£49 week challenge - everything in!..Nearly

lil_me

Someone posted on another website that Tescos slow cooker that was around £15 is now around £10

Selling what you don't need via eBay, free ads or similar
The babysitting thing there are agencies like sitters
Getting some business advice to improve your income ASAP from that - there is usually a business link type place in most areas, one here issues grants too
Zero waste - much easier when veggie - use everything you can, freeze left overs, always think can I add x which is cheap to bulk it out and make 2 meals instead of 1
Soups are nutritious and warming adding pasta etc to make them more filling

toriaterrier

We've been in some awful situations over winter and we used to use several blankets/duvets on our bed and we would put hot water bottles into bed 1/2 hr - 1 hr before we got into bed to warm it up for us, and then kept the bottles in the bed until they went cold or we went to sleep. Last winter we practically lived in our bedroom as that's where the boiler etc were and even though they weren't always turned on they still generated a lot of heat. We were able to snuggle up and keep each other warm. Plus we had an oil filled radiator in there and it was easier/cheaper to heat the one room. Even our pets lived in that room with us over winter. Layering is another good idea. I wore thick woolly tights and vest tops under my clothes. I also used to wear those fleecy slipper socks with a pair of ordinary cotton socks underneath. I did this because I couldn't stand the feeling of the socks plus extra warmth.

Primark are great for fleecy pj's and maybe try there for the dressing gown too. I bought mine from TJHughes for £8 and it is sooo thick and warm but I realise this is not very useful as they have now closed down lol.

Having tried both oil radiators and Halogen heaters the halogen heaters are sooo much better imo. We got ours from a discount/ex catalogue store for £10.

We bought a rug last week for £20 from our Sunday market/car boot. It is quite big and much nicer instead of our laminate flooring.

For next year why not grow things yourself then you will save loads of money.

I think you have done brilliantly!! And Good Luck on your business!

beautifylife

Some really useful ideas that really work,it sounds, from experience thanks guys!

pinky2681 - thanks for the links the first one didn't work for some reason, I've gone onto the main site but not sure how to find what you were suggesting can you let me know so I can use search instead? Argos looks like a good option so will keep an eye open.

I've managed to post for a slow cooker and rug on local freecycle group so hoping something may come up. I'll check out Tesco thanks to lil_me also for possible slow cooker (yep already tapped into Business link).

adelight - thanks for the encouragement! As my heating system is so old (30-40yrs) it's about 40% efficient for both heat and hot water. That's why I avoid using it as much as possible, so the idea is to limit the heat to one room and use a top up heater instead (and put the heating on for a few hours a day when it's colder just to heat the house through a bit - I switch of the radiators in rooms I'm not using). It sounds like the halogen heater is the most cost effective and even getting a blower heater.

Yes happy to consider some temporary work, but have to watch what I earn otherwise it affects my HB + CTB and I end up in much deeper financial challenges, it's a crazy system!

JC2703 - I had thought about MS, wasn't sure really how to go about it but would welcome any useful advice. I'll PM later to discuss further thanks for the generous offer and your support.
Dottygirl - thanks for the support. I don't have a local library, a moblie library comes round every 2 weeks for 1 hrs. Next closest is about 35/45 mins walk one way, they are open about 3 1/2 days a week. I think it is something I will have to consider factoring in to my week when it gets really cold.
Poppycat - thanks the link worked ok, no probs! I'm not sure my skills are that good but I am sure someone else will benefit from it.
quintwins - great reminder about childrens clothes, yes I'll take a look at the socks and the ugg boots sound good too - great ideas.
Sweetchekz - I had thought about baby sitting and used to do it a lot when I was younger for neighbours, so that wouldn't phaze me. Thought that you might need to be registered or something nowdays, but will give it a go. It would work well into my schedule and benefits of keeping warm etc! Thanks for the idea and link.
toriaterrier - thanks for sharing your experiences and being so open, it's encouraging not to feel like you are doing this alone!

I really appreciate everyones support and encouragement - at times it can feel hard to keep going...things always look better in morning though..funny thing that:)

abaxas

Fruit and veg are cheap if you have a local wholesaler. 25kg of onions at 4 quid etc.

Same with pulses and spices at your local asian store.

Find someone with a car and get the freezer stocked up.

Veg curry + dahl + rice + mini nan= ~50-60p. About 30p without the nan :P

beautifylife

I was reading another post and it mentioned that someone on the site managed to feed a family of 4 for £20 month. That sounds impressive I've tried to do several searches but can't find it.

Does anyone else know where it is I thought there might be some really useful ideas to try as well? Maybe one of the board regulators could advise?

Thanks

TrixieB

£20 a month? I'd love to know the link for that one!!
However I thinking maybe it's this one you meant?
http://thirty-quid.blogspot.com/

flippin36

Was it this thread?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2116179

beautifylife

Hi and thanks both: TrixieB and flippin36 - both threads are useful.

Yes I think that is the £20 month thread, amazing ideas glad you found it! Hope it helps TrixieB too!

beautifylife

Just thought that I would give you what's happened so far.

Took a visit to primark and got some fleecy PJs - although the pack was mixed up and two different sizes! So need to return:mad: ! Also got thermal underwear vest and legging from primark, £5 and £4 and a hat for £1. Ugg type slipper boots £2.60 reduced from £5 - probably won't last too long but can't complain - very cosy though.

Friend of mine hopefully giving me some spare carpet so that may solve the rug issue.

I also got a thermal hat from Aldi for 69p!

Poundland were out of hot water bottles, and foil for radiators wasn't in yet.

Managed to get slow cooker from Tesco £9.50 it was the last one, as not heard back from freecycle.

Can anyone suggest a really good cookbook for veggie's that works well?

Next purchases will be fleeces from Asda when I can.

Thanks everyone.

quintwins

beautifylife wrote: »

Just thought that I would give you what's happened so far.

Took a visit to primark and got some fleecy PJs - although the pack was mixed up and two different sizes! So need to return:mad: ! Also got thermal underwear vest and legging from primark, £5 and £4 and a hat for £1. Ugg type slipper boots £2.60 reduced from £5 - probably won't last too long but can't complain - very cosy though.

Friend of mine hopefully giving me some spare carpet so that may solve the rug issue.

I also got a thermal hat from Aldi for 69p!

Poundland were out of hot water bottles, and foil for radiators wasn't in yet.

Managed to get slow cooker from Tesco £9.50 it was the last one, as not heard back from freecycle.

Can anyone suggest a really good cookbook for veggie's that works well?

Next purchases will be fleeces from Asda when I can.

Thanks everyone.

your well on your way you might eb suprised how long those ugg boots last, mine are only wee cheap ones and are fine and you can throw them in the washing machine

we don't eat alot of veggie meals really so i can't help but i would say don't waste your money on a cookbook when they internet is full of recipes for free :money: