Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 2

paidinchickens

had a pants week and spent too much.

Been to mr t for bulk stuff as had money off voucher and money off voucher for mr m (which was told they except at mr t) DH left mr M voucher at home:mad: so total spend £78:eek: but there are 5 of us in the house and bought 17 boxes of cerial as half price:j
spent £10 on little pressie for ex and wife as they have just had a new baby but he has downs:( so my son (half brother really worried) but went on the disability and dosh board and a lovely lady has been so helpful it made me laugh and cry. why is it people who have the hardest time are the ones who are the most kindest and helpful???????? loving that lady:T

Cut end of finger off cutting up lemon to clean the microwave

what a mix bag of a week

that 78 quid will last even if we have cereal breakfast dinner and tea oh and sent off snotty email to mr t as nothing ever on the shelves and never any staff ..........everytime I go .........fed up now!!!

I think they should give me a free weeks shop to apologies :j

rising_from_the_ashes

Paidinchickens - sounds like the supermarkets around here.....

Why is it whenever you go (any of them) and what you want isn't on the shelf and you get someone to check through the back to see if there's any, they always come back and say .....

"sorry, but we've a delivery ... waiting to be unloaded / this afternoon / this evening"


That drives me NUTS, I don't care when you're going to have it, I'm here now - I don't want to spend another million quid driving the 30 mile round trip again in an hour / this afternoon / tomorrow!


Sounds like you've having a mixed week indeed - hope the finger's OK.

I've just had a bowl of cereal for a snack!

tumptyteapot

Paidinchickens - I have a half sister with downs. She is in her mid 30's now. There is a Downs Syndrome Association which really helped my folks.

rubytuesday

Evening everyone.

Spend in the health food shop today and then Mr T.s. Wanted lamb for bolognese but they didn't have any so I bought organic beef. I'm not that keen on eating beef but it was very tasty and I have enough left over to make Shepherds pie so that's tomorrows dinner sorted.

Girlie has her first exam tomorrow - Sociology AS. She really has pulled the short straw with her exam time table.

She says she is feeling worryingly calm. I'm sure she'll be fine!

paidinchickens

many thanks xx

Hubby now has 2yrs 8months till he is out of the forces so will really have to pull one of my good fingers out and cut right back before he comes out to find no jobs.

plans done so far......

Had solar panels fitted (cheap very haggled price) paid for by a 2 yr loan so just break even with what we make and government incentive, but in 2 yrs time they should cover our electricity costs.

All bills, insurance etc have been cut to the minimum and get reviewed often just in case somewhere else is cheaper and I have forgotten to check.

Both hubby and I had a house when we met (second marriage) so all the stuff in the house we now share is slowly getting drip fed onto ebay including all the stuff I was given after my nan died. It is now nearly a full time job as I am amazed what you can sell:T

Shopping is cut to a minimum with coupons, vouchers value items and food parcels from aunt but can always do better!!!

Three boys living at home so clothes get passed down the line and I love a good jumble as can no longer keep a straight face in a charity shop when I see the stupid prices they charge. Only very odd item is bought new.

fuel is like a military map with trying to group places near each other so only have to take one trip oh and less trips to my mums;)

Slacking in the garden/greenhouse this yr but must make more of an effort at the weekend (if no jumble sales)

So that leaves the dreaded wine bill:( so I put an ad on freecycle and got 5 demijohns gifted to me:) so must look into where to start:eek:

I am a smoker:o but have rolled my own for years and as we have 4 kids (and lots of problems) I think it is cheaper to smoke than pay prescriptions for Valium lol. However when the kids moan I say I will give up if they give up the internet :rotfl: so no peeps since. Seriously I will have to think about giving up soon even rolling my own is £30 a month literally up in smoke £360 a yr:eek:

oh and my two darling cats, one 16yr very old man and my little girl of nearly a year. no cutting costs there but they will eat anything you give them but the vet bills can be a killer (oldest is too old to insure)

christmas. we save tesco vouchers we get through the year for the boys must have gadget items and all other gifts are collected in the sale etc

trade in chickens is what we both do so I thought was an apt name for me. friends who make jam for us are given fruit in exchange that we pick from family gardens and brambles near our house (all free). Hubby will fix a thing or two and is often traded for a favour. Luckily hubby is an electrician and friend is a plumber so let the favours flow. I never ask for anything on freecycle without putting something on my self first. I think a lot of things can be achieved without spending money but it may cost you in time. I must admit a will babysit for a bottle of wine;)

Even our rags are sent to the charity shop as they make money from the rag man, literally nothing goes to waste.

So I may have rambled but if I tell you all then let me know if I have missed anything please.............off to put the breadmaker on x

rubytuesday

Nearly a NSD for me but I got up early to make porridge for the girlie and then realized I didn't have any as I used it up on the granola I made the other week.

So I had to go to the offy and got Scots oats on offer for 99p!

rising_from_the_ashes

Wow paidinchickens that's a pretty good start!

Re the cat insurance - I stick £20/month away to cover boosters/emergency trip to vet and it soon mounts up and gives you piece of mind. (This doesn't incl either cats insurance or the dogs meds - once I'm "more sorted" with my budgeting I'll be increasing this so I can pay ins etc annually rather than monthly).

The swapping of trades/food etc sounds great - I looked a while ago but there's nothing in my area (as yet). Fingers crossed it happens here soon.

paidinchickens

hi rising

nothing in our area it is just people we know. everyone is good at something and helpful to someone.

Before I moved in with hubby the little old man next door to me used to look after my house and switch lights on and off while I was away and I would cook him a sunday dinner every week. Saved upsetting the cats as they could stay at home and saved me money:T

I am also lucky to have a friend the same size as me so we often borrow clothes.luckier for me as she has better, posher labels :rotfl:

tumptyteapot

95p today on mozarella in Mr S local - I thought it was safer walking there than driving somewhere where it would be cheaper and seeing lots of 'bargains'

paidinchickens

tumptyteapot wrote: »

95p today on mozarella in Mr S local - I thought it was safer walking there than driving somewhere where it would be cheaper and seeing lots of 'bargains'

only have a coop near me but they are building a t express so that should be cheaper for those "i have cooked dinner but someone put an empty gravy tub back in the cupboard" moments:o