Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

rubytuesday

Happy Birthday Midwinter

Well I am now a qualified health walk leader. I just spent out on a sandwich and drink from M and S for my lunch today (and a bag of chocolate caramels ...ssh!) and dinner will be soup made with whatever I've got. Lentil and veg I think.

23rdspiral

apple_mint wrote: »

The fuel budget was under, but I don't know how long I'll manage before I have to do some adjustments to this. I practice what I call 'light footed driving' but it is costing more and more to fill the tank. Has anyone else noticed how there are less and less people speeding past you? I think more and more people are aware of the fuel gauge and are also trying to drive at optimum speeds. Though the way the prices are shooting up, I'm going to have to get out and push it.

i've noticed that too - both in other drivers and in me! i now tootle down the last 6 miles of my home journey, on a dual carrage way doing 50, listening to the radio - if i was home earlier i'd only put the radio on and sit in a chair so it's the same really!

midwinter wrote: »

My big five oh birthday was this weekend, and I was truly blessed by the company of all my close family. Had desperately wanted to see my "little" brother, and he was stood at my doorstep, having done a 6 hour drive up to me, at 11 am on THE day

Happy Birthday! how nice to welcome such a wanted visitor


RUBY - that's briliant! :j i wish they did things like that round here.

23rdspiral

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

[
I wish I could ask you all to save jam jars, I put a wanted message on freecycle but so far no replies. Surely everyone uses something that comes in a jar!

right. this isn't right. i've put my thinking cap on and here's my best shots:

just some thoughts off the top of my head

1. i assume you're no where near Royston or Corby or Peterborough (i'm terrible with geography, if you are PM me)

2. i assume that you have to pay postage on these internet bought jars? so what if nice people you knew, on here or wherever, saved and packaged up and posted to you the right kind of / size of jars... you could pay them postage costs... it might be a lot cheaper than the internet? and therefore worth the effort?

3 - 8. i used to offer lots of jars on freecycle, i save all year for my chutney and often have them leftover. but after soo many timewasters i gave up even looking at the site! maybe others have too or then theres the people that wouldnt even think or it or arent online... so....
...how about posting a 'wanted' sign on your local community centre / leisure centre / church / library / supermarket / villiage notice board? you could try to see what you get donated for free, and if not maybe offer 10p / 25p a jar ??? (no idea how much they are online!)

9. EDIT: also a poster on the actual recycling bin? that might be against a bylaw i dont know....

10. EDIT do you have recycling boxes in your area? have you asked your neighbours if you can raid theirs for their jars? easier for them than saving and washing them for you, but you never know they might! why not get brave and ask your whole street / neighbourhood!!

11. Edit: ooh, how about asking at your local Tip or Tip Shop (in my county they are not seperate entieies, how daft!) they are bound to get boxes in now and again.

12. Edit: Maybe even leave a 'goods wanted' note at your local charity shops - not the kind of thing they'd put out but they probably get given them sometimes. i recomend a note as they can pin it by the sorting table so different staff know and also so they dont forget!

13. OR how about your local care home ect, most will have to pay to have rubbish taken away and i suppose they might let you go round to collect any glass jam / sauce jars they have?

14. Or is there a Scrap Store near you? they possibly wont have jars in due to the glass but you could always leave a 'goods wanted' note with them so if they are offered they can take on your behalf (you'd pay bucket fees) or possibly even let you have the contact details (free items)

15. Or... a lady at my local car boot uses old glasses mugs ect, with celephane & elastic band lids... seems popular. but i bought one once and dropped it and it had no strength so smashed eand oozed verywhere.

16. OR... and i've read of people actually doing this on the Old Style boards... buying the 9p Curry Sauce from any of the big 4 supermarkets and using what you can, giving it away in old marge/takeaway tubs to neighbours to use up within a couple or days... OR freezing it in said tubs if you have big freezer space OR throw a pot luck curry party where everyone brings a different vegetable to throw into the pot OR .... people even report simply throwing it away!! :eek:

That's all i can think of for now. good luck!

mooomin

midwinter wrote: »

It certainly pays you to stay with those accounts then!

