Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 2

cw18

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Anyway, PaidinChickens I've often thought of doing that with my hot water as end up boiling the kettle several times a day - does it stay hot enough?

IMO, not for making tea.

Have anyone got a shopping trolley on wheels?

If so, recommendations welcome please!

yep
I've got this one, which I bought early in 2007 (as best I recall - certainly while I was off work with my back problems).

I like that it's a push-along one, as that means I'm not twisting as I pull it and risking knocking my back out again. And it holds loads of shopping too, with no risk of it tipping over if I put loads of heavy stuff in it (or if it's empty and there's a wind, which I've also found the 'pull along on 2 wheels' type have a tendency to do )

The only thing I don't like about it is that the top blows up if there's a bit of a wind - and as such I'm looking at fastening a ribbon/string to the front of the lid, which I could then fasten around the metal outer frame to keep it in place

paidinchickens

I drink black coffee so not really a problem for me!!!

Enough of this chit chat I must get back to ebaying so I can have my dining room back:D

rising_from_the_ashes

Thanks Cheryl, they've got some in a local shop on offer just now - wasn't sure if the 4 wheeled ones were worth the extra money but looks like they may be!:)

There's also a Home B*argains near my mum but the car parks miles away and always end up struggling as tend to stock up when I'm there so would be great for that too!

tumptyteapot

Well, I am not sure what has gone on with this thread but I hope it doesn't spoil things. It's so easy to misunderstand something that is written down. I'm not getting into it as I have no idea what has happened. I just wanted to say that for me this has been a very 'safe place', where I have felt like it was a supportive community and I hope it stays like that. If it's been like that before it can again.

I am failing to fill in my SOW - it's nearly the end of the month so I think I might just start afresh on June 1st. I haven't been terribly frugal because my bank balance is looking so healthy from the first 2 good months! I am still not spending every day though and I haven't been 'just nipping into pmark to see if I can find some bits' 3 times a week like I was before! And I am only big shopping every other week, I have really got into the habit of that and it is saving me lots, and making my own bread makes a big difference too, if I don't eat it fresh out of the oven in one sitting!

However today was a big spend day, I spent £92! on a pair of running shoes, properly fitted ones that stop my knee hurting and will save me a fortune in physiotherapy. I run 3 times a week (Couch to 5K) so it is really worth me getting proper ones. And i figured that I save and scrimp on almost everything but I shouldn't scrimp on my health and running in my walking shoes was not good for my knees.
I have never spent that much on shoes before in my life! I did get a free pair of socks though :-)

I sent off the form to apply for disability allowance for my son again, actually when I write it all down I think I am so used to living around his difficulties that it is all quite normal for me but it is not a normal way to live and it does limit what we do, so I think we are justifiably eligible, whether they think so or not is another matter but it would help a great deal if we get it. (He has a diagnosis of extreme anxiety and the difficulties include puking on the way to school because he has seen chewing gum, wearing clothes back to front so the lables dont scratch etc.... I can't work out of the house as I am on call to school all the time)

Work wise, I have an extra 5 hours of random stuff, some design, some writing, some boring updating blogs type stuff but it's flexible, I can do the hours whenever I want and it is paid work hooray. I've decided I spend far too much time volunteering and I need to cut my voluntary business (selling t-shirts that promote breastfeeding) right back so I can actually earn some money for my son and I to have a better life with.

So, onwards ever onwards......

Puddleglum

I bought a shopping trolley on wheels about 7 years ago. It was when our daughter stopped using a buggy. We were running the house as a B&B and every afternoon I had to go out and buy supplies before picking the kids up from school/playschool. I swear that my arms were really, genuinely stretching, carrying everything around the village. Before the shopping was attached to the handles of the buggy with only an ocasional mishap!

Shopping trollies are worth their weight in gold ( to cut a long story short). It can be hard to find one which doesn't require a crocheted hat in order to pull it along but smart ones do exist. Mine was yellow and the shop keepers called it my yellow peril. Well worth it.

