2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

dizzy_lizzie

Hi optimistic mummy. If you go to page one of this thread there are some threads that may help you in your journey.
Here's a link for cheap but nutritious meals which was started by an mse member and gives menu plans for a variety of diets 'cheap family recipes'
There are also numerous threads on mse. This link is the List of challenges 2012
There's so much information, help and support on mse I'm sure you'll start to enjoy the challenge of living more frugally and wisely.
This site is also interesting Frugal Living in the UK
And this blog is brilliant Frugal Queen
This thread on mse is a definate must Old style preparations for Christmas 2012
And this mse thread too has amazing ideas for Gift baskets and Hampers
Hope you find the links useful.
x

Lezley307

Hi everyone,

Been laid up in bed the last week and have spent the time reading this thread from page 1. Have found it very inspirational, entertaining, emotional and picked up a lot of very useful and frugal tips.

Have immersed myself in snippets of other peoples triumphs and disasters and I don't know if it is because I read it all in such a short space of time but I have been really moved by the way peoples lives have been turned upside down and they have picked themselves up and just got on with life.

The one thing that has shone out of this thread is how kind and supportive everyone is.

My best wishes to you all.

dizzy_lizzie

Lezley307 wrote: »

Hi everyone,
Been laid up in bed the last week and have spent the time reading this thread from page 1. Have found it very inspirational, entertaining, emotional and picked up a lot of very useful and frugal tips.
Have immersed myself in snippets of other peoples triumphs and disasters and I don't know if it is because I read it all in such a short space of time but I have been really moved by the way peoples lives have been turned upside down and they have picked themselves up and just got on with life.
The one thing that has shone out of this thread is how kind and supportive everyone is.
My best wishes to you all.

Hi Lezley. What a lovely thing to say
Wow well done for reading from the beginning :T
Really pleased the thread has inspired you and hope you're well on the mend.

Well today is Day 2 of The Cabbage Soup Diet. My huge pan of soup beckoned me but I really could not face another bowl of it, which is odd because on Day 1 I really enjoyed it. Anyway still ate just veggies as it said and my yoghurt. My tummy was rumbling. I thought 'that's it I'm having some hot buttered toast and stuffing the diet'...then joy of joys I remembered I can have a jacket potato today AND a bit of butter/marg on it :j
I haven't had it yet, it's going to be my treat later. I had beetroot, lettuce and spring onions salad instead. Day 2 is the most restrictive and challenging day and I've almost got through it. As for the soup I'm going to make another veggie soup tomorrow and make it fresh everday.
I'll tell you what though, the air will be blue if I haven't lost anything at the end!
Hope everyone is enjoying this lovely weather. Mind you I've come to see that any day it doesn't rain is a good day these days.
x

natnat13

Hi all
We have had a lovely start to the Summer hols. Been campnig for 2 nights with friends, slept in their caravan awning, so it only cost us £25. Have spent 3 days on the beach and also been to see Legally Blonde at the theatre which was my birthday present from my dad. Took drinks and snacks with me so I wasn't tempted by the bar and ice cream!
Today is gardening day, my new house has a massive garden out the back which will be my veg plot, but its about 3 foot high with grass atm. But a friend has offered to come and cut it all down today. I used to hate calling in favours and asking for help but I am now having to get used to it and its ok.
Keep going on the diet dizzy, I have lost over 2 stone since Jan and feel so much better for it x

dizzy_lizzie

Hi Natnat. Glad you had a lovely break. The weather has been great for you too, which always makes things sooooo much better. I love camping as well. We had a Conway Cardinal that we used to tow but sold it when the kids got older. I miss it though. Nothing like a cup of tea under the stars
Well maybe a glass of wine but for some reason wine always tastes like vinegar to me no matter what price we've paid.
Your new house sounds fab and good on you for asking for help. Most people love being able to help others out and you'd do the same if someone asked you so make the most of it You'll soon be tucking into your own fresh veggies and fruit.
You did great losing two stone since January :T
I'm only dieting for this week then hopefully the few pounds I 'might' lose will kick start a more healthy eating plan. Especially being vegan I need to be a bit more careful. As of late it's been toast and more toast and biscuits. Nice but not that healthy!