I think I'm getting a good deal, yes

Today I spent £24ish in Boots, although it had a "real value" of nearly £40 thanks to taking advantage of 3 for 2 offers and a BOGOF on shampoo. I am now stocked up on toothpaste/mouthwash for the month and should have enough shampoo to last me until May. I did splurge on some S&G facewash which was on 3 for 2, which I didn't need but do really like and it lasts for ages. I got a tube of it in December and have used it almost every day since - there still seems to be a decent amount left too. With that in mind, the two tubes of it I bought today should last me until July or thereabouts. :money:

Those spends come from my groceries/toiletries budget (I don't split the two) but I have the wiggle room for a large spend such as this as last month I spent a lot of my budget on cat-based items such as food and litter.

I do need to make an effort to go to the shops after work instead of on my lunchbreak, as I've noticed that I get better bargains then. I will hopefully be able to do that on Friday. I would like to come in under budget for groceries this month - ideally keeping it to about £150, but I'll see how it goes :rotfl:

cake21

Started trying to catch up with posts...failed miserably! Good lucks, congratulations, and commiserations where appropriate.

Year to date spend is £360 or a whopping 27% over budget.
Still spending less than I would without tracking though :j

Holidays / Gas / toll fees all over budget (total £311) but spread over the year should be ok.

Gifts over budget by £213 as includes flight to sister's wedding in 2012. Probably won't make that back, along with fitness will need to make sure I rejig categories.

Once again I'm spending more than budgeted on fitness (£73) and education (£52), I think because I don't see this as a "bad spend". Need to make sure I can afford it though.

seriouslyfrugal

[QUOTE=rubytuesday;4163277

Well I am now a qualified health walk leader. I just spent out on a sandwich and drink from M and S for my lunch today (and a bag of chocolate caramels ...ssh!) and dinner will be soup made with whatever I've got. Lentil and veg I think.

[/QUOTE]


congratulations i'm a health walk leader too and the walk I lead is on a friday i've made lots of new friends so welcome to the club !!!

rubytuesday

Thank you SF we are all qualified in my group now! We need some people to lead!:rotfl:

minnie2

twiglet98 wrote: »

Just catching up as I've been in hospital having scars from the big op tidied up.

Hugs Cheryl, thinking of you and your friend, hang in there xxx

Minnie I'm a snake fan, and have a lovely cuddly royal python, lizards are a bit too high maintenance for my liking. Not terrified of spiders as I used to be, but I wouldn't handle one. People do tend to think it's weird when you have exotic pets.

Horrible huge vet bill paid yesterday for DD's old pony, vet out again this pm, not sure how much longer the pony will be around. Also have to tax the car, will do a cheque later so it won't go through before this week's pay goes in, also 500 litres of oil to pay for, delivered four weeks ago. Hope the kids will transfer their rent over today. Forgot I'd ordered a whole lamb and had to do a cheque for that last Friday, and c/card d/debit went out yesterday, when I was in hosp and hadn't checked the balance. Printed shopping list from MySupermarket on Sunday, went to Mr T expecting to spend under £40 and actually spent over £80 as I forgot meat, fruit and cheese on the online thing. Splashed out on whoopsied beef rib joints, half price down to £7 each, and wished I hadn't as the freezer is full to bursting with lamb, and already had two beef joints in there At least this time DD didn't complain about having had lamb two Sundays in a row, last week my neighbour brought some of theirs round, as they'd just thinned out their small flock. We regularly swap eggs, fruit and veg over the fence - a bit of lamb is a yearly bonus!

Off work for a couple of days and will update the SoW. Really worried about car insurance (and MoT) in April, and council tax kicking in again. I already work over 50 hours a week, will only get the basic 40 this week as I'm off, and missed the busiest day, Monday, when I usually work 12-13 hours instead of the basic 8 hours. Might apply myself to eBaying some stuff while I'm at home, also have some bits to send to MusicMagpie that just need wrapping and boxing up. I don't think ALL the bubble wrap went on the windows, there must be some under the bed...

my little bertie is gorgeous!!!!!!! what i hate are the things you have to feed them on!!! silly i know!!! Our snake is a hypo motley corn snake - nice 1st one for the hubby!! Sorry to hear about your poor pony!!

twiglet98 wrote: »

Now we know minnie2, sorry it didn't go well though and maybe you did better than you expected to. Thumbs crossed for you.
XXX
.

they tutted at me -not a great sign!!

flying_fresian wrote: »

I think I'm getting a good deal, yes

Today I spent £24ish in Boots, although it had a "real value" of nearly £40 thanks to taking advantage of 3 for 2 offers and a BOGOF on shampoo. I am now stocked up on toothpaste/mouthwash for the month and should have enough shampoo to last me until May. I did splurge on some S&G facewash which was on 3 for 2, which I didn't need but do really like and it lasts for ages. I got a tube of it in December and have used it almost every day since - there still seems to be a decent amount left too. With that in mind, the two tubes of it I bought today should last me until July or thereabouts. :money:

Those spends come from my groceries/toiletries budget (I don't split the two) but I have the wiggle room for a large spend such as this as last month I spent a lot of my budget on cat-based items such as food and litter.

