Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

dizzy_lizzie

Fishcake The hearts are so sweet. I love the blanket you made for your nan as well. I bet it keeps her snug and warm. Linking it into the frugal theme (am I getting paranoid about this ) I've been thinking about crocheting an overblanket for our bed with wool I already have.
Luvz Dizzy x

Fishcake_Random

Your to kind Dizzy.
I love to crochet and knit things as I gives me something to keep me busy but also produces something usefull at the end of it.
Something that came up on here last year briefly was the idea of collecting usefull skills in case of a breakdown or world changing event (2012 ect). I've made it my misson to learn to crochet this year allthough I have been dabbling since about November.
xx x x x
x

23rdspiral

cw18 wrote: »

Use of the spreadsheet is not mandatory - you can keep track of your budgets/spends however you like (and I promise not to sulk if you prefer an alternative method :rotfl: )

i posted a link on my facebook to your post with the spreadsheet as 2 friends were enquiring what i was wittering on about - i hope that was ok? i also directed them to Martin's uber online one... and it crashed! there was an official note and everything! I guess 3pm midweek really no one is working!:o i have to say that whilst i've found martins useful, yours is way better for tracking :T

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Fishcake The hearts are so sweet. I love the blanket you made for your nan as well. I bet it keeps her snug and warm. Linking it into the frugal theme (am I getting paranoid about this ) I've been thinking about crocheting an overblanket for our bed with wool I already have.
Luvz Dizzy x

i got a cheap crochet blanket from oxfam at a festival a few years ago - it we had a tornado and it was much colder than i've encountered before. Now it's on our bed, with a cheap fleecy throw over it. together they really work = i think kinda like the principle of an old man's string vest! :rotfl:

itsallinthemind

cw18 wrote: »

Use of the spreadsheet is not mandatory - you can keep track of your budgets/spends however you like (and I promise not to sulk if you prefer an alternative method :rotfl: )

Oh but it is, I would have already lost track without it!

Kerfuffle

2wildthing2 wrote: »

*snip
Should I push my luck and try to cancel SKy to see what they offer (currently paying £720/per year)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi 2wildthing2, my initial thought to this was "Yep, definatley!" But then I remembered apple_mint's experience (below), so my second thought was if you want to take the risk and don't mind them accepting the cancellation, then ring them.
With my negotiating skills the conversation would go along the lines of:-
Me: Hi I want to cancel my Sky package.
Sky: Ok, done, thanks, goodbye. :rotfl:

apple_mint wrote: »

*snip
I rang up to cancel my SKY TV package in the last week of December - just keeping the broadband package.
They didn't even try to tempt me to stay. Either they recognised a determined frugalister :rotfl:or they are getting a lot of cancellations at the moment. They did try to sell me a one off card which picks up more of the freesat channels but having done my research on the MSE techie boards I knew I could pick up a good range of channels without doing this.

Like everyone has said, this thread is going at quite a pace, but it is full of great ideas and information. I think it also shows the level of determination everyone has to cut expenditure this year.*snip

It is moving fast but it does slow down, honest. It totally left me behind last year, I caught up with it again in December :rotfl:. I'm being very determined this year!!! :T

mama67 wrote: »

This reminded me of a quote I like. "My mother always served up leftovers we never knew what the original meal was. - Tracey Ulman"

I'd heard the phrase before but I didn't know who had said it, thanks for that.
Got to admit though, I know what the original meal was, it was turkey! :rotfl:

Toodles

cw18

23rdspiral wrote: »

i posted a link on my facebook to your post with the spreadsheet as 2 friends were enquiring what i was wittering on about - i hope that was ok?

Absolutely fine

salski

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

I also fed one of my babys on cows milk at an early age but now I know better and realize it could have caused a lot of problems. Cows milk is for calves, breast or formula is for babies. Babys stomachs are not mature enough to take things at an early age so add all extra/ different foods slowly and carefully.

Of all the info I have received (and there is a LOT!) This is one thing they keep saying - no to cows milk under 12 months...breast or formula as you say x

Aril

Hello:j
Spending here today but all needed purchases. OH had a pair of reading glasses in addition to his prescription ones- he had found the reading ones much better to wear when he was making his miniatures but had lost them. Managed to replace them today with a pair from £land:D
Deposit on holiday paid- we've found somewhere that's new and extremely reasonably priced for the UK in August.
Trip to Sainsbury's came in at £49.38 but that included lots of stocking up on extra items- I actually paid attention to the flyer that came through with the free paper last night and used it to top up on items that I intended to get anyway or would do so later on this month that came in under budget.
I've now used this site http://uk.webuy.com/ - we ordered the entire 14disk collection of Dad's Army for £28 and split the cost with the small person [he's a massive fan:D] It was dispatched very efficiently and although, 2nd hand the item came with a year's warranty having been checked. I am most impressed and will definitely use them for pressies at some point [ps I have absolutely no link with the company]
Thank you all for your useful ideas- it makes me feel a lot more confident.
Aril

Kerfuffle

Hi Slowlyfading and Lynzpower,

thanks for the petrolwatch updates. Looking at those prices though I think the petrol stations are being naughty cos the increase is more than the extra 2.5% vat, unless it's the duty as well.<<confused>>

My frugal/tightwad tasks for today have been:-

• To make a second batch of Winter Veg soup ( cos it was sooooo nice)
• To make a second batch of Parsnip Soup ( cos it was sooooo nice)
• To make a loaf of bread in the breadmaker ( which isn't soooooo nice but is ok with soup)
• To make 8 pints of vanilla yogurt
• To have the heating thermostat set at 16 degrees, which has just kicked in cos now it's snowing (quite heavily)
• Another NSD day which makes 4 as yesterday was A Spend Day
• Make each teabag do 2 drinks

Thanks everybody for sharing your tips, they give me the motivation to do more.

Toodles

dizzy_lizzie

23rdspiral wrote: »

i got a cheap crochet blanket from oxfam at a festival a few years ago - it we had a tornado and it was much colder than i've encountered before. Now it's on our bed, with a cheap fleecy throw over it. together they really work = i think kinda like the principle of an old man's string vest! :rotfl:

You're right though spiral. Layers definately keep us warmer. I feel the cold something awful and when Oh and I have been out in the freezing weather I've dressed in layers. He hasn't and he's been colder than me.
The old man's string vest reference conjured up Rab C Nesbitt :eek: I did think that was a funny programme
Kerfuffle I reuse my teabag again. I pop it on my teabag holder dish as I find one tea bag too strong for me and reuse when I have another cup. Daren't do this for anyone else's brew though, they'd go daft.
Luvz Dizzy x