Plans for today include some shopping with DD and GS along with a pot of tea somewhere. Popping a few things on ebay which I haven't yet got around to doing and posting a couple of parcels and not much else.
Rains just started here...ah well it was lovely while it lasted.
Hope everyone else is having a happy frugal day.
x

rising_from_the_ashes

Well, I've had a very expensive couple of months:

Dog

Mainly initial set up costs IYKWIM (injections, spay op, unexpected vet trip etc etc) Maisie's pot is in negative figures :eek:.

She's getting a mix of 2 dry foods (seems to work best for her tum) - & gets it bulked out with rice - but of course, it means a higher initial outlay. Between them, they should last around 12 weeks & I do have enough HM frozen meat & veg to do her until the end of October (thanks to the defrosted freezer incident:o) ..... hopefully I can have a couple of "light" months to rebuild her funds a bit.:)

Cats

Have stocked up on cat stuff (why does everything run out at once:mad:). They've just started a bag of Food 1 which will last 5 months & will be starting Food 2 in a couple of weeks which should last around 6 months. Also got a load of new cat litter (on offer) to try - mixed feelings about it atm but will certainly be using it up - and that should last around 3 - 4 months .... I do have a few tins / pouches of their wet too so hopefully light spends there too!:)

House

Quiet on this front - insurance renewed (May & paid in full;)) and deals done on landline and broadband (also May) - so really re-building the pots so I can do the same next year.


So - plodding along as they say - next task will be to try to reduce the grocery bill, which has shot up since starting fat club:eek:

Peas are just about ready to harvest - may get some for dinner:T

Still on the hunt for a 2nd hand or reasonably priced folding table (you know the ones where the chairs slot in underneath when it's folded up) so I can get the sewing machine up & running again - the projects are stacking up on that front!

dizzy_lizzie

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Still on the hunt for a 2nd hand or reasonably priced folding table (you know the ones where the chairs slot in underneath when it's folded up) so I can get the sewing machine up & running again - the projects are stacking up on that front!

Had a quick look on ebay and found this rising. I know it depends on where it is though. Folding table and chairs. It does have a bit of damage but maybe fixable for the price?

Well I've cheated a bit on my diet. Had 3 glasses of wine last night (with lemonade so it didn't taste like vinegar) whilst I was out but resisted any buffet. Also had a fruit smoothie this morning and it's not a fruit day! I just hope none of it has scuppered the diet too much. I've also had a bowl of freshly made cabbage soup. Liquidized this one and tatses much more tomatoey I'm determined to continue until Tuesday though albeit in my own slightly variated way.
What funny weather at the mo. Bright sunshine then complete downpours. Very unsettling.
Still not managed to put a few bits on ebay. I must admit I'd rather watch paint dry. But it's a good way to declutter a few things so that's my nod to being frugal today, add a few pennies to the coffers with stuff I don't use/need anymore.
Okay I'm editing this to add a today to do list:
* Add at least 10 items on ebay.
* Sort out my paperwork/throw everything in drawer.
* Crochet squares to make into GS blanket.
Hope everyone is well
x

rising_from_the_ashes

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Had a quick look on ebay and found this rising. I know it depends on where it is though. Folding table and chairs. It does have a bit of damage but maybe fixable for the price?

Ohhhhh that's exactly the sort of thing I'm after - and the right colour too! (have seen a couple of beech coloured ones but everything else in here is dark wood (of varying types!).

Pity it's so far away - I have been keeping an eye on Gum*tree but may try e*bay too now!:T

dizzy_lizzie

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Ohhhhh that's exactly the sort of thing I'm after - and the right colour too! (have seen a couple of beech coloured ones but everything else in here is dark wood (of varying types!).
Pity it's so far away - I have been keeping an eye on Gum*tree but may try e*bay too now!:T

Aw that's a pity regarding the distance rising. But if there's one on now hopefully there may be another that comes up that's nearer to you.
x

[Deleted User]

Morning folks. It's been a busy weekend for me being on a course so not much done house-wise.

Need to shop today for some basics like butter, milk etc and fill the car up with petrol. The car needs a good tidy and wash too.