Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

gien

I shall be enforced frugaling and weight losing here I think - my DH announced today that we had a certain amount left in the current account until payday on the 26th. Well, this is about one fifth of what we usually have to spend so it's going to be horrible. We also have two birthdays in this time so they will need to go on a card that gets paid at the end of the month. Most of the major bills have gone out now so will just have to tighten our belts horribly.
Eating wise I am following slimming world, which is great and very healthy. That said, all the fruit and veg can be a bit pricey so I am going to see how much the tinned/frozen stuff is. Oh, and we have a lot of courgette, pumpkin and potatoes in the garden, so that will help.

paidinchickens

Hi peeps

Not much to report. I have been digging most of the day. If you could eat bricks and stones I would have a bountiful harvest already :rotfl::rotfl: At least it was warmer today :T

Seriouslyfrugal Thanks for the reminder about the heritage open days :T there is a lovely old house near us I have been desperate to look round but refuse to pay the entry prices for five of us

DH is back at work next week and we know the "Mega Beast" will be back on his case so we are both a little down in the dumps. I know it is daft worrying about Monday already but I am a serial worrier!!!


Best of luck to everyone

PIC xxxx

LolaLemon

Ooh Tumpty, that would be great, I'll Chase u for them later, as we try to get 'out their' and make bf seem more normal,
Sorry, can't remember who mentioned it, been a support worker for over 3 years now, best unpaid job ever! I'm not as active as I was - 5 groups a week! , due to uni, but I man all our stalls and make a lot to raffle/sell.


I made scones for the first time ever, and I'm well pleased! Just went round to 2 neighbours with some, both have contacted me say they are amazing! One neighbour is in his 70s, has diabetes so has to watch his sugar etc, so I sweetened them with grated carrot that I had gotten son to do for dinner, but changed dinner plan and didnt want them going to waste.
I've uploaded a pic, will add in a min.


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pennib

Mmm Lola they look delicious. Didn't know you could use grated carrot in them. Might give it a try.

LolaLemon

pennib wrote: »

Mmm Lola they look delicious. Didn't know you could use grated carrot in them. Might give it a try.

Thanks
U couldn't taste carrot, but u could see little orange streaks.


Save dish; this is a yearly challenge, but we all do it differently, a lot work out what they NEED to pay for the year, like rent, car, electricity, and then what extras they are willing to pay, like tv, cinema, birthdays, holiday etc and they set an amount for the year and try not to go over that.
A few of us are 'frugals in training', aiming to be as organised/strict/dedicated etc. For me, this year has been a great learning curve, I now shop cheaper, but actually get usage of what I buy. Working to get my bills lower, and trying to live a better, less consumerised life. I do hope to have a set number to live on next year, and really hoping that I stick to it....
The great thing abt this thread, is that its not all one thing, like not only old style info, or just mortgage free ideas etc, but everything. Their has been recipes on making wine to washing powder, help and advice, and u can join anytime. I've also found it to be the friendly'est thread on here.

Frugaldom

Lola & others - re the laundry gloop, I used to put the list of handy links into post 1 at the start of each challenge and update it as I went along. It seems to have been overlooked somewhere along the way, so here's a link that includes it: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2175209

I'm stil;l; using the laundry gloop and love it! I had to buy cheap washing powder during the housemove when I ran out and had no cooker to make more - that's the only laundry detergent I have bought in years, I think! And I hated it! Powdery marks on dark clothes, especially.

Hoping to be able to get back to this forum a bit more once I eventually get work/renovations/forums/blogs/websites all under control and I am still managing to stay within my £4,000 budget, although it is now having to include a heck of a lot more than it ever did before.

Welcome to all newbies and, once again, apologies for my continual absence. I'll be back, I promise!

gien

Another few raspberries out of the garden - Autumn Bliss, lovely ans sweet and a few more are on their way - when I see how much rasps are in the shops I'm saving a few pennies. Off for a night in a posh hotel, paid by DHs work.

seriouslyfrugal

paidinchickens wrote: »

Hi peeps

Seriouslyfrugal Thanks for the reminder about the heritage open days :T there is a lovely old house near us I have been desperate to look round but refuse to pay the entry prices for five of us

PIC xxxx

your welcome I know exactly what you mean about the admission price some of them are really quite astronomical :eek:

weather really nice today been out with the walking group which was nice and all helps the half stone challenge :T

reading a book on downshifting ( from the library ) by judy jones & polly ghazi which is really worth a read its all about leading a simpler life

hope everyone is ok

dizzy_lizzie

Save_Dosh wrote: »

Hi all, I would love to join your frugal challenge. If anyone knows of some really easy alcohol recipes, I would appreciate it. Good luck all. Do you do this monthly, or three monthly.[/QUOTE

This may help. Recipes from mse users on toffee vodka etc
link to recipes etc. Just scroll down to see lots of info.

x

paidinchickens

Been to town today :mad::mad:

Only had trainers and school bag to get for DS as we had been quite good at getting everything early on in the hols. Here's the moan............ his trainers are £20 dearer........£20!!!!! just because he has gone from a size 5 to a size 7 during the hols. Tax free clothing for kids my eye!!!!

Hair cut and school bag practically had me re mortgaging the house!!!

I did promise DS months ago that he could have the new copy of Skulduggery Pleasant (I must admit I have read all the others myself:o) £8 for a book, childrens book at that........how does that encourage kids to read???? The only reason I did not make him wait for it to go to paperback is that he hardly ever reads without torture.

On the plus side I have had a lovely afternoon with just one to one time with DS which was lovely. Some of the other parents around town did not look like they were enjoying time with their kids though :rotfl:

Definitely not a money saving day today. When I overspend we always have beans on toast for tea as penance :rotfl: Which reminds me, DH and I were trying to remember what we ate as children. We were both born early 70s and I can remember my mum making spotted !!!!!!, sunday dinner was with sausages instead of a joint of meat. I can not remember much else so I wonder what everyone else ate around that time. When I googled it came up with late 70s and early 80s.

Hope everyone spent less than me today

PIC xxx