2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

Winchelsea

Kylie - we had a surprise celebration lunch for our 50th anniversary last year. Went to a very nice restaurant for lunch, but I think the meal only cost about £12.50 per head. The thing is, everyone paid except DH and I. There were 20 of us (I think) eating lunch, but the total bill was divided by 18 - only 18 people paid, not DH and I, IYSWIM.

It was really lovely - the best bit was that we thought just six of us were going out for a quiet lunch, and when DH and I got there we had a wonderful surprise. And there were presents to open too.

No one family was badly out of pocket. They all paid a bit over what they would have paid just for themselves. And no-one minded.

Worth a thought?

Thrifty_Sister

Hi everyone - had a much needed frugal break for a couple of days visitng friends. We chatted, laughed etc so much that my sides have still not stopped aching. Forgotten (almost)lol how good it is to have a really good laugh - especially when it is most needed:D:D

Ruby - I too love your garden visitors. I know some people think they are pests but really those liitle ones are sooo cute. I couldn't harm them for a Kings ransom. Thanks for sharing you wonderful pics.

Hope evryone doing ok x

Thrifty_Sister

HappyTorty wrote: »

Aww no sorry to hear that sucks doesnt it? xxxx
I lost my girl a year ago due to a heart problem. Yer she would do the same...on my seat!:mad: Then she would just look at me as if to say "look how cute and comfy I am, you wouldn't want to make me lie on the floor would you?" :rotfl:

Sorry guys for turning this in to general chat!

Its really hard HappyTorty & Rising when you lose your much loved furry friends - my sympathies to you both and to anyone else in a similar position. I still miss mine so much but circumstances rae not suitable atm to have another. Only wish I could.

HappyTorty

Thrifty_Sister wrote: »

Its really hard HappyTorty & Rising when you lose your much loved furry friends - my sympathies to you both and to anyone else in a similar position. I still miss mine so much but circumstances rae not suitable atm to have another. Only wish I could.

Thank you for that. I'm sorry for your loss too. Some people just don't get why you would miss an animal so much, even when you explain the relationship to them. So it's nice to have like minded people about xxx

MandM90

Kylieminoag wrote: »

Hi everyone - please can I pick your brains?

Its my parents Golden wedding and my brother and I have offered to organise an event to celebrate.... We have agreed to share a budget of £500 and we thought we would take them to their favourite restaurant with all their brothers and sisters to celebrate ,,,,, so thats 17 people at £23.99 each (£407.83) plus wine at £19.95 a bottle. :eek:

Neither of us can afford to stretch the budget as we have both recently had a huge drop in income. I'm going to hand make the invitations and DB will bake a cake but I wondered if any of you have any good mse ideas for how else we can make the event special on such a tight budget? All ideas would be really welcome.

Thanks

Could you ask them if they will let you take your own and take a corkage instead? Might be a long shot, depending on the restaurant, but worth a try.

You could also ask them to play your parents favourite song/wedding song.

Print out place cards for everyone with a funny fact about/photo of your parents.

How about a quiz about them and their time together. Either quiz each other about their other half or all do a quiz about them (very fun or naff depending on what kind of thing you all enjoy!)

mcculloch29

I consider myself to be a balanced person and I would never put the life of an animal over the life of a person, but I loved and miss all my pets. We have two snakes now which are a bit difficult to get attached to, but one who is now 4ft we have had since he was a tiny hatchling, I must admit it's been lovely seeing him grow.
Frugaldom.. I brought back a very old favourite the other day, onion, bacon and potato hotpot.
I doubled the quantity as it is a little time-consuming to prepare (I don't have a food processor, but use a slot on my grater to slice the potatoes) and now have one in the freezer. Rather than cheese sauce I used low fat tomato and mushroom condensed soups with a little finely grated cheese added. So very, very tasty and with on-offer potatoes, onions, cheese and cooking bacon, incredibly cheap.

HappyTorty

mcculloch29 wrote: »

I consider myself to be a balanced person and I would never put the life of an animal over the life of a person, but I loved and miss all my pets. We have two snakes now which are a bit difficult to get attached to, but one who is now 4ft we have had since he was a tiny hatchling, I must admit it's been lovely seeing him grow.
Frugaldom.. I brought back a very old favourite the other day, onion, bacon and potato hotpot.
I doubled the quantity as it is a little time-consuming to prepare (I don't have a food processor, but use a slot on my grater to slice the potatoes) and now have one in the freezer. Rather than cheese sauce I used low fat tomato and mushroom condensed soups with a little finely grated cheese added. So very, very tasty and with on-offer potatoes, onions, cheese and cooking bacon, incredibly cheap.

My cousin loves snakes, and bearded dragons and she is very attached to hers. I now have two pet rats who are very affectionate (i'm sure your snakes would like them a-lot! :rotfl:)and a human life always comes first (even if it can be a difficult decision!).
Your recipe sounds lush by the way. I'm looking about for some very MSE recipes at the moment.

mcculloch29

Thanks Happy Torty. I love all rodents but have never owned a rat. I'd like to though.
Onion, bacon, potato hotpot. Very simple recipe, just onions, thinly sliced, potatoes thinly sliced and cooking bacon in layers in a greased dish, no need to add salt as the bacon will have loads,season with pepper, pour over either a cheese sauce or condensed soup (I used tomato and mushroom) with some milk/water and grated cheese added.
Takes 3 1/2 hours in a 130 deg. oven or speed things up a bit by zapping it in a micro on half power for 30 mins or so then 2 hours in oven.

HappyTorty

mcculloch29 wrote: »

Thanks Happy Torty. I love all rodents but have never owned a rat. I'd like to though.
Onion, bacon, potato hotpot. Very simple recipe, just onions, thinly sliced, potatoes thinly sliced and cooking bacon in layers in a greased dish, no need to add salt as the bacon will have loads,season with pepper, pour over either a cheese sauce or condensed soup (I used tomato and mushroom) with some milk/water and grated cheese added.
Takes 3 1/2 hours in a 130 deg. oven or speed things up a bit by zapping it in a micro on half power for 30 mins or so then 2 hours in oven.

Well my two Rats are the naughtiest little things! Definitely full of character and are trainable if you have the patience.

Will defo have to try, but OH is vegetarian so will have to find a substitute - or he can starve :rotfl:

Does anyone know of any cooking books that have frugal like recipes in them?

Thrifty_Sister

HappyTorty wrote: »

Well my two Rats are the naughtiest little things! Definitely full of character and are trainable if you have the patience.

Will defo have to try, but OH is vegetarian so will have to find a substitute - or he can starve :rotfl:

Does anyone know of any cooking books that have frugal like recipes in them?

Somewhere on MSE is a Old style money savers thread and I am sure if you can find it (anybody on here use it?) that has cheap nourishing foodie ideas. I'm sure there was a 50p a meal thread aswell or something like that. One of my recipes is my own fish pie which I have amazed myself with as its so delish and everyone wants more when I do it - and its so easy! lol If anyone wants to try it. it goes something like this although it can be varied according to what I've got in.

Firstly cook fish (I get whatever whoopsied fish I can find) in some milk/water. Reserve this stock.
Make some mashed potatoes using some of the stock.
Then make a roux - not as scary as it sounds. All it is melt some butter over a low heat (must be low as it burns easily) and mix in some flour. Cook for a minute or two then add some more stock/milk gradually until you have a nice thickish sauce.
Bung fish, frozen peas/sweercorn/whatever ib casserole, top with mash potato and cook in the oven for 20-30 mins.

This also works well for veggies with the addition of more vegetables in casserole and add cheese to sauce before poring over veggies and cooking the same way. Yummie:):)