Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

23rdspiral

ceridwen wrote: »

You've obviously encountered a Prickly, who got joined pretty quickly by another Prickly. Things can escalate a bit when two Pricklies get together and they can end up drawing in any other Pricklies that are in the vicinity and those who aren't capable of "seeing through them". Don't worry about it - Pricklies get in everywhere:(:(:(. So - dont take it personally lass.

hi ceridwen, nice to hear from you again. thank you for your support. you know what? you are exactly right on how it happened... one prickly then another, then a few more... and those 2 live 500 miles apart so were just egging each other on. they are both real life friends and are rather 'prickly' in temperement now i think about it. happily another friend stepped in sayin 'easy ladies', and i turned the machine off.

redglass & sandra and others, i'm genuinely reasured by your comments that i did the right thing. Cranky - that artile is shocking, so very similar but you're right it could have been much worse. we're right by a bus stop. i shudder to think what could happen.

i've never been flamed before on FB and it wasnt nice. i was a bit scared to come back on here in case i got the same. so THANK YOU EVERYONE for understanding and for being supportive.

23rdspiral

redglass - i often have leftovers for breakfast, even soup, but my OH is a porridge in winter / oat clusters in summer predictable type. oh, and i think your Freecycle rule is fine! it's your gift of goods and time afterall.

apple_mint wrote: »

Though I haven't filled the car since the 25th of January and I do a 34 mile round trip to work 5 days a week. I'm being very careful with the accelerator pedal.

:T :T :T i wish i had your skills!

Flying Fresian - "wombled" !! brilliant!!! i love that!! i've 2 friends from deepest darkest wales who say that to mean the same thing, and havent ever heard anyone else use it. :T

Miss empty piggy - congrats on following your heart regarding the kitchen colour! our living room is red, despite our parents' protests, and we love it!

re Silver Hair - at oh's work dinner the other night i sat beside a truely beautiful middle aged lady with silver streaks. she was stunning, and her hair was simply devine. i decided there and then not to dye when i get to that stage. so bravo you lot! :T

re Barros / saving ect - Eek! i hadnt really thought about feb being a short month so less pay, and march being long so needing more money for it :eek:. good luck everyone with the saving / spaving / managing to make the books balance - i'm going for the 2nd and 3rd of those!

rubytuesday

Another NSD planned for me today. I've been getting on with the drawer tidying which stalled a while ago when I dumped everything in a box and left it!

I think I will make my variation of Twinks in a minute to take to sister in laws house this evening.

Redglass it certainly is rude not to turn up for something you have asked for on Freecycle and it's also rude not to bother with a Thank You. I was quite cross when a friend delivered a wardrobe to someone for me as they were having difficulties with transport and we didn't get a thank you text or email. That is a big bug bear of mine!

Having a late lunch of a sausage sandwich left over from yesterdays fry up.

I do like a Turkish breakfast as a treat but would have it very late morning or early afternoon. Other wise it's porridge, fruit and fibre or very occasionally toast and a fry up every couple of weeks or so.

Erme

rubytuesday wrote: »

An NSD for me today. I got up at eleven, had a fry up and went back to bed until six and I'm still feeling exhausted!

I just remembered I bought this mug for OH for Valentines and have absolutely no idea where I've put it!:rotfl:

http://www.museumselection.co.uk/product-MS-You-are-the-Man-Mug-9832/

I had that feeling with my beloved redeemer broadcasting mug that got sent from the states for the holidays that is so precious I daren't use it :eek:...only just noticed it's not in the old place since putting the carpet down the other week LOL

apple_mint wrote: »

NualaBuala I've been silver for almost a year now. Well actually its white OH loves it and several people have told me how distinctive it looks and how much it suits me. It's saved me a fortune on hair dye too :T I have a short trendy style which is cut every few weeks. I went cold turkey and had the colour cut out over 3 haircuts, so I went from a red head to white (though still have some dark hair in there) in a about 4-5 months.

I dread the greys and I'm mid 30's...Ma started going grey when I was 8 and she was 40....it is indelibly stuck to my memory cos I was HORRIFIED...but she has been having her hair permed for 40+ years then wonders why she has none left @ just over 60. I like my hair long but when self cutting I noticed it got straggly @ the ends so now I have my hair cut down to about my bust. Thickness over length anyday and so many folk in my old church have bald patches from their buns that it's just not worth certain things..Sooner have slightly shorter but thicker hair for longer.

