2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

silvasava

Hang in there Cherryjack - as a friend of mine used to say 'you're a woman, you can do it!'
Feeling a little smug as I've cleared out my bathroom cupboard & decanted all the half used & small hand & body creams into a pump dispenser (with a good shake to mix the colours & consistencies) I'm on a mission now to see what else can be cleared out/converted!!

Shortie

Hello everyone, room for one more?

I know I'm late to the thread for this year, but I'm seeing this as a good starting run-up for 2013

My main motivation at the moment is to hopefully start having some spare each month to pay extras off my new loan and mortgage to try and get them paid off sooner

Shortie

...Actually... my first bit of frugal changing happened today, I guess I can mention it here to spur myself to do other similar things

I started to think of stocking up for Christmas today and spotted on Mr T some foxes biscuits reduced to £2.50 on offer. I was trying to steer clear of buying biccies as at Christmas they can be expensive and also the 'good ones' go and the rest seem to float around for ages afterwards. So, I suggested to Mr Shortie that we buy 4 packs of value biccies instead for cheapr, more wight and a saving on the purse - he was fully for the idea, lol!

Cherryjack

Thanks Silvasava :-) well done with the creams! Hi Shortie i love some of the value biscuits.. transfer them into a nice tin you own and you wont know the difference
So today ive sat down and gone thru how many weeks left til christmas and what extra overtime hours OH could possibly do... we have a little weekend booked away in 4 weeks so the extra money would give us a good little break. Ive also been selling bits on fb and putting the money in the tin, so i will have that for some spends. Pulling in the purse strings tight now so i can stock up on some good christmas food Morrisons has just opened by me and we bagged loads of reduced sticker products (freezable) aswell which is a real bonus.. had such a thrill getting 7 bags of shopping for £22.00 it should last a good while becuase im not eating lol... perfect cauliflower cheese to bung in the microwave or oven reduced to 20p from £3.20 and also pork with rice etc 15p from £3.90 i wont have to cook it either as its ready made.. wont hurt anyone for a few weeks i have 30 hovis wholemeal bread vouchers i won in a competition..so fresh sandwhiches all round for them Whats everyone upto?x

Shortie

Cherryjack wrote: »

Hi Shortie i love some of the value biscuits.. transfer them into a nice tin you own and you wont know the difference

Haha, I hadn't thought to do that, to late to worry now though, lol - I saw the MiL this evening (we're all away for a night for a function) and she was having a cuppa in our room before dinner. We started talking about Christmas and I asked her what she thought of value biccies and I admitted the thought I'd gone through of Foxes £2.50 selection box vs more value biccies, and she agreed to just get the value. Phew, but equally I could have just put them in a tin and she'd have never known, whoops!

She did tell me about the mass of chocolate she was bringing down with her (the in laws are staying with us over Christmas) so that's a bit less to buy - I'll focus on the savoury bits in that case now instead.

Oh, and someone won a nice box of 'Dairy Box' chocs in a raffle that they won't eat so we were given them - I've put them aside for Christmas or New Year (like we don't have enough already :rotfl:)

Cherryjack

Shortie wrote: »

Haha, I hadn't thought to do that, to late to worry now though, lol - I saw the MiL this evening (we're all away for a night for a function) and she was having a cuppa in our room before dinner. We started talking about Christmas and I asked her what she thought of value biccies and I admitted the thought I'd gone through of Foxes £2.50 selection box vs more value biccies, and she agreed to just get the value. Phew, but equally I could have just put them in a tin and she'd have never known, whoops!

She did tell me about the mass of chocolate she was bringing down with her (the in laws are staying with us over Christmas) so that's a bit less to buy - I'll focus on the savoury bits in that case now instead.

Oh, and someone won a nice box of 'Dairy Box' chocs in a raffle that they won't eat so we were given them - I've put them aside for Christmas or New Year (like we don't have enough already :rotfl:)

ooo wonderful got to love a raffle and in laws that bring food

i think ive gone mad lol..ive just been reading the challenge NOvember and i love it a whole month of NSD's..im late of course and wont join but im reading for the inspiration
So the bargains i got in morrisons, 25p potatoes and all sorts..ive done my first ever batch cook for the family. Baby has 3 days made, my son, and my partner. 6 plates and 3 bowls in my empty fridge lol... this means i dont have to cook til wednesday woop!! why have i never done this before?? sunday, monday and tuesday will be ok in the fridge?? i made MASSIVE load of mash. Meatballs, peppers , onions, pasata, tika paste (lol) chilli and tika powder dish for other half. Kiddies have, mash, meatballs, cheese sauce and peas. Will change there breakfast around , baby will have a different lunch each day aswell... tommorow toast and jam for OH and son.. baby can have her porridge. Oranges to snack on for them... me NOTHING lol MILK!!!!! but hey ho i will be entering my 3rd week!!:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T
Just wanted to mention the nut selection in morrisons is amazing..i drooled!!!! they will be mine after the 4th of December..along with the Jalepeno and sweet chilli cheese..mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:D:D:D:D:D.

