Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

Aril

Hello fellow frugallers:j
Hugs to all!

Still quietly frugalling away here at Gnat Bottomed Towers but quite a lot of my time at the moment is taken up with refining the art of locating an occupation. Have made some progress [can thoroughly recommend the Next Step service at the JC they were excellent] so now have a decent CV. Have signed off as the advisor I saw was quite humiliating in her attitude [I find out now she's known for it] and I prefer to apply for jobs that I am suited for thank you. Am now signed up for temping with a local agency and am seeing another one tomorrow. There's a possibility of an interview for a 3 month contract so I shall find out more tomorrow.

Other news on the frugal front is that we are planning our new little veggie borders for our back garden that we shall dig in next month. Ceridwen recommended the following book on on an OS thread
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grow-Something-Eat-Every-Day/dp/1405362278/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314637275&sr=8-1
I borrowed it from the library and it's excellent. We have already discovered that the reason the foliage is going yellow on some of our veggies is down to magnesium deficiency [they're in pots] so Mr GB has been down to Boots to invest in some Epsom salts to see if we can extend the growing season.

I'm still knitting [my friend calls it my extreme knitting:D] which keeps me nice and calm when I get in a tizz. Have now almost completed the 3rd 6' length for the blanket for the small person so he's nice and cosy this winter. Next on my hit list is to line some curtains we've already got up with some leftover curtain fabric that I discovered at the back of my airing cupboard. It's the only room that has thin curtains and I'm hoping that it will make a significant difference.

Keeping on top of the waste not want not theme- I've got a load of apples to cook that my friend has given me and the blackberries are now bubbling away in the demijohn. We've also foraged some sloes with which to make wine.

Shall try to be better and pop in more this week if you don't mind all my excessive frugal ramblings.

Arilx

slowlyfading

Aril - frugal rambling is why we're all here I used to be able to knit when I was little but haven't got a clue how to do it now! You've just reminded me I have some apples to do something with; they were given to me by my mum off her tree so didn't cost me anything!

dizzy_lizzie

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Well, I've decided to do an extra special Frugal Challenge for the remainder of the year, it's my Four Month Frugal Fight. I've not-so-much slipped off the straight and narrow, as fallen with a bump, so I'm putting all the naughty spends behind me, and trying really hard to improve on the last 4 months. Anyone want to join me?

Thursday is the 1st September, and I shall try to be super frugal for the rest of the year, like I was at the beginning.

xx

Count me in too I'm in the mood for getting organised for Christmas. Lets be honest Summers been a wash out again so at least it's something to look forward too.

slowlyfading wrote: »

Still coughing and sneezing so me and OH aren't doing much today. I do need to do some shredding at some point and possibly hoover the downstairs, but that's about it. It's also gloomy outside and a bit chilly too, I can't believe the weather is like this in August! It definitely feels as if summer is well and truly over.

Aw that's not good. Hot toddys and warm duvet on the menu. It's not fair is it? Me and OH were hoping to get away again this week but my chest has been playing up and I really didn't want to be camping if it was raining just in case the damp made it worse. Have had a look at cottages and caravans for a few days but the cost is ridiculous! Camping is soooooo cheap. Ah well

Aril wrote: »

Hello fellow frugallers:j
Hugs to all!
Still quietly frugalling away here at Gnat Bottomed Towers but quite a lot of my time at the moment is taken up with refining the art of locating an occupation. Have made some progress [can thoroughly recommend the Next Step service at the JC they were excellent] so now have a decent CV. Have signed off as the advisor I saw was quite humiliating in her attitude [I find out now she's known for it] and I prefer to apply for jobs that I am suited for thank you. Am now signed up for temping with a local agency and am seeing another one tomorrow. There's a possibility of an interview for a 3 month contract so I shall find out more tomorrow.
Shall try to be better and pop in more this week if you don't mind all my excessive frugal ramblings.
Arilx