Since doing the bicarb and cornflour dry shampoo/deodorant mix I only wash my hair once a week and like rinse it every day (determined NOT to buy anymore shampoo this year LOL. Personal challenge). Now it rarely needs conditioning either and when I do use conditioner I just use the cheap 20-30p stuff. Does it fine...

What is your henna recipe Nuala Just in case I fancy trying it?

Well...yesterday was horrid weather and I finally got my sewing machine cover made (top I'd battled 90mins with when unwell went on in 30 mins thanks to BMB book from library) only to finally realise that a light going on and off random means a loose wire means IT'S FAULTY...so a few calls to Mr Lidl (who were lovely btw - even offering to send me out a replacement proof of purchase) and I'm taking it back tomorrow.

So off to Mr JL for a new machine and MY FIRST SUCCESSFUL BARTER IN MR JL :j .....worth knowing that the Mr JL sewing machines are made by Janome and their hoovers are made by Bosch....so like slightly over budget (budget was 100) but got what I needed for 139 (not a JL but a ltd edition Janome) instead of 149...and it's not too heavy...:). OD has had another severe bashing this month :eek:

So yeah - lunch this am was cous cous and saver packet soup with 2 Mr L bananas..(think their fruit and veg is okay right now) and tea will be that not nut nut roast with tatties (tinned) and peas (frozen) and gravy ..yum...

Tomorrow I will prolly have lunch @ the hospital and like then tea @ the mission. So that's food for tomorrow.

I am also a porridge fan of the cheap variety only I have it with a little brown sugar or jam or something....I put 1/4 cup porridge (have cup measures gotten 10 years ago in sale from Mr S) to 2/3 water and then zap for 1:40 or 1:50 in an 800w micro...Took me ages to figure out all that...it's the cheapest breakfast known to woman and yum.

I never used to have breakfast till I started dieting 3 or so years ago and it was drummed into me then - now I can't live without it :rotfl: and I hate it in hospital cos they have it an hour or so later than I do but on the plus side they have WEETABIX (won't touch their porridge - too runny) ....

Interesting though what folk are saying about using last night's left overs? I know one hospital I was in a few years ago used to put the left overs in the mash tatties (quite liked that)..

So busy Monday and busy tuesday but then maybe just PJ and food shop on Wednesday with couch surfing on Wednesday evening. Don't think I'm going to Inverness as like I'm too tired....(and the weather is horrid)

Some ppl on this thread though just seem to be here to create disorder and disharmony so I am seriously thinking of putting them on iggie :T. Whenever I read their posts it just flames me...

Sorry to whoever got bashed by the eastern european DD..

What's happened to everyone using https://www.pic4ever.com btw? Is it all this horrid weather or something

And for those moaning about february/march prob -. It's months like these I am grateful I get paid fortnightly and four weekly (so will be doing my february stats tomorrow)

E

seriouslyfrugal

Hi Everyone,


Hope everyone is well and to anyone who needs a hug here's one on me:grouphug:


today was a LSD and yesterday a NSD


I haven't thought of a savings target for March yet I will probably know more tomorrow as that is when I start my job at Montisfont Abbey ( National Trust ) for 6 months actually i'm really looking forward to it as it is really peaceful place and beautiful ( although i'm not sure how long that will last with the visitors :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:) I think this is a good job for me as it combines what i'm trained in - customer service and my favorite subject - history bliss !!!

slowlyfading

:hello: everyone

Have had a lovely weekend me and OH went to see a free preview of West is West this morning at the cinema and it was very good - funny and sad at times. I would definitely recommend it

We're off to Centr£ P@rcs tomorrow until Friday, so need to pack this evening and sort things out. OH's mum has done some baking for us to take so we'll pop there in the morning to get that. I intend to relax lots this week, especially as OH has the same week off

Re: savings - I've been trying to save £300 a month towards wedding things, so that's my aim for March if you like. It's getting harder at the moment as me and OH have decided we want to be able to go out a bit more and enjoy life together more, but we're still dripping bits and bobs into savings at the same time.

NualaBuala

Apple mint, I think it's the sense of freedom that appeals to me and I love that poem too!

redglass wrote: »

Unless the stuff is obviously all related, like all gardening stuff, or all baby stuff, it sounds as if she's FreeCycling and selling the stuff on: 'Gimme the lot' is usually a carbooter. I know there was quite a debate about this on FreeCycle - our group adopted a policy but I can't remember if it was for or against people taking stuff for car boots.

I would give her one more chance but not more than one. I have sometimes had to keep re-arranging with people over several days, with both of us having to change arrangements, and that's fine as long as we keep in contact. I do understand life is complicated. But if someone stands me up and doesn't get in touch, I try once to contact them and then offer the item again 'owing to a timewaster'. They are getting something for free, and manners cost nothing.

edited to add: I'm reading this and thinking, blimey, I really sound fierce...but it's so rude to ask for something and then not bother!

Thanks Redglass, well several items are for the bathroom and then one other household thing. I guess that's reasonable enough. Her messages have been a bit abrupt but I guess that's a fact of life. I have been lucky enough to meet some lovely freecyclers though including one particularly nice lady who I told about MSE. She got in touch later to say how helpful it was. If only they were all as nice as her! I will give this one more chance and that's it, will note her and not offer anything again.
Re eating anything for breakfast: - it's a good idea really. I've been known to eat leftover pizza or takeaway for breakfast but these days it tends to more normal breakfast food!

Erme, will dig out the henna info for you, it's messy but fun! Your tea sounds delicious - hope you enjoy it!

EFC, you are the queen of marmalade! You’re such a wonderful Mum to help your DD out when she needed it. Hope you manage to build up a little kitty again. You really are an inspiration. Hope you have a lovely evening watching your programmes. X

Miss Empty Piggy, I’m not a Mum but I guess I would be worried too. I’m sure you’ll figure out whatever is for the best. I agree with Spiral – yay for you following your heart on the kitchen paint.


I just know I meant to reply to more people but I forget who and what now! Will be having a frugal supper of leftover Lesley's leftover veg and lentil soup - once it's heated up I put the grated cheese in and it is so filling and yummy. I don't even need bread with it. And I made yummy flapjacks from this recipe by Wssla00. I used honey, molasses, butter, peanut butter, oats, dried cranberries, raisins, dates, sugar, sunflower seeds and chopped nuts. I'm having a hard time staying away from them! :EasterBun

wssla00 wrote: »

LOL bottom of the cupboard bars are bars where I add loads of stuff I am running out of. So the basic is the following:

2oz butter
a good squidge of golden syrup
3oz sugar
3 oz oats
3 oz raisins

then whatever is left in the packets so today I used
1 oz rice crispies
3 oz seeds
2 oz mini smarties

You can use anything as long as they add up to 6oz (not including the raisins and oats)

Then you just melt the butter sugar and golden syrup down, pour into the dry goods and combine and then flatten down into a flapjack/brownie pan. Bake on a 180 for about 25 minutes until they are golden brown.

Cool and then cut into squares enjoy!

redglass_2

rubytuesday wrote: »

I do like a Turkish breakfast as a treat but would have it very late morning or early afternoon.

What's Turkish breakfast, RT? I have a vision of you eating Turkish Delight but somehow I don't think that's it...

seriouslyfrugal wrote: »

that is when I start my job at Montisfont Abbey ( National Trust ) for 6 months

You do realise that anyone from this thread visiting Montisfort Abbey will be looking round trying to spot the frugalista? :rotfl:

NualaBuala wrote: »

t. And I made yummy flapjacks from this recipe by Wssla00. I used honey, molasses, butter, peanut butter, oats, dried cranberries, raisins, dates, sugar, sunflower seeds and chopped nuts.

Thank you, that looks really yummy, and even yummier with the ingredients you used. Think I might do something like that for friends coming round for afternoon tea (it's very retro at Redglass Towers) one weekend...

fingersxed

Hi Everybody

Had a pretty frugal weekend. Had a mean shop yesterday. Not been out today so barring fetching some milk from village spent very little. I've been v gd!

Just made a lovely tea for Mashed sweet n norm Potatoes, yorkshire puds, broc and carrots with sauasages n onion in a thick gravy. DELISH. plus only used 6 sausages between 4 of us. Leftover mash n veg now going to be dished up and called bubble n squeak 2mo. It is amazing how far food can be stretched with alittle imagination.

HELP!!!! - Tried to update my sig yesterday and 2day but it keeps giving me this meassage 'BB code size value is too big'. All i am trying to do is change my grocery challenge figures. I did try deleting some of my sig and reducing size of font on groc chal but it still won't let me. HELP would be much appreciated

rubytuesday

Redglass, Turkish breakfast - halloumi, Turkish sausage, tomatoes, cucumber, boiled egg, pide, jam and honey.

Just made my version of Twinks with maple syrup and dark muscovado sugar - yum yum!