2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

rising_from_the_ashes

tylersbabe wrote: »

am off to review my budget to add in slimming world costs, it will be all worth it when I am two stones lighter though

mmmm I really need to lose a couple of stone too - I've put on loads due to a) medication I'm now on and b) (some may remember this) I had surgery last year and was housebound for around 9 weeks and ability to exercise is still really restricted (going back to consultant in a few weeks as still having problems unfortunately )

I must try - anyone got any good diet tips for someone who can't eat fill up on fruit or veg (and I mean I really can't eat a lot of either or I'm ill due to aforementioned medical issue)?

tylersbabe

The only diet I can think of is a protein rich diet or maybe the red on slimming world not sure though

Well have made mushy pea curry which was very cheap to make and much nicer than it sounds!

On a frugal note, went out and bought my usual pepsi max, then put price into de motivator tool..........................................................................£1457 a year, that could go towards the deposit on my much wanted new home.

No more pepsi for me then it seemed like such a cheap treat as well

dizzy_lizzie

tylersbabe wrote: »

Well have made mushy pea curry which was very cheap to make and much nicer than it sounds!
On a frugal note, went out and bought my usual pepsi max, then put price into de motivator tool..........................................................................£1457 a year, that could go towards the deposit on my much wanted new home.
No more pepsi for me then it seemed like such a cheap treat as well

I love mushy peas tylersbabe so that sounds just yummy to me.
As for the pepsi :eek: It's amazing when you look at the yearly cost of little treats like this how much they can add up.

Rising I was going to suggest a no points vegi soup weighwatchers style but realised that wouldn't be much use to you. What about a homemade bean pate on crackers or ryvitas? I know a good idea to stop picking at food is to eat a homemade fruit ice lolly.

x

slowlyfading

I need to get back on the healthy eating wagon too, been a bit rubbish lately...

Isn't the weather horrible today? don't think we'll be doing anything today...

Savvy_sewing

Took twin1 to shop at Aldi on her way home. Bought enough for her, I hope to span the two weeks. Just came in over £30 but it at least covered the majority of what she will need. I showed her the difference in the price of a chicken, and the breasts alone, and she has gone for the chicken, and told her that it should last her at least 4 meals. To cook it today, and then to partition it up, and put some in the freezer. Same with the mince. To divide it up first then freeze it. But I was not able to stop to unload so dont know if she will take my advise.
The weather is dier here too. So no more going out for me.
Got to go, DGD has gone quiet and I dont know where she now is!.

Welsh_Poppy

Yes I also need to be watchful of my eating habits especially in this awful weather.
When we cook chicken it does mr WP 2 dinners, 2 curries,chicken and mushroom pie(makes 4 meals) and coranation chicken (makes 4 meals)and the cat get a dish of bits as well.

Erme

fuddle wrote: »

Congratulations on the new little babies LolaLemon!

My autumn house jacket is crocheting along nicely. I've got complete 1/3 of the back panel... it looks dreadful mind you - there's neon green in there, and a bright cerise pink. Still those horrible colours were just sat there (picked them up with a job lot on freecycle) so best used to keep me warm.

Have you got a link to a pattern for this please? would love an autumn house jacket to keep warm in winter. Checked my elec yesterday and it's sooo expensive for even the summer :eek:

Well I'm not a complete love of all things frugal though do it when I have to (to pay off debt)...Will probably at least semi keep to it when debt free only cos I'm used to it and build up a savings buffer for when I'm ill...

The washing machine I got 18 months ago is on it's last legs (spin probs) so that's one of the first things to get when debt free after cheap holiday to the west coast to see friends (bar small furry boarding. Am going to get a dog sitter as I know they'll do a good job :A). Will look it up on which and go from there. Budget will be about £300 - £350. It'll be about august (end of) beg sept time and will be be my birthday present to self then next thing before winter is a new carpet in lounge which will cost about £200.

These are all things I've put off/made do due to being in debt. I have said I'm not going on holiday this year till I'm debt free and I'm sticking to it. The carpet is over 10 years old and threadbare (more like 15) and has two or three pieces scavenged stuck over the top of it....though i might just get a rug from TK M* if that's cheaper and don't know. It's just a small lounge - 3.75mx 3 m....

E

tylersbabe

WOW who thought sticking to a budget could be so difficult, shows how much money I am wasting on "bits and pieces"

Hope everyone is well today, my home is just recovering from having builders in to sort out my back fence and do some re-pointing at the front of the house.

Then they need to come back and look at the roof, it just never ends lol

dizzy_lizzie

tylersbabe wrote: »

WOW who thought sticking to a budget could be so difficult, shows how much money I am wasting on "bits and pieces"Shows how much money you'll be saving now you're aware of it
Hope everyone is well today, my home is just recovering from having builders in to sort out my back fence and do some re-pointing at the front of the house.
Then they need to come back and look at the roof, it just never ends lol
I know that feeling well tylersbabe

Well I have made the decision to grow out my grey oops I mean silver hair. I'm not going to have lowlights/highlights to disguise it whilst it's growing, I'm just going cold turkey :eek:
Already there's about an inch of silver and my hair was really long with layers. But not now. Went to the hairdressers this afternoon and had it cut to all one length which is just on my shoulders. This way it I'm hoping it won't take too long to get lovely silver hair.
I've read for hours on end on the net about the best way to go about it and apparently a lot of us baby boomers, as us in our near 50s and beyond are now called, are ditching the dye and going au natural. I know it's not for everyone but my hair grows fairly quickly and I was so fed up having to keep touching up roots. There are some gorgeous hairstyles to be had for silver hair. DD isn't too keen on me doing it as I'm not quite 50 yet, just over another year to go, but I feel it's right for me.
And it will be frugal yay All that money to be saved So hope I don't drive anyone to distraction on here if I post my ups and downs with it.
Just chilling out now with jimjams on.
Hope everyone has a great weekend
x

mcculloch29

Good luck Dizzy Lizzie.

Sadly, I am just a little bit grey, no lovely head of silver for me, but it's concentrated in my fringe ( I also have loads of white eyebrows).

After disasters with med. brown foam hair dyes turning my medium brown hair black (no lies, I got £15 vouchers as compensation), I have settled on Wilkinson's Simply Colour in medium brown (shade 15) at £1.09.

It's in the old style tube and bottle and I could actually just re-touch with half a pack and store the other safely. I have the brush from a Clairol roots kit and any plastic tub or bowl will do to mix in.

Went in our newest C.S. today and discovered everything was 99p. Left with a relatively unworn belted jumper (George) and a cardigan (Bon Marche) plus a bag, belt and CD - a double CD for 49p! The CD is still available on Amazon and looks great (Number One Classical Album of 2004, £8.29)