2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

determined_new_ms

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

There was also something missing on the regular peyments section that I've never included as it's my treat to myself:o and comes out my spending money. However, as it happens every 4 weeks, I've decided that I will put it in now for the sake of having a true reflection of my total spends - it's my ....massage.

It comes somewhere between a treat and a necessity - I have both fibromyalga and arthritis in my back which can be really painful and the massage helps sooooo much I'd rather do without other things to keep them.

Anyway, after adding all the extra bits in, I've added another £1k:eek: to the yearly budget .....

Have just dug some chicken breasts out the freezer so will be making chicken casserole later - have everything else needed:).

Popping to the library to collect a long awaited book coming in by one of my favourite authors:D and a quick trip to the sm for bread and milk (and hopefully not a lot else!).

Need to sort out my breakdown cover today too (runs out on the 29th) and may stop off and see if I can get my road tax (the local PO has been shut on Saturdays recently as it's currently for sale and doesn't open on a Wednesday which is the only other day I can go).

rfta - I have just started having massages too. In Nov my oh brought me a massage as my birthday gift. I have had problems with my shoulder for about 3 years since I damaged it when we moved. I really didn't think much about it other than when it hurt. The woman who gave me the massage spent a lot of time on my shoulder and at the end said I have a problem there. Then things started to click into place. Swimming in the summer I had to get out of the pool as I was getting pain in my shoulder, after running having twinges. She said to me I should try to have a massage every month or at least every other. since then I've been looking out for offers. I've just discovered that the local beauty training salon does an hour full body massage for £10 :j with 2nd or 3rd year trainees. I'm going to give it a go in Feb. The difference since doing it is really noticeable :T

re breakdown cover. I use Auto Aid. Costs £39 for the year. Had to use them twice last year and service was fantastic. You need to be able to pay for the breakdown yourself and then claim it back. I claimed it as soon as I got home with the receipt and had the chque within a couple of days. Really recommend

rising_from_the_ashes

determined_new_ms wrote: »

I've just discovered that the local beauty training salon does an hour full body massage for £10 :j with 2nd or 3rd year trainees. I'm going to give it a go in Feb. The difference since doing it is really noticeable :T

Fantastic that it's helping your shoulder - I also couldn't believe how much of a difference it made. I have one booked every 4 weeks until June - have to get them booked in early as it's through work and the spaces fill really quickly so better to book and cancel if I can't make an appointment. I can stretch to 6 weeks but longer than that and I'm practically rigid:(. I've been going to the lady for several years now and she "knows my back" IYKWIM - I did try someone else last year when I couldn't get an appointment but had to book an emergency appt with my lady a week later as I was in agony:( - due to the arthritis / previous fall, my spine isn't straight and I think the other person tried to "make" it straight which is wasn't very happy about:eek:

However, I am a bit worried about what will happen if I move work places (or am made redundant) so really need to come up with a back up plan - there is a local beauty centre that I went to before but the girl I saw (who was also very used to my back) left ..... I think I'll have a hunt around and see if there are any offers and give them a try - £10 for an hour is fantastic!:)

determined_new_ms wrote: »

re breakdown cover. I use Auto Aid. Costs £39 for the year. Had to use them twice last year and service was fantastic. You need to be able to pay for the breakdown yourself and then claim it back. I claimed it as soon as I got home with the receipt and had the chque within a couple of days. Really recommend

I changed to AutoAid last year - I did have breakdown cover with my bank account (and several other things I didn't use:o) but downgraded it and saved £10 / month recently!

I got the renewal form through a couple of weeks ago & a reminder yesterday but have been holding off until the cc was past it's cut off date for this month's bill.

I was going to have a hunt around but TBH don't think I'll get cheaper. I've (touch wood) not had to use them but it's great to know the service is good so think I'll just go ahead with the renewal.:)

SandraScarlett

Great to hear that your massages are helping rising and determined, and surely that's the whole point of being frugal - so that we have money left over for paying off debts/holidays/treats.

I'm part of the Poorly Shoulder Brigade now, and can't lift my arms above shoulder height. I always did my hair myself, even cutting it, and just had a couple of "proper" cuts a year. Last year I found a salon that wanted models, and so I was able to have it done most weeks (blow drys) for free, and had a proper cut there from an experienced stylist.

But they're no longer using models, and so I'm happy to pay now, as it means my hair always looks nice and I feel good about myself. We did try DH washing it, but he either stuck a finger up mny nose, or thumb in my eye - and we'll forget about ther third degree burns when he tried to dry it! :eek:

My friend is due in 10 minutes, the sun is shining, and I'm off for some tantalising tango!

xx

seriouslyfrugal

determined_new_ms wrote: »

re breakdown cover. I use Auto Aid. Costs £39 for the year. Had to use them twice last year and service was fantastic. You need to be able to pay for the breakdown yourself and then claim it back. I claimed it as soon as I got home with the receipt and had the chque within a couple of days. Really recommend

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

I changed to AutoAid last year - I did have breakdown cover with my bank account (and several other things I didn't use:o) but downgraded it and saved £10 / month recently!

