Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

mooomin

flying_fresian wrote: »

I'm on track for my first NSD of March today, unless Mr F texts me to buy milk again :rotfl:

Damn his oily hide....

mooomin

flying_fresian wrote: »

I'm on track for my first NSD of March today, unless Mr F texts me to buy milk again :rotfl:

flying_fresian wrote: »

Damn his oily hide....

He's redeemed himself by telling me we don't need a Friday night takeaway :money: Off to forage in the cupboards now

midwinter

Hi to roger ramjet and JayII

flying_fresian wrote: »

I'm on track for my first NSD of March today, unless Mr F texts me to buy milk again :rotfl:

Yesterday I spent £1.20 on chips for lunch (I know, I know...!) but that was it, so it was a LSD I suppose.

I'm looking forward to a spendy weekend - supermarket tomorrow then a massive craft fair on Sunday at the SECC. Thankfully that's coming from savings and not from my frugalista budget

flying_fresian wrote: »

Damn his oily hide....

Re the milk/take away, you win some, you lose some, but milk is a frugal outgoing compared to a takeaway!

Enjoy your craft weekend FF, hope you find some interesting items and ideas!

Tomorrow, I have 48 books to give away, as part of World Book Night, so if anyone approaches you, and offers you a book, gratis, do accept! The idea is, that once you've read the given book, you will pass it on, and on and on. Each book also has a unique reference number (there are one million being given out!), and if people update on the website, you'll be able to track where your book has travelled since it was first given out! I'm pleased to be part of this event :j

Aril

Evening fellow frugallers:j
I've been investing in a few bits and bobs again this week in the name of spaving [erm except for a book on Amazon which I seem to have preordered but that can be my birthday pressie from OH later on in the year:D]. I bought some shallot bulbs from £land and three echinacea corms as mine didn't put in an appearance last year. I've also parted with 200 pennies on two luxury bars of fancy choc from Julian Graves which were reduced from £2.99 and I think will fit the bill nicely as substitute Easter eggs for my parents

OH has decided that he wants to go out for a stroll so I jokingly suggested that he go via Tesco to see if they've got any reductions and he's gone:rotfl::rotfl:A truly commited frugaller..my training regime in my gnat bottomed ways has paid off:D
Aril

dizzy_lizzie

jayII wrote: »

I'd like to join if it's not too late for this year's challenge. .

roger_ramjet wrote: »

I'm late to this party - so starting as of 1st March. Thus far, haven't spent a bean since the being of the month - see how long I can continue...

Hello :hello:and welcome to the thread. Lots of lovely caring people on here I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Luv dizzy x

JayneC

Hello all,

Have not posted much lately but have been following the thread. Lots happening but can't remember everything so just sending lots of love and hugs out to all X X

Just found out today that I'm not being kept on in my current job, I was kinda expecting it but still... Fortunately I have a job to go back to (I was seconded to this one) but the pay is quite significantly lower. Have been doing sums on bits of paper all afternoon and reckon I can still manage part time tho!! Ex OH is worried about me managing (he doesn't give me any money so probably guilt) and not even told him I'm going part time yet!! I said I'd be fine and he said but what about when interest rates go up to 5% which was very cheery!! He's being quite nice to me lately tho, he unblocked the toilet today which was blocked AGAIN!!!

Have just joined readitswapit which is FAB - highly recommended frugal way of acquiring books. Got 2 books already (which will actually be given as presents to DS1 and his GF, felt a bit bad as the books I swapped were ones he'd bought for me!) and have agreed to swap 2 more.

Just got 2 light fittings from freecycle - one for kitchen as light in there has been broken for about 3 years!! We cook by lamplight - I kid you not! and the other for DDs bedroom as it will go really well with the theme in there - New York loft apartment stylie, well it would be if DD2s stuff wasn't constantly strewn all across the floor - looks a bit more like 'B52s have just flown over' stylie usually!!

Keeping to budget, am doing really well with grocery budget having come in under for last 2 months. Going to try some of Weezls recipes to try and lower it further.

Hoping to get up to my garden over the weekend, may get some seeds in!! Have got raspberry canes, onion/shallot sets and garlic in already, plus my strawberries which I planted last year.

Well think that's my update for now.

Take care everyone,

jayne x

enjoyfinancialchallenges

rubytuesday wrote: »

Hello everyone have you missed me?! I've been in DT for a few days getting myself in a tangle on the fostering thread as it's of interest to me as I was fostered by Evangelical Christians age ten.

Anyway I've missed you.

Been doing ok - twenty pound spend the in Tesco the other day and about seven in Lidl but a NSD today. Probably just beans on toast or tomato soup for dinner, although daughter will be in rather than gallivanting for a change!

I bought lovely Warburton flatbreads the other day and used them to make delicious pizzas topped with fried peppers and onions, tomatoes, mozzarella, grated cheddar and parma ham.

Lovely story about the roses EFC!

Also someone mentioned reading their charity shop book which reminded me to enter the Radox competition for a free book http://be-selfish.co.uk/selfishreadinghour-facebook

I have finally finished sorting the paperwork which I started months ago and the front room is reasonably tidy!

Hi Jay lovely to see you - fancy meeting you here!:rotfl:x

Hi rutu of course we all missed you but actually to shy to tell you.
Have just bought a few more jam making bits today, just loving it. My neighbors are getting better trained now and keep popping jars around and I've even arranged it than on the days the bus runs (Tue and Thurs) the driver will stop outside my house to let passengers drop...well not drop really...jars outside on my grass verge so I can collect them from there. How about that I bet not everybody has such a good bus service? :A

I'm off to grandson x2 sit tomorrow and I will stay overnight, have a good weekend everybody. Love you all. XXX

rubytuesday

Wow that's good service EFC!

enjoyfinancialchallenges

rubytuesday wrote: »

Wow that's good service EFC!

Well, some people just deserve that level of service. :cool:

apple_mint

23rdspiral wrote: »

apple_mint - wow your day starts early! or didnt you go to bed? :rotfl: your picknic sounds fab - what a very good idea :T

Just funny sleeping patterns at the moment 23rdspiral I've been falling asleep in early in the evening and waking early. Last night bed time was 10 pm and I woke up at 3 a.m. So I go with the flow. An hour or two catching up with the threads and then I'll go back to sleep. Easy enough at the weekends but during the week I always want to put my head on the desk at 2 in the afternoon :rotfl:

My weekly shop at Lidl came in at just under £45 :eek: but to be fair there were a couple of garden kneeling pads in the trolley and some spaves, along with some of the usual restocking of store cupboard items. I'll be doing a mass batch cooking session later this morning as I got some sausages and ham reduced, and also bought some chicken thighs. I thought I'd get some meals ready prepared for the week again as it is saving us a lot of time in the evenings. Sausage casserole is a definite as I can stretch the sausages by chopping them into smaller pieces and add plenty of veggies. I use this recipe from the BBC Good Food site

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/6097/tasty-sausage-casserole

It's now a firm favourite in the apple_mint household. I make a large batch and portion up in to 2 person meals and pop them into the freezer. I'm still debating what to do with the chicken thighs. I'm also planning to make pasties again as it's been handy taking two out the freezer on a morning to pop into lunch boxes. Makes a nice change from sandwiches or soup.

Having had a successful session in the charity shop earlier in the week, I popped back in and got another skirt, 2 scarves and a jumper all for the grand sum of £2.50