2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

LolaLemon

I had more quotes but they haven't shown :-(

I have also previously blocked my sink due to not flushing enough after - I ended up washing my clothes in the shower as the washing machine wasn't able to get rid of the water... after a week of waiting on my dad getting over to fix it, I took the pipes apart bit by bit and found the blockage... small amount of runny fat turned into a 4" rock solid lump!

We had snow today :-( hope we get no more, as i haven't replaced the heater that was recalled... just using my oven,getting scared at how high my electric bill is going to be, although I don't use much electric at any other time, all lights n sockets turned off as soon as done with them... only things on all the time is fridge and freezer.

The new relationships - hope they continue to grow from strength to strength...

natnat13

Just highlighted my own hair!!!! Been meaning to do it for weeks and off out tomorrow night (xmas meal paid for before xmas but because of tradegy in the village we didn't go) it looks pretty good for saying at one point I was all tin foil and swear words!!!!
Also the school are off to see a panto tomorrow and asked if I wanted to go with them, I help out once a week so they always ask helpers if there's spare seats, it has cost £13 but it's alot cheaper than normal prices, bit of a treat really and DS1 is very excited mummy is going on the bus with him!!
Haven't spent a lot else this week.
Off to catch up on the last 2 pages now, hope everyone's well x x
PS - Still had no coffee and feel great, whoo, whoo!!! Not buying anymore either so that's £4 a week saved :rotfl:

miss_empty_piggy

Phew am now caught up - feel like I've missed loads since I've been gone.
Well done to all the new relationships - mine's 6 months now but still feels brand new, even though we used to go out 23 years ago - we got there eventually.

Not been particularly frugal of late (spent far too much on food shopping -ridiculously! oh well lesson learnt!). Need to get back on track with the spending. Hoping to have a frugal weekend. Kids are away and OH is mainly playing golf, I'm planning on getting into the loft and having a good clear out. Getting things organised for travel in August, monster box of clothes to sort for little one, and anything ready for ebay/boot sales etc. Have a great day everyone. x

scrappie_2

SandraScarlett - well done you on getting all that cash!! It really does pay to be honest.

I did a mini-meal-plan for part of this week (out the other days!). So made a large batch of sausage and mash with red onion gravy for dinner last night. Had some of the leftovers for lunch today and a portion still left to go in the freezer.

For dinner this evening I had leftover soup from lunch yesterday - OK i did buy this from Waitr**se, but boy it was good ! Have kept the container and am going to experiment over the weeknd, see if I can cone up with something similar.

Possibly out for drinks/ dinner tomorrow or Saturday. Have been 'reunited' with an old school friend via FB. Got a ramdom txt off him in Nov asking why we never 'got it together when we were young'. As I had no answer, I suggested that we meet up for drinks. It has taken a LOT of planning (mainly due to my extended holiday/ xmas/ shift work etc..) but we finally both have some free time. So, we will see. Always thought he was cute and 'outta my league' at school - but also short! I'm not amazonion myself, but I do like to go stratospheric in heels!!! Best put my uggs on for the first meet, just in case

SandraScarlett

determined_new_ms wrote: »

what a result Sandra! Good for you :T (trying to keep the green eyed monster at bay!!! )

Always complain. Don't know if I gave it before but this (won't let me post links, it's www. ceo email . com, without any spaces) is a linky for the email addresses of Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of dozens of companies. If the first email, to Customer Services, isn't effective, I follow it up with one to the MD or CEO, copying the original email, and making sure the date is emboldened.

Let's assume one, of a packet of 12 fish fingers, was minus the breadcrumbs. (:rotfl:) This is the sort of thing I'd write:

Dear Sirs

I know you will be as disappointed as I am to learn that my recent purchase of 12 fish fingers was not of the high quality that I have come to expect from (name of Company here).

This item was purchased from Wesco and has always been a firm family favourite. However we found that one of the fish fingers had not had its breadcrumb coating applied effectively, and, on cooking, this affected the flavour of the fish that it enclosed, which had to be thrown away.

I do not know if part of your machinery is about to develop a bigger fault, and that this mis-coating is a precursor to huge problems, but thought you would want to be aware of this, as naturally, with the cost of food so high, your customers will not wish to have to dispose of items, as I had to. I look forward to receiving your reply and comments.

Thank you.

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

Sometimes, I even amaze myself!!!!!

xx

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Hi all,

Drizzle i know what you mean about falling off the wagon,

I am treating January as the 'breaking in' month again...lol....as January is a very busy montyh for us in work, so my head is all over the place...

bought tinned dog food in bulk this week bought 60 tins, so saved myself £14.50 on what we normally pay:beer:

I have also joined up to woohoo free bingo ( i know i hate bingo) but you can earn £10 tesco or love2shop vouchers, its going to take about 3 months of playing everyday to get a voucher:rotfl:but its free, and while i am on the puter i just leave the bingo window open and nip back and fore to play the games..

so if anyone wants to join, just pm me your email , the only thing i get is extra playing points, no referral money etc

Managed to get some whoopsie shopping this week, but not as many around.... noticing alot more people looking for the reduced stuff now...

