2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

carlislelass

LolaLemon wrote: »

This is Fab Aril!

I've just been indulging myself on attic24 blog, I'm thinking of making her neat ripple blanket, but not using the expensive wool like she has (Rowan and debbie bliss for her new blanket).
I'm thinking of starting small, maybe pram size or even smaller - car seat size, as i now have not just one baby to make for, but my cousin is expecting TWINS! So that's my sister due in June and cousin in July ... exciting times ahead. As i don't know what sex any of the babies are, I'm stuck on what colour combinations to do.
I really should get one started and see how long it will take me.

lemon/white is unisex

dizzy_lizzie

natnat13 wrote: »

Ha, ha dizzy Lizzie, just felt like I was waffling on this morning! I will then cancel my hair appointment for next week. I feel sad doing it in a way is it's a treat for me and I really like my hairdresser but it's just too expensive.

Aw I don't think you ever waffle natnat. DD used to have highlights put in at the hairdressers, then she started buying the kits and I used to do it for her. With the cap and the tiny hook, very arm aching but the results were always lovely I have to say. Never did it with foils though but I'm sure it will look lovely. Why don't you combine the night you do it with a bit of a pampering session then it's more like a treat. Might make you feel a bit better about not going to the hairdressers.

Aril. Your blanket is absolutely gorgeous. Love the shades of blue and all the different textures. Well done!

Well myself and OH popped into town today and this is what happened. I spent £17 but...I took some boots back to mr a's, some stitching had worked loose and I'd only had them a month, so that was money back in my account and also took some baubles back that we never opened so that was £28 in total refunded. So by my reckoning I'm still £11 up! I'm still adding the spend to my sig though, even though it's money spent from a refund.
Also I've got 2 £2 coins for my jar. This will be opened when full. I had a nice surprise last time I did this. Think it was around £140/50 pound.
Feeling quite motivated
x

zafiro1984

More4Less wrote: »

I would use all the stock, even the little layer of fat that floats to the top (wicked but so so tasty)! When I make soup, I tend to blitz half of it only, that way you get a thick soup but with some 'bits' in it.

Hi More4less
Use all of the stock if thats what you want to do. Personally I'd freeze it or use it for left over chicken soup - chicken bits, leeks carrots, celery, and any other vegs on the go, plus soup mix or barley. I tend to use the 'gone crinkled' veg at the end of the week - saves giving them to the chickens.

For Leek and Potato soup I use Swiss boullion as the stock, comes in a green tub, Delia recommended it and I havn't used anything else since.

I'm on a real food economy drive at the moment. £40 for the week, split between stockpiling and what is needed. Just been to Mr S and stockpiled soup 6 for £4, which works out at 66p per tin. However in Mr A the same soup is 50p per tin so I got a voucher for the difference. :j Also got some mince pies reduced from £1.49 to 49p, I'll freeze those and use them heated up for pudding over the next few weeks. Spent 30.32p but if I had to pay full price it would have been another £16.38 on top of that - happy:)

Should be ok now for the week as the freezers are quite full.

patentgirl

Morning fellow frugallers
well had intended to go out today to get few bits would have been my first spend of year but looks like its 3 NSD on trot as weather awful here and I have my grandson all day not fair to drag him out will make do till tomorrow still havent finalised my budget need to get working on that while he has a nap
Aril love the blanket well done makes me want to find my knitting needles

rising_from_the_ashes

Aril wrote: »

Aril that's beautiful:D and it's really inspired me to make one similar - I often see odd balls of wool cheap (and have quite a few lying around already!) but just never do anything with them.

Some of you may remember the huge throw I knitted when I was recovering from surgery and although I enjoyed doing it, it certainly wasn't easy when it got a bit longer (being that it's about 3 feet wide & 4 feet long!:o) - and I will admit I was a bit fed up of it by the end. Doing little squares would be fantastic! Another project for the year!:)

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Also I've got 2 £2 coins for my jar. This will be opened when full. I had a nice surprise last time I did this.

Mine's not been doing to tell recently (although did get 4 the other day) but it's my own fault as I rarely use cash to pay for anything ...:o At this rate, it'll take me years to get my desperately needed shed!

zafiro1984 wrote: »

Hi More4less
For Leek and Potato soup I use Swiss boullion as the stock, comes in a green tub, Delia recommended it and I havn't used anything else since.

Ohhhh I use this too - always add a teaspoon full to my soups, it has such a great flavour & the tub lasts for ages:)

rising_from_the_ashes

Well, think it will be an "inside" day today - the wind is horrendous out there (woke me up in the middle of the night which is quite rate) and it's certainly not improved any ..... (the outside light keeps going on/off which only happens when it's really bad - and it's quite freaky as I keep thinking someone's out there!

So some tidying, washing & ironing to do .... but will find some time to do a bit of crafting as well.

Still, should manage a NSD!

frugaliciousnow

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Awwww (((hugs))) Lola - I can totally sympathise .... I'm not a bad cook and can produce some reasonably complicated things if I put my mind to it but cheese sauce is always a disaster for me too!:(

I know how to do it ... have been shown how to do it (many times) .... but it just never works

I've found the way to deal with cheese saucemaking is to do the:
- melt the butter
- stir in the flour and keep stirring steadily for a minute
- add the milk gradually
- add the grated cheese

but give a good beat to the sauce (once all the milk has been added, but before putting in the cheese) WITH A BALLOON WHISK. It beats all the lumps out of it and it's possible to just stir in the normal way (ie with a wooden spoon) after that whilst adding the cheese and waiting for it to thicken to desired consistency.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

what a flipping night:eek: and the wind and rain is still at it...

looks as though its going to be a poo day today, plus back in work...

When ever we put fuel in at a supermarket petrol station, no matter how carefull we are it ALLWAYS goes over by 1p.. tesco is the worst....i am sure they have programmed their pumps to do this... and as most people pay by card.. they got to pay that penny... all those pennies add up at the end of the day..

think it might be worth taking cash, and saying i havent got the extra penny;)

think its time to go and make a cuppa:D

mommyof4

very windy here today, hate it!

Aril Love the blanket, how many stitches did you cast in per square and how many rows for each? sorry to be a nuisance but the one I have been working on is 23 stitches/41 rows, in double knit and its taking ages! I'm not the most patient of people, I want it done now lol. Thought you're squares look bigger so maybe it took less time?

FrankieM

Happy New Year to everyone.

I'm back at it from today, now that Christmas is over and pretty much everyone is back at school and work.
It's been bill day today so lots of money going out of my account but nothing unplanned.
I need to do some shopping today. I get it delivered so I won't have to brave the weather. Unlike many, I've run my freezer and cupboards down so it's all looking a bit empty. Unfortunately my budget isn't going to allow for any great amounts of stocking up, at least not at the moment.

I hope you all have a good day.