2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

Welsh_Poppy

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Absolutely loved Call The Midwife tonight! When we lived in Mile End (Burdett Road), there was a boy in my class, about 9, and he had an older sister, and then his Mother announced she was pregnant!

She also had triplets and her story was in the East London Avertiser. Why can I remember that so well? I loved Miranda Hart's response to her mother, when offered a white wedding dress - "no it won't be white Ma, I'm no longer worthy"!!

xx

Yes I loved that quote of Miranda's:rotfl:
Just got the 4 books in the series and now series over can read them.

purpleorchid

hi all

well my slow cooker is fab, the meat was so tender that it practically fell apart. i can see it being used loads for my bulk cooking as well. while that was cooking, on the hob i made sweet chilli chicken and chicken in a black bean sauce. that made up 8 meals and only cost me £3.79 for the meat as it was half price in tesco and i had the sweet chilli and black bean sauce free with vouchers i had for making a complaint.
not quite sure what to do with the beef yet apart from making a dinner. so think i will separate and freeze it until i can find a nice recipe to bulk cook with.

Luv P
xx

mumwithamission

(enjoyfinancialchallenges;51174591 Sorry mwam that wasn't my intention to make you feel sad)

It wasn't really sadness as much as feeling very moved by how you have dealt with tragedy. You have been quite inspirational with your honesty and philosophical approach. So thank you.

rising_from_the_ashes

Hi all, well I've been playing with my spreadsheet again (don't worry, no major changes;)) - budgets are looking slightly off kilter (see sig for overall spend) which is mainly down to paying a huge chunk to the car this month.

Will post a month end update but really hoping it starts to even out a bit from next month ....

I've been stocking up on the grocery front again - I had 2 vouchers for Mr T (£5 off £40 spend valid until yesterday & a £7 off £50 until next Sun) and say that cat food (pouches) were on offer as well as cleaning stuff.

Pleased to say I got £73.19 worth of stuff for £37.70:j so feeling quite chuffed (and like I've "won" IYKWIM:o).

Now have washing liquid & fabric conditioner for a year and surface cleaner, toilet cleaner, bleech, washing up liquid etc for around 6 months:j so quite pleased.

Trying to take advantage of great offers in case the dreaded .... :shhh: say it very quietly .... Redundancy does happen:eek:

Have opened another savings pot so will be working hard to get the fuel and groceries budgets in advance (only 2 left in arrears as Feb's stuff on cc and paid out of Feb's salary, rather than Feb's salary being used for March stuff .... oh, hope that makes sense ... been a long day:o)

Kerfuffle very impressed with your lists ... may just pinch that idea & stick them on the fridge door to remind myself!:D

rising_from_the_ashes

Is everyone getting "official money saving post" and a huge gap coming up in all the posts?

rising_from_the_ashes

All gone now .... the forum was closed for "technical issues" so that must've been why!

Greying_Pilgrim

Hi gang :hello:

Just popping on to say thank you all again for the advice (the other week) about comparison shopping for home insurance. I went through the comparison sites in the recommended order and I have to say, it was 'easy' to save £100 without trying, and up to £150 going through a cashback site, but in the end I have plumped for 'downgrading' cover and i'll save about £200 in total. The company I'm going with is perfectly reputable (and actually i was with them a few years ago), and I've ditched the 'accidental damage' as it really is 'belt and braces'. After all, I sent DP up into the loft to totally renew the insulation last year, so any potential to 'put a foot through the ceiling' is now passed!!! This company doesn't operate through cashback sites, so I've got the max discount I can.

Now just need to get around to writing my 'please lapse at renewal' (as you are utterly uncompetitive) letter to my present insurer

Oh, and I selected 'no contact' on all the sites, and I have to report that there have been no marketing calls linked to getting the quotes. A pesky market research company has started calling, and I was so astonished that they called on a Sunday that I forgot to quote the 'i'm registered with TPS' thing to them yesterday - next time ......:D

I managed to get myself a new PAYG mobile phone for £5 with careful use of discounts, vouchers and coupons from Tatco, it's a 'touch screen' one (complete with prong ), so I'm finally dragging myself into the 21st century and becoming less of a techno luddite than I was at the start of 2012 - see what an influence you're all having on me

Hope everyone is well and saving money where you can and living frugaliciously fabulous at all times

Greying

dizzy_lizzie

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

I seem to have caused many of you to feel sad and am sorry for that, its my pain not yours. I do appreciate all the kind things many of you have written BUT... lets forget that for now and concentrate on why we are on this forum that is to live a frugal life and get rid of our debts so that we can manage reasonable well on our separate incomes.
Time I went to bed now. Goodnight all XX

Awww I'd quoted this efc then when I was scrolling down and reading I saw mumwithamission had also replied to it.
I don't think the the 'tears' some felt were sadness ones I think they were those kind of heartfelt, empathy good tears. The kind of tears we have when someone says something particularly lovely and kind, like you did efc.
I know the thread is around being frugal but I think this thread is just sooooooooooo much more than that and that's why I love it, each and every post, whether it's about being frugal, sharing good days, sharing hard days, ranting days and sad days, fun days and boring days. I love the whole range that we have on here...
:A
Warm hugs to all
x

rubytuesday

Hello everyone.

Will catch up with you all tomorrow as I am so tired but just noticing Dizzy's mention of our tears - definitely tears of being deeply touched and empathy and also relating to all the positives that were in your post EFC.

Good news from me - a spend in the cafe on coffee and cake with my friend after my presentation today which went brilliantly ' The Impact on Children When a Parent has a Mental illness' and even more good news my girlie got her 5th and final University offer today at Edinburgh - BBB! She still wants to go to Leeds though. So proud of her - she's in demand!

SandraScarlett

I absolutely agree with everyone else - my tears weren't through sadness, but admiration. I just felt how strong, realistic and stoic you are EFC, on what must be an unimaginable time for you.

You are the epitome of the words Wonder Woman. Your posts are full of hope and joy, you are strong, fiercely protective, and proud, of your family, as they undoubtedly are of you, and a true, and hard-working Frugalista.

It's a pleasure to count you as one of my virtual friends, and as well as the cuppa, you can have a slice of my home-made bread! :beer:

xx