges

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Hello everyone, hope a good day had by all.

Have managed 2nd NSD in a row but left a prescription at the chemist so will need to pick up & pay tomorrow - £3 (which I think is a lot cheaper than in England?).

Pre-pay certificate has just run out & they (Gvmt) still haven't decided if they're going to be free or not come April so don't want to fork out for a new one yet.

Have been planning what I can feasibly try to grow in my teeeeny garden this year (as doubt the "plot" issue will be resolved by then!).

So far.....

radishes
spinnach (usually grow tonnes of lettuce but have finally decided to be honest and admit I don't really like it!)
1 tomato plant
Runner beans (have scrounged an extra recycling box and a couple of unused potato type growing box things DM made a couple of years ago)

Not sure what else I'll have room for / are easy to grow - any ideas?

Have a good evening all.

How about a couple of courgettes, they usually do well in pots but need plenty of water. They also produce plenty of courgettes.

rubytuesday

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Just read my post (usually do to try to catch the typos) - there was no pun intended, honest!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Well I made a red Thai curry with the left over roast chicken and it was very nice. Added chick peas to it.

Am now surrounded by tins of cat food!