Was thinking of putting some clothes on ebay in the next few days, was wondering how people are doing on ebay since christmas, and what brands etc are bringing the good sales?

quintwins

morning all, my ex rental dvds came at 3 for £3.50 there in fab condition so i ordered 3 more they will bulk the kids xmas/birthday pressies out nicely and considering they we're disney there very cheap so i'm thrilled i will keep checking for anymore threw the year

pretty frugal day today morning will be spent cleaning and afternoon will be spent ironing and maybe watching a dvd with the kids, all meals from stores all i do need to buy milk and spuds to see us threw the weekend, i might make do with spuds and grab milk from the cheap butchers when i collect the kids after school

Fervent37

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Always complain. Don't know if I gave it before but this (won't let me post links, it's www. ceo email . com, without any spaces) is a linky for the email addresses of Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of dozens of companies. If the first email, to Customer Services, isn't effective, I follow it up with one to the MD or CEO, copying the original email, and making sure the date is emboldened.

Let's assume one, of a packet of 12 fish fingers, was minus the breadcrumbs. (:rotfl:) This is the sort of thing I'd write:

Dear Sirs

I know you will be as disappointed as I am to learn that my recent purchase of 12 fish fingers was not of the high quality that I have come to expect from (name of Company here).

This item was purchased from Wesco and has always been a firm family favourite. However we found that one of the fish fingers had not had its breadcrumb coating applied effectively, and, on cooking, this affected the flavour of the fish that it enclosed, which had to be thrown away.

I do not know if part of your machinery is about to develop a bigger fault, and that this mis-coating is a precursor to huge problems, but thought you would want to be aware of this, as naturally, with the cost of food so high, your customers will not wish to have to dispose of items, as I had to. I look forward to receiving your reply and comments.

Thank you.

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

Sometimes, I even amaze myself!!!!!

xx

SandraScarlett many thanks for that link. Have saved it for future reference!

determined_new_ms

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Always complain. Don't know if I gave it before but this (won't let me post links, it's www. ceo email . com, without any spaces) is a linky for the email addresses of Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of dozens of companies. If the first email, to Customer Services, isn't effective, I follow it up with one to the MD or CEO, copying the original email, and making sure the date is emboldened.

Let's assume one, of a packet of 12 fish fingers, was minus the breadcrumbs. (:rotfl:) This is the sort of thing I'd write:

Dear Sirs

I know you will be as disappointed as I am to learn that my recent purchase of 12 fish fingers was not of the high quality that I have come to expect from (name of Company here).

This item was purchased from Wesco and has always been a firm family favourite. However we found that one of the fish fingers had not had its breadcrumb coating applied effectively, and, on cooking, this affected the flavour of the fish that it enclosed, which had to be thrown away.

I do not know if part of your machinery is about to develop a bigger fault, and that this mis-coating is a precursor to huge problems, but thought you would want to be aware of this, as naturally, with the cost of food so high, your customers will not wish to have to dispose of items, as I had to. I look forward to receiving your reply and comments.

Thank you.

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

Sometimes, I even amaze myself!!!!!

xx

This is fantastic Sandra thank you! :A will be plagerising it shamelessly over the next months! :rotfl: I actually do need to make 2 complaints 1 to British Gas for their incompetency - they are unable to send me a correct bill despite giving them the meter readings 4 times! :mad: and also Talk Talk who convinced me to stay with them by offering me the same tarrif as I would have got with Plusnet when we moved and then when the bill came through it was at the old rate. I called to complain and was advised that it was tough!

I complained about some crisps from Lidl in Dec and got a voucher for a free packet and also the cost refunded :T all for a phone call!

Am going into town today so will buy lentils & soy sauce from the oriental supermarket & toilet paper from the £shop. Trying not to spend anything else while I am in town (need a fingers crossed smilie here :rotfl:) happy days to you all x

wear280902

Hello all,
This is my first chance to post and I am both a NEWBIE to this board and posting on the forum .
Today all plans had to be thrown out of the window as I have child home ill so had to rethink today - I have two jobs one of which I organsie my own visits and can work from home. Have been reading through posts on breaks and decided that slow cooker for meal planning and saving time is in order for me. Found mine yesterday to realise we have outgrown my tiny hinari 1.5 l from Student days ( we are now a family of 4). Quick phone around and I have managed to borrow a 6.5l one ( the other extreme ) to 'try before I buy' so to speak from work colleague last night. So today I am making a very simple Beef Stew as was given a onion, couple of potatoes and carrots from work as for some reason they are never taken as they have the mud still on them are organic and sometimes need a little extra care and are donated by a customer every week - My gain :-). Had the meat in the freezer as buy in bulk from the Market on a 6 weekly basis.

Just got to be Good tonight as have night off work for a social ( a very rare occurence for me) to a Thali Cafe . ( Last year I still had change from £10 though and the food was lovely).
Vicky x