I think the thread is suffering from "almost halfway blues". FL is part of our lives, becoming routine. The excitement of January is way behind us. Posting rates have dropped off as the other side of our fences starts to look inviting IYSWIM. Hang on in there guys - we can do it and stay wedded to FL, getting over the 5 month itch!

Best wishes to all

Puddleglum

redglass_2

cw18 wrote: »

IMO, not for making tea.

No, but you can pour it back in the kettle and it then boils faster.

cw18

tumptyteapot wrote: »

However today was a big spend day, I spent £92! on a pair of running shoes, properly fitted ones that stop my knee hurting and will save me a fortune in physiotherapy. I run 3 times a week (Couch to 5K) so it is really worth me getting proper ones. And i figured that I save and scrimp on almost everything but I shouldn't scrimp on my health and running in my walking shoes was not good for my knees.
I have never spent that much on shoes before in my life! I did get a free pair of socks though :-)

I feel your pain

My road shoes cost me over £80 last October - and that was after a 10% discount for being a member of a running club. I got a free 250ml running bottle with mine

Like you, they're the most expensive piece of footwear I've ever bought - but having suffered a shin splint (probably caused by not having enough cushioning in the ones I paid around £40 for in August) I think it was money well spent. I also have a pair of off-road shoes that cost me about £50 last June/July, so I spent close to £170 on three pairs of running shoes in just 4 months :eek:

Unfortunately I think I may have to spend again soon I've not done anything like the 'expected mileage' in them, but I can feel my heels sinking into them every use so I suspect the cushioning is giving out on me already Not sure whether I need something more high-spec, or having a second pair I can alternate would do the trick. I've heard (and read) that it's often worth having two pairs of the same shoe on the go, as this gives each of them more time to recover between uses. Guess it's something I'm going to have to revisit the shop to discuss in more detail though......

23rdspiral

tumptyteapot wrote: »

I haven't been terribly frugal because my bank balance is looking so healthy from the first 2 good months! I am still not spending every day though and I haven't been 'just nipping into pmark to see if I can find some bits' 3 times a week like I was before!

ditto! a friend is doing 'coutch to 5K' - good luck, sounds like you're putting lots of effort in. at present i need a 'coutch to the exercise bike in the corner' programme!

Puddleglum wrote: »

I think the thread is suffering from "almost halfway blues". FL is part of our lives, becoming routine. The excitement of January is way behind us. Posting rates have dropped off as the other side of our fences starts to look inviting IYSWIM. Hang on in there guys - we can do it and stay wedded to FL, getting over the 5 month itch!

ah, that'll be it. well done on realising it. you know, i hadnt actually twigged we were that far into the year .

redglass wrote: »

No, but you can pour it back in the kettle and it then boils faster.

doh! that's genuinely geneius! :T

23rdspiral

we had a friend/professional round yesterday to spruce up the wood buring stove in the new house dining room. and to pull it out 6 inches for safety and so i can get a pot of soup on top of it. messy but easy. well, that's what we thought.

what we were told about the stove by the sellers: "it heats the whole downstairs" "it doesnt use much wood really" "it was installed 2 years ago" "we brought it up from a reclamation yard in london, but its under 20 years old"

what we were told about the stove from the professional: "humm, i can see daylight..." "its a wonder the back hasnt fallen off as it's cracked into 5 pieces" "it's been badly repaired in the last few years" "it must of filled the house with smoke and Co2". "i've gotta condemn it." :mad:

"you're looking at 1000 for a new one, or if i can find one to fit 500-750 reconditioned" :eek:

redglass_2

23rdspiral, depending on how handy/unconventional/plain mad you are, there are LOADS of internet instructions on how to build your own stove (you'd have to get someone proper to check them out against the regs, naturally). I've seen stoves made from old milk churns and old immersion heaters! Have a look. Even if they don't suit, you'll get some ideas.

Edited to add: try Ebay & reclamation yards