Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

chika

Lynzpower I and lots of people I know are on the tesco £10 a month deal. it really is a mega bargain and not even motormouth me can use up all the 500 minutes! Re your iphone, I don't know what netwiork it is on but if it's o2 it should work with tesco as they run from the same network iyswim.

Oh and for cheap clothes have a look at petticoat lane, I make a pilgrimage there every couple of months and get stuff for work. Just don't pay the stall prices. Last time I was there I managed to pick up a few whole trousers/top/cardi/jacket combos and didn't pay much more than £5 per item. Its all highstreet overstock and sooooo cheap.

It's back to school for me today, I got slightly excited when I looked out of the window and saw snow but it's not thick enough for a snow day. Is it really sad that one of the main reasons I'm so excited about going back is the fact I don't have to have the heating on in the day?! Oh dear!

ceridwen

itsallinthemind wrote: »

Is it unvarnished? My furniture is just treated with wax, when I had a spillage on the bedside I warmed it with a hairdryer, then blotted with kitchen paper. Removed the rest by a half solution of vinegar and water. Let it dry a few days then re waxed it. I think I found that out by searching the Old Style forum

Edited to add............If anyones child ever takes a permanant marker pen to waxed wood, rub toothpaste on it, found that out after trying everything, as it also removes scuffs from plastic bath panels

Errrmm...think 'tis unvarnished and just a waxed finish. I removed the "top layer" at the time I noticed (errr...some time ago:o).

So - the "half solution of vinegar and water" - would that be 50/50 white vinegar and water made up and then just wiped over on a cloth? What did you use for re-waxing - and did you just do the damaged bit (ie the top only in my case) or did you re-wax the lot?

EDIT: Just been and checked. Defo not varnished. Its rather "unfinished" type appearance, bit rough-ish to touch. Think that means it HAS been waxed? - but not any other treatment?

Kiwisaver_2

23rdspiral wrote: »

Can i ask, what do people do about individual spends like this? for me it was a happy NSD, but not as a couple. his spending is quite different from mine, and he earns a lot more than me, but we share some bills though he pays most of the mortgage. any ideas for how to show this on my graph??

I guess it depends on how you juggle the finances of running your home and who controls the purse strings. I basically run all our finances and have a regular direct debit set up from my OHs account to pay our joint account (me) approximately 50% of the household costs each month. mortgage, insurances, bills etc. I have access to his bank account to amend the amounts if necessary and usually will give him the courtesy of telling him what I have done. :rotfl:

Quite simply I estimate everything 50/50 of the costs for us to stay at home, eat, watch TV, household phone, broadband and do 'nothing much'. He keeps the rest of what he earns and I keep the rest of what I earn and no questions asked as to what happens to that personal money really. If he wants anything for himself, clothes, hobbies, gadgets or whatever, he pays and I don't count it. He doesn't spend much money, other than lunches out and the occasional new rig out for a special occasion. He's a fairly typical bloke and doesn't notice when things need doing, mending or replacing. On the rare occasions we eat out together he usually pays.

Someone else mentioned earlier about financing luxuries such as Sky TV, it's a long running avoided topic in our house. I've very little interest in TV and I won't entertain the idea, although OH frequently moans that we don't have it. My theory is if he wants it, he can organise it and pay for it. I reckon we'll see 2020 before we see Sky TV in this house. :rotfl:

Usually it's me that organises and pays for anything we do or need jointly e.g. holidays or major items for the house. In those cases I usually help myself to whatever I need from his bank account. :rotfl: BUT little bits and bobs around the house, kitchenware, replaced bedding, gardening bits are usually paid for by me or out of the 'housekeeping'.

It has worked for us for many years and I wouldn't want it any other way. I guess I am in the fortunate position of earning more than he does, so I would feel bad taking more from him than absolutely necessary and he knows that any extra I have goes to the good of us both in paying off the mortgage faster.

lowspend2011

I spent on Petrol and groceries today so have broken my 3 day NS. I also had a non essential spend on Fish and Chips at the beach with dh for my last day of my holiday, we went halves and I used a few coins I had leftover from last year. Should be my last NES spend for at least the rest of the week.

How do you subscribe to this thread please? I can't find a button to click on.

ceridwen

Talking earlier on this thread of "unlocking phones". How does one do the equivalent with a home computer? Does anyone know?

