Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

paidinchickens

Looked over the bills today (3 month check) we have shaved so much off we have shaving rash!!!

Nothing more to cut back on

natnat13

Ok, I have a nice jute type bag with 2 candles, a sisal bath scrubie thing, some bath roses, a bottle of wine and a small box of chocs, I am going to pop to Mr T on the way and grab a book or mag, I think she'll love it, she is doing a phd and been studying loads so it's an ideal gift. Thanks very much again x

mooomin

natnat13 wrote: »

Ok, I have a nice jute type bag with 2 candles, a sisal bath scrubie thing, some bath roses, a bottle of wine and a small box of chocs, I am going to pop to Mr T on the way and grab a book or mag, I think she'll love it, she is doing a phd and been studying loads so it's an ideal gift. Thanks very much again x

That sounds like a lovely gift natnat

LolaLemon

Anyone else worried abt this hurricane that's heading our way?

Heading out for essentials today ; lunch with new guy (reall y need to stop calling him that, especially when he said 'love u' on the fone last night!) But anyways, lunch then pick up milk n toilet rolls from shops, wages and eggs from the pub (pay £1.50 a dozen fresh, free range organic eggs) then home to batten down the hatches etc.... also clearing out my room/wardrobes

SandraScarlett

Frugal Alert!!! Check out the Grabbit thread and you'll see a great Free Campbell's Soup glitch. You can get as many as you like, for free, until 5th October.

We may not be able to afford heating, but a free bowl of soup will help keep us warm!

xx

Petlamb

Been reading for a long time but lurked... so a bit of a posting-newcomer to the thread!

Speaking of heating, ours is a long way off from going on! I can't imagine having the heating on yet! Then, luckily we had a decent day weather wise today, til the rain started lashing down anyway!

Got my planning head on, working on how to make this flat a home rather than just somewhere we have to live - it's doable, it's actually a nice flat we just haven't done anything with it! Admittedly we do need to prod the LL about the damp in some rooms, the soggy ceiling in our bedroom (and make sure they actually fixed that leak) and a few little worries here and there... but aside from that the onus is on us really.

We have only had blinds here since we moved in - no curtains - and I think that's a big contributor to the chill that descends on this place with such frequency. As such, the plan once my student loan comes in (and hopefully the Mr's too) is to curtain pole and curtain the place. We have been gifted one pole, and have a couple of sets of curtains so far - handy as we have biiiiig windows!

Other plans include getting organised, making use of the space we do have and sorting out our kitchen... while making use of the freezer stockpile we have amassed!

Aaaaaand breathe. Sorry, long first post!

landregistrylass

Morning all. EEEEK, actually spent some of the folding stuff today. It was hard - but glad I did. Pair of brand new shoes for DD £2, 3 x single fitted sheets for DGS (one of the twins has really bad nose bleeds and blood is so hard to get out of bedding) for £2.50, a book about Victorians for eldest DGS 20p, a toaster to replace the one which has just given up the ghost in our kitchen - £1 exactly the same model. Who would have thought it. Serendipity at its best this morning. Whoopsied chicken for tea - will be enough for another 2 meals. Roasties to make us feel better - the weather is atrocious here. Menu done for the week. Every main meal is with a whoopsied something or other from the freezer. Think my local Mr T is having a purge on "wastage" and mark downs. They now have to list everything they mark down on a special form which the people who are meant to date check the produce then have to justify why they missed it. So ..... might not get many more bargains. But I have had a good run. Hope all well and welcome to newbies. I know I only pop in and actually post once in a blue moon, but I do follow everyone's adventures. Seems the vast majority of us are "winning" against our spending.

redglass_2

LolaLemon wrote: »

Does anyone know where does good quality fleece/wool mattress topper, I remember having one as a child, it was soo warm... I'd like to get one for son, as he barely ever keeps covers on, so need something to keep him warm.
Also looking into buying him feather quilt, and whilst looking around, have seen wool quilts... anyone got any comments on these? (I'm thinking he will keep these on as they are light, and warm!)

Hi Lola, just catching up after a few days' absence. Glad things turned out all right with your bloke.

I use an old duvet as a mattress topper, and have also been known to use a sleeping bag, opened out flat and with the zip positioned where it doesn't irritate your feet. Then a sheet on top.

Did you ever get your shepherd's pie sorted?

SandraScarlett

Welcome Vampiric Addiction, and I so enjoyed reading your post. As you know through lurking, some people are wonderful at growing their own veg, making clothes, and you'll get loads of tips here. :beer: I had a super day yesterday, went out with a mate to London, no fares, used my Freedom Pass, to see Rock of Ages (brilliant show), about the 80s. We had preview cut price seats, about £20 each. I used my free Taste Card to get our meal, in Covent Garden, for 50% (anyone can get one month free, but I was lucky enough to spot their 3 month free card, back in June), so paid £6 each for Sea Bream Fillets with roasted vegetables, and sat outside in the sunshine, drinking tap water.

Then we strolled to Bella Italia, where I used my Free Coffee coupon, for both of us, from The Express.:) Thought they might have refused, cos we weren't having a meal, but they said that was fine.

Then after the show, we went to get the train at Liverpool Street, but first went into the Tesco opposite. They were giving coupons out at the station on Monday, £3 off a £10 spend, so we went to the Reduced section, where I got about £40 worth of food for ................ £7.21!!! :j:j:j:j

This included 4 fresh £5 chickens, use-by date today, for £1 each! But my 3 bags weighed so much, that I had to get DD to meet me, on the platform, at my station. She was well-pleased, as I gave her 2 chickens for her troubles! I'm off to Mr S's SS tills tomorrow, to get some free soup, and I hope that my bowls of warming soup, and hot flushes will keep me warm this winter!

Another friend and I are going to the new Westfield Stratford on Tuesday. I have a Pizza Express code for 2-for-1, and have booked a table, cos I reckon it'll be very busy! Off to cook one of my chickens now!

xx

natnat13

Oh my godness Sandrascarlett, that is amazing, you should win a MSE prize for yesterday!!!

Went to the party last night, friend loved her pressie and my other friends thought it was good too. So thank you again JIL for that idea.

DH and me both woke up fed up this morning so decided to go out for lunch, we went to pizza hut and had a pizza, salad and drink each, kids had kiddie meals and ice cream and it was £16 with their eat for £5 vouchers plus the kids each free (the other £6 was drinks and the kiddies pud) I did feel a bit naughty but we said it was a treat. Now back at home. I have planned my meals for the week and my aim this week is to look through our household bills and see where we can save.

Hope everyone elses Sunday is going well x