The Other Way, or the MSE Way: My Personal Challenge

nu1isit?

I'd been mulling this personal challenge to myself, when the car broke down on Christmas Eve :mad: (we had no emergency money to get it fixed - not like our former selves would have). I could pay for a new EGR valve, approximately £110, and get a mechanic to fit it (all money we didn't have):eek:. Or, take the MSE approach and try to help myself. With the help of google, an eager wife as an assistant, patience, a bit of swearing and a can of carb cleaner - we fixed the car on Boxing Day!
I've really let things 'slide' last year...and have lurked on the boards for some time, so have finally decided to take action.
My challenge is to approach everything in a THE OTHER WAY, or a MSE way . For example cost cutting, do I need or want it, can we do it ourselves, or get it cheaper elsewhere...To try to be as creative as possible with my approach, to get the support and advice of the MSE community as I go along.
I'm going to do it for the whole year - in for a penny, in for a pound; as the old saying goes....
I've spoke to the wife, and she's involved - and fully comitted. Now she's involved, the families involved .
So here I come car boots, charity shops, market stalls, batch cooking, ebay......:rotfl:
Wish me luck, i'm going to need it...

katsu

sounds like a really interesting idea.

Best wishes for making a success of it and well done on the car.

nu1isit?

Thanks very much katsu
Were fully comitted now....we've already started using the a**a bags as bin liners :rotfl:

Changed the air filter on the car also (cost £4.99 plus 5 mins work)

Even tried to adjust my driving style today, to save fuel (i can't remember where exactly it is on MSE). The wife loved it, when she could see the temptation on my face to slam down my foot, and go over 60mph
Still, surprisingly the few changes to the car and driving style, has squeezed (saved)an extra 12mpg on to our normal usasge :T

millionaire_in_training

Good Luck with this. I'm sure you'll have a few folks keeping a wee eye on you for ideas with this, myself included.:D

nu1isit?

Thanks very much millionaire in training...:beer:
I'm hoping that other MSE'rs who have a little more experience, or knowledge will help me along the way too....:D

Right i'm off to see if I can find any loose change for the sealed pot challenge now, the sofa and drawer's not going to know what's hit it. :rotfl:

millionaire_in_training

whilst you're looking for pennies sort out all your [STRIKE]crap[/STRIKE]treasure for your car boot sales .......simples

nu1isit?

16p plucked from the canyon, commonly known as the side of my sofa cushions. Woo hoo :j
I'll be using the eagle eyes tomorrow, for 'roadkill' I think
That's the Sealed Pot Challenge done for today...
As for the car boot items millionaire in training, we've already started mentally going through what can go
I just hope we make a bit more, than what I plucked from the inside of the sofa :rotfl:

Night night everyone

Shoe_Gal

Good luck

My washing machine packed up last week :eek: With a bit of 'googling' I worked out what was wrong and ordered the part fot £12.90. Just hope I can fit it when it arrives, and that it solves the problem

dizzypink

Congratulations on the car. Hubby did the same on servicing his just before xmas. Took 3 attempts and a new gizzmo but he changed the oil and filters himself. Was really proud of him!!!!!!

Love the idea for the thread. We have already told family that all gifts to them will be on a Make it, Bake it or you just dont have it basis this year.

Good luck

Dizzy

millionaire_in_training

I wish I had the bottle to tell folks that Dizzy but I just don't. Everyone knows I am economising but they have no idea how skint I actually am as I am too embarrassed to say.

nu1isit?

Shoe Gal: I'm glad you get your washing machine fixed...Google - it's like the gift that keeps on giving .
dizzypink: Good on your hubby - definitely case of third time lucky then ; it's scary how much you can save doing 'little' jobs yourself... I like the make it, or bake it, or you just don't have it idea :money:...
Thanks for wishing me luck. I'm researching how to save myself electricity later tonight. I don't think the family would like the idea of walking round the house, in the dark with just a torch - so that's the first idea out of the window!:rotfl:

Hope you all have a good MSE day. :T