2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

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SandraScarlett wrote: »

Evening All! Sounds like Dixon of Dock Green! Hope everyone is well, and excited because ............... only 2 days and Feb is over! The weather has been beautiful here down South, and the grass had grown so much over the past few weeks, that I got the mower out, put the blades on high, and gave it its first cut.

I was knackered when I'd finished, but glad that it's over! My worst problem is oak leaves. We have huge trees on the land behind us, and no matter how many buckets I collected, it didn't seem to make much difference - but half an hour a day collecting, weather permitting, for, er, um, several weeks, should help!

Doggy's paw is healing, but slowly, so we are taking him for a street walk tomorrow, first walk for weeks. Hope everyone's budgets are OK!!

xx

HI SS there is probably a reason why but how about just mowing the oak leaves up when you mow your lawns. Beautiful weather here in Suffolk today, I did a couple of hours in the garden and straightened out one garden which pleased me. Its incredible to think its just the end of Feb and am able to garden without a jacket on.

Only done one shop this week but want to go and buy sugar tomorrow for my marmalade. Made another 10 lbs tonight, orange and ginger this time, my fruit will probably just do 20lbs more then I shall concentrate on the garden for a while, last year somebody mentioned they put a chilli in the mixture, if you are still around please would love to know how many to what amount of fruit. I bet it gave it a nice kick and I love trying new combinations of ingredients.

Erme your Kenwood doesn't sound very healthy, how about finding an agent in town or even phoning up Kenwoods, they are very helpful. It sounded a good bargain when you first mentioned it but then I suppose people dont get rid of them if they are OK, a shame though.

Off to bed now. X

twiglet98

Thrifty_Sister wrote: »

Just to explain a bit more re JTD & DTD - when you get your head round the JTD thingy. Up to a few months ago - think it was October time - T's used to go one better than A's and give DTD. So clever peeps were targetting their shops to make the most of this generous offer.:D Naughty peeps were being silly and ripping T's off big time:mad: and Mr Big T put a stop to it by bringing in JTD and capping it at a mix of £20. Its still good if you can manage to work it all out - my fave is A's as the voucher is produced instantly but you still have to be careful as when whoopsies etc are taken into account it can affect the voucher value.

I think it was earlier than October - just before the Royal Wedding. Some - many - of us cynically assumed they pulled it, and made the announcement, when the press were busy with More Important things than pointing out what a bunch of rotters Te$co are. A spokesman from A$da famously came out with the quote, "Call me old-fashioned but if you claim to be the cheapest, it helps to actually be the cheapest". I do think Mr T's offers are better now than they were before this climbdown, though - more 'better than half price' and not so many 'buy 2, get a 3rd free'.

They had originally tried to go one better than A$da's Price Guarantee scheme by offering Double The Difference, but got well and truly trounced and unfortunately, some very silly people posted photos of the huge stashes of stuff they had accumulated by using their DTD (double the difference) coupons to buy yet more products qualifying for more coupons... MSE isn't the only forum with areas dedicated to discussing individual successes with price check schemes and obviously sooner or later, Mr T was going to have a sense of humour failure. They reverted to giving Just The Difference, rather than doubling it, but it was quite an obsession for a while, especially before they capped it to £20.

I've never used the A$da Price Guarantee but Sa!nsbury's helpfully do an instant coupon as a till-spit if your total BRANDED items would have been cheaper elsewhere. Mr T does compare own-brand with exact equivalents in A$da, though there are frequently items that they say they cannot compare and there seems no logical reason.

Still, last night's effort with a few wombled receipts have resulted in five coupons ranging from 19p to £1.17, probably worth the ten minutes it took to type in all the details. Note that it's a lot quicker if you enter your email address once, highlight and right-click, then Copy and Paste for each subsequent entry!

Savvy_sewing

Rather behind with all of my frugaling. But I must get back on track or I will be in trouble. I seem to get too comfortable then something comes up and I realise oops I have over spent again. Not good.
I know how to do all of this, so why do I slip out of the routine? Why do I spend more when i know I need to spend less? its like a gambling addiction! I must spend even though I am trying to stop spending!!! arggggghhh
I really am my own worst enemy at times.

Erme

Thanks enjoy...

Some playing and I think she's just sensitive though a service won't do any harm...Alas there's no Kenwood agents where I live so going to phone repaircare when they open as they have local agents and enquire about the prob...It seems she just needs time to warm up (judging by putting her on min and without the basin and attachments)....and slow changing of speeds...

