2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

Ches

Everything is working out well except for the amount I allocated for clothes for me and the amount I have helped the family with. Trouble is, if you know you are not in debt and you can afford to buy its very hard to look away from some things. All holidays are booked and paid for though and this has been achieved by being careful in other areas. I suppose life is all a balance really. Food and household bills are all on track so I am pleased with the way its all going. I certainly know to the last penny where the money is going these days which is a big plus.

Thrifty_Sister

Hope evryone is enjoying this beautiful weather - I have been washing evry thing that I could lay my hands on to make the most of it lol

DL - yes, thank you I got myself a nice cardi and vest from Mr T with his vouchers and then with waht I had left I was able to change to gardening vouchers and got plants for my baskets and tubs. With the addition of some cheap plants I picked up at some car boots I was able to spend the rest of the day in the garden and pot them all up. The garden looks lovely and colourful and I have saved loads of money on what I would usually spend. So kind of frugal IYSWIM:cool:

slowlyfading

:hello: afternoon everyone!

This thread is quiet! Where is everyone? *tumbleweed floats by*...

It's not a NSD in the SF household - I need to get petrol on the way home from work. I'm also going to pop into Mr Ts as well, since I'm spending, to get some eggs to I can make Mr SF a banana loaf later on with two very black bananas lurking in one of the cupboards. I'll also get a few bits and bobs to stock up on. I might use one of our clubcard vouchers on it too, so it'll cost less, but I don't know where I've put them! so if I can find them, I'll use it.

Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine :cool:

rising_from_the_ashes

slowlyfading wrote: »

This thread is quiet! Where is everyone? *tumbleweed floats by*...

It is ..... I thought I'd have loads of pages to catch up on!

I'm being really boring atm - trying to spend as little as poss (although Maisie's going in to be spayed tomorrow ..... wait for it .... £200:eek:) so am living very quietly and just plodding along IYKWIM.

Have managed to get the pea plants planted out today (14 plants so far and have some more seeds:D) - fingers crossed they do as well as last year - trying for a few more plants as not very many made it into the house .... let alone the kitchen!:rotfl:

Nearly time for the month end update - overspent atm as have just renewed house insurance for the year ..... but, that is the last of my big annual bills until December!:D

slowlyfading

rising - £200?! :eek: wow, that's a lot!

I've just taken the banana loaf out of the oven and it's cooling on the side - the house smells amazing

rising_from_the_ashes

slowlyfading wrote: »

rising - £200?! :eek: wow, that's a lot!

I've just taken the banana loaf out of the oven and it's cooling on the side - the house smells amazing

It's actually not a bad price compared to others (my pal was quoted over £400 at another vets:eek:) but it wasn't budgeted for ..... (thought I'd never find another dog - when I was depressed that it was taking so long - so spent the money on paying my line rental in advance for the year:o).

I love banana loaf - it's soooooo easy & yummy!:j

Best when straight out the oven with a sliver of butter on ...... *sigh*

slowlyfading

Banana loaf done!

Savvy_sewing

slowlyfading wrote: »

Banana loaf done!

Yummy! I think I need to make some of this. and a lot of other stuff. My fridge is bursting with fruit and veg at the moment. Bought a few bits too many before the weekend forgetting I was going away!. came back to some mouldy clemantines only bought on Wednesday as well.
Been trying to save and the more I tried the more I have splurged. Such is the way I am at times.
horns will be tightened after tomorrow. (I have a massage booked and I am going for it as I need to get the muscles relaxed over did it today, and am in lots of pain.).
Will try and balance the books, and get my budget back on track. Started it, but its time for bed.

dizzy_lizzie

Oh my word Slowly. That looks very moreish and sooooo tasty.
Rising soon as I read 'hot with a sliver of butter' I could almost taste it!
I need to get to bed before I raid the cupboards...:)
x

quintwins

Morning all, i've been very frugal lately

Bought clippers for our dogs, paid for themselves in one go and now the dogs are nice and cool.

Bought hair dressing scissors, and trimmed my fringe - also paid for themselves in one go

Done loads of washing and dried on the line.

Went to a fair with free tickets

Gave sil a free personalised card from MR'T for her birthday.

Did a meal plan using what was in until the 20th, got the last few bits to finish it off yesterday, parked in the free car park and walked to various shops only spent £9.01, once my freezers abit emptier i can plan til the end of the month. shuld only need milk, bread and fruit til then.

Bought ds3 some canvas shoes and shorts at £6 ok not frugal but cheap and sure they'll be ruined in a few months.

Took a broken braclet to cash for gold people and got £65!!! was expecting £20 at the most so i'm very happy.

counted up a big tub of chnage we found when moving house which had been forgotten about and found £26, i also paid the kids snack money for school from it so another £8