Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 2

tumptyteapot

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

One final question:o - I've just bought some 4kg of dry cat food for both my cats (different types). Works out much cheaper than the 2kg ones I usually buy and had a £10 off voucher if I bought them.

However, they won't fit into the containers I usually use - any ideas where I can get some large tubs to keep them fresh in? Ideally something like this http://www.petsathome.com/shop/cat-food-storage-container-%28holds-4kg%29-by-contico-25856 but I'm certainly not even entertaining spending nearly £20 on them - not very frugal at all!

Oh my, that's a bit of a long post:o hope everyone has a good day.

Have you got any cafe's near you that you could ask for large empty ice cream tubs? We have one local that uses buckets of yoghurt and they have lids.

minnie2

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Thanks Minnie - unfortunately these aren't air tight:(.

However, not thought of that so off to see if I can find an air tight bin:)

they have always done me ok with dry dog food.the ones with the lift up lids are better than the lids than the spin round lids,but the lift up are ok. how long does a bag last you?

rising_from_the_ashes

redglass wrote: »

I have a hot bedroom in summer too, and hate it. Some low-tech tips, which you may already be using: don't let any sunlight into the room during the day - once it's in there, you're stuck with the heat. If the curtains are dark they will just get hotter and transfer that heat into the room - have you tried either very pale curtains or putting up a sheet on the window side to reflect the light back out again? Also, you can put a BIG bottle or bucket or whatever (or several!) of very cold water in the room (preferably on the sill between the window pane and the curtain, if you can fit it in - you could use several smaller bottles if space is limited), let the water absorb warmth and heat up, then empty it/use it for dishwashing, whatever. I've seen people who had a real system going, cooling down a room by capturing heat in this way. If you re-use the water it doesn't even have to be wasteful...

Thanks for the tip - I do leave my curtains closed during the day but they are dark navy:( in my room. I do have light ones in the other bedrooms though. Will have to have a trawl through the pile of curtains DM gave me to sell at car boots to see if I can find any lighter ones:).

Re the water, will see if I can figure something out - the window sills are only about 10cm wide (and usually occupied by a cat or two) but may try a bucket (if I can find somewhere the little "so & so's" won't try to tip it over!:D)

minnie2 wrote: »

they have always done me ok with dry dog food.the ones with the lift up lids are better than the lids than the spin round lids,but the lift up are ok. how long does a bag last you?

I've got these and they are brilliant for storing cat litter in and I'm sure they'd be OK for the dog food - he gets through a 15kg bag in 5-6 weeks.

Strangely enough I was trying to work out exactly how long the bags last so noted the day I started the boy's last 2kg bag (13 April) with the amount left, I reckon it will last about 9-10 weeks.

The 4kg bag is therefore going to last nearly 5 months so it really needs to be air tight to keep it fresh for that long.

tumptyteapot wrote: »

Have you got any cafe's near you that you could ask for large empty ice cream tubs? We have one local that uses buckets of yoghurt and they have lids.

redglass wrote: »

Containers: Oxfam online have got some big multi-purpose containers with spigots for about £6, I think. I sometimes buy plastic sweet jars (from old-fashioned sweet shops) and use them for storage. They don't last forever, but they are very cheap. Or you could 'repurpose' something. I have some huge containers that originally carried sauces and soups from Approved Foods.

DF used to have a restaurant and we used to get the 10L ice cream tubs all the time - they were great!

Will have a meander down the high street and see if there's anywhere promising to go and ask!:T

Off to have a look at Oxfam site just now!

redglass_2

Slowlyfading: I made the tea loaf and I wish I hadn't! With a bit of butter spread on it, it's just too moreish and I'm ALONE IN THE HOUSE....:eek:

slowlyfading

redglass wrote: »

Slowlyfading: I made the tea loaf and I wish I hadn't! With a bit of butter spread on it, it's just too moreish and I'm ALONE IN THE HOUSE....:eek:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: It is very moreish!

Aril

Hello fellow frugallers:j
Excellent article Tumpty!

Back on the frugal tracks here at Gnat Bottomed Towers- we made a pork goulash using reduced meat from Waitrose [froze in 2 batches] and peppers on offer [I've frozen the other two as they are so expensive now:eek:] Flying visit to a bootsale - picked up a 4 cup cafetiere for 50p and another cucumber plant for 50p as one of ours died. Other than that I've potted on annuals that I've grown from seed in our hm compost and watched a DVD a friend has lent me. We also enjoyed free strawberries courtesy of my mum.

