2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

Chipps

I am very interested in the chat about water meters, as we have just gone on to one. We have to pay the sewage charge to Anglian too, but the water in is from E & S. Don't know what the bills are going to be like, but at the moment the monthly payment is about £10 less than it was before (although that is over 12 months, where the old non-metered payment was over 10, but still a saving). Of course, we won't really know until they start reading the meter!

It's making us a bit more conscious of how much water we use! Oddly enough the dishwasher has stopped working properly - the time clock seems to have gone wrong - we haven't rushed to get it repaired, mostly cos we can't afford to!

When we changed over, we did it via the water company's website & they also offer water saving equipment for free. We got a kit with a universal plug, thing to put in the cistern, tap aerator and something you put in the shower hose - and a 5-minute timer for the shower. This is the one we use most - it's a bit of a game to see if we can get a shower each within the time! Not managed it yet, 2 1/2 minutes each is probably not enough!

Linz4383

More4Less wrote: »

When I phoned and asked to reduce my monthly payment I got ...."no dear, that's not the way it works"! And indeed she was right, the bill has just gone up and up. I am on a serious water saving mission now. Stopped having daily baths (which I loved), only flush when absolutely necessary.... I have asked for the things to put in the cistern but still waiting for them to arrive. Paying £35 pm at the mo, and its only a small house, but it is detached, so that puts the price up.

ive jus managed to change my direct debit ONLINE, its now down from £30 a month to under £14 ... jus a slight difference! i will b puttin the money away jus in case im over this amount so it wont make ne difference to my bank account but least they wont b gettin itt... im with severn trent if anyone else wants to look into this

cw18

Chipps wrote: »

.... and a 5-minute timer for the shower.

I ordered a free timer through my water company's site yesterday - but it's only a 4 minute one !!!

SandraScarlett

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

SS re, the things our Mum used to say, I have wondered for a while that your background is similar to mine, or I should say our parents background. Were they Londoners by any chance? mine were from Walthamstow so were Cockneys although my Dad used to say that the day Mum was born Bow Bells were not ringing. For those who don't know you are only a real Cockney if you were born within the sound of Bow bells. Must go and do a bit more Orange slicing now duty calls. X

I am a real, proper, full-fledged Cockney! I was born in Bancroft Road Hospital, Mile End, Bow, so had the bells been ringing, I would have heard them clearly! My Grandpa came from Petticoat Lane, the eldest of 17 children (no TV in those days!) and his mother, and 3 of her sisters had 64 children between them!!!! :eek: My Dad's family were from Hoxton, Hackney and had a very hard life. His father was killed in WW1, and Grandma was left with 6 children, including a 5 month old baby (my Dad).

She then married a widower, also with 6 children, who then left her pregnant, and s*dded off with someone else. That meant she was no longer eligible for a War Widow's Pension. She used to take in washing, which she did at night, and cleaned offices in the day.

My Grandpa from Petticoat Lane lived with us until he died. He told me the most wonderful stories, and could speak Kay-Cab Ger-Nawls fluently. This was "back slang" - I've used the phonetic. He used to have a fish and chip shop, and a wet fish stall, and if they saw someone trying to steal something, one assistant would say to another "Oat On Net", which was "two eyes on 10 fingers".

Grandpa was my Mum's father, and my Mum and her family had the most wonderful sayings, but my favourites have always been - if talking about someone with airs and graces "she's a would be if she could be" and the one she'd use if she went out of her way for someone, and they couldn't be bothered to say "thank you".

Mum would say "..... so I went on 3 buses, 2 hours it took me, each way, so that I could give 'er back the scarf she'd left at our 'ouse. Did I get a thank you? No! Cat, dog, kiss yer ar*e - nothing!!!" :rotfl:

xx

natnat13

Congrats on your new addition Cherryjack.

And Ruby and PIC I hope you feel better soon.

cuddlymarm

Good morning everyone:hello:

I thought I would pop by and say hello. Normally I would be rushing around getting ready for work but I have had the lurgy all week and have had to have 2 days off sick (better than spreading it around and taking out half the workforce ) so its been a bit of an up and down week. I work week on week off so no sick pay cos I've officially only been poorely for 2 days but I'm on the mend so thats OK. My Mr T delivery came on Wed so I am now nicely stocked up again and managed to shave £13 off the bill with 2 vouchers which in my mind is £13 of free food:j
We also had an electric smart meter fitted last week so I have had a lovely time (sad I know) gradually working out which things do the damage. The kettle seems to be the worst culprit and the washing machine is now only going on when really full.
As you can all see my week has been a little bit boring
I hope everyone is keeping well
Hugs to all who need (or would quite like one):grouphug:
Cuddles

enjoyfinancialchallenges

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I am a real, proper, full-fledged Cockney! I was born in Bancroft Road Hospital, Mile End, Bow, so had the bells been ringing, I would have heard them clearly! My Grandpa came from Petticoat Lane, the eldest of 17 children (no TV in those days!) and his mother, and 3 of her sisters had 64 children between them!!!! :eek: My Dad's family were from Hoxton, Hackney and had a very hard life. His father was killed in WW1, and Grandma was left with 6 children, including a 5 month old baby (my Dad).

