Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 2

tumptyteapot

paidinchickens wrote: »

Made £140 on ebay at the weekend:D

wow! have you got any tips? I really need to get ebaying

paidinchickens

tumptyteapot wrote: »

wow! have you got any tips? I really need to get ebaying

I can never tell tumpty. The things you put on that are gorgeous go for peanuts and the cr*p (well loved items) go for loads. Sometimes they get re listed a couple of times and nothing then the next time there is a bidding war!?

I have loads of things to sell as we have two houses of stuff in one house. I have a lot of dresses as have to go to a lot of functions (Forces). I have loads in the loft and buy off ebay (can not wear same frock twice). I put them back on when I have used them and usually make more money than I paid

I also have loads of my nans stuff in the loft and the retro vintage items some times go for loads.

I try to sell anything I don't want first. I use the three time rule. List, re list twice on free listing days only, then it goes to the charity shop or freecycle.

The other problem is boxes. If you sell something you have to find the right size box (not for dresses lol) if you have loads of things you have loads of boxes!!!

I packed in work last year (july) I wanted a year off work as I have always worked and I was in a car accident so struggled at work in the last few months. Plus childcare for three kids, petrol etc I really was not much better off. So started as clearing up the house and I probably have made as much as my wages were:T

I do get a lot of pleasure seeing the things I bought (but mostly ex bought) that got me into debt is helping me get out of it.

My greatest pleasure was selling his (ex) golf stuff!!! we had so many arguments over him buying them and years later after moving in with new hubby we found them dumped at the back of the garage. They sold for nearly FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS:eek:

After another trip up the loft I have probably got enough stuff to sell for another year or two:rotfl:

I just want the house back but if someone gives me something I don't want it just goes onto the waiting to be ebayed pile :rotfl:

There are so many piles in this house no one dare put anything down incase I get the camera out:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

hopeful1983happy

Hi All,

I have just come across this challenge and it looks amazing! I really would like to join for the last half of the year if that is possible? I am married with a 2 year old daughter and a 16 year old stepson (who doesn't live with us but when he stays he eats as much as the rest of us eat for the whole month!).

I have tried to find the spreadsheets you have but no joy - can anyone point me in the right direction and is it ok to join for the 2nd part of the year?

Thank you!

oldtractor

I'm making a delicious liver and onion casserole for dinner tomorrow.

rubytuesday

Hello everyone and welcome hopeful.

I had a week off Mse which was really nice.

My son has gone to Paris and Milan for a month so my daughter has moved into his flat to look after his lovely cat so I am hoping to live even more frugally although I expect she will be back for dinner after awhile or to take some provisions.

Just finished up left over cous cous and chicken in a soup for dinner tonight.

A low spend day today on a beautiful dress from the charity shop for my daughter and that's it.

Thanks for the links to the articles - really enjoyed them.

paidinchickens

tumptyteapot wrote: »

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/8549739/The-superscrimpers.html
I am the single parent :-)

Well done Tumpty:T

23rdspiral

welcome Hopefull, good luck with your personal challenge. :j i'm sure others will be along soon to cheer you on, especialy Sandra who has a great way with words. we're all here for different reasons and with different levels of frugality with different goals in mind, so whoever you and and whyever you are here, i'm sure you'll fit right in!

i'm suffering a very slow net connection so cant pop and check and come back but i'm sure the Spreadsheet of Wonder, aka Cheryll's spreasheet is linked in the 1st or 2nd post on the first page of this challenge. if not, try the search facility to find the 1st page of the challenge started in Dec/Jan, i know it's there as that's where i got it from.

do check out the links in the 2nd or 3rd post... lots of hints and tips there. feel free to ask questions, moan, cheer, rant and advise as fits...:)

~~~~~~~~~

thanks for the mobile advice, i appreciate it. good to think about different options... i'm very confused indeed. and not just about mobiles... i did want a laptop as my desktop is rather tempremental but can't afford a good one and dont like the idea of not being able to repair it myself. and i want to keep the desktop for media storage and graphic design work. So i was thinking smart phone - to use the internet on the sofa and at my sewing table for patterns, blogging ect which i do a lot of. Then a friend has offered me first refusal on his old ipad 1 with wifi, at a good price... looks fun! then i wouldnt need the fancy phone and could just have a simple one. argh! how has technology jumped on so fast in 2 yrs.. i'm only 30 and feel like a dinosaur!:o

~~~
oh, and only spent 47p today on woopsied bread. tried to buy shoes but had forgotten my purse. silly me.:o very embarasing but at least it's an unavoidable 'cooling off' period!:)

rubytuesday

Girlie's back already!:rotfl: Only for some money from her jar!

tumptyteapot

Paidinchickens - did you mention vintage clothes? Are you allowed to tell us your ebay name so I can have a look please

paidinchickens

tumptyteapot wrote: »

Paidinchickens - did you mention vintage clothes? Are you allowed to tell us your ebay name so I can have a look please

would that be classed as advertising:eek: I am not sure.

Yes some vintage clothes do well. Things for the student market I assume. I have a load of my nans vintage handbags that have gone for quite a bit. I have kept most of them though (in a glass case in my bedroom so I can look at them:rotfl:)

I put anything on I do not want. If you list on a free weekend you having nothing to lose.

On another Ebay note..... I won a carpet for £5

Now is that going too far? It is a pure wool twist and has been used. It is from a pet and smoke free home (I hate that saying .......who dreamt that up?) A little old couple who just decided on a change of colour and in near perfect condition. It cost a fortune new.

So when the kids go away next we shall be gutting their death trap of a bedroom........ummmmm more ebay things :rotfl: I just need to get some cheap paint and some new curtains.

Off to a jumble sale on Saturday. I can not wait I have hardly left the house lately and when I have been out I have had to go in my slippers:o so aiming for a morning out with shoes on :T

Hopefully I will find some curtains (no one ever fights over the curtains so may get lucky)

Had another food parcel from my aunt, love food parcel surprise! I have three packs of that plastic ham to use up by tomorrow (I know about the use by and best before but plastic ham goes slimy ) Any Ideas???

Hubby was a bit spendy yesterday and came home with a tray of cadbury creme eggs but they were down to 10p each in Mozzers and you just can't get mad with someone who brings you discounted chocolate

sorry if a go on a bit but have found that if I post everyday about what I have done it helps me to see in black and white where I am saving!