Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

rising_from_the_ashes

paidinchickens wrote: »

Toying with the idea on going onto cash only, what are peoples thoughts??

At the moment we put everything we spend on a credit card for the clubcard points and pay in full every month. Years ago I had a pot chicken (like Ma Boswell off bread) and used to put the weekly pennies in it and when it was gone it was gone plus you can see how much you have left. I was talking to DH and I think if we did this now with food and fuel money it may cut us down even more as sometimes it is just too easy to swipe the plastic.

natnat13 wrote: »

I like the idea of cash because it's more visual (me and my visuals!) thinking of doing the same, taking out a set amount a week and when it's gone it's gone!

This sounds good to me too but why I don't do it is ...... I tend to stock up (big time) when stuff's on offer and think I'd really struggle to do this if I stuck to a say £20 for this, £20 for that each week ..:( Any ideas how to get round this?

However, cc bill arrived yesterday - just over £800:eek:. I knew it was going to be big as did some serious post-op and winter stocking up last month but .. even so ..... Hopefully it will be recouped by not needing to buy much over the next couple of months (and balance out the budgets too which aren't too bad considering).


Well, it's the "post op" me ..... glad it's over and now 2 weeks of no weight bearing to get through - day 2 and I'm really bored already!:o

Also really cold - it's not great outside but think sitting around not moving about (usually go and do a spot of vacuuming or cleaning etc if I get cold in the house) isn't helping. Thinking it may be time to break out one of the HW bottles!

Sandra - your day our sounds fab and cheered me up & great deal on the meats (I never seem to find things like that - must try harder!)
Erme - thanks for the link, I'm "another one" with detergent problems so will be giving it a try when I'm up and about again
Spiral - personally I wouldn't eat the meat, it's obviously been frozen before & you shouldn't freeze / defrost & freeze again without cooking in between (think it's something to do with bugs .... but could be wrong)


Still not managed to fix my SoW - any ideas? (column that is overspent showing black instead of red), ta

Welcome to lurkers & newbies, hugs to anyone who needs one (haven't quite caught up with all the posts yet)....

LolaLemon

Glad to hear ur ok rising from the ashes.
For the visual money and lack of for the bulk buying, I was reading the other day, about the 2nd purse/bank .. think its on the grocery challenge list... I'm going to attempt it... might be better to give urself more to start with if ur used to having the cash on card.
It's basically you pay this 2nd purse £10 per month, to only be used for when u see a really good offer, and when u get home, u pay the purse back, I think from my understanding, u pay the difference back.
E.g. great offer on pasta.£2 for the big massive bags and its get on free. So £2 for 2 bags, but they are normally £4.50 each .. saving u £7 ... that u then pay the 2nd purse, thus keeping the original amount (£10) + having gained an extra £5 ...

At the end if the year, u should then have a good little savings pile

minnie2

hello!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am back!!! what a mad few weeks it has been!!!!!! hope everyone is well!!!!! what have i missed? i noticed i am on page 14 of 49 so i have some catching up to do!!!

SandraScarlett

Cash or credit card - it's a difficult one. In The Olden Days, before CCs, you had to make your cash last, or go without. But, as long as you can pay your cc off in full each month, it's a real boon, especially when there are bargains to be had.;)

I had an email from Ocado today, offering me 20% off my shop, up to £16, so I went through the special offers, that applied to me, and have an order for £100.13, less £20.13 on special offers, less £16 20% deduction - leaving £64 to pay! :j

It sounds a lot, but I have enough coffee for 3 months, and we like Nescafe Alta Rica, which is an eye watering £3.87 for 100 grams. That's our "can't do without". It's on special offer at the mo, 2 for £6, less 20%, means I'm paying £2.40 a jar. As we're both home all day, we get through a fair bit!

Although the fruit and veg are dearer than Mr S, the 20% discount makes it cheaper, Flora is 2 for £2.50, or 2 for £2 with the discount, so some huge savings.

I didn't buy any soup or ham!

xx

paidinchickens

Welcome back Minnie

Lola I had to read twice :rotfl: but I think I get the idea! I want things as simple as possible though as DH would not cope

Mr Ts express is getting sneaky as when I popped to the PO at 4ish so nipped over the road, they had already marked things down :eek: We have been going after 9pm. Luckily I am at the PO most days so can check plus now I have my new bike (named ruby as she is red, DH bought for my birthday) it is a little more exercise :rotfl:

Todays list of bargains

bread 20p, two whole meal packs of 6 pitta bread 11p each, two tubs of egg sandwhich filler 14p each, cabbage 11p,two pints of milk at 7p each, pork and apple sausages 50p a pack and angus burger packs 50p each :T:T

I love whoopsies :j:j

seriouslyfrugal

natnat13 wrote: »

I like the idea of cash because it's more visual (me and my visuals!) thinking of doing the same, taking out a set amount a week and when it's gone it's gone!

I use money more than my CC these days although I still have one for purchases above £100 or the odd thing brought online - I find that i'm better when i have the money in front of me it makes me question things more

Welcome back minnie

have a great weekend everyone

23rdspiral

Thanks for the da ice on the liver... We chucked it. I'll check the packaging more carefully in the future and cook first if it was previously frozen.

Bargains today... Star drops spray surface disinfectant 2 for £1.68, normally 99p, plus 33% extra free in each bottle. In Pound Stretcher. (usually use normal star drops, and detol spray... So good to simplify.
Also Wilkos dishwasher cleaner down to almost half price, so bought 4!
and Aldi's veg for 49p this week: broccoli, carrots and celery. And princes canned ham down to 49p!
And huge hardback Vic Reeves book for 99p from 99p Stores!! Going towards OH Xmas prezzie

hattifattener

Sandra, your post has just added to my thoughts on possibly doing an ocado shop every now and then. Me and OH love Waitrose for stuff like good olives, deli stuff and the occasional 'ready meal' treat ( the ILs shop there, we don't!) and stuff like their essentials range doesn't seem more than your average own brand prices, but you get really good quality across the board. I might see if I can scout around for some offers and give it a whirl for a treat every couple of months.

Racking my brains trying to shave a bit off our regular spending. Started the utilities price comparison as we've been hear 6 months now. Seen some good deals but going wait till it all settles out after Oct 1st. Realised that when we moved in our cheapest option was a BG web package, and applied for that, but it seems we're on a standard tariff, with online billing, so we're doing exactly the same as websaver i.e. Saving them dosh on paper bills, but paying much more for the privilege! I don't know if BG are cheeky b*ggers or I'm a bit slow on the uptake. I wouldn't want to say either way!

Aril

Hello fellow frugallers:j
Here at GBT Mr GBT and I are holding a competion to see who can get the tackiest anniversary card - price limit of 100 pennies [it's our 18th anniversary this week]- I trawled the local charity shop and have come up with an absolute cracker for 50p. I'm bound to win:rotfl:

No other spends today- been busy cooking as we have friends coming over for dinner. Cheaper than going out for a meal!

Arilx

slowlyfading

Evening everyone :hello:

Me and OH have just eaten a dine in for a tenner meal, which was delicious we got the gammon with onion rings on the side, and then a cherry slice for pud, nom nom nom we also popped to sainsbugs this afternoon to get the food shopping for this week, so we're all set

Hope everyone is having a good weekend