Aril

Erme

gingerandrubarb wrote: »

A little tip: if you keep all of your empty ink cartridges and list them on Ebay as a bundle they will sell like hot cakes! i just sold my last 4 for around £20 which is great considering i'd normally have binned them. :T

Thanks for the info ginger...I'm trying a few things on eBay...waiting for some deliveries from china (though you have to be careful on customs) to sell ..... shouldn't take too long....:) Also e-cig kits (the basic ones) you can buy for no more than $8 and sell for a min of £8...:)

alec_eiffel wrote: »

Breadmaking isn't difficult but I wouldn't necessarily recommend a breadmaker. We had one and got rid of it as we just couldn't get the bread right - even when we used a mix. DH makes bread all the time now by hand and we've never had a loaf go wrong, there just seems to be something about doing it yourself that you get the feel for when things are right or not. The River Cottage Bread Book by Daniel Stevens is great for many types of bread. Well worth the money imo.

I got a food processor first year I did this challenge. Forked out for a magimix which was expensive but then I use it like every day and it's fab for bread. Just get the silicone bread loaf tins from the supermarket or the £shop..

Did I tell you guys about my good buy of egg coddlers in the HB shop for 4 for 69p....easy food ...

Had a whoopsie few days...the main whoopsies being upgrading my phone when i planned to go sim only :eek:....and also spending £10 at the C shop when I was paranoid about eating :eek: and the cig reduction going derriere up (hence the phone spend)...so sorry if I'm not on here much till I'm confident I'm back on track. My aim is 4K a year cos I figure it's possible for a singleton to live on that if not less :A and I want to prove to the folk who say they can't live on JSA and have a life it's possible LOL...it's a personal gripe of mine tee hee.... But still...I'm not on JSA and not sleeping so if I get a bit paranoid next few days on here - apologies - just tell me to get off the thread and SLEEP...

Will try not to take this thread to seriously (it's like FB - things get lost in translation I figure?) so here's hoping...

Hugs for those like me who only got 4 hours sleep last night :eek:

E

23rdspiral

oh erme, dont remind me about phone upgrades... i'm havign a nightmare with mine. been out of contract for a while as the idea of comparing, choosing, switching and locking in for another 18mth or 2 years scares me. what did you go for? i wanted to keep my phone, keep my minutes and broadband but pay less as i've obviously paid off the phone by now... funny that's not an option!

i typed a reply out earlier.. for odd reasons due to connectivity and irritation. if i can get into my mail i'll add it. silly me.

LolaLemon

23rd, u should be able to take a no handset deal with ur provider. They prefer it, as it costs them around £300 for the cheaper handsets, whereas a don only contract, they only lose out around £120-200
If they don't give u a good deal, tell them u are cancelling and going to take out a don only contract (check all companies to see who is giving what u want for the best price) even if its for the same company that has the best offer, as it costs them at least £80 for each new line they get.(used to work in the mobile industry, worked my way around the many different departments)
It's in their interest to keep u on the existing number, not just with the company.

Erme, good luck with trying to live on jsa, it is hard, and is in no way easy money. Please remember that not everyone on jsa got help with housing, and any other freebies.
I "lived" on if for a year, and only that, even tho I am a single parent with a (then) 3 year old. I did not get help with housing (was actually told to come back when we where homeless, and then they would help.) I got off of paying council tax as I was a student, but because I was a student, I wasn't entitled to any other benefits, yet as I was a single parent, I was not entitled to any burseries or student grants as I HAD to go on IS. Worst year of my life financially, and it whas spiralled ever since as I can't catch up with myself.

Haven't catches up with all the pages, still on this phone which is playing up.
Best wishes to everyone

paidinchickens

Morning peeps

I had a bit of a down day yesterday.


I have done a huge amount of money saving lately and done the usual six monthly fine comb check. Sorted out the gas and electric bill and they have lowered by £36 a month :T

Made £140 on ebay at the weekend:D but has not even dinted the mess in the dining room.

But then there comes that point where you can not reduce any more and you have cut your spending right down and you do not think your getting anywhere.

I don't know if I need inspiration a kick up the *ss or both :rotfl: