Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

enjoyfinancialchallenges

rubytuesday wrote: »

Hello to quote two different post you click on the orange and purple balloon at the bottom and then on the posts you want to quote.

Thanks rubytuesday please can you also assist me to highlight the quotes as you have above. I did some funny things to your message as you can see above by just fiddling so perhaps I'd better wait.

Erme

chika wrote: »

Erme, I hope you're ok. Today is Sunday 9th and tomorrow Monday 10th. Try and keep eating too to keep your strength up... Also don't stop taking any prescribed meds without talking to your Dr, if you really don't like the one you have, could you talk to another?

Keep safe.

Okay guys....Bed @ about 7 - up @ 3.30am :eek: but feeling a wee bit better (maybe it's all this coffee? LOL) So like doing housework before popping down to Mr L DV for this carpet shampooer @ £10 (can't really afford it but like anything to give new life to these carpets for another year)

redglass wrote: »

AH! Brilliant. Never got to grips with that - thanks! :j

Erme, I would echo Chika's advice. Rather than stop taking the meds abruptly it's better to consult a doctor. I hope you enjoy a good night's sleep and feel more up to things tomorrow.

I always say I'm going to quit the pills and then quit for a few days but soon the symptoms become unbareable after a few days...think (am praying) it's hormonal cos am always a bit more psychotic when hormonal. And also not keeping the Sabbath holy which made me think it was Saturday when in reality it was Saturday (I got fixated and went hunting for a carpet shampooer )

Anyhow up with the birdies and just done a meter reading on the ole leccy for this last month (like to know how much I'm using) and it's way up (too far up)..Guess part of that was the cold december but also know I've been using the fan heater far too much lately when I've not needed it. That eats electric like it's going out of fashion

So from now on till the end of the winter - only have the bedroom heater on an hour before bed and NOfan heater. Have storage heaters which are pennies to run. So long as the lounge thermometer is above 20 (unless I've just got in from the rain and am soaked) then no extra heaters on. Simple

Currently the elec (if you work it out) for this month is 130 so technically I can't afford any elec this month but know I'll have to use some. (pay 60 a month via payment card. On lowest tariff possible. It's a social tariff and looked to changing supplier last year but it's really not worth my while cos mine - Scottish Hydro - offer EXCELLENT customer service which for someone like me is not to be sniffed at :T)

Also with being ill over the weekend I've often neglected to switch off things at the wall when I've finished using them (I switch off the cooker; micro everything. It's a hassle resetting the micro but well worth it)

Anyhow maybe I need a coffee or a shower or something before tidying up the lounge and then getting breakkie. DV training scheme this am before a meeting @ 2pm then I don't know what I'm doing. I have lots of veggies in so might make veg curry tonight. Mr A soya mince is a perfectly good buy and makes loads but I seriously think I need to get some soya mince in from the asian shop and soak it in gravy granules overnight before using it. Also noticed Mr A had smart price tatties in the other week for 35p for a HUGE bag so got those...any leftovers/sprouting can be put in the garden. No need to buy seed pots guys...Just use supermarket ones, let them sprout and then pop in....I did that last year and got a perfectly decent crop.

Just need to like get the code for the veg garden off counselling soon so me and M can go down there on Saturday and do some work

E

apple_mint

Back to work today, so I probably won't be able to keep up with all the posts, but I'll still be popping in to read the latest and hopefully contribute.

I'm just about to make the packed lunches. Everything ready, just a case of assembling.

I have a Shepherd's pie ready made in the fridge. OH just has to pop it in and prep and start the veggies tonight. I'll make the gravy when I get in. Most of this week's meals are ready made and in the freezer.

I'm going to work with just £5 in my purse. I'll have my cards on me in case of emergencies but because I take my lunch in, and I don't need to go out at lunchtime, then I don't spend.

I've just updated my online banking and transferred a small sum to the savings account. Little steps but I feel good about that. Just need to pop yesterday's electric metre reading into the spreadsheet and then I'm up to date.

Have a good day everyone

midwinter

Hi NatNat13, and welcome Hope you'll enjoy your challenge this year, I certainly am!

minnie2

mommyof4 wrote: »

You have my sympathies Minnie2, my dh just doesn't 'get it' with regards to saving! He doesn't have dealings with the paying of bills etc, so he just puts heating on when he wants, when i ask him to turn it off he says he has. Then I find it's still on, he says he forgot! to top it all he leaves the utility room door wide open (we have a cat flap in the door in there, without the flap bit, so howling gale!) so all heat flies out! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I could scream!!!

I know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! drives me insane, he has the ady off i come home everything is on downsairs and he is upstairs playing his games.I ws hoping that the stark truth of our finances might inspire him but obviously not!

minnie2

flying_fresian wrote: »

It's not Mr Fresian but the lodger with us.

The heating got turned off yesterday when she was walking around in a vest top. !!!!!!....

oh dear!!! and yay for your good news!!!

minnie2

cw18 wrote: »

mine used to turn the thermstat up on both the heating and the water tank :eek:
but as he didn't actually know how to over-ride the timers (I "forgot" to show him how when we moved in ) it didn't actually do him much good

Haha classic!!!! well im sure he pushes the wrong buttons! i am at the end of my tether! - although we are once again looking into have one car - he brought it up. but then he has got the crappy car hehe!!! nah i was slightly impressed, we need to work out what we re doing by march so thought perhaps we would give it a trial go.

i do fear that he thinks getting rid of car and saving there mean he can wste it in other areas!!!

mooomin

Morning folks!

Frugal plans

Dinner made with whoopsied mince
Making a birthday card

Not-frugal plans

Buying a new iPod I have "withdrawn" £45 from my Sealed Pot for this and if Council Tax doesn't go up then I have an extra £80 in my budget, so that's £125 and therefore I only have £70 to find in my budget for the year. I think that will be achievable. The borrowed one has corrupted itself so it's unusable and I have a four hour train journey to make next week so I think it's needed. I can justify anything!!

Going to have to buy lunch too as I've run out of soup. Bah.

minnie2

JayneC wrote: »

Hello again...

I made banana muffins today with my overripe bananas. I just did an ordinary sponge mix (4 egg quantity) and added a couple of overripe bananas. Got 24 muffins - 12 plain - that I may add chocolate buttercream too - and 12 with added sultanas. DS whinged but ate one anyway - he would've prefered the plain fairy cakes. Made a jelly too but it's not set yet.

Hung a blind that I got from Freecycle - it fits perfectly and will help keep out the draft from the window that won't shut (I hate upvc windows!!! We have 4 that have broken hinges that can't be repaired) - a bit prettier than bubble wrap, lol!

Also listed 4 things on ebay,and I've sold 2 of the 3 things I listed last week. No surveys today have been screened out of about 5!! This might be more difficult than I thought!

Made soup as well today - had some for lunch and have another couple of generous portions for lunches next week. Made from chicken stock from last weeks carcass with potatoes and leeks from the garden. ( I'll polish my halo later...)

So had quite a productive day today. Been trying to get DS to make me a cuppa for about an hour but he's hopelessly distracted by Spongebob...

Minnie- I feel for you, my ex OH was terrible, think he called me a tramp at one point cos I wanted to 'reclaim' a door that someone had thrown out!! He hated having to scrimp but most of the scrimping was done because he's gambled away the housekeeping !!!! Anyways onwards and upwards, I'm sure yours isn't that bad, lol...

F-F that's really good news about the money hope you have fun utilising it wisely

Iitsallinthemind - think I may have to have another look at AF, wasn't that impressed last time...

Back soon xx

mine was that bad (though never call me tramp) but he wastes it on drink and crap from shops oh and games for his ps3 etc. however i am starting to show him hte home truths bout our finances and sounding surprised he said well we are f**ked then and i said errr yes finally so he has been much better!!! weve got a house now we cant live like we did! he had no idea how much towels cost weve now gone down from bath sheets to bath towels when he realised the price but he thought they were £2 i said have you never bought a towel he said no i said if you had ever needed towel before me etc what would you have done and he said mum i need a towel!!!

minnie2

l.m.hart wrote: »

my husband is the same, he leaves the patio door open so the dog can get back in,he moans about it being cold in doors and i say hes warming the garden up thats why!!!!
its an uphill struggle if only he would realise how much this will benifit him:mad:

oh i know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and leaving doors open when heating is on and leaving lights on!! i went upstairs and have to shout down have you finished in the 2nd bedroom our room and the bathroom he says yeah i then say well turn the bloody lights off then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i get fed up with hearing myself say it and he moans that im moaning!!