2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

slowlyfading

Fuddle - our heating bills are insane at the moment, and it's not like we have the temperature set high. It's really worrying as it's May and the heating is still on as I'm finding things really cold good luck with getting your bills down - if you have any tips please let me know! I often sit with a fleece blanket on as well - maybe will have to have a hot water bottle too
Thrifty Sister - woohoo! :j such a positive post from you which is lovely frugal living is such a beneficial thing to do and it really does make a big different to finances and the general mood of people. :j

grandma247

Hi Fuddle Could you buy some thermal vests for your children? Modern clothing is often not warm enough, it allows the wind to whistle through it even if it is thick.
I know of someone who has a business making fleece vests among other things and her own kids will not take them off until they get too hot. This year that could of course only happen on a few days:)
They would be easy to make from fleece. Just use a vest as a pattern and you need not finish the edges as it doesn't fray.

fuddle

Thanks so much for this. My kids have Primark thermal vests but to be honest I don't think there's anything thermal about them. Fleece vests sound so divine. I have myself a sewing machine so wont be too much trouble to do. Also fleeces are only around £1 in Ikea I'm sure.

I have been in said Primark store this morning and picked up long cardi with two pockets (take after my grandma, nothing like a house cardi with pockets in) was £1, a long woolly skirt - £1 and a longsleeve top £1. I'm chuffed and they going away for the autumn.

Definitely becoming a layer fan. If you're layered up you don't feel a thing.

dizzy_lizzie

Thrifty_Sister wrote: »

Forgot to mention - I deceided that we 'needed' some new bedding and bought some to give our bedrooms a makeover. Beautiful though it was I kept looking at it and thinking what else the money could have paid for. I am so proud of myself because I sent it back and will receive credit for it. I then took a tip from Sandra Scarlett and looked at some fabric I had - I am now the proud owner of some bedding that I have revamped having added some gorgeous rose patterned fabric in stripes and if I say so myself, it looks lovely. And all at no cost other than some time to do.

:T I bet that feels soooooooo good Thrifty. Well done
x

fuddle

Good resolve there thrifty. I bet it looks gorgeous and much more pleasing than shop bought costing you money.

All this talk of autumn warming has had me thinking. (plus just talking to my elderly neighbour about the dreadful weather who was wearing an arran cardi to keep warm in the house) that I would like a 'house jacket'. That's what my Grandma called her thicker than normal cardi. It was worn and ruined but so warm and in the winter I saw her with it on time after time.

Now I can't knit (determined to learn!) but I can crochet so I'm going to use up all my odds of wool to crochet a technicolour house jacket that I can throw on when I'm chilly in the house. It's going to look dreadful but I'm actually really excited about it

grandma247

fuddle I made dressing gowns for all the family like that a number of years ago. It used up all my bits and some yarns that I didn't really like. It was a triple knit bulky pattern. They were very warm and my middle ds still has his.

SandraScarlett

I've made a wipe clean rug!:j:j:j I used a piece of left-over bathroom vinyl, and covered it with some of my upholstery material, and every day I've given it a coat of varnish, pushing the brush well into the weave.

I've put this by the patio doors, and it looks so good, and just needs a wipe with a damp cloth. And it cost nothing!:money:

xx

SandraScarlett

I got the info from this site http://inmyownstyle.com/2011/02/how-to-make-a-custom-rug-out-of-fabric.html

xx

rising_from_the_ashes

Hi everyone - sorry I'm not posting much

Combination of a wonderful new 4-legged arrival:j she is lovely but very demanding!

It's so easy to forget, as your dog grows older and slows down gradually over time ..... just how much they have really slowed down - until a new one arrives that is!;)

Few things to work on (nightmare off lead!) but we'll get there & she's settling in really well - it's wonderful to have the company of a dog again:T Still miss Ben every single day but she has brought smiles back

On the FL side ..... plodding away (still updating the SOW with every spend:p) and trying to be as sensible as poss:)

Still got some pages to catch up on but a quick couple of mentions to:

Sandra ..... happy belated birthday - I thought of your limo day out when I read that it was finally "the day":)

Thrifty Sister :j to the bedding! I must admit I have loads (used to be a weakness of mine:o) but have had most many (many, many years - some back to when I was a teenager:eek: - with the recent entering of my 4th decade :eek::eek::eek: - that's a long time:rotfl:).

I have some lovely material that I've been meaning to try to make a cover from - just haven't got around to it and still lacking a suitable table to use my sewing machine on - really must get this sorted!:cool:

dizzy_lizzie

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I've made a wipe clean rug!:j:j:j I used a piece of left-over bathroom vinyl, and covered it with some of my upholstery material, and every day I've given it a coat of varnish, pushing the brush well into the weave.
I've put this by the patio doors, and it looks so good, and just needs a wipe with a damp cloth. And it cost nothing!:money:
xx

Sandra I'm sure you could write a book on furnishing your home 'thrifty chic' style.
Your recent projects sound brilliant. Had a look at the link for the mat and what a fantastic idea!

Hi Rising. You sound like you're having loads of fun at the moment with your new addition
I bought a tv table from dun*lm to put my new machine on. Just folds up against the wall to store. It was only £7.99p Does the job great.

I'm sooooo tired today. We need some lovely warm weather don't we?
x