Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 2

rising_from_the_ashes

What a lot of posts to catch up on!

Tumpty - wow, those loaves look fantastic! Thanks for the recipe!

RubyTuesday - typical re gas booking it on the one day you said not to come. The gas rings should make a big difference, pasta/sauce etc (pretend you're camping)!

I was getting my boiler serviced before Christmas - they are supposed to phone between 8-9 and didn't so I phoned to find out it'd been cancelled - was really p'd off as too late to cancel my day's holiday. Then, and you won't believe this one, the same thing happened when it was rescheduled:mad: I was really hopping as that was 2 days leave (out of 20 for the year!) that I'd basically wasted. Did I get any compensation - NO! Will not be renewing my contract with them!

Cheryl - If someone doesn't like Mr Muttley, then he'd have no chance with me! (Must think about joining a dating site - I did try it a while ago but, like you, did the "free" option so couldn't actually communicate with anyone so it was a bit of a flop!). Well done on the ISA payment.

Winchelsea - glad DH is making progress.

Winnie - that fuel consumption's horrendous! I get 45+ miles/gallon and find that bad enough!

Silvasava - re the £5 lost..... bummer! Your DH/you are right, a charitable donation/someone in need is the best way to think of this. Hoping you find a £10 lying around somewhere instead!

Miss Empty Piggy - thanks for making me chuckle for not being "an empty piggy", I really liked that one!


Well, have had a good day (ish). Finished at lunchtime and took Mr Muttley to the beach as I needed petrol (nearest station to me is a mile from the beach). Had a lovely walk and went for petrol only to find it closed as there was a power cut. Then had to drive an extra 4 miles to Mr A (fuel light was on so was panicking a bit). Hate getting fuel there, unmanned pumps & there's never paper in the printers (need receipt to claim mileage back at work). Wasted 20 mins standing in queue at Customer Services to get a receipt and then another 10 complaining to the Manager (again).

Came home & tried to do a return online for some stuff I'd ordered out the catalogue only to find their website's down so I had to phone. Asked to be compensated for the cost of the call (16 mins:eek:) and have been told I need to write in (so that'll be another 47p added for the stamp).

Managed to get grass cut and have been sorting out a few bits & bobs for car boot next weekend. DM is coming to and she has a HUGE car so thinking we could share but she says she may fill hers:eek: which would be a bit of a pain as £10/car so I'd really only like to take the one!

Have bathed Mr Muttley, his allergy's sprung into life in the past few days and his poor wee tum's all red and sore. Off to hunt online to see if medicated shampoo's may help. (Have been to vet in previous years and nothing seems to do much good).


Humph - when I read that, I'm not sure that my day has been that good after all:(

Sorry for the long post:o

23rdspiral

cw18 wrote: »

For only the second time ever (I think), I've filled my cash ISA for the year :T

And I've put the whole whack in today !!!!.......... OK, so mine isn't rated a 'best buy' or anything - but at least it's in an ISA now which means I can look at transferring it to a better one at a later date should I want to

:T well done! i bet that feels good?
i finally listened to Martin's nagging on here, emails and FB and put what i could from my current account into my old ISA on tuesday, so met the previous years deadline. like yours it's low rate, but there wasnt time to get a new one, and i hadnt put anything in since opening it, and it's better 'wrapped up' and moveable then not there at all. Even if i have to spend it on the house next month it's better being there for now i think.

rising_from_the_ashes

Can I add a PS (sorry) - RubyTuesday - forgot to say "happy birthday" (from one Aries to another)!

tumptyteapot

£2 in poundland, a light for my dad and a Tai Chi dvd I thought would be good for me, or I can ebay it - and a Bonzo Dog album for £1.50 from a charity shop.

Free fish for dinner tonight from a neighbour, and the next door people say that when their chickens start to lay they will swap eggs for bread :-)

Savvy_sewing

:bdaycake: Happy Birthday Rubytuesday!.

What a lovely sunny day it has been for a birthday.

I have spent up again!
I went to the post office and sent off a parcel, and then had to send some personal paperwork to the Pension people so needed it registered post, another £5.99 so I ended up spending £10.+ on postage!
Then I did my usual trip to the charity shops! Oops. I spent £8.50 in one, and £8.75 in another.
But I did buy, a skirt, ziptop with hood, and short/skirt, for DGD, two books for our holiday, a jumper for me, some material for sewing, and a teapot for the garden, and a belt, for the sewing. It looks like it might have been one used for belly dancing, but I want to use it on a handbag. We will see!

We had chicken thighs, pasta and carrots for tea.
Oh I forgot I also bought milk, £1, teabags, 1.09 and clothespegs £1 from the shop the post office is in. But all things I needed. If I had gone to Mr T or Mr W I would have been tempted to spend even more.

dizzy_lizzie

Happy Birthday Rubytuesday...



Luv Dizzy x
♥

rising_from_the_ashes

Perfect for those "past their best" bananas and only takes 5 mins!

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup butter (softened)
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1 tsp bicarbonate soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
3 ripe bananas

Oven 175 Deg C

Mash bananas, chuck everything else in & mix
Put into a loaf tin
Bake for approx 45 min (I sometimes find it takes an hour)

Easy peasy & very, very yummy!:)

never_too_old

Happy Birthday Rubytuesday


:bdaycake:

slowlyfading

Happy Birthday Rubytuesday :j :j :j

Winchelsea

Thanks for your messages rubytuesday and rising from the ashes - and happy birthdays to you both!

Had a no-spend day today - hooray!

Quick and easy supper - cheesy pancake with salad, followed by more pancakes (banana this time!). When you're living by yourself you can get away with 'mad' menus - and it was all quite nourishing as well as tasty, so not all bad!

Must watch the Superscrimpers at half past.