seriouslyfrugal

Welcome to the frugal gang shortie :wave:

silvasava

:wave::wave::wave::wave:Hi Shortie - welcome to the thread.
Cherryjack I do like Morrisons stuff. I'm really lucky 'cos I have a Waitrose, Asda, Morrisons, Coop & Lidl all fairly close & I do try to see what each of them have on offer. I do look at the reduced sections but my local one doesn't seem to reduce by that much so I only pick what I know I'll use rather than a standby - still I'm always on the lookout :rotfl:

LolaLemon

Shortie wrote: »

Hello everyone, room for one more?

I know I'm late to the thread for this year, but I'm seeing this as a good starting run-up for 2013

My main motivation at the moment is to hopefully start having some spare each month to pay extras off my new loan and mortgage to try and get them paid off sooner

I joined this about 2 maybe 3 years ago now, and i joined about november too. I still havent gotten to a set amount for the year, but i am reducing all the time.... well not this month, i have sort of went a bit crazy after getting a proper wage!
I bought a new car! the last one actually died on me, as i was driving, it just stopped. spoke to my dad who agreed to buy me a car and i pay him back, so i got a ford focus sport, diesel, 2008, for £2500, needed an mot and some work to it, still needs a sound system of somesort, as it was an ex police car, it had the police scanner/radio in place of a normal radio. i have had it about 2 weeks now, half a tank of diesel and im only now just under the quarter tank. My last car was a diesel too but i was forever putting money in it! So my aim now is to find a cheap cd player with usb slot. Dad says i should be able to get one around £50 on ebay. (he is useless with internet).
I paid off a few bills, and set up a few standing ordersinto different savings accounts, now that i dont think i will be completely living through my overdraught! who knew online banking could be soo addictive!

Im liking the new job, its a lot to take in, im not really liking what it is i am (debt recovery). but a job is a job.

Ive had my mum over helping me clear out - if u remember, i am a hoarder, scared that one day i will find a tv crew at my door haha. (you can still walk in my house im not that bad, i just have very little storage space, plus i barely through out old stuff so it accumulates and looks messy. im searching for a good price on an oak sideboard for in my living room, then i will be able to put away the stuf u keep in thier but dont need to always be out on show!) we have made good progress getting rid of it all. only another 2 areas to clear out then i can put things away, get them up the loft if i am keeping them etc.

I turn 30 soon! not celebrating as its soo close to christmas that everyone has parties and presents etc to do. My son is in his drama show on my birthday, he doesnt want to go for that reason, but ive told him it will be the best birthday present ever! so he is all happy now. Im thinking of having a little kids party on the friday, just invite a few of his friends over, play a few games and then do a birthday cake, as he is adamint that i need a party! haha 5 year olds!

me n the boyfriend are still together, its all looking good, I got us a cracking deal for his birthday http://www.murrayshall.co.uk/home.asp its about an hour n a half drive away, looks lovely, paid £129 for 2 nights b&b plus bottle of wine n box of chocolates plus complimentary golf via itison.com, we have still to actually use it, but it is valid till feb.

if u make ur own packed lunches search out 'Lunch is(n't) boring' on facebook or blog, its a good wee group to give inspiration and ideas for benot type lunches. the girl who runs it, has made it into a side line of selling bento boxes etc, but i like the lunch ideas, which is how it started.

and today, the dreaded Vertigo has reared its ugly dizzy head been given tablets to take for the next couple of weeks. but this tine i think i have caught it early enough so shouldnt get too bad.

Hope everyone is well

dizzy_lizzie

Just catching up with posts. We ended up buying a new laptop but still may try to get the other fixed. Hello to new posters too :beer:
Never too late to start simplifying your life Can even be fun sometimes too.
Cherryjack hope the diets still going well.
Lola good to hear everything is going well with your partner. About time you had some good times ahead
Picked up a Mollie Makes magazine the other day. Was browsing through it looking at all the lovely craft ideas and was almost going to buy it then thought No, Don't! I'll go to the library instead and get my fix of all things crafty for free. I rented out Kirstys Homemade book and saved myself a few pound. All helps!
Hope everyone is okay and keeping warm.
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