Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

LolaLemon

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Just thought I'd share this with u all.... happened years ago, at least 40 years ago. I posted it on another post, but good to share hehe

Aril

Hello fellow frugallers:j
Congrats to RT on your daughter's results and KW on having secured your temp job. Belated happy returns PIC and great lateral thinking re beaded car seat TT

No spends yesterday [other than the local paper for jobs] or today at Gnat Bottomed Towers. Had lunch with a good pal- she's also brassic so we lend things to each other or recycle - this time I've passed on a pile of mags that my Mum had finished with and she gave me the GCSE revision guides from her daughter. We also rehomed wine [she doesn't drink] and I passed on some books- we've also swapped DVDs. She and I share a similar interest in walking and nosing around- this time it was a local church with some wonderful medieval paintings which we walked out to with our boys.

Today I've been getting to grips with the mysterious world of the covering letter...and I thought I was home and dry having completed my draft CV...erm wrong! Good news is that I have spotted an apple tree hidden away in a local field [it's in the middle of a patch of blackthorn and brambles] and has a public right of way so I've been scrumping. shall be returning to pick sloes tomorrow to start a batch of wine off.

Arilx

Savvy_sewing

Tumptyteapot, sorry I didnt get back the other day.
The best thing to do, is to use a soft cloth with a little oil on, and to wipe it on the works, and slowly, (Not plugged in). turn the wheel, and exposing the various parts, gently rub through. If you use the oil can, it can get very messy. You will need to run scraps through the machine, to make sure that all the oil is gone before you sew anything precious.
Hope this helps, if you havent already sorted the machine out.

On the Frugal Side,
I had an even higher alteration to the CouncilTAx/Housing benefit saga, so yesterday after a quick panic as to how I was to find an extra £50 a week, I started the route of working on the other services.
Sky- I rang to cancel, but they offered me a reduced package at £5 for 3 months, then chance to review. Also offered me a better deal on my phone and broadband then I currently have with BT. BT bill is around £35 a month. Sky will do 3 months for £5 and then the next 9 months at £12.50
So I have decided to switch.
£32.65- £5 =£27.65 a month saving
£35 - £5= £30 saving a month, then £35.- £12.50= £22.50 a month saving.
Still no where near the £50 a week I need. But thats a good start. £150 to go!

Kerry_Woman

Was careful with the food shopping today, kept to the list. Also made apple crumble and scones. During the week went to a guided walk in the local park led by a ranger and was free. Just saw it advertised in another park. Turned out that there was meditation included. Was great and the spot where we did the meditation was nice and quiet. Near some running water and was good to hear the sound of the leaves in the breeze. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.

dizzy_lizzie

Kerry_Woman wrote: »

Was careful with the food shopping today, kept to the list. Also made apple crumble and scones. During the week went to a guided walk in the local park led by a ranger and was free. Just saw it advertised in another park. Turned out that there was meditation included. Was great and the spot where we did the meditation was nice and quiet. Near some running water and was good to hear the sound of the leaves in the breeze. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.

That sounds divine Kerry. When me and OH are walking, which isn't as often as we should, one of my favourite sounds is a babbling brook. It even sounds good doesn't it...babbling brook.............................
sorry mind had wandered.
The crumble and scones sound delish. I have a childhood memory of me sitting ready 'Naughty Amelia Jane by Enid Blyton' in front of the fire, it's raining outside and Mums ironing as well as making scones. I can still smell that lovely clean ironing smell with warm scones. I was only about 8 at the time, and it's still such a vivid memory

Anyway I'm aware sometimes that my posts don't seem to contain much frugalism in them so I'm sharing this.
We've had our 3 and 2 seater sofa for about 8 years now. It's soooo comfortable. It's that microfibre that looks like suede in a pale oatmeal colour. (It also came with a free leather chair which OH claimed and which I very naughtily gave away to one of sons friends who'd just moved into a new house. OH had a bit of a shock when he got home from work, but to his credit he did understand why, with me being vegan) Anyway we had it cleaned professionally, which didn't get it totally clean, and ever since it seemed to attract dirt so easily. The other week I was so fed up with it that me and OH went to have a look at new ones at the usual stores. Anyway we really liked the look of one, a 3 and a 2 and said we'd go back the next day to sort it out. And then I thought, well if ours are going anyway I might as well give them a scrub and see what happens. I used a bottle of Astonish upholstery cleaner at £1, then had to buy another and used half of that bottle and the sofas have come up an absolute treat.
So for the price of £1.50 I have saved £1000.70 which was the price of the new sofas! I've bought two throws to try and keep them cleaner for longer but honestly I didn't think they would come that clean again.
So that's my bit of frugalism and I'm chuffed to bits with it
Browsing the internet I also came across this blog

http://homemade.tipjunkie.com/crochet-bangles-jewelry/

which might be of interest to some of you. I will definately be making those bangles.
Hope everyone is well.
Luv Dizzy x

rubytuesday

Had a reasonable day today (yesterday) until I went to the opticians where I needed two pairs of glasses as now life is just one big blur!

Before that I'd spent my pocket money at the Market on a few things -including a tapestry Humpty Dumpty cushion for two quid which I couldn't resist and a beautiful old etched nutcracker which I now can't find so I don't know if she forgot to give it to me as I can't really see it falling out of my bag. Upset about that as it was lovely! Will ask her next week.

Went out to friends for a change this evening and took Eton Mess I had made which went down every well.

Better get off to bed I think!

dizzy_lizzie

rubytuesday wrote: »

Had a reasonable day today (yesterday) until I went to the opticians where I needed two pairs of glasses as now life is just one big blur!

Before that I'd spent my pocket money at the Market on a few things -including a tapestry Humpty Dumpty cushion for two quid which I couldn't resist and a beautiful old etched nutcracker which I now can't find so I don't know if she forgot to give it to me as I can't really see it falling out of my bag. Upset about that as it was lovely! Will ask her next week.

Went out to friends for a change this evening and took Eton Mess I had made which went down every well.

Better get off to bed I think!

Hi ruby. I see you're up late as well. We are like a pair of owls, wise ones, I might add I love the idea of 'pocket money' I might have to try that myself. Hope you're reunited with the nutcracker, especially as it sounded unusual.
Ah well, I've waited up for my darling daughter again and she's just rang and said they're all going back to a friends house. The trouble is they never know what they're doing until the early hours of the morning. And truth be told, I can't sleep anyway when she's out, so can't blame her. I remember being young once...
So will be popping off to bed soon once I've had a little browse on here.
Love Dizzy x

Kerry_Woman

dizzy lizzie - What a great saving. A babbling brook sounds lovely.

rubytuesday

Yes unusually late for me Dizzy.

I often get the text in the middle of the night to say she's staying elsewhere after all!

Am cross if she forgets to text after saying she's coming home though!

I meant to say those sounded like lovely memories!

I always mean to make scones with the slightly over milk but never get round to it!

tumptyteapot

rubytuesday wrote: »

Had a reasonable day today (yesterday) until I went to the opticians where I needed two pairs of glasses as now life is just one big blur!

I get my glasses from glasses direct - they are very cheap indeed especially if you watch out for groupon vouchers. My last pair (one normal and one sunglasses) cost about £20, both prescription.

Off to pon tins tomorrow at Brean sands, the reviews are terrible so I have packed a box of cleaning stuff, a throw and some smelly candles. As long as the pool is ok and there is enough for my 8 year old to do that is fine. Might get some driftwood too as there is enough time for it to dry out before winter fuel is needed.

If it's truly awful can I get a refund? With this sort of thing it is more the problem of the upset child than the money, though I have warned him it might be terrible.