Cleggie's frugaltastic journey to financial freedom!!

cleggie

Thanks PG

I have ordered a new water pump for the tumble dryer, as macman answered my call for help on another thread and said i needed a new pump. It only cost £30, so much cheaper than calling someone out or getting a new tumble dryer!

Today i will:
[STRIKE]
Check OLB
Make £100 payment towards debt
[/STRIKE]
Write this weeks meal plan

Suffolk_lass

PennyGrabber wrote: »

Well done, Cleggie! It's good to hear about your commitment to this challenge, esp with the tumble drier saga! I don't know what I would do without mine, either. I don't use it every time, but I only do laundry every other weekend, when I do three loads in one go. I put the first on the radiators, the second in the td, then the third on the radiators, if the first is dry. I really need to clear my alleyway at the side of my house, as it's undercover, and there's a two-line washing line out there. Unfortunately, there's too much rubbish out there to be able to use it at the mo! That's my mini-March challenge to myself...

PG - I was wondering why you do three loads together and not one load a night over three nights? In winter we put our washing line away and I put mine in the TD for 10-15 minutes and then onto hangers in the boiler cupboard where I have a GNU (4 wooden poles on a pulley - only the pulley is not used as I can reach the ceilings in our v old house!) each load sits in there for a day and is dry (and needs no ironing, more to the point). I always ask for the trouser hangers (the ones with a clip either side) in M&S and the like and hang the socks, bras and pants on them - works really well. If your alleyway is available you could try a short tumble at the start to lift creases and another at the end to air and remove any residual dampness. I always run the TD for a couple of minutes with nothing in to sort out its' own damp problems as I interrupt it mid-cycle.
Cleggie - I'm full of admiration- your perseverence with your TD does you proud. My old one burned out and smoked and everything so definitely beyond our repair capabilities (she says almost defensively... to justify the new one). DH had already jerry-rigged it after the on off button broke - he wired it into the warm/hot setting instead which gave us another four years. And he had painted over the rusty bits that had already developed before I realised I should run it empty to get rid of its' own damp bits!

PennyGrabber

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

PG - I was wondering why you do three loads together and not one load a night over three nights? In winter we put our washing line away and I put mine in the TD for 10-15 minutes and then onto hangers in the boiler cupboard where I have a GNU (4 wooden poles on a pulley - only the pulley is not used as I can reach the ceilings in our v old house!) each load sits in there for a day and is dry (and needs no ironing, more to the point). I always ask for the trouser hangers (the ones with a clip either side) in M&S and the like and hang the socks, bras and pants on them - works really well. If your alleyway is available you could try a short tumble at the start to lift creases and another at the end to air and remove any residual dampness. I always run the TD for a couple of minutes with nothing in to sort out its' own damp problems as I interrupt it mid-cycle.

It's purely a lazy thing. I really hate putting clothes away, and the thought of having to do it three times is rubbish! I'd much rather have a mad session and be done with it. She says, although this weekend's clothes are still waiting to be put away due to party planning commitments!!

cleggie

Good afternoon!
I am currently sat out in the garden with a coffee and my laptop! It almost feels like spring! the birds are singing and its just beautiful here!

I had a little 'oops' this morning, and spent £25 in the SM

But its a learning process and the fact is that i am spending considerably less than i was!

I am still waiting for the pump for my tumble dryer to arrive. It should be here today...fingers crossed, as my pile of washing isnt getting any smaller!!

SL- thanks for the encouragement. I would normally have moaned about having to get a new tumble dryer instead of trying to fix it! So i am quite proud of myself to be honest!

PG- i wish i could do all of mine in 1 day, but my kids seem to go through clothes so fast! Sundays are my towel and bedding washing days, then it should just be mainy my clothes during the week as the kids are in their uniforms!

Barbeduk

Hi Cleggie, it's beautiful here too, took the dog to the woods and it was gorgeous!

Well done for ordering the bit for the tumble dryer, makes you feel so good doesn't it! Our washing machine broke just after Christmas (at the same time our financial crisis finally hit home!) and DH managed to diagnose the problem, I picked up the part, and he fixed it! We're usually carp at anything like that so were so proud of ourselves! If only we could fix the boiler!!!

