2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

mishmogs

How do all

Wow, this thread is galloping along.....

Today is my 5th NSD and feeling chuffed. Off out tomorrow down town so that will involve a bit of a spend but I dont intend to buy nonsense, a tight hold on my purse is the order of the day.

Have cooked mince (from the freezer) and will have spag bog tonight and then turn it into chilli for tomorrow and then lasagne for two more nights, any left over from making these meals will be frozen for another day. Will make and have a chicken (from the freezer) and leek pie inbetween the mince meals and make a pea and ham (again from the freezer) soup to have before the meals so we should have nice full belly's.

Saw Mr S selling mince pies for 49p when we went to do the weekly shop, so purchased a couple of boxes and may have one of these with some HM custard yum yum...

When we were on holiday last year, we purchased some local ground coffee and it has been very nice thank you (other packs in the freezer) and I found at the back of the cupboard, a sealed packet of ground coffee dated 2005 so had a smell, smelt good, and thought what the heck, mixed it in with the holiday coffee and it all tastes good. Guess I shall have to mix in the other pack I found dated 2005!!

Funny what you bring back from hols.....

amber03

Still working my way through the food i still have from xmas, even if everybody is getting fed up, mince pies and xmas cake left as well as loads of tins stuff. Checked freezer got loads of mince for some reason, think i will take some tips from mishmogs about that. Started for xmas 2012 with bottle of bubble bath half price gone staight in the xmas drawer, decided each week if i see a "bargin" for xmas i will buy it.More aware of what i am spending my money on.x

paidinchickens

purpleorchid wrote: »

afternoon

have not been on here much over wk end, still low.
had 4 nsd. hope everyone is well.

Luv P
xx

Hang on in there purple tis nearly spring

ruby you have confused me by changing your pic as I loved the silver kitty you had before

can't remember who posted that value wash powder bleached their clothes but would like to know which value powder it was so I can steer clear :rotfl: I used to be the wash product queen with the latest, bestest smelling two in one and a separate conditioner and bounce for the dryer :eek::eek:

I have nightmares now about how much I have spent over the years on laundry products alone.

We now use the cheapest non bio powder and only use half the amount shown and instead of conditioner I use vinegar. I picked up the vinegar tip off here and was a little dubious but it really does work and your clothes do not smell of it either. DSS and I both have delicate skin, I have psoriasis and it has nearly gone since I changed all the wash products.

Vinegar is brill ain't it ?? The things I have found you can use it for since coming on ere :rotfl::rotfl:

PIC x

moneybear123

Hello everyone, I'm having another nsd. :T

nsd 7/9 :beer:

happycrafter_2

hope everyone is well, I had to do a aldi shop for this week (payday on Monday so very limited amount of money left). So wrote a meal plan, shopping list and it all came to £17. Popped in to home bargins and spotted some bold washing powder for £3 25+ washes (i think).

Came home to a cheque from council, had been overpaying council tax and not known about it so nice cheque for £35 to bank.:j

SandraScarlett

traveldolly wrote: »

Hi frugal folk.
It's definitely going to be small steps in this house but so far I have managed to keep a daily spending diary for food and household shopping and use the washing line for drying clothes instead of just chucking them in the tumble dryer each time. This week I'm going to avoid using the car for any trips to town or school and walk even though I will have to turn a deaf ear to DS. He hates walking anywhere. I figure if I add a small change each week where possible it will be easier to adjust. Have a good week everyone.

That's a great, and very do-able idea. :T Just think, by the end of the year, you'd have economised on 50 things!

amber03 wrote: »

Still working my way through the food i still have from xmas, even if everybody is getting fed up, mince pies and xmas cake left as well as loads of tins stuff. Checked freezer got loads of mince for some reason, think i will take some tips from mishmogs about that. Started for xmas 2012 with bottle of bubble bath half price gone staight in the xmas drawer, decided each week if i see a "bargin" for xmas i will buy it.More aware of what i am spending my money on.x

Fantasmagorical!! My DH's birthday is Christmas Day, so I've always started shopping for him from January onwards! And you'll be so chuffed with yourself when you look in your drawers (!) in October, and see how many gifts you already have.

paidinchickens wrote: »

Hang on in there purple tis nearly spring

ruby you have confused me by changing your pic as I loved the silver kitty you had before

can't remember who posted that value wash powder bleached their clothes but would like to know which value powder it was so I can steer clear :rotfl: I used to be the wash product queen with the latest, bestest smelling two in one and a separate conditioner and bounce for the dryer :eek::eek:

I have nightmares now about how much I have spent over the years on laundry products alone.

We now use the cheapest non bio powder and only use half the amount shown and instead of conditioner I use vinegar. I picked up the vinegar tip off here and was a little dubious but it really does work and your clothes do not smell of it either. DSS and I both have delicate skin, I have psoriasis and it has nearly gone since I changed all the wash products.

Vinegar is brill ain't it ?? The things I have found you can use it for since coming on ere :rotfl::rotfl:

PIC x

Yes it's scary when you think how we've all bought into the hype about things like washing powder, over the years. And what a wonderful bonus that your psoriasis has nearly cleared up as well.

PurpleOrchid, so sorry you're not feeling well sweetie, and a massive cyberspace bouquet to you.:)

Moneybear, you go girl! How fantastic your purse must be feeling with all your NSDs!

Time for a huge cheer for everyone, :T:T:T and I bet you would never have thought how thrilled you'd feel, knowing you'd had a NSD or making a great meal out of leftovers, or hidden freezer items!

Tomorrow, we'll be (almost) through a third of the month, so let's have a rallying call ...............

Can we do it? YES WE CAN!!!!!! :beer:

xx

Ches

woops posted on wrong thread

black_cat

First day back at work and it's a NSD! Found a penny on the floor and snaffled it for the pot. Dinner from the freezer. I'm going to try to make Monday - Thursday NSDs each week. Do you plan No Spend Days or do they just happen?

rictus123

Evening fellow frugallers. Back to the daily graft today and loving it. Excited to get the pennies rolling in while minimal is going out. March should be a good month considering i get paid fortnightly but tend to live in "per calander month" expenses. So will have an extra fortnights pay that month to fight the business debt with. Many more further ideas about expanding the business for even more extra income but will all take a back seat until im debt free, bought and living in my own house and got a years expenses behind me.

On nsd 7 of the year, first 2 days of the year were spends and not had since!! Aiming to go aslong as i can without an expense-only thing allowed is petrol,phone,insurance,digs and my business loan repayments.
I have loan payments going out on the 14th and the 1st of Febuary. Insurance and phone will be out about 28th of Jan. That leaves some petrol when needed and will not need a thing else until the end of Feburay....when car mot is due - eeek :eek: My budget is for everything i spend except holiday to America and business loan...so seem to be managing it well so far and well withn the £500 a month!

frizz2

Hi Everyone,
Hope you all don't mind me joining this brilliant thread. I have not posted for about six months and have let my spending slip a bit too much. I am pretty frugal most of the time but have taken on a new job working four days a week and have not been keeping a close enough eye on our expenses. Hence my logging on today. I am determined to get back to my frugal ways and check on my grocery bill regullarly.
I have started fresh by using lots of left overs from the freezer. Also started knitting a waistcoat. I am determined to get back to frugal ways totally. I am going to make a menu plan for the month and have more no spend days.
Best wishes
Everyone
Frizz2