2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

twiglet98

Yawn.... great NYE, unexpected night out at the village local with DDs, their BFs and lots of their friends, their father (we are sep but still get on well), pub was packed, and I was introduced to the Jägerbombs that have featured in so many of the DDs weekends... very nice, if you like the taste of Red Bull. A few people came back here, got to bed 5am and have slept most of the day. I don't drink alcohol at all normally but am just sleepy, not hungover in the way the rest of the family are complaining.

Trying to get the SoW up and running for 2012 but just can't do it - Cheryl I have PMd you - hope to be more alert tomorrow.

The very bad thing about this time of year is that I am hourly paid and the Bank Holidays mean just 8 hours pay instead of the 12 hours I usually work on Mondays. Had a delivery of oil just before Christmas and have to pay for it on c/card as there is just nothing in the bank. Used the c/card for food and diesel last week, as well as the last of the presents. Must get eBaying in earnest tomorrow, but as everyone else is thinking the same I'm not expecting to make much.

Time for a mince pie, hot chocolate and back to bed.

Happy new year to you all, let it be safe, full of kindness and free of fear.

dizzy_lizzie

purpleorchid wrote: »

anyway i need your help guys........
its my mums 60th on 21st jan. myself, brother and sister have all put £20 each to make £60 and i am going to book her in for massage, luxury pedicure and luxury manicure, (both with polish).
Luv P

Hi Purple. I see from a later post you've decided on some gifts. I also have this site link bookmarked. It's got fantastic cheapie, almost free ideas for all sorts of occasions and there may be some ideas on there

silvasava wrote: »

So - suit up, helmet on and face the battle for another year!

And we'll all be here, arms linked, silvasava doing it together every step of the way

We had a lovely evening last night and I'm looking forward to this years frugal challenge and with so many people on board I'm sure it will be a great fun year on here too :D
A no spend day for me today. We did stay in so that helped I have another weeks holiday before work so hopefully this weeks £50 challenge shouldn't be too difficult. This is just for grocerys and bits and bobs not bills etc as husband sorts those out.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE AND HERE'S TO AN AMAZING 2012

XX

LolaLemon

I'm watching extreme couponing on disc real time, channel 271 for virgin n it is eye opening! This girl has 3 rooms already full, enough toilet roll to last her n her husband for 40 years!
I really need to start couponing!
£1176 (dollors but don't have the symbol) down to £51!!!
Wozers!
And another is dumpster diving for coupons, what gets me is she has big rubber gloves on for herself, her young son is in with her, with NO protection!
Her total is over 600, I wonder how low she gets it...

dizzy_lizzie

I think Lola I'm going to be looking at using coupons more in 2012. Trouble is they're usually for things we don't use or need.
x

slowlyfading

I keep an eye on coupons too, but normally, like lizzie, they're for things we never buy.

chika

I had this convo with my sister today Lola. I've been watching extreme couponing today and really admiring those stockpiles and how they manage to get all that stuff for next to nothing. I don't think I'm going to take it to those extremes but we have decided that we will go on a big family holiday in 2013 and saving cash on shopping will help to pay for it.

youngmummy

i agree alot of coupons is for things i dont buy or it works out more expensive than buying the supermarket brand, i do though always use, the voucers you get through the t*S*c* clubcard and nectar card x

mooomin

I'm watching the coupon programme now too! I do wonder about people who stockpile stuff that they're not going to use in their lifetime, but the guy that's on at the moment is going to be donating a lot of stuff to his local foodbank, so at least he's doing good deeds too!

I think we have a very different attitude to coupons in this country than they seem to have in America. I use the occasional coupon, but my printer is on the fritz at the moment, so I can't print any out

SandraScarlett

Hi purpleorchid. The idea of a Super Sibling Gift for your Mum's 60th, sounds great! What Mum wouldn't like a nice pampering day. At the moment Boots are issuing £5 No 7 vouchers for a £5 spend. Using these vouchers, you can buy some nail varnishes for very little. Get them in single transactions, using a voucher each time.

If you have a Boots with self service tills, you could very well womble some vouchers. I get loads of stuff for very little outlay this way and together with say a packet of emery boards, some low-priced handcream, and a magazine they make a great gift for a friend in hospital, or as a cheer-up gift.

If you feel creative, you could line a shoebox with material, and then stuff some tissue paper in, with folds randomly over the sides of the box, pop your varnishes and any thing else inside and - voila! A lovely Treats Box.

xx

Squinky_McFeet

Hey All :wave: Happy new Year!

Can I be a latecomer joiner for this challenge? I'm a debt free wannbe! I have a free day tomorrow to finish the last bits of my budget and set my limit eeek.

I'm so new to being frugal and I'm excited to see what I can come up with. I quit smoking a week ago which has saved me soooo much money already and I have a ton to ebay and have a couple of other money making ideas up my sleeve

My problem is at the moment my outgoings are around £500pm more than my income which is shocking but I know thats because the rooms I rent out in my home are empty at the moment! Once they are rented its another £600pm....phew!
My lovely Dad borrowed me some money intrest free so instead of just treading water like I have for the last couple of years and getting more in Debt, I can actually get somewhere now without paying so much intrest.

I look forward to getting to know you all and pinching them pennies I've been reading through all the posts and i'm only half way....see you all soon when I have caught up haha