There'll be something perfect just waiting round the corner for you Aril
And you post away...love reading your escapades at GBT
x

gien

I have managed to sow some spinach for the winter months and am goinf to try and find some 'cavallo de nero' kale seed - apparently it's nicer than ordinary kale but stands the cold. I've also been collecting bits and pieces of wiod that are being left from doing the roof to burn on the fire. Have also got several bags of apples and a huge bag of plums given by friends. Unfortunately the plums are a bit mealy so not too nice raw - do you think they'll improve with stewing? Otherwise it's jam I think.
Generally I've been watching the pennies more and getting more into the habit of finding bargains and, perhaps maybe more importantly, imagining how a more frugal life would look for me. How I can get the same quality with less money. I think I need to slowly change my mindset and the way I view spending/possessions etc.

tumptyteapot

paidinchickens wrote: »

I forgot to ask is Tumpty back off her hols???

back! pontins was ok, cheap, lots of people complaining but our chalet wasn't filthy so we were ok. I took sleeping bags and everything we could need. I'm just run down mothering now its the end of the holidays - my son is with his dad for 5 days from tomorrow so I'm going to catch up on sleep and get the house sorted for the week after so I can catch up with 6 weeks of missed work with no excuses.

I haven't been very frugal at all, spent a fortune on nothing really recently just to make life a bit easier, cinema, pizza, crazy golf.......... I feel like everything is on hold until school starts and I get a bit of childcare so I have time to get back to running, earn some money, lose the half stone I have put on by comfort eating over the summer.......

I'll be back tracking spends again on the 5th Sept.

feeling a bit flat and worn out, sorry

dizzy_lizzie

Hi gien, sounds like you're well on your way to adapting to being more frugal or 'spendwise'
Can't help regarding the plums, I've never made jam but I've no doubt someone will be able to help you.
Found a thread for you regarding plum/jam making and if you scroll down there are some links added which may help. Here's the link

x

SandraScarlett

Glad to hear so many of you will be joining me on my Thrifty Bus! These are my plans for the following 4 months .......

Saving September! - for those who fancy some hilarity, they can also call it "Save In September"!

Optimistic October - hopefully some King Williams will only be small bills or (hilarity again) Little Willies! :rotfl:

No Spend November - Christmas Pressies must be Blue Peter Jobbies, or super bargains. If you fancy a laugh, call it Nose Pend November!

and lastly ................... (choose whichever you wish)

Dutiful/Dreadful/Deadly/Delicious/Daring/Darling/Disappointing December! The month when it doesn't matter how hard you try, you always exceed your budget.

I'm setting myself a personal challenge. :cool: I'm going to try and save an extra £5 a week, £10 if I can, and put that in a separate account, and that'll go a long way to paying the excess on the horrendous gas and leccy bills in November and February. :T

Several friends and I have already cut out present exchanging at Christmas, and I have bought several things already, in sales, or special offers, for the remainder. So, belts tightened, let's wish each other luck on our Four Month Super Frugal Challenge! :beer:

xx

SandraScarlett

Will willingly join you tumpty on your half-a-stone diet, though I really need to lose several half-a-stone chunks of blubber.

xx

mooomin

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I'm setting myself a personal challenge. :cool: I'm going to try and save an extra £5 a week, £10 if I can, and put that in a separate account, and that'll go a long way to paying the excess on the horrendous gas and leccy bills in November and February. :T

Ooh I like this idea...I have had a letter saying that my prices will be going up 20% and a text today asking me for a meter reading. Bah and double bah.

Even if I can put a few pounds into my terramundi every week that will help me. Thanks Sandra!

Winchelsea

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3385674

Sandra - if I've got the link above right, it's rictus's Buy Nothing for a Month Challenge, which I've been following quite successfully - a few more spends than I'd hoped, but mostly those were unavoidable.

But it's got me in the right frame of mind, so will try to stay in line with you until Christmas!