I got the renewal form through a couple of weeks ago & a reminder yesterday but have been holding off until the cc was past it's cut off date for this month's bill.

I was going to have a hunt around but TBH don't think I'll get cheaper. I've (touch wood) not had to use them but it's great to know the service is good so think I'll just go ahead with the renewal.:)

Thanks for this here at frugal towers I was looking into changing to this company mine isn't up for renewal until aug but someone I know got a renewal notice for over £100 :eek: :eek: :eek: she rang them and got it down to £50 it just shows loyalty doesn't pay these days however she had looked at auto aid and told the orginal company that she wasn't renewing :j :rotfl: i'm hoping your experiances will
help with any concerns that she had


should be a NSD today

have a good day everyone

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Just found this link on another thread,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-mail/9027910/Stock-pile-stamps-now-Royal-Mail-customers-told.html

so well worth stocking up before april;)

Erme

Kerry_Woman wrote: »

Have managed to put down all my outgoings so far for January.

Managed to get a better deal for my contents insurance, saved nearly £70. Sent off form to agree reduced life insurance so I will be £1.59 a month better and to start from March, so waiting for new documents to come.

Stocked up on teabags as there was a good deal in Mr. S. Going to try out some new recipes this month hopefully. Try and bake more cakes and scones. Just soaking the bran for a bran loaf.

My Mum and I have booked a day trip for July. Going to Clacton, which we like.

Hugs to those in need of them.

Clacton is lovely :j...enjoy

mishmogs wrote: »

got a bargain today, have been looking for the e-clothes and found an offer of buy one get one free and when I looked through the racks a couple of packets had one additional cloth free so I got 4 clothes instead of 2! yay how happy am I!! Little things eh??

Also found a heart cookie cutter for 75p, if only I could find a doggie one cheap, alas it has eluded me for some time now.

Thought I was doing pretty good this month but OH informed me this pm that his motorbike is going to cost £250 for a new bit grrr... you think you are getting there then something bits you on the bum!

fortunately, I have saved the money for the tax and insurance for his dream machine phew.

Och that's why I shouldn't save up and by a moped when I get debt free LOL

The other option is a new bike (just as expensive near enough)

LolaLemon wrote: »

Same here, I am sick of wasting veg!


No my boyfriend went to Uni I Aberdeen, rented a flat with 3 other guys, so they changed main tenancy every year to get around paying council tax. This was at least 10 years ago, so unsure if it is still in place..... m taking it from you 'is mise...' that you are Scottish?



That is brilliant!

Nope actually a sassenach north of the border but still...I did a little gaelic a while back (I have close friends in Skye ) and put it on my profile then

feeling pants...spent about £5 of OD on plasters for a badly cut thumb (making stuff) and like a sandwich.....I could have just gotten the sandwich and saved a wee fortune on the plasters by going elsewhere but the thumb had only just stopped bleeding and I didn't want it to start again (took a good 15 mins to get it to stop bleeding. Maybe longer)

And now have sluggishness from a bad night in A+E (with the thumb...it was gaping) and like associated head stuff.

E

Blairweech

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I won't do the lot :eek:, but if ever you're stuck, PM me, and I'll always give you a hand.

Awwww, bless you Sandra - was only joking but that is so kind :j To be honest I am just really annoyed with myself that my vocabulary and writing skills have deterioriated to such a poor level: I was always 'top of the class' in school but now I can barely string together a paragraph without having to use the thesaurus :mad: Still, only one way to get better!

Our old Tom cat has gone to the great cat basket in the sky...went under my Mums bed on Friday morning, she heard him groan and his little ticker must have stopped. He was in no pain and went peacefully at 19 years old. My brother is devastated - was always very much his cat (except the past year or so). We have buried him in the garden now in his favourite sunshine spot

Edit: I don't know how to resize the picture. Sorry.

rising_from_the_ashes

Awwww Blairweech so sorry to hear that (((hugs))) to all, they really are part of the family and it is devasting when they have to leave. I hope some comfort can be found in that he went peacefully at home without any suffering. RIP wee one, play hard in the sunshine at the bridge with your new pals xx

LolaLemon

Awk blairweech, so sorry to hear that.
Rubytuesday and dizzy, hope u two are better soon. Ruby, I don't know if I'd be too pleased at the proding instead of a minor op too.
Sandra, ur trips always sound amazing!

My car broke down yesterday... think its time it went to the car park in the sky. I can't afford to fix it, but equally i can't afford to get rid of it!
Back to work tonight after last weekend off, and I always seem to dread it more ... defo time to find something else, altho I will miss living off my tips - that's what pays for any treats for son and I ... magazines and diesal mostly.
Oh man, the wind is howelling a Gael out their! And I have to walk to work tonight!

traveldolly

Sorry to hear about your cat Blairweech. I'm glad he went peacefully and without pain. Our old boy is fifteen this year and is becoming increasingly eccentric in his old age but I hope we get a few more years of him bossing us around before he goes through the final cat flap.