2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

rising_from_the_ashes

natnat13 wrote: »

However, made a massive decision 3 weeks ago to end my marriage. Not been happy for a while so bit the bullet and told him. I am now moving out with my two boys to go it alone. So have lots to sort out but luckily have a great network of friends locally and I know eventually I will be happy.

Ohhhh Natnat - not an easy decision but if one/both parties are unhappy, then it has to be for the best. Wishing you the best of luck.

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Well I haven't been on here for a couple of days because my DD gave birth to a beautiful baby boy yesterday. Me and her boyfriend were there all throughout. Baby was a water birth. Totally amazing.

Awwwww Congratulations :j

rising_from_the_ashes

I'm afraid I missed my end of June SOW update - I meant to take a snapshot of it on the Friday & forgot and by the time I remembered, it'd updated with July's totals on it!

Anyway, aiming for a frugal July - June wasn't good with nearly £300 in vets bills to be paid :eek: so Maisie has been told she's to be on her best behaviour and not be ill again for a while:rotfl:

On the frugal side - have been persuaded to try a clumping cat litter - did try many, many years ago when I had my 1st cat (talking nearly 20 years ago now :eek:) and it was awful - set like concrete when it got wet & was really dusty. Swore I'd never use it again!

Anyway, have used wood pellets since then which used to be good value but prices have risen & quality has gone down (30L bag used to last over a month @ around £8) - now using almost 10L / week @ £2.90 a shot = £150 / year :eek:

New wood based clumping stuff on the market which had a good introductory offer on so thought I'd give it a bash - first impressions are great, NO dust :j and very little wastage .

Since it's been out, neither cat has been in the tray with the original wood pellets in so hoping I can move back to one litter tray which will save a lot too (as well as free up a fair bit of space in the cats' room):cool:.

If usage is as predicted, it'll cut costs to around £60 / year :j:j:j which is a huge saving

Unfortunately, I'd just bought a months' supply of wood (stock up when I'm paid) which looks like it now won't be used - however, I've put it in the "emergency bin" in the garage in case we're snowed in again this winter, so that's one thing crossed off the "preparing for winter" list too!:D

Really horrible again here today (on hols just now!) - think I may have to tackle the fish tank as it's overdue a clean :eek:

mcculloch29

Ches wrote: »

Donut peaches at 6 for 50p is brilliant value. Cheapest I can get them here is 4 for £1 from a market stall too.

I know, this is the NE of England, and this is the cheapest place for miles around. (Darlington Queen St Centre).
It's a proper little shop in a shopping centre, has great bargains. The peaches were small - about the same size as the Sharon fruit, but who cares?!

mcculloch29

natnat13 wrote: »

Thank you everyone, your support is much appreciated. Off to trawl the chairty shops for house bits today!

Any good bargains, Natnat? Dead nosey, me...

dizzy_lizzie

Thanks Slowly and Rising for the congratulations
I won't be posting as often but will hopefully pop on now and again for a catch up.
x

twiglet98

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

On the frugal side - have been persuaded to try a clumping cat litter - did try many, many years ago when I had my 1st cat (talking nearly 20 years ago now :eek:) and it was awful - set like concrete when it got wet & was really dusty. Swore I'd never use it again!

Anyway, have used wood pellets since then which used to be good value but prices have risen & quality has gone down (30L bag used to last over a month @ around £8) - now using almost 10L / week @ £2.90 a shot = £150 / year :eek:

New wood based clumping stuff on the market which had a good introductory offer on so thought I'd give it a bash - first impressions are great, NO dust :j and very little wastage .

Since it's been out, neither cat has been in the tray with the original wood pellets in so hoping I can move back to one litter tray which will save a lot too (as well as free up a fair bit of space in the cats' room):cool:.

If usage is as predicted, it'll cut costs to around £60 / year :j:j:j which is a huge saving

I hated the old clumping cat litter too, got a bag of it in winter 2010 to put on the paths and the mess it made being trodden into the hall on our muddy (clay) boots took months to clear up! I stopped using it for the cats because it trod all over the place and smelt bad when it was wet.

