2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

mcculloch29

I'm a big fan of layering and of putting on more clothes if cold.
However, way over the best thing for keeping warm lately has been the Crocs I bought with a warm furry lining - they are called Mammoths.
I can't wear conventional slippers but I love these. They are saving me a fortune as often it was cold, painful feet that drove me to put the heating on. Like all of you, I can't believe that I'm still posting about winter clothing in mid-May.
In Germany it was once 6 degrees on Midsummer's Day when I lived there - I think it was '79 or '80 - but we put that down as a one-off, a real quirk of nature.

fuddle

The forecast is set for a good improvement where I am next week so fingers crossed for some money saving a few feelings of feeing good and content.

I'm in a quandary with a challenge I've had in mind, if I need to replace a piece of clothing then I would buy it second hand. The only thing is I find second hand is on the whole more expensive than buying cheap. I'd like to support charity shops but they are too pricey for me really. It might have to be ebay but then again the postage costs outweigh the savings, generally.

Speaking of slippers, I will have a look at the mammoths. I'd like something with a rubber sole because a lot of essentials are stored in the freezer in the garage and I'm forever in and out. I had in mind my grandma's sippers with fleecey/wooly linings but I'm still in my early thirties and can't see myself giving up the pink sparkly fleecey ballet-esk slippers just yet.

rising_from_the_ashes

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

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.

Thanks for that Dizzie, I'll have a look as it sounds as if that could do the job!

I gave up my kitchen table / chairs when I got the pine dresser (courtesty of DM:D & badly needed for storage) and I've been hoping to find a folding table / chairs something like this

but haven't yet managed to find one I could afford & getting a bit desperate for something to sew on now!


Re heating - I was just thinking the other day that I can't ever remember having my heating on in May before (usually goes off by mid April at the latest!).

Usually by this time of year, I'm down to an empty duvet cover on the bed & sometimes even having to run the air con unit ..... not this year.

A bit worrying as others have said as I need it off in order to balance out the d/debit payments!:eek:

At least it's dry (ish) here today - bit missly but not outright raining :T - currently onto my 3rd load of muddy dog towels :eek::rotfl:

Thrifty_Sister

mcculloch29 wrote: »

Sorry for the late reply - had a busy week! Yes the pins are the push pins with plastic bits.
The folding screens for earrings look like this - mine has over 100 pairs on it.

A tip, if you buy a cork board knock in some push pins along the top edge of the wooden frame for any heavy necklaces that you may have. Unless you buy a very thick board the weight of the heavier necklaces may pull out the pins.

It's at a little higher than radiator level on the wall next to the bed and behind the screen with earrings, sitting on my bedside table.

Loving this idea - going to pinch it if you don't mind. I have an old cork board of my sons and think I will decoupage the frame with some beautiful wrapping paper I have with roses on it which was far too nice to use for its original purpose, lol, then I will varnish it to protect it. All of you are so imspriational it has helped get me back on track and I absolutely love mending and making do which is something I think I have inherited from my Mum and Grandma.

Thrifty_Sister

fuddle wrote: »

Happy to report a NSD here today. I haven't looked at my budget like I planned today but I have a target for grocery shopping.

My priority is paying off as much as I can of the heating and electric. I'm actually quite worried about it but it happens every winter.

I cannot wait until my children are both at school and come September I will cope just fine through the day without the heating on. I just wish my family would harden up so we could save a bob or two.

Next year I want to enter winter without a deficit. The only debt we have and I feel somewhat bitter about it.

Have you looked at purchasing slipper socks for evrybody? They are lovely for keeping your feet warm and I picked some up for around £3 from Boots in the sale. Also, leg warmers which are easy to knit and are very cosy. HTH

Thrifty_Sister

fuddle wrote: »

The forecast is set for a good improvement where I am next week so fingers crossed for some money saving a few feelings of feeing good and content.

I'm in a quandary with a challenge I've had in mind, if I need to replace a piece of clothing then I would buy it second hand. The only thing is I find second hand is on the whole more expensive than buying cheap. I'd like to support charity shops but they are too pricey for me really. It might have to be ebay but then again the postage costs outweigh the savings, generally.

Speaking of slippers, I will have a look at the mammoths. I'd like something with a rubber sole because a lot of essentials are stored in the freezer in the garage and I'm forever in and out. I had in mind my grandma's sippers with fleecey/wooly linings but I'm still in my early thirties and can't see myself giving up the pink sparkly fleecey ballet-esk slippers just yet.

Have you also considered making/buying a fleece or quilted gilet? You know the things with no sleeves sometimes called body warmers? HTH

Thrifty_Sister

SandraScarlett wrote: »

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

xx

Love this idea and in a similar fashion I am going to attempt to recover a kitchen chair seat with a piece of oil cloth which I have cut from a shopping bag that is past its best. Its one of those flowery ones - think Cath Kidston style (ish)! in red/pink/blue flowers and I know oil type cloth can be expensive to buy. If it doesn't work at least it won't have cost me anything but as the cloth is quite nice its worth a try. OMG - it reminds me of Blue Peter and the sticky back plastic etc that used to be on tv all the time. You have really set me off Sandra with all of your ideas. Think my mind has gone into overdrive there is so much I want to do lol:)

Thrifty_Sister

Just posting this link to a site which has some good offers on re slippersocks etc that peeps might find useful.

http://www.totes.co.uk/sale.aspx

SandraScarlett

I must admit to feeling orgasmic when I look at my "new" suite, and matching rug! :j:j:j I went round the Scarlett Palace today, doing a snag list of all my decorating, and seeing what needed extra work, and I just have a couple of door frames to repaint, and a radiator cover that needs another coat.

I'm so excited about my mat, that I decided to have a go at making new kitchen blinds myself, so I've been to Romford Market, and bought the material, which is very similar to Mojo Jive, which I really wanted, but would have cost about £150 for the 2 blinds.

I've also bought new pulley cords, and these, and my material, cost just over £8 - a huge saving! It took me a couple of hours to take the old material off, and attach the new stuff. I cheated, and left about 2 inches of the old fabric on, and then overlaid the new stuff, sticking it down with Copydex, and hemming it as well.

Then I rigged the blinds up in the garage, and applied the stiffening stuff, and I've just been out and given it all another coat. I think I'll give it a third coat tomorrow, and then attach my new cords, and I might just have a Grand Ceremony, when I hoist them up and down!

xx

SandraScarlett

I got the info from this site:

http://www.alternative-windows.com/roller-blind.htm

xx