2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

Kerry_Woman

Still plodding along. Doing Mr A price guarantee every week still.

Have to use up some cleaning products I got when I did some volunteer work recently. Should last me a while, and save me some money. Got some vouchers for free cake this week.

Got a 2 month temp admin job, have 4 weeks left. Will have to wait to see if they are willing to extend the contract. Am going to be busy over the summer.

Still doing some decluttering, which stills never ending.

Hugs to those who might need them.

dizzy_lizzie

mcculloch29 wrote: »

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)

Thanks hun. That sounded a bit scary. Was it an allergy to the hair colour or did it not just turn out as it should have?
Reminds me of a few months ago. I tried one I hadn't used before, didn't do an allergy test before hand neither. Well after a few minutes I felt my face was burning and itching! I started panicking really bad and I mean so bad that I was jumping about in the bathroom, stark, you know what, naked shouting, I'm going to die!!!! I just kept thinking, I'm not going to be able to breathe, my windpipe's going to swell up etc. Oh my word it was horrible. DD ran in...sympathetic? No, laughing her socks off telling me to calm down. I soaked a towel in freezing water, wrapped it round my face, got dressed and went to the walk in centre where she promptly gave me an antihistamine and told me to take another one a few hours later....no lasting side effects.
Me, prone to hysterics, never :rotfl:I can laugh about it now but I think with me having asthma, all be it, not had any problems for a few months now with it, I just went hysterical! Needless to say I went back to the one I usually used with no nasty chemicals.
But now it's au natural for me. For now.
The CS finds sound brilliant. I bet that made your day

Kerry_Woman wrote: »

Still plodding along. Doing Mr A price guarantee every week still.
Have to use up some cleaning products I got when I did some volunteer work recently. Should last me a while, and save me some money. Got some vouchers for free cake this week.
Got a 2 month temp admin job, have 4 weeks left. Will have to wait to see if they are willing to extend the contract. Am going to be busy over the summer.
Still doing some decluttering, which stills never ending.
Hugs to those who might need them.

Thanks Kerry. I'll have a hug if you don't mind Like you I've been doing a mass declutter that is lasting weeks. I'm slowly but surely giving our home breathing space. Yesterday I cleaned out some kitchen cupboards and put aside for the charity shop lots of things that we don't use anymore. Some lovely glass lazy susan type dishes and a fondue set. And a cute glass bonbon dish. And binned loads of utensils, how many wooden and plastic serving spoons does anyone need!
Have done about half the kitchen and I might do a little bit more later.
Hope you're making lots of good progress with your decluttering. It does feel good doesn't it once the motivation kicks in.
Fingers crossed for you that they extend your contract.

SlowlyFading are you doing any particular diet? I wouldn't mind starting a healthy eating programme/diet with you if you want to do something together on here and give each other a bit of moral support.
I don't want to lose a lot, maybe a stone.

Went to a car boot this morning with OH. Sun was shining and it was actually warm. Was really pleased. I got a 2 cd Learning French set with the book for £1. The retail is £12.99 and it's practically brand new.
I've been looking on ebay so I'm chuffed to bits to have got this for next to nothing.
Back at work tomorrow after our mid break. Then the next hols will be Summer. I really can't believe how fast this school year has gone. It's just whizzed by at breakneck speed! Wonder what my work colleagues will say about my decision to ditch the dye?!
Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend.
x

Kerry_Woman

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Thanks Kerry. I'll have a hug if you don't mind Like you I've been doing a mass declutter that is lasting weeks. I'm slowly but surely giving our home breathing space. Yesterday I cleaned out some kitchen cupboards and put aside for the charity shop lots of things that we don't use anymore. Some lovely glass lazy susan type dishes and a fondue set. And a cute glass bonbon dish. And binned loads of utensils, how many wooden and plastic serving spoons does anyone need!
Have done about half the kitchen and I might do a little bit more later.
Hope you're making lots of good progress with your decluttering. It does feel good doesn't it once the motivation kicks in.
Fingers crossed for you that they extend your contract.

Thanks dizzy lizzie. Well done on what you have achieved.
I am only doing the decluttering when I have a spare moment. Been doing it since last year, but am aiming to do get on top of it this year. Am not going to get too stressed if I do not succeed. Work in progress. I do feel better when I have achieved some decluttering.

Have accepted a two day contract, just in case temp work does not get extended and can cancel that job if needed. This is the casual work that I do for the sports events company that I have been doing for the last few years and have a good working relationship with them.

Went to a CS recently and got some clothes for work and a few casual one as well. Came under £22, so am really pleased and some of the clothes were M&S ones.:)

dizzy_lizzie

Thanks Kerry. I've realised with my decluttering is to do it like you, as and when it can be fitted in. That way there's no stress involved and every bit makes a difference. For a while
Have you looked on ebay for clothes Kerry? I bought some lovely Laura Ashley and Monsoon skirts last year for only a couple of pound each. In fab condition as well. If it's clothes I always read their feedback just so I know I'm not going to get a bundle of rags in the post and honestly I was over the moon with them. Might be worth a peep.
Good idea that you've got the two day contract as a back up.
x

slowlyfading

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

SlowlyFading are you doing any particular diet? I wouldn't mind starting a healthy eating programme/diet with you if you want to do something together on here and give each other a bit of moral support.
I don't want to lose a lot, maybe a stone.

