2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

happycrafter_2

Erme wrote: »

I got this really good book on socks from Amazon last week (lion yarn) and it has some fab crocheted sock patterns in. Where did you get your pattern from? I think crocheting socks is easier than knitting them. I've knitted them too. If you want to learn to knit socks try silver's sock class (google it)...was how I learnt to knit socks :j


E

When I bought the wool, the lady gave me a pattern to go with it free. I think the wool was king cole as it had no label but the pattern I am sure has king cole at the top of it.

I will look for the class tonight thank you for the advice, I think it will be the shaping that will confuse me the most. Not sure my crocheting is that good yet to try socks, but maybe thats a goal to work towards this year.

Just received an aldi special offers email and pressure cookers are on it 5l ones for £29.99.

This weekend I am going to go through all my clothes and sort out what I do wear, what doesn't fit and what can be revamped. As this year my plan is either buy from ebay or make my own. I get so depressed when I go to shops for clothes I thought this may be better for me.

black_cat

Back at work so it's been a good week spending-wise. We've only spent on food (not much) and household (half price Persil at Tesco). I even got a free week at Slimming World! I forgot to get something out of the freezer for dinner yesterday. It was so tempting to get a takeaway but we managed dinner from the stores. Had an omelette for lunch today with bits from the fridge.

I'm really enjoying this thread. Thanks for all the inspiration!

black_cat

happycrafter wrote: »

This weekend I am going to go through all my clothes and sort out what I do wear, what doesn't fit and what can be revamped. As this year my plan is either buy from ebay or make my own. I get so depressed when I go to shops for clothes I thought this may be better for me.

I need to do the same. Hopefully I'll need to take some clothes in soon. My plan is to buy more from charity shops if possible, but it would be better not to buy any at all!

SandraScarlett

CoupsRus wrote: »

Haven't really posted much but just wanted to say DH and I have had two NSDs in a row. It's not much but it is a start. We've meal planned this week and so far it is going great. We will be doing some food shopping this weekend but we have made a list and are determined to stick to it.

That's brilliant! As I've said before, if you haven't budgeted, made a shopping list or planned meals before, it's as hard as learning a foreign language, so well done! :T

paidinchickens wrote: »

Sandra You always brighten my day with your eventful life "you put the great in Gt Britain" is a classic I must remember to use in the future

I must admit I complain more now than I ever did. Companies must expect this as everything is so expensive people can't afford to have shoddy anything.

Oh I have a few well-honed phrases! If I have to ask someone to move, especially an elderly gentleman, I always say "Excuse me young man", which always puts a smile on their face.

stitching_witch wrote: »

Feeling a bit low today so found myself in the baker's shop buying an almond croissant. I did manage to eat half for elevenses and the other half at three o'clock so I didn't feel too guilty.

So far I have spent £253.35 and still have £163.32 of this month's budget left, which I am really pleased about. That's eight NSDs too . I have a grocery/toiletries/household/catfood budget of £75 this month and have only spent £10.90 so far.

We have lived a very sparse lifestyle a long time as DH has been off sick for nearly four years but there are times (and today is one of them) that I just get so fed up with having absolutely no money, being overdrawn at the bank and at my CC limit. All I want to do today is buy something for ME but I am steering clear of the lovely fabric websites!

Well you're doing fantastically, and if you have some money over from your budget this month, perhaps you could put a percentage, 10% or 25%, aside for yourself? Today, I decadently treated myself to a Costa coffee and an egg and mushroom roll - so there!

Letsdothis - what a great age your dog reached, 18 years old, that's great! I hope you manage to get a new doggy at a reasonable price, cos you've obviously got a lot of love to give. I've only had a few years, since I was 7, without a dog, and I can't imagine life without them.

Pets don't care what you look like, and I can talk to my dog about anything and he never disagrees with me (!) or judges me, or cares what programme I'm watching on the tv!!

Have a great weekend everyone.

xx

seriouslyfrugal

Frugaldom wrote: »

The slow cooker recipes section has now been included in handy links section (post 1) for future quick reference.
)

Thank you frugaldom for adding to the handy links

happycrafter wrote: »

Just received an aldi special offers email and pressure cookers are on it 5l ones for £29.99.
.

have you looked somewhere like amazon just to do a price comparrison I know they had a 6.5 litre slow cooker for around £25 ( wasn't sure if you were set on a pressure cooker)



not much to report this week - just been plugging away in fact its been a quiet week :j

gemini12

brizzledfw wrote: »

Blimey when we got a rescue cat in 2000 he was free...exactly who is doing who the favour??! I am no longer sure:rotfl:

I work with a dog rescue and we ask for £150 for a dog but to put it in perspective the dog is fully vaccinated, neutred, treated for parasites and microchipped either before adoption or we pay for it to be done after adoption. If you add that up (it is very rare that dogs do not need all that doing) there is no profit in fact most weeks of the year I can be found at car boots, dogs show , whatever raising money to cover the shortfall in that and the vet fees for dogs who arrive with other medical problems.
This does not include feeding, kenneling etc etc.

My foster dog has just run up a bill of over £200 in having a tumour removed from his leg.
Unfortunately there are more and more dogs ( and cats) that need new homes or the alternative is putting hundreds of animals to sleep every week of the year. Conversly there are many many people who give up their time to help these animals, very few receive any montry reward for this.
Sorry to go on but most people do not realise how much it costs to get a dog in re-homable condition.

JayneC

Just popping on to say Hi. Not a lot to report. Bought logs and milk today. NSD yesterday.

A friend has invited me for tea tonight (fish pie, yummy), DS at his dad's, DGS at his other gran's, DD decided to just have soup so very cheap tea tonight. I've made some banana muffins to take along and also some choc brownies. DS was highly delighted to lick the pan, small things eh?

Took some bits to the charity shop. I like the idea of remaking clothes, I often keep old broken clothes thinking I will do this but just have a cupboard full of stuff instead:( Must try harder.

DD is expecting and is hoping for a girl. She spotted a cute dress on a forum but it's not available in this country. It's quite simple so I've said I'll have a go at making it if it's a girl, so must, must get out my sewing machine...

Ok off to get organised before I go out.

Keep going everybody

dizzy_lizzie

Sorry Ruby meant to say thanks for the info re the herbal tonics. Will have a look in H & B
x

rubytuesday

No worries Dizzie hope you're feeling better now.

Unfortunately I still don't seem to be right were I was wrong again over Christmas - headachy and sore throat.

Hope I feel ok tomorrow as it's my 'newlish found' sister's surprise 60th Birthday do tomorrow and hopefully a brother and sister I am yet to meet will be there.

Well talking of decadence I succumbed to the lure of the Charity shops today and bought a cpouple of tops, a Cath Kidstonish duvet cover and a beautiful coat which unfortunately was too small so I'm going to see if I can sell it on.

I've never done that before as I generally prefer to leave things for other people and it feels a bit naughty to me.

Anyway I finally had to confess to transgressing on The No Spending For A Year thread - the withdrawal symptoms were just too much!

I also got the Meal Deal in M and S (only ever get the whole chicken) and bought a half price orchid for myself and one for my sister's present and was able to use a five pound off a twenty five pound spend so that was good.

Buffythedebtslayer

Not been here for a while and not been hugely Frugal either.

First week was ok, I managed not to spend too much. This week well i don't know! Had to work three times so paid for parking but in my attmepts to use my nectar points I forgot to get a parking refund! typical me!

Got a lot of work on at the minute so not much for spending but also not much time for planning.

Also got the dentist tomorrow which could be expensive!

and I started writing this post about two hours ago! and have lost what I was going to say!

Have a good Frugal weekend folks!