Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

cw18

rubytuesday wrote: »

Ooh hope you are well Cheryl.

I'm fine thanks

Was seeing a chap earlier this year, took some 'time out' in the summer, met someone else who turned out to be a nasty piece of work, got back with previous chap, but split again some weeks ago. I've started seeing someone else now who I have heaps in common with, and it seems to be going well but I'm not counting my chickens.....

Daughter announced she was pregnant (baby's due 24th Jan) and that she was getting married at very short notice - then her chap got the jitters and called the wedding off. It's now back on, but not for a couple of years !!

And I had health issues at work last winter which it became apparent I was going to suffer from again this winter - so I handed in my notice. This is my 5th week of not working, so I'm now living off my widows pensions (from a company scheme) which is worth slightly more than JSA and some capital (which was earmarked either for expenses involved in downsizing the house or for improvements to this one, but is too much for me to be able to claim any kind of help with my CT etc even if they didn't block me for having jacked my job voluntarily). Hence my needing to stick to this challenge for 2012.......


Also had both my boys (especially the younger one) throwing hissy fits at me when it became apparent I was serious about rehoming the dog. The elder one came round to my reasoning, but the younger one went mad when I handed in my notice the day after the dog went as one of my reasons was lack of time for him !! But he was also costing me more than I could afford, and tied me to the house to such an extent I didn't have a life!!! I couldn't visit friends who live more than an hour or so from me, and couldn't seriously consider being away from home for more than 6 hours on a regular basis which restricted what I could do - and meant I can't go away (have a couple of very cheap possibilities for breaks, but couldn't take the dog with me).

purpleorchid

well guys we are not far from the big day n i have still not finished wrapping things, im hoping next yr i will be wrapping as i buy through out the yr so wont feel so stressed about it all next yr. i am going to try and do some of the homemade things next yr and see how i get on with them and if they will work out cheaper for me. i need to find some recipes for my grandfather as he is diabetic but loves his sweet stuff. so thought maybe i could make him some cookies and sweets. any ideas where ther may be some good recipes online? i will need to practise 1st haha.

nothing new to report just plodding on, nsd all week so far, but will be spending today on tobacco £13. wont be much of a shop this wk as i did a big one last wk. i will be cooking my lush beef joint today and splitting that up in to hopefully a fair few meals, plus whilst the oven is on i will be doing some fruit cakes to freeze and also using one of my 8p batter mixes from tesco to make some yorkshire puds to freeze (makes 12) and then whats left is enough to make me a yummy pancake for after my beef dinner. mmm cant wait.

hope everyone is well

luv P
xx

Skintbint_3

Ooh, can I join this and the 2012 frugal living challenge please?

I have an overdraft to pay off, hopefully n 2012, I grow some veg, cook from scratch, don't pay full price for anything unless absolutely necessary etc...so this thread is right up my street!

purpleorchid

hi sb

welcome aboard, the more the merrier, i have been on ere since about sept i think and i have learnt many ways to save, plus the guys on here are fab and full of support.

luv P
x

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Ok.. I know i said i wasnt going to buy anymore for the kids BUT:cool:

I bought them a contract phone each.. the contract is £15 a month each with 750 mins and 5000 texts etc..

I worked it out i will in the long run save me money, as they are starting to ask for more and more money for top ups...

Now that is DEFINATELY IT!!!!!!!!!!

PLUS... i allways panic when they say they have run out of talk time on their phones, i worry if there is something wrong they can not contact us....

And yes i have capped it:D

I have told hubby not to buy me anything this year, and I have told him he isnt getting anything else either ( he had something a few weeks ago)

mooomin

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

And yes i have capped it:D

Make sure that you keep an eye on how much they're using - my friend's son had a contract with 5000 texts, and he still managed to go over it, costing her over £100 one month :eek:

How someone can send 5000 texts in a month is beyond me!

COOLTRIKERCHICK

flying_fresian wrote: »

Make sure that you keep an eye on how much they're using - my friend's son had a contract with 5000 texts, and he still managed to go over it, costing her over £100 one month :eek:

How someone can send 5000 texts in a month is beyond me!

I can monitor the accounts on line, which the boys dont know about;), but it has been capped, so hopefully it will work.. the contracts are with tescos

cw18

flying_fresian wrote: »

How someone can send 5000 texts in a month is beyond me!

I wouldn't have thought it possible until recently.....

on 13th a certain someone was checking his account since for his current billing cycle (which started on 2nd), and he'd sent over 1,000 just to me -- which meant I'd sent the same to him (give or take an odd one), and is why I had a 'larger than normal' contract bill last month (despite being careful there was about £18 on 'outside allocation' useage), put £10 onto my PAYG backup before end Nov (which meant I got unlimited free texts throughout Dec on that, and I also used the £10 in the last couple of days of the month rather than adding more cost to my contract), and have now added a £5/month extra onto my contract for unlimited free texts on that (my billing cycle starts on 13th).

So by the time kids are texting a dozen or so mates I think it must be a distinct possibility

rubytuesday

Blimey Cheryl

You have had a hectic time of it and rather adventurous!

Let's hope things work out nicely with this young man.

Congratulations to your daughter - that must have been stressful for her - but hopefully it will all work out ok in the end.

Throat still sore today so no swim for me.

Must try and get some semblance of order here or Father Christmas will walk on by in disgust!

And will have to get a few bits from the supermarket today.

cw18

has everyone tried the Tightness Test ?

apparently Martin came in at 41% tight... I made it to 60% with 100% honest answers.
A couple I said I've not done, but that's only 'cos I've not had chance - I would if I could