I've got about a stone and a half to lose, so not too much really. I'm just trying to cut out the extra snacks that are beginning to creep in, and try and do some exercise everyday. Sounds simple but I'm finding it hard. I'll post on here everyday with what I'm eating if you want, some moral support would be most welcome!

mcculloch29

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Thanks hun. That sounded a bit scary. Was it an allergy to the hair colour or did it not just turn out as it should have?
Reminds me of a few months ago. I tried one I hadn't used before, didn't do an allergy test before hand neither. Well after a few minutes I felt my face was burning and itching! I started panicking really bad and I mean so bad that I was jumping about in the bathroom, stark, you know what, naked shouting, I'm going to die!!!! I just kept thinking, I'm not going to be able to breathe, my windpipe's going to swell up etc. Oh my word it was horrible. DD ran in...sympathetic? No, laughing her socks off telling me to calm down. I soaked a towel in freezing water, wrapped it round my face, got dressed and went to the walk in centre where she promptly gave me an antihistamine and told me to take another one a few hours later....no lasting side effects.
Me, prone to hysterics, never :rotfl:I can laugh about it now but I think with me having asthma, all be it, not had any problems for a few months now with it, I just went hysterical! Needless to say I went back to the one I usually used with no nasty chemicals.
But now it's au natural for me. For now.
The CS finds sound brilliant. I bet that made your day

Thanks DL, I've played the CD today and it is wonderful, lovely to have on in the background as well as to really listen to.

What an experience you had! Well done on your daughter! Thank goodness for adult/older children who don't panic. My DS saved my life when I was choking once many years ago. I had eaten a pear in a hurry whilst taking a small child upstairs to change a dirty nappy.
I started choking and stamped on the floor - hard- to get DS's attention. He ignored me to start with but thankfully came after 30 seconds or so, took one look and worked out what was happening as he raced upstairs. The thump on my back was a mighty one, and the chunk of pear flew out. What a mercy that he is very strong.

It wasn't an allergic reaction to the dye (Clairol Foam) but a problem with the dye, many, many people reported the same problem with several shades, particularly the one I chose, medium brown.

Whilst tidying today I found my root touch up brush in a very unexpected location (in my community teaching box amongst the pens and pencils - Eh? How? Why? :rotfl:), I'm so pleased as I would have been looking for it in a few weeks to do my hair.

I discovered that the 99p bag I bought had a bust zip ( :think: Ah! That's why it was donated! ) that was fixed by me in five minutes. I also discovered that to buy a similar new one would cost £19.95... :money:

Thrifty_Sister

Playing catch up again - good excuse for a cuppa before we eat. Count me in as a born again de cluttereer - recent events have made me want to get to grips with my clutter and think I read/heard somewhere that de cluttering is good fung shei. (SP)?? Also, need to lose a bit of weight so I'm in for that one.

DL - was going to say that not long ago I read a horror story re hair dye and a womans severe reaction to it. Good luck with the au naturel new you look. ((hug)) from me too.

dizzy_lizzie

mcculloch29 wrote: »

What an experience you had! Well done on your daughter! Thank goodness for adult/older children who don't panic. My DS saved my life when I was choking once many years ago. I had eaten a pear in a hurry whilst taking a small child upstairs to change a dirty nappy.
I started choking and stamped on the floor - hard- to get DS's attention. He ignored me to start with but thankfully came after 30 seconds or so, took one look and worked out what was happening as he raced upstairs. The thump on my back was a mighty one, and the chunk of pear flew out. What a mercy that he is very strong.
I discovered that the 99p bag I bought had a bust zip ( :think: Ah! That's why it was donated! ) that was fixed by me in five minutes. I also discovered that to buy a similar new one would cost £19.95... :money:

Wow McC well done to your DSs quick thinking :T It's frightening sometimes how these things can happen so easily.
Brilliant bargain on on the bag, though good job you had the skills to fix it

Thrifty_Sister wrote: »

Playing catch up again - good excuse for a cuppa before we eat. Count me in as a born again de cluttereer - recent events have made me want to get to grips with my clutter and think I read/heard somewhere that de cluttering is good fung shei. (SP)?? Also, need to lose a bit of weight so I'm in for that one.
DL - was going to say that not long ago I read a horror story re hair dye and a womans severe reaction to it. Good luck with the au naturel new you look. ((hug)) from me too.

Thanks Thrifty. Good luck with the decluttering. It definately is good feng shui. As I've decluttered more and more not only does my house feel like it can breathe (iyswim) but I feel lighter in my mind too.

Slowly how has the healthy eating gone today?
My day has consisted of
shredded wheat with fruit filling & soya milk
2 wholemeal muffins with vegan cream cheese
grapes, apple and baked crisp
wholemeal salad sandwich & baked crisp (again)
lemon sorbet and spanish gold (coconut sweety thing!)
Far too much bread today plus those naughty crisp.
But all in all not too bad.

Hope everyone is well today
x

slowlyfading

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Slowly how has the healthy eating gone today?

Not bad I have had:
b - yogurt with raspberries and strawberries
l - LF tuna mayo salad, 1 small pear, 2 satsumas, blueberry yogurt bar
s - chocolate freddo
t - 2 small chicken fajitas, LF rice pudding with 1 tbsp lemon curd, 2 rich tea biscuits

Could have done with not eating the biscuits or the chocolate really... but not too bad as the first day.

dizzy_lizzie

That is good Slowly. The trouble is if you don't have the odd little treat in a day you'll crave it then just have a mad binge on it...oh hang on that's just me
Good Luck for tomorrow.
I'm off to bed soon. Was up early this morning and starting to feel sleepy, so rather than ignore it and stay up watching rubbish on tv, I'm going to go to bed and be all refreshed in the morning.
Hope everyone has a great day tomorrow.
x