2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

mumwithamission

Wow natnat13 those cakes are fabulous - can see that skill turning into a little earner for you - get yourself out there girl!

shayne_2

Hi folks, i come on mse but never read these pages so today i thought i'd take a look, i did'nt realise how much i spent & could save untill reading your comments, i'm certainly going to take stock of your comments & start thinking about what i buy, i do try & get bargains & shop at 4 supermarkets weekly to save money, also don't know if anyone has mentioned but i get e-mails from Trafford centre telling me about upcoming events, you can just go on site, & some of events are fab, the fashion shows always have free goody bags, packed with expensive shampoo, moisturisers, etc, you can apply for free tickets & usually champagne reception, went to banana republic event & got goody bag with glass scented candle & dermalogica products, also manchester confidential is a good site for events, went to selfridges event & goody bag had dior, clarins & versace bag, most events are free, sometimes you have to pay £10 which is usually redeemable against product, space nk is a tenner but you get a £90 goody bag, i have that much free expensive products i won't be needing any for at least 5 years, whoohoo

dizzy_lizzie

Thanks everyone for the compliments about my photo
Rising poor OH and DS had to clear the drive to get the car back on it. Thought they'd been ages. Hadn't realised they'd already been home half an hour clearing it. Bless 'em.
Ruby is the water heated. You're very brave.
Natnat your cakes look absolutely gorgeous. I can't choose a favourite they're so pretty. Well done.
slowly lovely to hear the dress fitting went well. I bet you felt like a princess.
JayneC I like your determination. Sounds like you're doing really well with your meal plans.
ThriftySister you'll get lots of ideas fom here along with tons of support. I was similar and still do it sometimes with the random shopping. But do try the menu planning for a week and only buy what you need for your meals. Or if you have a bit in already, menu plan from what you have in the cupboards and freezer. You will be amazed.
Shayne thanks for the info. I'm already signed up to the Trafford Centre events and have been to a couple with free goody bags DD and I even got our photograph on the website. The photographer was walking around taking photos and asking names etc Weren't just us I have to say, a few peeps photos were on, but it was a big one
Didn't know about the others though so will have a look on the site you recommended.


I must get back into menu planning too. I save the most amount of money when I do this and the feeling of knowing exactly what's for tea is a good feeling. Much less stress.
I also found a fabulous idea for a menu planner here
which looks so simple to make and is a brilliant idea. Going to do one myself when I get a photofame. You can always adapt your own to make it as simple as you like.
Staying in today. Have had excrutiating toothache all weekend and since I went to the dentist. Although she said she couldn't see anything wrong there must be something!!! Have been taking so many painkillers I'm rattling! Will see if I can get in tomorrow. Joy of joys
Hope everyone is coping in this weather.
Warm hugs
x

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhhhh Nat those cupcakes look wonderful *sigh* .... def agree it could be a bit of a money making venture.

Dizzy hope the toothache's better soon....


Well, ventured out briefly to Mr A to return mouldy cheese and get a few bits to last the week - I have to say (and not trying to rub it in) that it's now absolutely beautiful out. A bit cold but lovely and sunny and the ice has all gone:j and not a snow flake even on the hills surrounding us which is a bit odd. Thankfully seems to have missed us for a change!

It's turned into one of those days when I would've headed off for a lovely walk somewhere. I did try going to the beach for a brief walk but still struggling to out by myself - I do feel like a part of me is missing.

Anyway, might go and tidy the garden for a while to get some fresh air.

ailz95

Hi All

Winchelsea - my condolences too - 50 years - I hope we last that long - you must have some wonderful memories.

Ive not done too bad on the budget this month. My African 'daughter', Ourdert, split from her partner and the Home Office (she's an asylum seeker) moved her and her 2 children to Liverpool between Xmas and New Year and left her partner in Oldham. We went to see her just before the New Year and gave her and one of the children our really bad coughs and colds - so we didn't see her until last Monday, when we were all feeling better. She was given £40 in vouchers by the Red Cross when she first moved as most of her stuff was left in Oldham as they only gave her an hour to pack and with a 3 yr old and an 18 month old it was difficult. She amazes me as she still has some of this money left. We gave her £20 out of our budge - and had to put diesel in the car to get over there - we took them to Crosby beach as they'd never seen the sea (she's from Cameroon). That took £35 of our £55 (DH's Carer allowance) and we've managed not to go shopping at all - except for a couple of litres of milk.