Stay out of the sm for the rest of the week won't you. My kids came home asking for water with ice cubes in today after school so that's something to try instead of orange juice!!

cleggie

I have just fitted my new tumble dryer pump...fingers crossed it fixes the problem with my tumbe dryer! So far, so good!:j
I am very impressed with mysef as i am normally hopeless with DIY stuff!!

Had a busy day today, but the sun is still shining, so i am in a good mood

I am trying to work out if i can get away with not shopping until Monday instead of tomorrow..not sure if i have enough bread and milk to ast, and will want to get pizza and wine for tomorrow night. I might just get those few items, and then see how i go. I dont want to spend more than £40 this week on shopping, since i had my little 'oops' yesterday.

I still have loads of food left in the cupboards, so dont want to do a 'proper' food shop until i have run them down a bit!!

Barbeduk- well on on fixing your washing machine! It really does feel like you have acomplished something good doesnt it!

I just need to learn how to do stuff with the car now, like putting on new plugs etc! I was considering doing one of those 'beginners car maintenance' 1 day courses! I reckon that what i spend on doing the course could easily be made back die to not having to pay garages to do things for me all the time!

Not sure what we are having for dinner, probably nachos and/or fajitas with salad.
I am desperately trying to figure out how to buy the kids new clothes, as they both (especially my 12 yr old) have grown out of everything recently!!
But everything is so expensive, so i am keeping an eye on the grabbit board.

Hope you are all well?

cleggie

YAY!! The tumble dryer is definitely working properly again

Suffolk_lass

cleggie wrote: »

YAY!! The tumble dryer is definitely working properly again

That's fantastic! Well done. :T

Re kids clothes; My DS (nearly 20 and 6'4" now) grew in fits and bursts all through his teens and I adopted charity shop purchases combined with one trip per year to the nearest outlets place to buy a few smart new things but jeans and T-shirts def charity shops - they are "aged" and the latest thing (or so I said and he was happy). Then for summer, we hit Asd* for cheap summer clothes (I spend a bit more for winter, to make sure they are warm and dry) but kids grow so fast and are so hard on clothes that a mix of cheap and second hand really worked for me. We still do it, only he comes with me now and is more picky!

You are doing really well, you know!
SL

cleggie

Good morning!

Well the tumble dryer is definitely fixed, so my house is now chocca with clean washing that needs putting away

Have sent a very unhappy 12 year old off to school this morning. He had his haircut after school on Wednesday, and on Thursday he was really badly bullied as the kids were taking the mick out of his new hairstyle
I feel so helpless, and wish i could make it better for him.

I need to put petrol in the car this morning, but :eek:the price of it is ridiculous!!! Its abour £1.33.9:eek: But needs must. Think i'll only put in £15 and see how long it lasts me, athough i dont think it'll last long at all as i have to go and visit my sister tomorrow and i also have to go out in the car today.

I have/need to:

AVOID SMs- they arent having any of my money today!
checked my OLB
put petrol in car
Doube check dates for direct debits this month
Wrap my nieces birthday pressie (a charm bracelet reduced from£80 to £30!)


SL- thanks for the tips about the kids clothes. We dont have any charity shops in my tiny town, but the nearest city has some great ones and you can aways pick up something decent. I used to just get clothes from Primark, as i found them to be the same price as charity shops, but now it seems that even in Primark clothes are getting more expensive!! You used to be able to get a jumper for £3 for a 12 yr old, now they are at least double that!! So charity shops work out better value!

Spiggle

Hey cleggie,

Well done on the tumble dryer, that's a brilliant achievement. Not sure I could do that.

Sorry I haven't posted all week but it's been one of those if you know what I mean!

You have done so well and you must feel really good about how far you've come in such a short while. Give yourself loads of pats on the back from me!

Right I must go and total up last spend of February, declare and then join March GC which I haven't even looked at yet this week.

Take care and keep that strong resolve.

All the best,
Spigs