2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

cw18

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

.... and one of the absolute essentials was a loo roll mountain.

I thought mine was bad at *I think* around 180 rolls at one point

I'm currently at 109 rolls - plus 2 in use. But when I bought the latest 108 (6x bags of 18) I had about 16 more in the house, so would guess I was up to 125 mid October

debbiedeejay

Hello Peeps:hello:

Just skimmed read through past few pages - hugs to all that need them and well done to all for being super frugal or at least trying!

Extra day off today (A/L days use them or loose them)normally I would just mooch(sp?) about but today was very pleased as after getting DD3 to school I set on and sorted out tea for tonight and tomorrow and meals for freezer too and used up food languishing in fridge and veg rack!


But it was only 10.00am by time I finished so I decided to decorate my "middle" room:rotfl: - really a hallway but it looks like a room as in middle of house but does have windows. Reason was I have been kicked out from sitting room by said teen daughters watching girlie stuff and HO and Towie(only can take so much) and this is where I "live"

SO dragged out from shed a unused tin of white matt emulsion that a neighbour gave me before she moved a couple of years ago & some beige paint(no idea what used for before,it was a bit dark so added white to make a biscuit colour) and managed to do the whole room in a few hours (it's only little).

Oh forgot to say the best thing was I had picked up from Fr33gle last week a fantastic white Georgian style fire surround and successfully bid on a pine surround & marble hearth,backplate and dimplex electric fire(don't worry I won't be using it -just the light on if I have visitors!:rotfl:) all for £35.57 - so now my little hallway looks like a really sweet grown up sitting room with a heart!

The second pine surround I have given to a family member who were desperate for one so that's my good deed done too!

Never thought I could decorate on such a small budget - in fact I have enough paint left over to do my sitting room me thinks so might take another Monday off to do that one too.

And to top it? The chicken casserole in SC was so nice at the end of a busy day!Glad I actually had a fruitful frugal Monday for once!

Kylieminoag

stitching_witch wrote: »

I use diluted Stardrops in a spray bottle for most uses - kitchen worktops, doors, bathroom, mirrors, glass etc. And of course the kitchen floors are done with a squirt of Stardrops in a bucket of scalding water. I'm sure the Stardrops bottle has the dilutions on the back - I'm at work so can't look it up.

I needed to put diesel in the car today (and I fell for the charms of an almond croissant in the bakers :mad:) so I will need to revisit my budget for next month as I am £21 over this month. I've decided to do without my prescriptions and move that £10.50 onto the fuel budget to see if that helps.

Please be careful - they wouldnt be prescriptions if you didnt need them.....Big hugs x

quintwins

morning all, it's freezing we had our heat on all night for the first time this year, it's been off since half 6 and it's freezing again so back on i can see us using alot of oil in the next week or 2 when i was up at half 6 it was to change one of the kids, but i got back into bed and slept in so a very rushed morning

i'm in feb budget and i've spent loads already but acually i have enough food to last threw this week, and next week i'll just need milk and fruit, i will prob buy more than that because i'll be in the fab whoopsie te$co tomorrow and next wed but i'm hoping to come in under budget.

i'm off to do a meal plan and to get the reduced veg into the freezer.

natnat13

I have been to Mr L and T this morning and done. Used a few vouchers and got some free philly and money off some other bits. I am going to try not to spend again now until Sat when a friend and I are doing a cupcake decorating course (which I'm very excited about, xmas pressie from DH) and also going for lunch first.
It's really cold here today so I'm keeping moving rather than putting the heating on!

chika

Morning frugallers. I've had a so so January on the frugalling front. My main issue is that I don't seem to know where my money goes so I've bought a little book and I'm going to write every penny down that leaves my hands.

I'm currently off work ill and can't see the situation improving atm so I'm going to put my frugalling into good practice incase I really do need to in the future. I went to T3sco last night to get some bits and pieces, the queue was enormous so I gave up and went to M0rrisons. I'm glad I dd. Lots of whoopsies to be had all reduces between 19p and 5p. I've got a few ready made curries for 19p, some philadelphia 19p and sausage rolls 10p. I'm not normally into ready made stuff but these all have long dates and were reduced as the packing was damaged.

I need to do a meal plan - does anyone know if there is a site for single people like weezls?

Fortunatly as I'm not in work I'm not spending anything on fuel. My car went for a service last week and I was very pleased when they called to say it was fine. I was expecting to have to replace a couple of tyres but they are ok.

Anyway hope everyone is ok and achieving their frugal goals!

Winchelsea

Will stick my debit cards in a cashpoint later - this is my end-of-month routine to get my balances to see how I've done on the frugality. A bit less straightforward than usual though - just before my DH got so sick I applied to change my main account to a different bank. I had to put it on hold for a bit, but did it in the end, and am now in the situation where I don't know whether my old account still has money in it or not - have cut up the card etc. I suspect it's sort of in limbo until the direct debits etc have all been transferred over. We'll see!

LolaLemon

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

:rotfl:Not sure if anyone else has been on the Preparing for Winter thread? (I've sadly lost track the past month or so as all "my regular" threads have been so busy - and I guess with winter not really arriving yet!)

Anyway, in autumn time, the thread was really busy and everyone was posting up what they had / needed to get etc (some brilliant tips btw) and one of the absolute essentials was a loo roll mountain.

I thought mine was bad at *I think* around 180 rolls at one point - however, some more hardened members have enough that it's providing extra insulation in their lofts / spare rooms / in fact just about anywhere!

Others were saying they only had a couple in the house:eek:, which brought on fainting fits from some of us.:o

The other week I was worried I was getting really low on stocks as I'd got down to 6 x 18 packs :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:I have since managed to talk myself out of buying more atm......

Lol u will be absolutely shocked at this house. I currently have 2 rolls, yes just TWO rolls of toilet paper. And the lack of toilet paper is driving me insane lol I'm up at night worrying abt my lack of supplies. Its not like me, I normally have a few bags of them, but I just haven't bn keeping up with supplies at all. I'm OK for cereals, flours and tins of toms but everything else is being depleted.

phoenix_dragon

Hi all, hope you are all well. Due to some unexpected circumstances, I will have to pull out of this challenge. I wish you all well, and I will lurk from time to time, when the baby allows

savingforarainyday

I think we are quite tame with our loo roll stocks. We have approximately 40, but our storage slot will only allow 60 anyway. Will be up to speed next F*rmf**ds day as I will get some to use voucher:D

Bargain pork joint from Tescos was roasted along side some other bits in the oven, has now been sliced and awaiting bagging for the freezer.

We have been quite careful in January, had to be it was a 6 week month:eek:. I am having another re jig of our budget. In the past we have always put "emergencies" or "extras" on the cards, but for us to break this we need to put money by, and use the balance for debt payment. This month I am also going to reduce our overdraft limit.

I have quite a good store cupboard going now. Think it will be a tinned shop next weekend. I have a £5 Mr T voucher and I want to utilise this to my best advantage.

Well coffee break over so I will go and read my gas and electric and then get on with some work:)