I use the wood pellets and usually get them in Tesco - rising, where are you getting the special offer bags? Are you still pleased with it?

DD and her partner got two kittens a year ago, they still live here as they're saving to buy their own house, and predictably the two youngsters and my two old gingers ALL use all four litter trays, and the novelty of buying food and litter seems to have worn off for DD, (though she does clean the trays and food bowls, and pay all the vet/worming/flea drop bills for her kitties).

I can get to Sainsb, Asda, Aldi, Lid1, Morrisons and Pets@Home, but am pushed for time as I work 6 days a week, so I generally go either to Mr T after work, or head further afield on a Saturday. All the other options except Morrisons are pretty much on one route out to the local growers where I get chicken and wild bird food, then stop at any or all of the others as I head homeward!

I guess delivery costs mean it's not worth ordering online unless it's a big (expensive) order - perhaps somewhere like G W Titmuss do it, and then Quidco or TCB kicks in too. I've had animal feeds delivered by them a year or two ago and it was free delivery for 20kg bags, IIRC.

Kerry_Woman

natnat13 - Sorry about your news. Hoping things work out for you.

dizzy lizzie - Congratulations. Send my best wishes to your DD and boyfriend.

Thrifty_Sister

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Well spotted Mooloo :T Makes you wonder though how many people have had that happen to them and just paid up!

Slowly what odd weather we're having. I walked to the sandwich shop at lunchtime and it was glorious sunshiney weather. By the time I'd walked back, ten minutes, it was dull and drizzling!

Wasn't in work yesterday as poorly with really aching joints, migraine and nausea! Went in today but felt really spaced out and still achy
On a frugal note I'm doing quite well. Trying to be mindful of what/when/if I spend any money. I never really liked supermarket shopping that much but now I positively hate it and spend the time I have to go in there in a right grim mood. I must take the time to try shopping online. One day I will...
Our Year 1 day trip out to the beach tomorrow. I'm hoping for a dry day but chances are it will rain. Ah well, what can you do?
Ooh whilst I remember, when I was in Mr As the other day, the woman in front of me had bought a book called '50 shades of grey?' Anyway she said she wanted to read it to see what all the hype was about.
So today after work I popped into the library and asked about it. Hhhhhm doesn't sound like my cup of tea :eek:

Just catching up after a lovely week away visiting family in a warmer clime thankfully as I badly needed some R & R and sunshine. Read the above Dizzy and thought you were referring to your desire to grow out your hair colour and you trying to discover what your paerticular shade was (yawn, yawn). I've just been enlightened by a friend:o:o:o:o:o:o


I like a gentle country mystery, like good old Agatha Raisin or a Ruth Rendell. So I just ordered the new Simon Brett Fethering Mysteries instead when it's due out and picked up another MC Beaton book.
Hope all is well in Frugaldom with everyone
x

Glad the weather stayed fine for your trip:)

Thrifty_Sister

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Oh Natnat. Hope everything goes ok. A hard decision to make but as you say it will be better in the long run if things haven't been good.
I wish you lots of luck and best wishes for a happy new beginning

Well I haven't been on here for a couple of days because my DD gave birth to a beautiful baby boy yesterday. Me and her boyfriend were there all throughout. Baby was a water birth. Totally amazing.
x

Aww congratulations to you all. what a lovely story:T:T:T

Thrifty_Sister

Been reading all the moggie posts re litter and wanted to pass on a couple of bits of info that might be helpful to peeps.

If anybody has a Home Bargains nearby they do a great wood pellet litter for £5.99 a 30litre (why litter is measured in litres when its obviously not liquid is very strange). They also do a small bag for £2 something for those that don't need to use much but as we go through loads I always get the large bags as its more cost effective. But not so easy if going on the bus.

Also experimenting with a white & blue crystal type stuff - the name has slipped my mind atm and I'll let you know how we get on with it.

the other thing that might be useful esp for none drivers or those unable to cart the heavy bags is check out Amazon. I too was surprised that they did cat litter but I have had it delivered a few times when the price has been good. You can sometimes get delivery free too which is a bonus
and if you take into account the savings on petrol it might be worth it to others. HTH.