2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

dizzy_lizzie

twiglet98 wrote: »

The girls mock and despise my efforts to be frugal and are getting better about switching lights off, but there's a long way to go. They'll learn, when they start paying their own bills.

This is just like our house Twiglet. DS has his laptop on until 4am sometimes and I've said to him it's like paying for all day and night electricity! They look at you like you've got three heads! Like you say when they pay their own bills they'll realise
x

dizzy_lizzie

Longships wrote: »

Getting addicted to reading the electric meter and working out how much we are using. Last night had the immersion heater turned on overnight and set the washing machine to run at 4am - together they used 9 units which costs 50.4p +VAT - how sad am I getting?:rotfl:

Not sad at all Longships. I think it's brilliant actually :T
x

Erme

I had a major whoopsie of £30 on wednesday. Seriously. My head was mince by the time I'd finished tuesday evening. PG I'd shoved the OD down to £100 otherwise it could have been a lot worse. Just hoping I get my £160 e-cig down to £80 and he'll let me pay a deposit of £20 or so before the 21st (that'll be mad checking of inbox pre Sabbath LOL).

So yeah beginning to feel better and wondering if with new menu plan I can get the housekeeping down to £20 a week (plus e-cig) :j

E

amber03

Well at least reading the meters so mean you will be good at maths, perhaps we should start using it when doing maths at school, to train our kids for the future.x

System

Hi all,

its been ages and ages since i posted on this thread but i havent given up my frugal living challenge.

Well, how have i been doing? Not bad actually i'm quite pleased with my achievements.

There are several changes i have made in our household budget. They are listed as follows:

I purchased an Owl Energy Monitor which shows me how much electricity i am using at any given time. I was surprised to see how much electricity our television uses... its far too costly to leave playing in the background so that gets switched off when no one is watching. My sons computor uses quite a lot too and he gets nagged at to turn it off when he goes out. Ive made lots of cost cutting savings in our utilities of which i am happy with. Just a few savings here and there meant my direct debit didnt go up at the adjustment period.

Hubby dragged me round Aldi kicking and screaming one Saturday. I much preferred shopping for my groceries online but to be honest i wouldnt go back to either A$da or T3sco now i have got used to grocery shopping again. Hubby is pleased as we are saving between £30 and £40 a week on the weekly grocery shop (but he gets to push the trolley). I am finding i am having to be a little more inventive where our meals are concerned as obviously there isnt the choice like the big supermarkets. Ive cut down on the rubbish i used to buy. No snacking between meals.

I stopped colouring my hair a month or two back. Before i was doing it myself i was paying £50 every 7 weeks which dropped to £6 every month when i did it myself. Since i was never totally happy with my DIY efforts i have decided to let nature take its course and i am growing grey gracefully. Actually, i quite like the shade of grey thats growing through. When Moms hair went grey it was a sort of dirty grey and thinking mine would go the same its put me off somewhat, though I am pleased to say mine is bright and shiny and bright silver.... i might not go platinum but it wont be for the want of trying. Silver shampoos make my hair shine more than a hair dye ever did.

The tumble dryer is only used as a last resort. In fact when mine breaks down i will be buying a small tumble dryer. I really dont need a full sized one.

Ebay, well ive been selling our unwanted [STRIKE]junk [/STRIKE]items for months now. The money has been ploughed back into meeting our needs. Slowly but surely ive been paying to do the house up. Its needed a grand overhaul for years but its never been a priority for hubby but it has for me. With the money ive made online ive been able to make real improvements.

The vouchers i get from ShopandScan have been invaluable.

Debenhams vouchers have paid for our clothes,
B&Q giftcards get spent on the house, general maintenance and DIY.

Argos vouchers get given to the kids at Christmas/birthdays. All this without touching either mine or hubbys bank accounts.

I'm looking round for a little extra to pay for the dogs expenses/food. Hubby will only have to concentrate on food/bills then.

So, as you can see, ive not been around much but i have made progress.

Good to catch up on posts and see how youve all been doing. Great to see such progress and commitment to the cause.:T

amber03

Judi you where doing an impression of my son when he was little when out shopping, kicking and screaming brought back memories, had a little chuckle bet hubby just ignored you. I work at MrT so i tend to do my shopping there makes a difference with my discount but think i will have to visit Aldi.

Whats shop and scan, sounds interesting.

I've only recently come back to the boards, seems there are quite a few of us who have returned.x

System

Judi you where doing an impression of my son when he was little when out shopping, kicking and screaming brought back memories, had a little chuckle bet hubby just ignored you.

I could think of a million and one reasons why i should continue shopping online but as far as he was concerned there was only one reason i shouldnt.... i spend too much.:D

Here is a link to Shopandscan have a read through. Ive been paid by them for about 4 years now through the different panels.

Happy reading.:D

Longships

Didn't manage the NSD I wanted yesterday as the cat has picked up fleas and my home made remedies are not helping so did an evening run to Mr.As for flea stuff and spent just under £10 on various whoopsies.

There was a couple with 3 boys at the checkout just in front of us. They spent £173 on what was obviously not enough for a weeks shop - all the most expensive branded cereals, snacks, fizzy drinks etc., hardly any real food at all yet the boys were dressed in tatty hand-me-downs and flip-flops 4 sizes too small. The father went quite pale when he saw the size of the bill. Felt like taking the parents by the hands and showing them where to find the bargains, but of course said nothing at all.

[Deleted User]

I have been quite unfrugal over the past few days and have had a minor 'blowout' yesterday, spending some of the money my mum gave me as an early birthday pressie. A new dress, a new jacket and new necklace plus lunch out!

I have also booked 2 holidays - one weekend break at the end of August just before OHs birthday (at least I got the Premier Inn room for the bargain price of £29) and then a week in October.

On the more frugal side I have, for the first time this week, tried the flask idea - only boiling the kettle once and putting the hot water in flasks for the rest of the day. I am amazed how well this works. I thought that the water would not be hot enough after several hours for a cup of tea - but it is!

Enjoyed the blowout and looking forward to my wee breaks but back to frugalling tomorrow;).

rumblytum

Hi Allie,
Thanks for the tip about boiling water in a flask - I shall try this out
rumbly x