Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

dizzy_lizzie

Sandra really looking froward to the next 4 months challenge now you've made it sound like fun Hope all has gone and goes well with the scans.
Ruby it's great isn't it when you find money like that. Could with it happening a bit more often! That would be nice. Have a lovely time at the spa.
Risingfromtheashes with all the positive healing thoughts that we'll all be sending you, you'll be skipping around before you know it
Tumpty pleased the holiday went well. I'm a monkey for looking at reviews but like OH says it's the ones who have had a rough time that usually review rather than the ones that have enjoyed their holidays so it always seems worse. We've been to many a Haven site over the years and everything has always been fantastic. Not Pontins I know but similar. In fact last year we went to Haggerston Castle with Haven and I'd read some really dreadful reviews that I almost didn't go. But after listening to OHs reasoning we went and it was absolutely lovely and nothing at all like any of the reviews!

So plans for today whilst putting Sandras 4 month Frugal Challenge into action...
List some ebay items.
Start on my x stitch kits! Last night I crocheted a little Christmas Tree Christmas card sample and may have a little play around with it and crochet more for Christmas cards. I've got everything in I need so these will go towards my No Spend November items
Will also be making a couple of 'New Baby' cards rather than buying them. Have got some lovely ideas for these from google and again don't need to buy anything to do them :j
Chest is feeling slightly better which I'm so happy about. Back to work on Monday and really didn't want to have time off, especially having just had 6 weeks holiday.
We've decided not to go away this week even if the weather picks up. Just going to have a couple of days out instead.
I've also been putting my £2 coins into a little piggybank for about 3 months now and it's almost full so hopefully I can be counting this before September ends for my 'Saving September' challenge. I have never saved £2 coins before and I've no idea how much is in there so I'll be excited to count it.
I'd better get a move on then hadn't I?
First thing now...ebay.
Catch you all later.
Hope everyone is okay and keeping warm in these slightly chilly days.
x

seriouslyfrugal

Morning all

http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/


free days out due to hertiage open day ( this was in the weekly email from martin & team)

I have posted the link for ease looks like some really good things ( including some national trust / english hertiage properties)

have a good day everyone

Frugaldom

Rejigging the spreadsheets here to try and work in all the price increases - electricity, coal, telephone, food... no end in sight to increases. Pretty much settled into the chaos of the new house but now need to scrape together several £000 to replace part of the roof, so more belt tightening needed. Helps that I'm also doing my weightloss challenge. Got another Rosspa order arriving this afternoon, so that'll fill the freezer & cupboards but the savings pot is almost empty.

Good luck with medical appointments, I hope everyone who has been under the weather, down in the dumps or ill will be feeling better soon.

Anyone know where the last 8 months have gone?

Aril

Hello fellow frugallers:j
Hugs to all!

All's well here at GBT. The small person is a well trained mini frugaller who reported back last week that he'd noticed our neighbour had kindly left out a pile of pots with free on them. We did as instructed and now have a lovely ceramic pot- this now has our comfrey happily settled in it [donated by another chum when we swapped some plants earlier this year] as it was threatening to take over the whole border. Mr GB had had to remove some of the leaves so in the spirit of waste not want not I recommended that we had a go at making hm comfrey plant feed.....well let's just say the smell is :eek: however, we bravely soldiered on and have now doused the veggies with it.

Am very proud of Mr GB has he's managed to fix our strimmer- we thought we were going to have to buy a new one. Have also been able to claim for a free eye test today because we currently qualify for WTC following my recent redundancy. Am pleased to report that my current glasses will do me for another 2 years phew:j

Beside the usual job hunting I have cooked up the glut of freebie apples that have made it across the threshhold this last week- am planning to freeze in portions for crumbles, apple sauce etc. At the grand old age of 44 I have made my first ever successful toad in the hole [or frog in the bog as it's known here:D] tonight- naturally done with bangers on offer but to make a cheaper version it's equally good with the big open mushrooms you buy. Was a good girl and made sure that I cooked some jacket potatoes at the same time when the oven was on which I'll freeze.