She then married a widower, also with 6 children, who then left her pregnant, and s*dded off with someone else. That meant she was no longer eligible for a War Widow's Pension. She used to take in washing, which she did at night, and cleaned offices in the day.

My Grandpa from Petticoat Lane lived with us until he died. He told me the most wonderful stories, and could speak Kay-Cab Ger-Nawls fluently. This was "back slang" - I've used the phonetic. He used to have a fish and chip shop, and a wet fish stall, and if they saw someone trying to steal something, one assistant would say to another "Oat On Net", which was "two eyes on 10 fingers".

Grandpa was my Mum's father, and my Mum and her family had the most wonderful sayings, but my favourites have always been - if talking about someone with airs and graces "she's a would be if she could be" and the one she'd use if she went out of her way for someone, and they couldn't be bothered to say "thank you".

Mum would say "..... so I went on 3 buses, 2 hours it took me, each way, so that I could give 'er back the scarf she'd left at our 'ouse. Did I get a thank you? No! Cat, dog, kiss yer ar*e - nothing!!!" :rotfl:

xx

Oh SS I really had a laugh when I read your post, yes I knew it, we do have similar backgrounds. That's probably why we are both on this forum, I mean, having to spend carefully and making every penny work. I have always said that I will never go hungry, my Mum taught me so much about making do and mending and stretching a meal out. She is the reason that I always keep a full larder, 'cause she used to say that her larder was her purse. Not sure what she would make of me having 3 freezers though although one was hers that I inherited.

I'm off to see my daughter today for a few days but just wanted to tell you that I was smiling when I read your post and will post more when I return home either Sat or Sunday. X

Have a good frugal weekend everyone and hope those who are not feeling so good feel a bit better soon. XX

Emmala

Morning all, I haven't been on a for a few days, but it's the last day of half term here, I have a mega headache or the start of sinisitis which means we are parked in front of the TV watchinga Harry Potter film. My eldest is 9 and has started reading the books by himself, so we treated us to the box set DVD....we were very good and shopped round and the cheapest was Sains, £29,99 for the set of all 8 films which is a pretty good deal. And we got double nectar points (got 2 years of double points with the loan we took at the beginning of Jan). Speaking of which, with the double points and DH using the amex CC linked to nectar (for expenses), I already have over £50 on the nectar card!! The plan is to let it build for xmas, but I may spend them in store every few months in case the card gets lost and someone else uses them.

The rounding down is also coming on, we now have £40 ish in the linked savings account. This I will definately leave for xmas as there should be plenty in there for presents and food by then.

Half term has been quite a cheap week.....kids have been poorly which has been handy as they haven't wanted to go out much anyway!! It has reminded me that I must start another pot to start funds for the 6 weeks in the summer, it's not cheap with three kids to entertain! Our holiday is our trip to the Olympics.....we got tickets for the athletics, but went for the 'pay you age' kids tickets, so for three adults (SIL coming too) and three kids the tickets cost £86 which is not bad.....we are having night in a hotel the night before but it's all paid for already. I need to persuade DH to have some time off in the holidays.....he usually sees them coming in the diary and works away as much as he can!!!

Congratulations to Cherryjack.....when I had my daughter everyone said now I had the 'pigeon pair' I wouldn't want anymore children, but I knew I wasn't done! So, we now have three and much as I feel that's (more) than enough, I still feel sad sometimes that my babymaking time is over....

Hugs to those in need, PIC I hope you are up and about again soon xxxx

Will catch up properly on the pages I've missed, but hope everyone is still feeling positive!

mishmogs

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

Where is this sunny Suffolk you talk about mishmogs, its certainly not where I live! I'm in mid Suffolk and its drizzling and cold but at least the snow is getting cleared a bit. I have worked out that you must live the other side of Bury if you trot off to Cambridge because from where I live its more than a trot.

I'm busy Marmalade making as usual, can more or less do it with my eyes closed now! at last count I have made more than a hundred jars in the last few weeks since Seville Oranges have been in season which will all be sold during the year. Last year I could have sold many many more than I made so am being prepared this time.

Ive been feeling a bit low since yesterday, not sure why but its getting near to the anniversary of my daughters death so it just might be that. I have also just come from hospital where I see the Physio and every part of my body aches at the moment. Think an early night might do me a lot of good.

Hi efc, you are quite correct, I am the other side of BSE. Have you finished your marmalade making now? Hope you are feeling better after the manipulations and hope your reflections on you and your daughters lifes together are bringing you some comfort at this time.

slowlyfading

:hello:

Sorry I've not been around; I've moved house this week! So everything is still a bit mad, lots of sorting and tidying still to do but it's taking shape. It just means I've not been on the net much at all.

Still plodding along money wise - it's been an expensive week but I'm hoping things will settle down next week!

PIC - ouch! Hope you're feeling better soon.
cherryjack - congrats :j :j
Ruby - hope you're feeling better soon