Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

Lesley_Gaye

NualaBuala wrote: »

Lesley, I made the soup and have just had it for supper – it was delicious! It’s up there as one of the nicest soups, probably THE nicest soup I’ve ever made. I deviated slightly from the recipe as I didn’t have sprigs of herbs so I used some ordinary dried mixed herbs. And I didn’t have smoked paprika (which I’ve been meaning to buy) so just used ordinary. I added a parmesan rind while cooking and it all ended up lovely. Oh, and I didn’t mix all the cheese in at once, just added a bit to the 2 hefty portions I’ve just scoffed! I will freeze some of the leftovers and have some for lunches at the weekend. Yum!

I'm so glad you liked it

I've got another one you might like to try now!

I have posted elsewhere about a cheap family recipes variation I tried this morning.

The mushroom soup here is delicious, so I wondered if it would work using Asda frozen peppers

so used 400g peppers, 60g butter instead of the oil and cream, as I don't usually have cream in, and no spice

it is utterly delectable and one that I will def be doing again, and using frozen veg was so easy, no prep at all

can't wait for lunchtime

minnie2

redglass wrote: »

Me too, Minnie, me too. I am fatally tempted by things and can't achieve the low figures some people manage on here even though I live alone (though that's a double-edged sword as sometimes you save by having a practical person who can do the DIY jobs you can't). But we do what we can, eh? And get back on the horse...;)

Indeed we do!!!!!!!!!!! I do all the DIY hubby doesnt even know what a screwdriver is!! and my life has been so much more expensive since hes been in it!!!!

Well i have decided to go at it from a different angle! but trying to fool myself that we have no money is diffuicult when i know its there!

Now going to tot up the totals so far

Erme

23rdspiral wrote: »

family brevement + having to write the 'here's why my job is valuable to you so please dont make me redundant' document = a pretty horrid day.

at least it's been a NSD.

hope everyone else is a bit more chipper than me. have a nice friday night everyone. x

Och that's sounds just horrid HORRID Spiral...hugs

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

Sorry, 23rdspiral that you are feeling the pressure at the moment as well as grieving, give yourself the kind of care you would give somebody else and just remember you are just one human being, all be it a fantastic one.XX

Erme you seem to be pulling yourself up by your boot straps, well done but dont overdo it. I always seem to be telling you to look after you, are you listening? XX E

Well I was doing a mad purge thingy diet whatsit for a few days hence I did the 5 miler. I'm trying to eat a bit more today (yesterday I only had about 900 cals so today try and eat a few more carbs than just porridge and also not get on the scales oodles of times - which is hard - and also try not to calorie count today. Even if it's just veggies with cous cous that's progress right now )....

Cos I was doing the no carb no anything (practically) diet the doc only put me on pass for the weekend but am really feeling the benefit of it and the depression seems to have shifted though am very tired on the upped Haloperidol......and now the bug has gotten worse cos I wouldn't let myself have orange juice yesterday - whoops.....so now I have a day of aches etc and feeling sick ...I'm still throwing up every am for some reason I have no idea why...

Only thing I have done this morning is write some blog on my website and finish a hat. I can't put it up just yet as am away next week for a few days (off to Inversneckie)..

Thanks Nuala for telling me Mr Frugal or his wife doesn't read my posts......hmmm...that man has eyes in the back of his head so I wouldn't be so sure...

Yesterday started frugal and had a very fun trip to the library (good frugal visit often) but then spent £10 on amazon which I didn't have :eek:...I was going to get the Bag Making Bible that I got out of the library but then I thought 'it abuses the word Bible....and why? Just for sales....it's wrong' so I got some other book that looks very similar and a wee 101 sewing secrets book which will be useful for reference and may help me ditch some of my antiquated sewing books

If you don't mind the word Bible (I even get upset when someone says My G* - even on here......it really upsets me) then the Bag Making Bible is well worth getting out of the library...You know those flat bottoms I wanted to do yonks ago and couldn't figure out how for the life of me to do? It tells you how to do them in the BMB book and they're really easy ....

So yeah......just wondering when my phone will be charged cos some folk are insistant I call them on the mobile and like I don't have that many minutes left this month (only about 100) so will have to text my friend and say I might not be going over (it's blowing a gale and raining anyways)...

Also got some tapes for 10p each yesterday from charity shop - love my tapes ...and they're so cheap these days...