DH has been living on Sainsbury's basic's Muesli which we buy for the rabbits :rotfl:. When we went to see Ourdert and the children she not only fed us - soup and a stew - but insisted on sending some home with us - it's their culture - which we had for lunch today. I'm expensive to keep as I follow a low carbohydrate diet.

DH has a croissant for breakfast which we keep in the freezer. Yesterday I took the last one out and started grilling it in the microwave grill and on restarting it when I turned it over managed to set it to microwave rather than grill :eek:. I was sat at my computer when suddenly this smell of burning hit me. I went into the kitchen, where DH was pouring the tea and peering through the smoke asked if he'd noticed that I'd made a mistake with his brekky. He found the idea that he might not of noticed funny :rotfl: (luckily) and took his loss of breakfast very well :A.

Happy February to you all.

rubytuesday

It is heated Dizzy although last time I went it was heated less than usual! Brr!

Hope your tooth ache gets sorted soon! Cloves?

Anyway I didn't go in the end as it took me so long to trudge through the snow and I ended up going to three shops!

I wanted to get a free range chicken from the co op but is was so tiny I had to go to M and S.

My son and his new girlfriend are coming to dinner so I need to create a semblance of order here!:eek:

Shayne thanks for your post - that sounds worth looking into.

purpleorchid

Blairweech wrote: »

Wow, natnat, they look gooooooood :drool:

We had about 4" of snow altogether last night but now its melting really quickly.

Hm, I do not know whether to have chicken casserole for tea (which would require a trip out) or thai chicken curry, which I dont really fancy but have all the ingredients for and would mean another NSD

lol shame we are not living closer hun, i have got a chicken casserole already made here with dumplings, but i dont fancy it, but would really enjoy your thai chicken curry haha

Luv P
xx

JayneC

Hi all,

Miss empty piggy, sorry didn't reply last night it's thick with snow here today the park has been full of people sledging today. Dog was like a small child in the snow!! Jumping about like an idiot, lol. But I think it's thawing, if it doesn't snow anymore it will probably be ok coming over 'the hill'. What a coincidence that you live so close.
natnat those cakes look lovely well done!
Fresian - I meal plan like that too, it really helps and often I'll find I've got the bones of most of the weeks meals already.
Thrifty sister - glad it was helpful. Keep us updated with how you're getting on.
Dizzy - I feel determined at the moment but will need to make sure I keep momentum. I got my debts almost cleared and then decided to reduce my working hours as I figured I'd done without the money whilst debt busting so I could do without it some more!! It's fab being able to work part time tho it means I have to be really careful with my outgoings. The idea was that I'd have more time to try and be a bit more self sufficient, which I'm working on...

DGS and I bulit a snowman in the back yard which was lots of fun and FREE!

Am supposed to be driving to Leeds tomorrow for work so hopefully there's no more snow on the way.

Well have to go now as DS is waiting for the computer.

Take care all x

natnat13

Thanks for all your lovely comments guys, I'm not sure about doing it commercially. I do have a food hygiene certificate but would have to get my kitchen checked by environmental health and buy all the kit etc, etc. I might look into it though, no harm I suppose.

Taken DS' swimming and popped into Mr M's, 2 ladies were there hounding the bakery man for yellow labels!!! They had masses, I was gutted! Did get some whoopsied bananas 75p a bag and 2 baguettes for 9p each :-)

wear280902

Sorry if this is not the right place for this post but it is here I have picked up the most tips. I have borrowed a 6.5litre slow cooker and it has been fantastic this week with helping me feed my family on a budget. But now the time has come to return it and I need a replacement and need to part with some cash. I therefore, want to purchase the best I can for my money.

Do these items save electricity as opposed to using my fan assisted oven ie. if something likes a stew takes 2 1/2 hrs in an oven but in a slow cooker without timer will be left on low for 6hrs....am I still making a saving?

Do people have a preferred brand...my sister has a crock pot design because the pot can be transferred to the oven...are these any better worse?