2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

Winchelsea

findingmyfeet - Coincidentally while I was reading your post about meters, the postman delivered my water bill. I've been on a meter for many years, and remember that it more or less halved my bills straight away, when there were two of us.

This time it's £108.73 for 6 months, for 22 cubic metres. This is the most ever in 6 months, but I think it's because while my husband was so ill, and in the few days after he died, I had 12 or 13 people in the house, all having daily showers, all flushing the toilet (no "if it's yellow let it mellow", which is my usual trick).

Like cw18 and others I normally am very frugal with my water use, and do many of the same things. When I shower (which is not every day - I tend to have "flannel washes" in between) I normally stand in my white plastic washing up bowl, bought specially for the purpose, and save the water that collects in it towards the next toilet flushing. I'm also good at the "sailor shower" - rinse to wet self, turn off shower, lather, then turn on again to rinse off.

Congratulations to Cherryjack and family. So nice (in my opinion) to have that lovely surprise, not knowing in advance what you've got! And, yes, I've heard the saying "pigeon pair". Don't know where it comes from though!

dizzy_lizzie

Paidinchix that sounds awful! Hope you are on the mend soon.

Sandra I bet there's a television series in your great/grandparents life somewhere. They sound such like amazing characters. Love the 'she would be if she could be' saying.

Rae The Harry Potter Fest sounds great!

Cuddlymarm glad to hear you're feeling better too.

Enjoyfinancialchallenges have a lovely break at your daughters.

Hi Slowly. Happy New House Move. Hope you start to make many lovely memories in it.

I haven't got much planned for today. Just a bit of pottering about and a couple of errands.
Warm hugs
x

purpleorchid

cuddlymarm wrote: »

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

have you thought about getting a big flask and fill the kettle full when you 1st use it then put the rest in the flask. once empty then boil full kettle again. as i live on my own a tend to use whats left in the afternoon for cooking with so saves on my gas as well

hth
Luv P
xx

SandraScarlett

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Sandra I bet there's a television series in your great/grandparents life somewhere. They sound such like amazing characters. Love the 'she would be if she could be' saying.

Well, in a way, there is a TV series - Call The Midwife! It takes place exactly where I lived, and it evokes so many memories. B*gger all in the way of money and possessions, but lots and lots of love.

Yes, EFC, those Mums knew how to make a £ do the work of 2!!

xx

More4Less

cw18 wrote: »

so cost of water was £10.33 and standing charges (over which I have no control, and would be the same however much water I used) of £23.36 :eek:

my annual standing charges are £114, which accounts for £9.50/month of my £13.04 payments :mad:.......

Thanks for sharing that CW18. So its not just me then! I get quite mad when everyone says a Water Meter saves money! Despite all the standing charges, I will still do my best to get my usage down, its good for the planet as well as money saving! Reading some messages I still have a way to go!

rubytuesday

Thanks for you kind wishes everyone - still in bed and have been watching call the midwife when I should have been rehearsing my presentation.

I hope it won't be too much of a shambles as my partner and I have been unable to rehearse!

I've finally caught up with the thread and a lot of folk seem to be rather down - grim February doesn't help much! I hope everyone's spirits lift soon.

Enjoyfinacialchallenges you are especially in my thoughts x

Dizzy your tart looks delicious - I have some jus roll I should have used yesterday so will make myself some kind of tart today.

rubytuesday

Ooh goodness Paidin just seen your post (had missed the last page!)

You poor thing!

Wishing you a speedy recovery! x

rising_from_the_ashes

paidinchickens wrote: »

I slipped two discs and have been laid up in bed for nearly two weeks. I had to have the ambulance round at stoopid O'clock in the morning as I was so stuck I could not move an inch in any direction.

Ohhhh no PIC, hope you're on the road to recovery soon ... and to Ruby too.

SandraScarlett wrote: »

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.

Oh wow Sandra ... I bet there was some interesting stories to tell...... both my grandparents (dad's side) were 1 of 12 children ... I just can't imagine!

Slowly congrats on the house move & sure everything will be where you need it soon:)

This month seems to be lasting forever (is it me?) it feels like it should be much closer to payday than it is! I guess that's 'cos of all the juggling I've had to do with the budgets due to all the car expenditure.... roll on March!:)

seriouslyfrugal

P.I.C : I hope you soon feel better


been walking this morning but not much else to report

I hope everyone has a good frugal weekend

More4Less

Just had my three month power bill (Eon). Electricity is down 30% on this time last year and gas 12% down. Really pleased. Contributing factors have been:-

Buying & using a Remoska instead of the electric fan oven.
Ditching the electric kettle
Replacing an old microwave
Finally getting rid of some 15 energy hungry light bulbs in the kitchen!!
Taking showers instead of baths
And of course the milder weather.

If I can keep this up I should be able to shave a massive £400 off my annual bill.
:j:j