Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

23rdspiral

hello everyone, sorry for going MIA, i've had so much on and havnt been myself for much of it. i hadnt even been reading the thread, but just have. *hugs to every one who may want or need them.


Blairweech - i know it was a few days ago now, but i feel i must express my deepest sympathy. I'm so sorry the routine op went wrong, i hope they will investigate. As for the crash, i shudder to think. we were in glastonbury untill a few days before, and a friend's friend was only just not involved in the crash. my heart goes out to all those involved, friends, family and the emergency services.

i'm a terrible passenger on motorways since a very close near miss a few years ago (car going sideways across the carridge way that the mini bus i was in only just) so i'm going to be getting myself one of these http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=LH02. please dont think me disrespectful. i didnt know about them untill a friend posted a link on fb after the M5 crash, and i thought i should pass on the advice.

SandraScarlett - so sorry to hear you're still going through the mill. I hope DD recieves the care she needs, and that your DH feels better. your DG realy is so very lucky to have you, as they all are. stay stong. we're thinking of you

rubytuesday - so sorry to hear about your friend.

Fresian i second whoever recomended Old Style to you. There's a recipie index which is fab... i wrote my pea and ham slow cooker soup recipie out too many times before i realised i need only link back to my original post!

23rdspiral

Thanks for your support re the aweful builders... the company owner came round and was shocked. Anyway, they have made good and finally finished the job last Thursday. As the plaster is still drying (silly damp weather) and as it needs to be seasoned (like a wok!) we can't have a full fire yet, but did light it friday night for the first time!:j last night we lit another little fire... OH read and i curled up and stitched a christmas card! bliss!

so with that HUGE expense (but it is what we were saving up for) it hardly seemed worth scrimping on the pennies... so i did have a little CS splurg! but bag of fabric remnants, a new to me winter coat (much needed) for 6.00 and a per una winter skirt for 6.00 are, i hope, understandable luxurys.

(we wont mention the cake and chocolate ok?)

Reevsey

I have been a serial lurker for quite a long time now but wanted to say a huge thank you to you all as I've taken on loads of your ideas and have miraculously managed to exceed my mortgage reduction target. I realise I am probably heading off the last thread but I am chuffed to bits and thought it only fair that this threads contributors got the credit. Ok so I have still rather a long way to go but i'm so happy with how this year has gone - I realise I have become quite a sad case as am now completely addicted to money saving and frugal living but hey happy days. :beer:

dizzy_lizzie

slowlyfading wrote: »

I'm off work today I never take time off work so I'm feeling guilty.

Now slowly you stop that right this minute! Relax, recharge your batteries and get yourself well...yes?!

natnat13 wrote: »

Came home a thought I'd look what tesco direct had and if I could use the gift card online, ended up swapping £40 worth of clubcard vouchers to £80 and using the gift card my brand new sewing machine cost me £7.40!!!!! I'm very excited but still not going to shop in tescos anymore!!!

Oh natnat ya' funny bunny. That last bit did make me laugh. Well done on an excellent bargain :T

spiral what a lovely image I had in my mind when I read your post. Just what Winter is all about and worth it in the end.

seriouslyfrugal, sorry to hear about your friend. Hope you start to feel better soon. Sending a warm hug.

Kerrywoman I must try that Mr A guarantee, thanks for remimding me about it.

Paidinchix you really have got your hands full haven't you...but oh how sweet, all those cuddly kitties.

Lolalemon do you still get time to crochet? have you done anything recently?

Hello to Reevsey and purpleorchid.

Back to work today after my tummy bug. Have felt a bit tired and going to bed soon. But good news...only spent £1 today!
Hugz to all and lots of good wishes for everyone that's poorly and feeling a bit down.
x

Frugaldom

Hi guys, trying to catch up again in preparation for the 2012 challenge, which slowlyfading has kindly offered to oversee on my behalf.

