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

nu1isit?

I'm sure I put an update on here the other day??? It seems to have dissapeared...
Anyway I'll update you on how I'm doing:
Computer: Some bits are being listed on ebay as we speak, others are going to the car boot (because they'll cost more to post than they're worth).

Basics Range: Mr. A's super cheap toilet roll was a no go , they had a own brand slightlier pricier version. But me and the lovely wife spotted one of the more 'expensive' brands, was actually working out cheaper than the other one, so we got the 'one . Can I take such extravagance, I don't know, only time will tell :rotfl:.
The shower gel at 18p is brilliant, smelt the same as the more expensive special own brand stuff, which is a pound (also has a slightly swankier bottle ). 18p stuff's a keeper :rotfl: :T :rotfl:.

Clothes: Got some more clothes from various jumble sale stalls...two jumpers (one lambswool, oooooo), a shirt, shorts for camping, and two polo style t shirts (all brand names)...at a grand total of £2.50 . I think I only need another pair of jeans, a jumper, a good pair of walking style trainers (they can wait for now) and that'll be me set for the year...:T

The sealed pot challenge:
I've got something that might cheer you all up .


It was only after I took the photo I thought, 'that looks a bit sinister, doesn't it?'. Nevermind, I think the next one you'll like even better...



I know, it freaked me out a little too. I hope we don't have nightmares :rotfl: .
The daughter's not scared of it, but she's never seen 'Chucky' has she??? :rotfl: .

Anyway more pressing matters beckon me ...A lovely jubbly 91 pence for the pot today :T.

Hope you've all had a good MSE'ing.
:T :T :T :T :T :T

cha97michelle

I've been busy with both DSs having had chicken pox this month, but i have been thinking about your challenge as i have gone about my business.

One DS was really poorly with the pox, so i made a DRs appointment, and when he asked if i had enough liquid parecetomol and ibuprofen at home i said no, so i got those and some piriton for him on prescription saving me at least a tenner i reckon.

I've also mostly been housebound, so have been decorating. We had spare paint from 5 years ago when we did the living room in the garage, so we have managed to paint the huge living room/dining room for no extra cost.

I also had to repair both sets of curtains where the cats have pulled on the hems and unstitched them. I'm not the best sewer but i can repair where it has already been managed. While i had the sewing kit out, i also re-sewed the sole to my slipper boots which were getting to the might need to throw them if i can't fix stage. £12 slippers now almost as good as new. I also noticed DS1 had fell and put a hole in one finger in his glove. They also got fixed 'good enough' to last the remainder of this cold season. They will then probably be good enough for a spare pair next year rather than buying new now, and then needing new again next winter.

I've also been trying my best to use up what we have in the house food wise rather than buy more that we don't need. All my boys are liking the full treat tins. I need to get in a baking routine again as the stuff is so much better for us.

nu1isit?

cha97michelle wrote: »

I've been busy with both DSs having had chicken pox this month, but i have been thinking about your challenge as i have gone about my business

.

I'm sorry to hear they've been ill...ours have had the viuses and bugs that have been flying about. The big one's currently got some lovely throat spray, and paracetamol.

I've also mostly been housebound, so have been decorating. We had spare paint from 5 years ago when we did the living room in the garage, so we have managed to paint the huge living room/dining room for no extra cost

.

Spare paint's great...we managed to [STRIKE]scrounge[/STRIKE] aquire some from the brother in law; it now makes our kitchen wall look lovely . It was going to the skip anyway :eek:.

I also had to repair both sets of curtains where the cats have pulled on the hems and unstitched them.

Perhaps you can create an oversized cat post outside, let them go mental out there :rotfl:. One of my old housemates had cats, me and one in particaular had a difference of opinion. It thought it should be able to claw, rip and slide down my sofa (that I saved hard for), and I obviously didn't .

I've also been trying my best to use up what we have in the house food wise rather than buy more that we don't need

.

We've definitely got to do this next week, before we even start to menu plan/shop for next week.