I do need to make an effort to go to the shops after work instead of on my lunchbreak, as I've noticed that I get better bargains then. I will hopefully be able to do that on Friday. I would like to come in under budget for groceries this month - ideally keeping it to about £150, but I'll see how it goes :rotfl:

love reading your posts - admire your systems and ways - wish i thought like you do!! i am tying to get my head round things. you seem so organised!!

midwinter

23rdspiral and rubytuesday, thankyou :beer:

23rdspiral wrote: »

right. this isn't right. i've put my thinking cap on and here's my best shots:

just some thoughts off the top of my head

1. i assume you're no where near Royston or Corby or Peterborough (i'm terrible with geography, if you are PM me)

2. i assume that you have to pay postage on these internet bought jars? so what if nice people you knew, on here or wherever, saved and packaged up and posted to you the right kind of / size of jars... you could pay them postage costs... it might be a lot cheaper than the internet? and therefore worth the effort?

3 - 8. i used to offer lots of jars on freecycle, i save all year for my chutney and often have them leftover. but after soo many timewasters i gave up even looking at the site! maybe others have too or then theres the people that wouldnt even think or it or arent online... so....
...how about posting a 'wanted' sign on your local community centre / leisure centre / church / library / supermarket / villiage notice board? you could try to see what you get donated for free, and if not maybe offer 10p / 25p a jar ??? (no idea how much they are online!)

9. EDIT: also a poster on the actual recycling bin? that might be against a bylaw i dont know....

10. EDIT do you have recycling boxes in your area? have you asked your neighbours if you can raid theirs for their jars? easier for them than saving and washing them for you, but you never know they might! why not get brave and ask your whole street / neighbourhood!!

11. Edit: ooh, how about asking at your local Tip or Tip Shop (in my county they are not seperate entieies, how daft!) they are bound to get boxes in now and again.

12. Edit: Maybe even leave a 'goods wanted' note at your local charity shops - not the kind of thing they'd put out but they probably get given them sometimes. i recomend a note as they can pin it by the sorting table so different staff know and also so they dont forget!

13. OR how about your local care home ect, most will have to pay to have rubbish taken away and i suppose they might let you go round to collect any glass jam / sauce jars they have?

14. Or is there a Scrap Store near you? they possibly wont have jars in due to the glass but you could always leave a 'goods wanted' note with them so if they are offered they can take on your behalf (you'd pay bucket fees) or possibly even let you have the contact details (free items)

15. Or... a lady at my local car boot uses old glasses mugs ect, with celephane & elastic band lids... seems popular. but i bought one once and dropped it and it had no strength so smashed eand oozed verywhere.

16. OR... and i've read of people actually doing this on the Old Style boards... buying the 9p Curry Sauce from any of the big 4 supermarkets and using what you can, giving it away in old marge/takeaway tubs to neighbours to use up within a couple or days... OR freezing it in said tubs if you have big freezer space OR throw a pot luck curry party where everyone brings a different vegetable to throw into the pot OR .... people even report simply throwing it away!! :eek:

That's all i can think of for now. good luck!

What brilliant ideas, hope some will be useful!

grandma247

midwinter I realise that the limit is just that.
I usually try to keep to 55mph as my son worked out that it is the optimum speed for fuel economy in my car. I get cross when I have a driver almost in my boot on a three lane motorway and the other two lanes are empty, If I am not going fast enough for them why don't they just overtake? When on ordinary roads I move as close to the left as I can so others can overtake if they wish.


I got a call from the cable company today and they offered me a deal I could not refuse! Instead of £20 a month just for broadband they said I could keep the telephone,broadband and reduced tv package for £14.99 a month for the next 12 months. They are sending me a printed contract so I can read it for myself. It will be switched over at midnight tonight so I will get a refund on the overpay from this month.