Thanks guys

E

Thrifty_Sister

twiglet98 wrote: »

I think it was earlier than October - just before the Royal Wedding. Some - many - of us cynically assumed they pulled it, and made the announcement, when the press were busy with More Important things than pointing out what a bunch of rotters Te$co are. A spokesman from A$da famously came out with the quote, "Call me old-fashioned but if you claim to be the cheapest, it helps to actually be the cheapest". I do think Mr T's offers are better now than they were before this climbdown, though - more 'better than half price' and not so many 'buy 2, get a 3rd free'.

They had originally tried to go one better than A$da's Price Guarantee scheme by offering Double The Difference, but got well and truly trounced and unfortunately, some very silly people posted photos of the huge stashes of stuff they had accumulated by using their DTD (double the difference) coupons to buy yet more products qualifying for more coupons... MSE isn't the only forum with areas dedicated to discussing individual successes with price check schemes and obviously sooner or later, Mr T was going to have a sense of humour failure. They reverted to giving Just The Difference, rather than doubling it, but it was quite an obsession for a while, especially before they capped it to £20.

I've never used the A$da Price Guarantee but Sa!nsbury's helpfully do an instant coupon as a till-spit if your total BRANDED items would have been cheaper elsewhere. Mr T does compare own-brand with exact equivalents in A$da, though there are frequently items that they say they cannot compare and there seems no logical reason.

Still, last night's effort with a few wombled receipts have resulted in five coupons ranging from 19p to £1.17, probably worth the ten minutes it took to type in all the details. Note that it's a lot quicker if you enter your email address once, highlight and right-click, then Copy and Paste for each subsequent entry!

You are probably right re when T's changed their DTD policy - time flies!

Due to their inflated prices and my circumstances I only use T's now for special offers - and only then when I combine my shopping with vouchers. I have not had a Mr S one as I do not have a store near me and my fave one is Mr A - lovely SA's, CS and no moaning and messing about with their APG vouchers.

Thrifty_Sister

Nearly forgot - morning all. Hope the improved weather is making everybody feel better - spring is just around the corner. Managed to get some work done in the garden over the weekend in between doing my e*ay stuff to break the monotony lol

Got some bids already so well pleased I stuck with it - maybe its as well that they don't do free listing EVERY week or my brain would be well and truly mashed:D:D:D

Erme

I need to sleep....LOL...been up since 3...

I think she's okay (the KC)....she sounds like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DszrxLDBiGY

and the guy at Kenwood restore posted down the page and said she was fine. Also phoned up the Kenwood service agent and he said she was fine:)

Yay PG

E

mytimetoshine2012

Morning everyone,

Things started off badly for me today, I woke up in a 'black mood' so I was a bit worried earlier but I have picked up a bit because I just had some good news to cheer me up!!! I put a bid in for a small temporary contract from April until June on the off chance and WE GOT IT!! Phewwwwwww!!!:j:j. It's not mega bucks but it will be good and keep the wolves from the door. Without it we have an income of £0 in that period!

Yay!!:T:T:T

So in the cafe today we have some double chocolate cake, homemade scones with clotted cream and fresh strawberry jam and a tiramasu cake. (I didn't get round to Twinks but will do, maybe today!!). Some homemade verge sausage rolls, leek and potato soup and cheese straws are on for lunchtime. Tea coffee and selection of cold beverages are here too! Lets sit in the conservatory and watch the world go by......

OK out of the virtual world:(

Thanks for filling me in on the JTD and DTD, that is something that completely escaped my attention up to now. We went couponing on Saturday and got 50p off toilet rolls 75p off ladies products and a free coffee. NEVER used them before and so it is a start!:)

Sorry for people who are struggling with their health but hope everyone is well or as well as can be. I a hoping that the weather will be better soon and give us all a bit of a boost!

Byeee for now MTTS

cw18

mytimetoshine2012 wrote: »

So in the cafe today we have some double chocolate cake, homemade scones with clotted cream and fresh strawberry jam and a tiramasu cake. (I didn't get round to Twinks but will do, maybe today!!). Some homemade verge sausage rolls, leek and potato soup and cheese straws are on for lunchtime. Tea coffee and selection of cold beverages are here too! Lets sit in the conservatory and watch the world go by......

Scones with jam and cream followed by Tiramisu cake for me please (all washed down with a big mug of strong tea )


Congratulations on winning the contract :T

SAVVYJADE

Hi all!

Where's the sun gone?! Looking forward to next week as its pay day so a fresh start budgets etc! Can't wait for Feb to be over for that reason.

On plus side I've had some bids on my items on e*ay which is nice, let's hope they keep coming!

Off to mr t for some more free flash and fairy after work

Hope everyone has a good day

SJ x