I've also got to convince my lovely wife to teach me how to sew/use a machine properly cha97michelle. Just so I can repair, do hems, on our clothes etc. Also for a little project, that shall be disclosed later in the post ....
Hope you and your families luck picks up over the next few weeks.
Right, I'd better update you all on how we've been doing.

Clothes: All stocked up on 50p items now . Just need socks, and a decent pair of walking/running shoes at some point this year.

Eb*y: Listed loads of items on the free listings weekend...including the computer parts. Fingers crossed, I recoup some of the money spent on the first....Eb*y make me some money PLEASE .I went to sleep, seeing the ebay logo flash across my mind/eyes...:rotfl:

Car Boot: Getting loads of stuff stacked and packed for a car boot sometime soon. See if we can sell it, rather than it going straight to the charity shop...

NCT/Childrens Stuff: Made roughly £35 from it (after the NCT took it's share). Not bad, and it beat having to practically give the stuff away at the car boot :T :j :T.

Bread Crusts: It's been the bain of our kitchen for ages...I don't like them being wasted (the biggest and wife don't like them), so I used to eat them, or feed them to the birds. Well I decided to take a pair of scissors to them and made a large portion of croutons for soup for everyone ....Didn't taste to bad either. Nom, nom, nom....:p

Jeans/Fabric/Other Clothes wastage: We've decided to start stockpiling any we have and cutting it into squares, to make an oversized quilt for everyone. It's for next year, when the cold weather sets in again properly. It's probably going to take the whole year to make one anyway :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:. This is the MSE choice.

Hope you've all had a good MSE week :beer:.

nu1isit?

I forgot to mention to everyone...the masterpiece is finished:j :rotfl: :j (it's the one for The Sealed Pot Challenge)...It's no Piccasso, but I think it's pretty good for a first attempt . The daughter's over the moon with it..."Mr. Tumble. Mr. Tumble, Mr. Tumble..." :rotfl: ....I like to think it's a bit like Mr.Tumble, but it met Wallace and Grommit half way . In case your wondering, it started life as a Wallace and Grommit style Martin Lewis, before the daughter decided it should be Mr. Tumble . I'm sure Martin :money: would have shook his head at it anyway, and said, "who is this fool who creates this monstrousity, that looks nothing like me . Ban him from the forum and cast him into the fiery depths (said in a mock film god type way)".



Bye....:p :j ....

youareallhelpingme

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gemini12

Excellent!! Perhaps you should go into production for others doing the sealed pot challenge.

cha97michelle

It Is really good. Although like you say more Mr Tumble.

Your comment about the cats made me laugh. They do have a large outdoor scratching post. The decking posts. Little things have scratched every single one of the larger ones. I'm sure they do it to wind me up. If we didn't have a huge mouse/rat problem in the back garden we wouldn't have one. :rotfl:He also has a fondness for DHs leather work boots.

How's ebay going? I haven't bothered much there this year but have sold a few things this month on amazon.

nu1isit?

Hello everyone...

I don't know about that gemini12 :rotfl:, I'd be scared in case anyone asked me to recreate Nelson's Column, or something like that. I wonder if it's possible? Quick, get the hairdryer and craft gear...:D
Hello cha97michelle, it's going okay, not about to set the world on fire with it. I managed to recoup the money for the Linux PC/DVD Player from just two of the parts :j. The rest is getting taken to the car boot when the weather gets better (the Mse way).
We're having a good old fashioned Spring clean out (starting early I know). I'm listing things slowly on ebay, and organizing where everything else is going :eek: :rotfl: :eek:. Lots of deep breathing on prescription ...
We've been keeping up with the Sealed Pot Challenge...Haven't been posting, so I'd better across there too .

I'll update you all again next week...Hope you've all had a good week...:beer:

gemini12

Anything is possible if you want it. By the way how about St Pauls.:rotfl::rotfl:

youareallhelpingme

Hello, anybody home !?!?!?