Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 2

silvasava

Happy Tuesday everyone - just caught up with the last page. Good on you Cheryl - Go Girl! I'm eagerly awaiting the next instalment
Had to go for a blood test early this morning so raided my penny pot for meter change & when I got there the good fairy (man) gave me his ticket as he was just leaving - first time its ever happened to me although I do pass on mine if there's plenty of time left. The blood test was quick so when I came out the ticket was passed on again - maybe it is naughty but I'll carry on doing it!
Nipped into A**A on the way home & got some whoopsied meat - 4lbMince, 2 Beef joints & a gammon joint. Going to do a recipe I got from the SC forum with the beef. Mince is for Chilli & Bolognese. Its p***ing down here this morning so I'll spend time in the kitchen in the warm.

Winchelsea

Hello again all - have been doing a catch up as was away at the weekend. Have whizzed through the posts, as new promise to self is to not spend too much time on the laptop. Nearly said 'waste' time - but this is no waste - keeps me on track with the frugality.

Very interested in your adventures Cheryl - hope you meet someone nice!

Yesterday I was very busy - went and helped at an arts & crafts group for people with various social/MH problems, which I enjoyed. Went to Mr S and got a little bit of shopping - first day of putting my staff discount in a jar. Bought the Big Issue, which I usually try to do. When I'm skint I sometimes don't, but always have a word for the lads and lasses, as it must be horrible to have people passing by and treating you as if you're invisible.

Went to the bank to jiggle money between accounts, then came home for lunch via the flower shop - picked up my beautiful bouquet from DD1, which they'd tried to deliver on Sun while I was still in Birmingham.

Eventually had lunch at nearly 3pm(!), then went to see DH. He had been quite agitated apparently, but was asleep when I got there, but soon woke up and was quite alert, helping himself from his sweetie bag, which he can't always do.

Went over to Bristol to see DS, and he cooked me a nice meal. Then I went to Greenbank WI, and did my other spend of the day - £1 raffle donation!

So apart from food (different budget) I spent £3 yesterday - though did use the car which brings petrol fill up day slightly closer - couldn't face standing at bus stops in the dark as I usually do (to use my free granny pass), mainly because I was very tired.

Had a little lie-in this a.m. - and in fact am still in my jim-jams! Shower, here I come!

never_too_old

rubytuesday wrote: »

Is the muzzle for the bloke Cheryl?:rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

SandraScarlett

mongmoney wrote: »

I'm just curious really, I can't leave cash if I see it and wondered if any of you have the same thoughts.
I am forever picking up coppers and stopped feeling dirty years ago> my tin loves them.
Mongy

I used to think this was a disgusting habit, and then a few years ago, I thought "why am I getting on my high horse?. I accept change from shops, not knowing who's handled it, or where it's been?" So I dismounted, quickly, from my high horse, and I always pick up coins now!

Last summer, I found a £10 note, folded, outside a takeaway, at about 6 am, whilst taking the dog for a walk, on the way back home, I found a £2 coin on the pavement, and a few days later, I found a folded £20 note, whilst weeding the front garden! :j

That was a bonanza week, but I still can't stop myself picking up coins. BTW, there was someone on here in January, naturally I can't remember her name, who was due to give birth "shortly". Does anyone remember who it was, and whether she's OK please?

I am giddy with joy, having been able to keep the heating turned to "Off" for most of March, and the weather forecast is great from tomorrow onwards. So I had a peep at my meters, and they've hardly moved in 6 weeks. :T

Hopefully the next bills won't be King Williams, but Little Willies!

xx

I

redglass_2

rubytuesday wrote: »

Is the muzzle for the bloke Cheryl?

:rotfl::rotfl: Same here, laughed out loud!

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I used to think this was a disgusting habit, and then a few years ago, I thought "why am I getting on my high horse?. I accept change from shops, not knowing who's handled it, or where it's been?" So I dismounted, quickly, from my high horse, and I always pick up coins now!

It's the same with charity shops - you hear people saying, 'I couldn't have a second-hand dress, someone else has worn it, you don't know if they had a disease,' etc. But how many people might have tried on a dress in a high street shop before it finally went to the till? Amy Dacyzyn (the Tightwad Gazette) was the first person I ever read making this point and it's been a comfort ever since...

Congrats on keeping the heating off, Sandra,:T and hope it helps with your Williams. Nice to know we're probably through the worst weather, isn't it? (Sshhhh, the sky might hear...!) In fact I think we all deserve a :T for coming a quarter of the way through our journey.

tumptyteapot

big spend day today - £41 in A's and £26 in T's. I have been bulk buying though - 12 cartons of soya milk etc. In Mr A's salmon was reduced so I bought a whole side for £11 which I would have never done before, it will cut into at least 12 portions though and freeze so that is a lot cheaper than buying 6 portions for £10 which is what I was doing for our weekly treat meal. Hopefully I shouldn't need to go shopping again until term starts after the holidays. I hate shopping with a 7 year old almost as much as he hates shopping with me.
I was planning to go shopping on Friday but I thought it woud be a bit hectic because of the school holidays.

LauraM65

Hi Everyone

Day 5 of my frugal living challenge, not feeling great today so has been a slow start to get anything done today. Will have to go up to local Spar to get money for electric metre soon and to post my census form back. No monies other than electric money going out of bank today so another good day. Have made a sausage and stuffing meat loaf for tea tonight although not sure what to have with it. Best shake myself now and go and sort things out. Will report back in later.:)

tumptyteapot

I have just spent £7.50 of tesco vouchers to get a friends child a membership to the Woodland Trust Nature Detectives club - we did it last year and we are waiting for this years pack to arrive - it is worth the money, you get a wallchart and 52 stickers and challenges emailed to you every week, things to do, recipes, nature hunts etc - a lot of them are free on their website too so it is a proper frugal gift - cost nothing :-)

can I show off my bread :-) 60p's worth of flour makes 3 loaves - these are 2 of them, one to eat, one to freeze and the other third of the dough is in the fridge for pizza later this week.

LauraM65

LauraM65 wrote: »

Hi Everyone

Day 5 of my frugal living challenge, not feeling great today so has been a slow start to get anything done today. Will have to go up to local Spar to get money for electric metre soon and to post my census form back. No monies other than electric money going out of bank today so another good day. Have made a sausage and stuffing meat loaf for tea tonight although not sure what to have with it. Best shake myself now and go and sort things out. Will report back in later.:)

WOW been given free food this afternoon, parents sent home with my daughter 2 steaks and about 2lb of bacon how lucky am I. Any recipes on how to use these welcomed. :T

Savvy_sewing

I was going to say I havent spent anything, but technically I have, as I ordered a gadget on my paypal for my Mum, but dad has given me the cash to make it up. Except getting to my bank is a pain in the backside. So its gone in the back of my passport in a drawer ready for my holiday next week. Does mean that the bank account is going to dip decidedly lower tomorrow before funds automatically go in on Thursday but hopefully my maths is right and there is enough to cover it.
Will save me time, and energy going to a whole in the wall later! as long as I am not tempted to use it for any "emergency" that crops up. Especially with the adult children!
DGD and I have just had a bacon and cheese omelette with some cherry tomatoes for our tea, and we made a cheap instant whip from MrS that has been in the cupboard a very long time.! Choccy whip anyone?