2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

cw18

Judi wrote: »

So much for my efforts as a frugal housewife. I lower my grocery bill (which pleases Mr Judi), i manage to pay off my overdraft and now i'm saving for new doors for the house. I'll never get any cash behind me at this rate.

But at least being Frugal means you can afford to save for the doors, rather than sliding further into debt when you pay for them

traveldolly

Hi all,
I'm enjoying reading everyone's posts and I'm trying to keep the faith. This week I'm continuing with the shopping spending diary, using coupons where possible and not using the car for some trips. I managed to buy 50 mtrs Xmas wrapping paper and crackers for under £3 last week so that's all stored away. My family think that I'm quite mad buying Christmas stuff already but they all come to me for cards and paper when they've forgotten to buy them.
Have a good week.

ailz95

Took my parents shopping yesterday to Lidl and Sainsbury's we spent £35 (under really but all change was nabbed for my pots) in total out of a budget of £50. We are writing a shopping list and sticking to it - though one day we'll get beyond writing 'meat, fruit and veg' and then detailing everything else. DH doesn't 'do' stews etc - reminds him of boarding school - so we tend to have lots of roasts, and he doesn't eat cold cooked meat either. Sainsbury's have had some pork joints with lots of crackling at half price. We buy one and cut it into 2, 3 or 4 portions and just cook the amount we want for 1 meal. We do the same with rolled breast of lamb. It certainly seems to go further. I've been eating low carbohydrate for the last 6 months (lost 20 kilos too). I started it to sort out my blood sugar (I'm diabetic type 2) and the weight has dropped off. For the first time in my life I'm only overweight rather than obese. My weight as a child was usually equal to my age - in stones. I had TB in 1957 at age 3 and the children that put weight on were cured and my family being fat anyway made sure that I stayed cured.

Only another 17 kilos to lose and I'll be the correct weight - and my blood sugar is in the non diabetic range :cool:. My doctor is more excited about it all than me. :j It doesn't cost that much more either as we can eat cheaper cuts of meat and only about 200g per day is needed. Sorry to go on at length - again :rotfl:

SandraScarlett

patentgirl wrote: »

Morning all


Sandra love the ode what about comptetitions needing prize winning captions have you ever entered or thought about them

Well I used to enter, when it depended on you thinking about it, but nowadays there are web sites devoted to it, so I haven't entered. In the early 1970s, I won a free week at Ragdale Hall Health Farm/Spa, by entering twice, once in my name and once in DH's, and "he" won! :rotfl:You had to write a poem about losing weight, and mine (written from DH's point of view) began:

Oh how I wish that she'd keep quiet, again my wife is on a diet
No more pies, she tells me, brightly, now it's blooming salad nightly

Each day onto the scales she'll pounce, hurrah! She's lost another ounce!

I want a sandwich, silly fool, this slimming bread's like cotton wool.

**************

I seem to remember buying Nimble bread in the 70s, but I reckon my week's stay, which was great, was worth, in today's money, about £1,000! Then I also won a week's holiday for the family in Devon. That was in a beautiful 3 bedroomed chalet, with meals included, and also had to be worth a fair bit. You had to write, in 12 words or less, why you would go on holiday with a company called Freshfields. My effort was:

In urban South, or rural West, we all agree "Freshfields is best"!

Perhaps I'll start entering again.

natnat13 wrote: »

Hi all
Still here, went to he pub last night for fat club meeting and realised I had no money! So had a glass of tap water then managed to tip it all over the floor!!
Started a new detox diet so have spent some money on fruit, veg and seeds, I have given up coffee and got such a bad headache it made me sick! It wasn't a good day yesterday, lets hope today is better!

You have my sympathy, regarding giving up coffee. I am a coffeeholic, and it's Nescafe Alta Rica. I decided to cut down on coffee, limiting myself to 3 a day, and my head thumped, I felt irritable and I couldn't sleep. I persevered for a fortnight, and then returned to my beloved caffeine and peace!

xx

black_cat

Judi wrote: »

So much for my efforts as a frugal housewife. I lower my grocery bill (which pleases Mr Judi), i manage to pay off my overdraft and now i'm saving for new doors for the house. I'll never get any cash behind me at this rate.

Sounds as though you're doing very well!!

seriouslyfrugal

dinner last night was left over roast meat & veg from sunday so thats 2 days meals for the price of one but that isn't unusual here at frugal towers


today i've been decluttering as where mum works they collect unwanted items to sell for the local childrens hospice so at least thats some decluttering done :j

Igamogam

Bought 6 packets of pitta bread last night at Mr T - 2p a packet! Couldnt let that go and have found room in freezer for them

System

cw18 wrote: »

But at least being Frugal means you can afford to save for the doors, rather than sliding further into debt when you pay for them

Very true but i'd feel a bit happier with some cash behind me.

SandraScarlett

ailz95 wrote: »

Took my parents shopping yesterday to Lidl and Sainsbury's we spent £35 (under really but all change was nabbed for my pots) in total out of a budget of £50. We are writing a shopping list and sticking to it - though one day we'll get beyond writing 'meat, fruit and veg' and then detailing everything else. DH doesn't 'do' stews etc - reminds him of boarding school - so we tend to have lots of roasts, and he doesn't eat cold cooked meat either. Sainsbury's have had some pork joints with lots of crackling at half price. We buy one and cut it into 2, 3 or 4 portions and just cook the amount we want for 1 meal. We do the same with rolled breast of lamb. It certainly seems to go further. I've been eating low carbohydrate for the last 6 months (lost 20 kilos too). I started it to sort out my blood sugar (I'm diabetic type 2) and the weight has dropped off. For the first time in my life I'm only overweight rather than obese. My weight as a child was usually equal to my age - in stones. I had TB in 1957 at age 3 and the children that put weight on were cured and my family being fat anyway made sure that I stayed cured.

Only another 17 kilos to lose and I'll be the correct weight - and my blood sugar is in the non diabetic range :cool:. My doctor is more excited about it all than me. :j It doesn't cost that much more either as we can eat cheaper cuts of meat and only about 200g per day is needed. Sorry to go on at length - again :rotfl:

Wow!!!! What a weight loss! That's over 3 stone in old money!! You're fantastic!!:j:j Please share your amazing tips! I know cutting out carbs is good for weight loss, but are you including all carbs, ie bread, rice, pasta, potatoes? If I cut out carbs completely, I find myself yearning for a slice of toast. Then, when I succumb, one slice is never enough.:o

Anyway, well done you!!

xx

enjoyfinancialchallenges

ETA My "anything else" budget is now well overspent for the month .... Can I ask where others have budgeted for things like Dentists, Opticians etc? These really aren't in my budget anywhere but I do realize I should have them in somewhere .....

Rising you mentioning Dentists and Options certainly made me think at present I don't put anything away, I do however have a sort of health insurance, I say sort of because I pay monthly and get financial help with certain things health wise. The cost is going up so I shall have to reconsider my options, the help I get isn't the full payment just a bit towards the total cost and the amount is set for the month, I don't really want to cancel it because without it I certainly would not have been able to have my dental implant and the bridges I had a couple of years back. Also being a senior citizen if I reduce my premiums I would not get such a good deal from them BUT.....at the moment I'm paying £37.95 a month!! and the amount I pay towards the total cost obviously comes from somewhere. I have a saving account that I use to pay off all the bits I don't cater for so I expect it comes from there.

I managed to get some seville oranges from the market and am cooking the fruit as we talk, it gives the house such a yummy smell and it seems as if it was only a short while ago I stopped selling when the weather got cold. The marmalade will go towards the Sunday market stall I do in the spring, summer and autumn.