Reason - my computer "knows" where I live so to say. Certainly I'm getting used to seeing unwanted adverts targeted at the specific area I live in coming up when I google for something or do an email on my googlemail:mad:

The thing is that occasionally I go to click on a link for something I want to watch on the Internet - and back comes a message to the effect of "You cant see it - you live in the wrong country". If my computer didnt "know" where I lived then the website I am just trying to view wouldnt "know" either and I would be able to see it okay.

So - if anyone knows how to and can put it in VERY simple language indeed (as I know so little about computer use....) 'twould be appreciated please.

lynzpower

Lynzpower I and lots of people I know are on the tesco £10 a month deal. it really is a mega bargain and not even motormouth me can use up all the 500 minutes! Re your iphone, I don't know what netwiork it is on but if it's o2 it should work with tesco as they run from the same network iyswim.

Yes!I am on 02!

Does this mean then that I can just order the sim, pop it in and go?

Ps, yes love petticoat, havent been there for ages. Roman road bow also very good on a saturday or used to be. London markets not sung about enough!

Kazsaver

morning all I would like to join you all in your challenge

I have decided that 2011 Is the year to sort my life out in several ways main one financial.I have yet to work out the figures will do so once DD has gone back to school, but I know it needs to be as low as possible . there are many areas that need cutting back on. One being food so have started on this already by joining grocery challenge and setting a budget for the month. I'm sure the next one will be gas and electric although with it being so cold its hard to see how I can cut it down I don't have the heating on really high but I do hate the cold so I leave it on at the same temperature most of the day but as soon as the it warms up out side I will turn it down.

As soon as I have figures I will post them

Have a great day everyone

Kaz x

Erme

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

Wow, everyone is posting like crazy at the moment, its just taken me about 45mins to get up to date and thats skim reading some of them. NuBu the idea about the cardboard over the touchpad wasn't mine but the computer expert I discussed my laptop problem online with ....and yes its working fine now, such a simple solution really but one I would never have thought of. Some other person on this site was interested to find a solution to this problem also so I hope she/he has seen mine....message to other person, sorry I have forgotten who you are

Thanks all those who wished my cat better, her eye is looking much better now but I'm still having to give her antibiotics x2 daily. eye ointment x3 daily and anti-inflamatories every evening so its back to full time nursing for me.

I was given a single person size slow cooker on freecycle today, I'm hoping to make some yoghurt in it. I always used to make my own when I had night storage heaters but fortunately really I dont have NSH I can't do that anymore so will try a slow cooker. I seem to remember I used to add a teaspoonful of powdered milk so I shall have to buy some tomorrow as I don't think I have any in my larder at the mo. Note to myself look before you buy.

I've been sleeping so late recently that I must start setting my alarm then I might be ready to sleep at a reasonable time and have longer days not nights.

Please see my earlier posts on yoghurt making in a slow cooker...it really is relatively straightforward. I do about a litre at a time in a singleton crockpot I got as an argos whoopsie spend last year for about £5

No point in buying a yoghurt maker when you don't need to ...also I use Mr Sa probiotic basics yoghurt as a starter though would appreciate cheaper alternatives? (are there any?)

E

alec_eiffel

itsallinthemind wrote: »

No I smoke, my eldest is registered disabled and is pretty much 24/7 so I need a vice. Same amount as my groceries budget. My view is judge me for smoking when you do my job with no support I have no other vices bar cheddar, so why not(children not smoked around)?

He NEEDED the cigarettes and coffee, food was an afterthought! He will pay me back, no issues there, just not meeting up with him for a bit as since my relationship breakdown it has emerged he has liked me for ten or so years as more than a mate, after I jokingly reminded him we had a pact(joke) to marry in a few years if still single. Not about to rush into anything a lose a friend Anyway, he has competition :rotfl:

I love a whoopsie, small co-op here is my heaven! I'm sure nobody would dare judge you or me for smoking(or my gazillion other flaws) on this thread, after all if they were perfect they would be at their beach side pad currently sipping a cocktail, not online viewing the frugal challenge :D

I had enough money to live by the beach because of living frugally! Doesn't have to be one or the other. Not sipping a cocktail though, bit early for that :rotfl:

elly68

morning all well enjoying this .going to shop today with kid trying to burn them out as we have to try and get up at 7 on thurs for school so far no one has been up before 10 .
technically a no spend day as we are using our christmas vouchers ,i need to get dd birthday presents as well.hope you all have a frugal day ellie