I hope all you poorly people are starting to feel better and that everyone's still having fun while frugaling. I'll need a summary of events to keep me up to date at this rate, but there has just been too much happening elsewhere for me to have managed in here every day. Things should start to settle down a bit now - grandchild's born, housemove's over, car replaced, funerals are over, renovations now underway, much money saving needed - so I'll try my best to keep up in the new year.

I've PM'd slowlyfading the 2012 link so everything is set to go.

purpleorchid

Quite pleased with myself for lack of spending last week.

My printer gave up on me so had to get a new one, got one for £24, reduced from £42, that should be with me tomorrow. :j

I paid all my bills ontime if not before time. :j

My weekly shop came to £8.49, saved £6.50. :j

Found out that my cats will use shredded paper instead of cat litter saving me between £6-£8 a month. :j

Ordered four christmas presents online, one from amazon that was £25.99, reduced to £20.17, I used £20 of shop n scan vouchers, cost me 17p. THANK YOU SHOP N SCAN :A

The other three presents where ordered on my catalogue ( which i know i shouldnt be ordering from as im making more debt), however i ordered, from me to you umbrella and got a free pair of from me to you slipper socks, and also a tranquility mug and socks in a lovely gift box with 3d butterfly on, all for £20. so thats mum sorted. I also paid £32 off catalgue last week so really speaking have already paid for these gifts lol.

hope this week will be even less spent.

natnat13

Purpleorchid - what's shop and scan if you don't mind me asking?

tumptyteapot

purpleorchid wrote: »

morning all

just thought i would share some tips on saving money with cats.

my cats get fed 3 times a day.

i soak a handful of cat bisuits in hot water for about 20 mins, then put 1 spoonful of cat food in bowl mixed with the soft biscuits. it goes down a treat and they seem to like it warm.

also one of my cats is not so keen on the dry biscuits so once a day she has half a weetabix (tesco value) soaked in warm water then add a drop of milk for flavour and she laps it up.

plus if there is any food waste that they will eat they get that as well, not that there is much food waste these days.

hth
xx

thanks for that - dried biccies gave my cat cystitis but I never thought of soaking them!

23rdspiral

I had a revelation in Lidl's yesterday.. but it's something i'm sure you all do already!

I Don't buy chicken breast, (far too costly, and less flavour) but i do buy the oyster cut legs from lyld, c.2.49 for 4. I wanted the legs to do a slow cooked curry for tea. BUT something made me look at the whole chickens, and at 2.89 for a whole bird, i bought that and cut the oyster legs off myself!! Using a 1970s cookbook picture to tell me where to cut! I felt very proud of myself.:D

and instead of the 2 spare legs siting in the freezer, i've now got the rest of the bird in the s/c... (that was a revelation last year, and i shant worry it's not intact as i'm sure it will stay moist in there)... So that's breast for a mini roast, veg cooked for several meals + soup mix thrown in, and I will pick the bird clean too (bigger for fahitas and smaller bits for soup). double, triple win!!:j

(I do feel bad for life of the cheap battery bird; I try to buy organic or happy meat when it's reduced... but somehow my ethics didnt stretch to disjointed legs... odd i know. at least now i'm honouring the whole bird.)

purpleorchid

natnat13 wrote: »

Purpleorchid - what's shop and scan if you don't mind me asking?

hi natnat13

shop n scan is something i have been doing for about 4yrs now.
dont think there are any openings at the moment, unless you are 24 or live in london.
basically i have a small scanner that i use to scan all my food bought in the week then i plug the scanner into pc with usb lead and download them all the shop n scan. i get rewarded £1.10 a week for doing this. also i take a picture of my receipt and download this and get 50p a week for this. they also send surveys through out the year which also gains you money.
think i have had about £300 or more in last 4 yrs, i usually have them in ecodes so that i can use them on amazon for gifts or things that i need for myself or cats. had loads of free cat food lol.

hope this helps

update

have just seen an advert saying they are looking for new people.
the group is called nielson consumer panel, shop and scan.

hope you can get to become part of it.x