Nuala check the cashback sites for classifieds in your area if the items are too big and heavy for ebay hun...Hugs.... Just do what you can within your limitations

Anyhow thread is deffo slowing down...6 weeks ago they'd be 5 pages in a day - now it's just one

Hugs for those who need them

E

ps. I just found the graze boxes on TCB - the link is http://www.topcashback.co.uk/graze/ - and I just got my equifax confirmed so that'a a nice £16 for me for doing nothing

silvasava

Hi all - VERY BIG hugs to all who need them & there seem to be quite a few lately, but hang in there - plenty of TLC & support here.

applemint - like quite a few other people I've successfully dyed quite a few things in my washing machine. Small items get done in an old brown enamel saucepan (belonged to my grandad & still useful!) large items in the machine - I've used both the proper machine wash dyes & also the little tins in my machine - just remember that when you wash dyed items the colour is not colour fast so be careful what you put them with. I used to wash DH overalls afterwards just to make sure the machine was clean but I dont think its really necessary. Natural fibres work best & as previously posted certain fibres dont take up the dye so well - but sometimes you get a lovely effect that you wer'n't expecting!
Net curtains over fruit - thanks for the tip about the bottles - never thought of that! Net curtains wont impede the light & delay ripening I use them over my raspberries & loganberries 'cos the blackbirds love them!
Been a really naughty girl - CC had a clearance sale on so I've sent for 3 tops (all in 'my' colours!) I'm telling myself that each item has to go with at least three things I've already got (yes) before I can consider buying it - just a shame they had so much..........!! I WILL be frugal for the rest of the month (thinks - if I hadn't been frugal I wouldn't have had the money to spend) - hmmmm not sure if that's the way its supposed to work

Savvy_sewing

Hi All, I have been a bit AWOL of late. Too much to do, too much procrastination, and alas, I have been overspending.
I need to get my self back on track! I am supposed to be getting organised so that I can sew properly, on a regular basis, and hopefully not only make clothes and mend them for us, but to do my craft sewing too. I have had both sewing machines serviced, and have cleared/ish the desk in my room, but still have been buying more fabrics then I really need, on Ebay. Keep seeing a bargain, and purchasing it! Think I should be selling on i, not buying!

I will go back and re read the beginning and a few of my books on Frugal living, and get myself back into gear.!:o:eek:

apple_mint

Lesley_Gaye wrote: »

I'm so glad you liked it

I've got another one you might like to try now!

I have posted elsewhere about a cheap family recipes variation I tried this morning.

The mushroom soup here is delicious, so I wondered if it would work using Asda frozen peppers

so used 400g peppers, 60g butter instead of the oil and cream, as I don't usually have cream in, and no spice

it is utterly delectable and one that I will def be doing again, and using frozen veg was so easy, no prep at all

can't wait for lunchtime

Lesley we've just had your original soup recipe for lunch (with portions for the freezer for our lunch boxes next week). Slightly changed it (used the cauliflower and broccoli from a bag of frozen veg, and stilton instead of cheddar) but it was lovely I'll try it with just cauliflower and cheddar cheese next time. It was lovely with some toasted HM bread. OH said 'Different, but very nice' so this is a keeper of recipe. It's great as it uses up bits and pieces and is adaptable. A cheapy for us as the frozen veg was lurking, unused and probably would have been eaten under sufferance :cool: It was an emergency veg item purchased during the bad weather just in case we couldn't get hold of fresh veggies.

Four meal sized portions of bolognese sauce are also cooling ready to go into the freezer.

I've decided this week to use up those lurking freezer items (things put in because I didn't know what to do with them e.g. a small portion of blackcurrants, some gooseberries, some kidneys etc. Those things that get shifted out of the way when looking for something more interesting :cool: I have a bag of sprouts that were supposed be a backup for Christmas meals - but they have that faint strange factory frozen taste. I just can't bring myself to throw them out.

SandraScarlett

Spiral - what a rotten lousy week for you. Erne - you must keep your strength up. Perhaps little and often regarding food, might work for you?

My credit card statement has arrived, and, though lower than normal, is still about double last month. Combined with the King Williams, it makes for very gloomy reading.

DH has to go into hospital at the end of the month and DD a fortnight later, so I'll only be able to skim read for a while. But on a happier note, Spring isn't far away now.

Remember, fellow frugalistas, that any saving is better than no saving at all, and even though February might not be as impressive as January, every little helps.

xx

dizzy_lizzie

Huge hug to you 23rdspiral You offer lots of support on here to peeps so we're giving you some back now. Just knowing that people care sometimes helps.

minnie2 I know were you are coming from. When I know that I have to be careful because it's near the end of the month then I can be, and I like the challenge of seeing were I can save etc Then as soon as I get paid it all goes out of the window...so I know I can do it, I just need to be more strict with myself.

All this talk of soup is making me hungry too. Ooh soup with a huge hunk of crusty bread, lovely. And Lesley your recipes sounds delicious.

Picked up a couple of books from the charity shop on baking cakes. To be honest I get most of my recipes from the internet or my vegan cookbooks but I couldn't resist the colourful pictures...one is 'kids birthday cakes' by the australian womans weekly and the other is 'cupcakes'
They do have eggs in but I'll replace the eggs with applesauce Will take some piccies if I get round to making them this week.

Half term for me too. :j I'm going to make some crochet bunting to hang outside the classroom just above the door, whilst I'm off. Won't take long and hopefully will look sweet.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Luv Dizzy x

sandra just seen your post so edited to add hope all goes well with DH and DD. Big hugz.
♥

minnie2

So I have been through my totals - fear there may be a couple of things to add from this week as i had cash - so need to check receipts but not looking as bad as feared!!


spent £137.61 on groceries £1387.36 Direct Debits £119.06 on stuff £29.06 offers £172.78 Petrol this is all so far, and i have just written a cheque to my sister for £25 for her birthday so thatll need to be added soon too!!

need to get the £119 down and i still need £500 from somewhere!! by end of next week for car insurance otherwise im going to have to pay nearly £60 more doing it as a DD which really annoys me.

erm.................

infact could do with £1000, £500 insurance and £500 to pay off a large monthly amount early!!!

an even bigger erm....................

perhaps i just have to accept that this will be the first year ever i have to pay in installments.

Feeling like im back in control again now! and me and hubby need to sort it out!! I am going to get a certain amount of cash out at start of month and keep cards at home. Also going to include a couple more things into the grocery budget such as dog stuff and eating out and once the cash has gone its gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And hopefully i can train myself to think that we have no money!!!

Think we owe about £100 electric too - and we will be changing supplier soon so need to pay that off!! I have worked out that we spend £280 and £250 a year on gas and electric - love having it highlighted on the websites when you are filling in your totals Are you sure these are your totals as they are low usage!!

23rdspiral

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Huge hug to you 23rdspiral You offer lots of support on here to peeps so we're giving you some back now. Just knowing that people care sometimes helps.

thank you so much everyone. i hesitate before posting my woes, but decided i would so at least you would know why i wasnt around/wasnt cheerful/wasnt commenting much.

i popped on here now for distraction, so to find all those lovely comments has made me well up a bit. i'll miss my aunt, and the end was a shock as it was unexpected, but feel just aweful for her daughter who is abroad, and for her son who will have to sadly repeatidly tell my light-dementia-suffering uncle that she's not coming home from hospital.

~~~
in other news, a car crashed into the end of our terrace early this morning. very luckily no-one was hurt, apart from a silver birch tree. garden walls stopped the car so the houses are hopefully ok. the driver was eastern european, 3 times over the limit and un-insured :eek:

we're lucky that the damage stopped 2 houses down from us, but i feel aweful for our neighbours having to fork out for someone elses careless attitute to buying insurance, drink driving and failing to stop at a mini roundabout.:mad: the driver couldnt have cared less - saying "it's my birthday and its only a wall" :eek:

so after being awake half the night i'm feeling totally shattered today so think i have to cancel long standing plans to go out later. but at least i'll save a few quid by doing so.
~~~~
sorry again everyone for being down. and venting in your general direction. *hugs* to everyone who wants or needs.

Erme - i'm glad you're sounding better. just feeling like you're being healthy and eating well can do wonders.

Minnie - i really hope you are able to find a way to do it. if not, is there a different loan / interest free credit card you could put the insurance onto to avoid the interest payment? i am not advising this as i dont really understand it, but i've read martin taking about it - it has a name.. sorry cant remember it.

Sandra - sorry to hear your Williams/CC William came and bit you. your Feb CC bill being LOWER than USUAL is what you need to focus on. ok so it's more than Jan, but it will even out. best wishes for the hospital times. we will be thinking of you and yours even when you are unable to post. *hug*