Phew..latest GBT bulletin over!
Arilx

PS Thought the following link might have some frugal ideas to try http://savvy.nectar.com/
NB I am not suggesting that you shop at this particular supermarket nor do I work for them!

tumptyteapot

The 90 quid futon arrived today, you can't tell that it is a bit narrow and I have bolster cushions that fill the gap at the top and it is sooooooooo comfortable! The old manky one is in the car ready to take to the tip tomorrow. I'm doing the last of the spending before frugal September, bought a top to run in from mr P for a fiver and coffee in town etc....

paidinchickens

spent all day painting fence and hands hurt too much to type will bug you all tomorrow though

PIC xxxx

SandraScarlett

Tuesday was a "drive round in circles, trying to find a disabled parking place" kind of time, at the hospital. After our 5th circuit, I had to reluctantly let DH out at the entrance, whilst I parked in one of the few remaining spaces, far, far, away, nearly at Outer Mongolia.

Then I walked as quickly as I could to find DH had disappeared. I was racing round frantically, like looking for a lost child, ringing his mobile to no avail, then he suddenly appeared, having been to the loo! :mad: Several hours later we emerged, both of us feeling shattered by the hanging around, but at least those scans are both over. Two more tomorrow.

But today was lovely. :T DGD and I went to The London Eye, I had a kids-go-free voucher, and we had a great time. Then we had lunch, a lovely mooch round Covent Garden, and ended up at Stratford Station, where it was Induction Day for the thousands of new staff at Westfield. We desperately tried to slip in, but to no avail but then a Very Nice Man asked if we wanted to go on the new Stratford International DLR extension! :T:T :T

I think I was possibly more excited than DGD but we had a great time, and there were loads of staff about, both from Westfield and Rail, giving us leaflets about the new shopping centre - opens on Tuesday week, and, yes, a friend and I are going.:j:j

As our fares today were free, and I had a 2-for-1 voucher for lunch, plus my voucher for the Eye, the whole day only cost £20, and we had a superb time, though I withdrew Friday's cash today. Now, I am gearing myself up for a very frugal four months, and have put £10 in a new building society account. I have enough food to last till about Tuesday next week, and £12 left in my purse to last until the follwing Friday. :eek:

Not a lot, but as I'm trying to lose the blubber as well, I should be able to cope. Gosh, aren't we all going to be rich and slender by Christmas!

xx

slowlyfading

I'd be up for the 'lose half a stone' challenge - do you fancy doing it in September? Nothing like the present!

In other news, I've spend so much in the last two days, definitely back on the wagon tomorrow, big time.

23rdspiral

Frugaldom wrote: »

Anyone know where the last 8 months have gone?

Sheesh, don't say it like that!:eek: how on earth is it *almost sept?!?!

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Not a lot, but as I'm trying to lose the blubber as well, I should be able to cope. Gosh, aren't we all going to be rich and slender by Christmas!

xx

Humm, I could do with loosing pounds, and saving different pounds too.
I'm scared, but count me in:o.
Has been quite a spendy week - scavenger hunt on sat (charity and tip shops)... sadly oh didn't get what we were looking for for him, but I got a nice skirt, a couple of books and a bag of very cheep new Paperchase bits for stocking fillers. Our mate got a full metal weight set, Inc long bar, hand bars and push up bars for £10, he was gobsmacked. He'd wanted a set for months but got made redundant just as he managed to pay off his debts. Very happy for him.
Went out for girlie work lunch today, I never do that, it cost £4.00 but was worth it for the bonding!

SandraScarlett

Well, it's 1st September, and I've started my diet and the Four Month Frugal Special! Trying to ignore the fact that I'm so hungry, I could eat my own liver, and so tempted by a top on ebay.

Tells self "I am not starving and if I don't buy the top, I have many others to wear, so I won't be naked". (That's a very false smile by the way).

Good Luck All!

xx