Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

tumptyteapot

rubytuesday wrote: »

Have lost about 3Lbs so very pleased with myself - my weight was remaining static after my foot injury!

well done you! I am about half a stone over what I want to be just can't shift it! It is all cake retention.

flippin36

:jHello everyone. I joined the thread a year or so ago wanting to become debt free by living frugally for year. I think I did well for six months then things happend and I went back to my old ways. I feel like I'm ready to start again (if you will have me).

Basically OH has a new job which means he may be able to work term time only, which he really wants so he can spend more time at home with me and the kids. We still have debts to pay and a lot of jobs to do around the house before he can take a drop in hours. So....I have been working really hard last month trying to get our monthly outgoings down (so we can pay debts off quicker and get used to having less money coming in). I/we managed to shave a whole £400 off our usual outgoings! I'm so pleased with myself but a little ashamed I haven't done it sooner!

I have been walking lots and leaving the car at home. A tank of petrol has lasted me a month with some to spare and I feel I've lost a bit of weight!
I've taken up "proper" cooking again. I've forgotten how much nicer everything is freshly baked. I've been making bread, pies, pizzas, casseroles, quiches, using up all the leftovers (nothing is getting wasted and I think we have all been well fed!) My freezer has been choker block .

I have been using up my never ending collection of toiletries and will go back to making my own creams and hair conditioners when they run out. I also want to not buy any clothes for myself for a whole year. My wardrobe is bursting so I just need to stop buying (this month it was easy......?)
I also had the kids birthdays which was a rather frugal affair but I can honestly say they had a really good time regardless.

I'm hoping that I can keep posting on here any new frugal ways so I can keep motivated. I tend to get very enthusiastic with the challenges then slowly slip back to my old ways. It would be great if I could reduced my outgoings even more next month!

tumptyteapot

flippin36 wrote: »

=

I have been using up my never ending collection of toiletries and will go back to making my own creams and hair conditioners when they run out. I also want to not buy any clothes for myself for a whole year. My wardrobe is bursting so I just need to stop buying (this month it was easy......?)

welcome!
not buying any clothes for a whole year sounds like hard work! can you limit yourself to charity shops or do you need to go cold turkey ?
Is cleanser easy to make? I'd love to see a recipe if you have any.

flippin36

Thank you tumpteyteapot! For cleansing I use oils. I love coconut oil, it melts my eye make up without stinging. I kind of steam it off with with a hot muslin cloth. My skin loves it. For moisturising I use beeswax, coconut oil, olive oil and shea butter. I make it up as I go along. This is the site I use to use when I went all natural http://www.rachelssupply.com/bwax.htm. I haven't bought anything from them just used their recipes, most things I buy from ebay, loads cheaper than specialist suppliers.

As far as clothes are concerned I really need to be giving some away to charity - I'm ashamed!

tumptyteapot

flippin36 wrote: »

Thank you tumpteyteapot! For cleansing I use oils. I love coconut oil, it melts my eye make up without stinging. I kind of steam it off with with a hot muslin cloth. My skin loves it. For moisturising I use beeswax, coconut oil, olive oil and shea butter. I make it up as I go along. This is the site I use to use when I went all natural http://www.rachelssupply.com/bwax.htm. I haven't bought anything from them just used their recipes, most things I buy from ebay, loads cheaper than specialist suppliers.

As far as clothes are concerned I really need to be giving some away to charity - I'm ashamed!

ohh, coconut oil, cheap and smells fantastic! Ebay your clothes! At least give them a shot on ebay before you charity shop them.

23rdspiral

paidinchickens - i really like the sound of that lasagne! am glad it went down well

rising - congrats on the peas! i've some random veg growning that i cant remember what it is.. i keep hoping for signs of a pod or something but nothing other than pretty pink flowers?!

sorry to hear about peoples big bills... i really need to change my mobile contract, i'm off contract now so have lost my bonus mins and txts.

~~
i had a small success today - OH put up an argos curtain rail yesterday (cheapest we could find for 3m, but had hard to drill dodgy angled holes)... and today i figured out how to string up curtains!:j those ones with the strings and hooks. silly i know but we've only ever had plain colour tab tops before. these are nice cream raspberry red panels with gold squares... given by a friend who lost her mum recently. they were her mum's bedroom curtains... i wondered if it would be weird to 'inherit' them as my OH couldnt answer the question 'well, which ones do YOU like best?' in ikea, we have these instead, they are pretty:), and there's more money in the bank for other things

rubytuesday

Sounds like it could runner beans 23rdspiral.

KolaKube

23rd spiral - i dont think theres any problem with using those curtains - i'm sure the lady would have wanted them to go to a good home

loving the coconut oil idea flippin - i have a few cleansers to use up but after that i'll have to look into it

well, made twinks, scones & pizza yesterday - exactly 2 weeks until we move today - will need to make a meal plan to use up what we have.

Off to work, have a good day everyone

23rdspiral

Ive just one thing to say EEK! Car tax nightmare! Wish me luck please:o:eek:

paidinchickens

23rdspiral wrote: »

Ive just one thing to say EEK! Car tax nightmare! Wish me luck please:o:eek:

Best of luck DH is due this month so feel your pain

Love hedgehogs we have Herman that lives under our shed.....no babies though:(

So jealous of the veg growers as I have done nothing this year even though we did well the past couple of years after getting a greenhouse. The time just went and we have not got round to doing it....must try harder next year:(

Had quite a productive day yesterday. DH painted the front of the house which has finally hidden the holes left by the cavity wall people:T and I painted the garage and front door. Paint for the house was from Focus £20 saving of a tenner:j and the garage door paint I got cheap £3 years ago and still have half a tin left:rotfl:

Steak and jacket spuds for tea last night. Steak was in the food parcel from Auntie :T so did not cost anything and cooked really well.

Sold some bits on ebay just over £100 so that covers the phone bill. Having a rest from putting things on as I really need to get the garden sorted and it just takes up so much time:(

Kittens are doing really well, they are just soooooo cutie! don't know which one we are going to keep I just can't make my mind up. I just can't bear to part with any even though next door wants one and my friend wants one. The fact I will still see them does not make it any easier!!!

please excuse the names.

Dozer. is really really big and ploughs everyone out of the way (hence name) he has huge paws already. He is easy going and likes being picked up and stroked. BOY

Dyson. absolutely beautiful. white with tabby silver and grey with a hint of tan to the face. Definitely the prettiest, first to open his eyes. cries when picked up...def a mummys boy

Moo.lol (looked like a mini cow when born) pretty, fluffy silver and white.Sleeps with tongue stuck out. Girl

Dinks. (small) black and white. so cute, she is half the size of the others and sleeps with her paw in her mouth, loves being stroked. Girl.

My old boy is black and white and having another black and white cat does not seem right but I have gotten over that as their personalities start to shine through. I did not want a girl as they are not a loving as boys but have changed my mind on this also. I know I still have another 4-6 weeks to make my mind up BUT IT IS SO HARD!!

I know I said I was going to shut up about cats but I can't help it :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Off to do a load of wrapping have a nice day xxx