Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 2

seriouslyfrugal

slowlyfading wrote: »

Happy birthday Sandra :j :j :j

and from me too :beer:

i've heard somewhere that tea tree or the smell of it midges dislike anythings worth a go


well i'm nearly half way through my 6 month contract and I don't think it will be extended so will need to start looking aound again soon

hope everyone is ok

have a good week

Kerry_Woman

Sandra - Wishing you a happy belated birthday.

minnie Sending you hugs.

never_too_old

Morning all
havent been on here in a while so havent caught up properly.

Firstly big hugs to Minnie2 ,its really hard to try really hard to sort yourself out and appear to get nowhere,

I wish my luck would change my dd even thinks we are cursed ,
flooded a few years ago came back home end of last year.
my car has just spent a week in the garage luckily repaired under warranty,but that was a week i couldnt work as they had no loan cars.

Friday 13 th ds rang me to say dh van had caught fire on the driveway of a house they were working on, written off and son wasnt hurt and property wasnt damaged.I cried when i saw it, you always think what if..
Our dog normally goes to work with them and sits in the van cab watching them but she was left home because i was at home.
I could add more of the bad luck we have had like the recession hitting both our jobs but the list would be endless.

rant over...

mossi bites i get bitten to pieces but when we could afford holidays i used to take garlic tablets and never got bitten, have started taking them again as during that hot period got lots of bites as i hadnt been taking them

Hugs to all that need them

ps van loan was just a loan not specific to van so we will now be paying for a van we dont have

rising_from_the_ashes

awww minnie (((hugs))) sounds as if you're having a rotten time hope things pick up soon. It's typical that when you just think you're getting on top of things something comes to give you a good smack down again. Have been there so understand - things will get better.

I M Hart what a nightmare with the van, thank goodness everyone is OK. Any ideas what caused the fire? Hopefully the insurance will pay out fairly quickly to enable you to get another (although the loan will still be for the burnt out one, at least you'll have a replacement).

kittiej

Happy belated birthday wishes sandra!

What an unfortunate event lm. Glad nobody was hurt, doesn't bear thinking about.

I wonder how minnie is getting on, any luck with the bank?

Hello to everyone else, went to Teas co yesterday and bought a home brew kit to make lager. DH is going to start it on Tuesday and supposedly only takes 21 days for 40 pints. I had been thinking of buying some equipment ready for my apple glut and the blackberries which surround my garden, I've also got rhubarb in the front so I might try some rhubarb fizz, the only thing is I had HM wine quite a few years ago and had an allergic reaction to the yeast, I looked like the elephant woman, so I need to be careful.

LolaLemon

Just realised my student loan stopped this month (only £279 a month to live on for a single parent - who says students or single parents get money thrown at them!) So I'm getting rid of my car, as I've bn struggling to afford it for some time now. I barely make the mortgage as it is, now going to be a real miracle over the summer.
I went to h*lfords after sons swimming today to check out bikes, 2 that I liked had discounts n stuff but both around the £200. I have bn in charity shops and on freecycle and gumtree but no luck.
Now I'm unsure what would b best, a mountain bike or a hybrid bike.... does anyone have any recommendations ? (Can I get a basket for a mountain bike so I can get the shopping home hehe? )

Minnie hope things get a little easier

LolaLemon

p.s.
Happy Birthday Sandra!

I.am.hart sorry to hear about ur troubles.

p.p.s. Hannah got home on Thursday! And turned 3 on Friday!

nicki_2

Quick question for you ladies (and any gents who are here). I want to buy a slicer so I can cook then slice joints and make my own bread and get even slicers as well as making them last longer. ATM when I slice meat/HM bread its doorsteps and I just can't get the knack of slicing thinner

I have the choice of this one from @gos or I can pay a little more and get this one from Lakeland. I am very tempted by the lakeland one but they appear to me to be exactly the same so I'm wondering whether you think the extra money is worth it?

LauraM65

Hi All

Have not posted for a while but still trying to go with my frugal living. Feel like I have fallen off the wagon lately, I need to come on this post everyday to keep me focussed. Have overspent this past week or so and need now to cut back. Have a full freezer again so should not need to shop unless its for essentials. Had my bargain petunia's delivered Friday, bought them from Sutton's Seeds off the hot uk deals site, had 135 mini plug plants for £2.70, have potted them on today and they look wonderful so cant wait to plant them in the garden and get the pleasure of lovely colour for very little money. Also been looking at the Sainsbury's site at the Feed a Family for £50 a week planner, there are some good main meals there to try that dont seem to cost the earth, will be trying them this week. Has anyone got some good cheap recipes they want to share would welcome any you may have.

Thanks

redglass_2

LolaLemon wrote: »

J Now I'm unsure what would b best, a mountain bike or a hybrid bike.... does anyone have any recommendations ? (Can I get a basket for a mountain bike so I can get the shopping home hehe? )

It partly depends how hilly the terrain is in your area. Personally I prefer the sit-up-and-beg bikes that you often see in Europe (and they make LOVELY new ones, lighter than the old models and a lot more elegant than mountain bikes IMHO) but my own bike is a mountain type because I chose to live on a hill in the midst of a flat landscape, not my smartest ever decision. I've fitted a mesh basket to the front - it did take a bit of fiddling round and swearing but i can now unclip it and put it back. The shop should be able to tell you what fittings are available for mountain bikes.

Have just done my first big batch of rhubarb vodka. Put some ginger in too this year since a friend told me she put ginger in hers and it was delish. I don't have exact amounts and am just playing around with rhubarb, sugar, ginger and alcohol, adjusting to taste, and using Lidl's very cheapest vodka. Something cheery to look forward to.