Meet the frugal's, 365 day challenge of buying nothing.

lauren_1

DAY6

I am avoiding town like the plague today and even though its my sisters birthday i usually treat her to a shopping trip, but not this year much to her disapointment she will be getting a handmade candle and a card from our daughter. Well she is nearly an adult so the spoiling her with expensive presents can take a knock on the head untill she gets to 18 and 21, im not being mean though she still steals sorry that should read borrows virtually all my stuff.

Just made a list of all the extra's i can get online

Shop and scan £50, withdrew in to vouchers
Pureprofile, had £32, withdrew that but they seem to have dried up now.
Candis cashback £19 so far
Quidback ? forgot password
pigsco? not even sure if i am a member

grassroots 2 mystery shops so far, not the best idea for someone who wants to stop spending but certinly will test my willpower though i must say giving up smoking is far easier:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

If anyone has any helpfull tips or any idea's what to do with 16 baby food jars they would be gratefully received

pigpen

baby food jars I filled with jelly for desserts! Or fruit puree to freeze and mix with yoghurts. or extra portions of little person dinner!.

I find them really useful for keeping track of little things like drawing pins, paper clips, rubber bands, stuff you need but are easy to lose. I have a few I use for my favourite homeopathic remedies.. pulsatilla I use often for example.

phil7445

Do you mean quidco?

Click on login without entering any details and it gives a "forgotten password" link.

lauren_1

Quidback:rotfl:
Feel rather silly now

Wiggly_Worm

No no, I like the idea of Pigsco :rotfl:

Baby food jars are great for so many things - I keep spices in mine (which I buy from the healthfood shop for 30p a bag (which fills a jar) rather than the Schwartz ones at over £1 a sachet :mad: ). Or they look cute with tealight candles in, especially if you put some salt at the bottom, or seashells. Or you can store seeds in them, saved from all your flowers/herbs/veg.

Lovefilm DVD rental :rotfl: I haven't paid them a penny for over a year now! Free trial, then try and cancel and they offer you a further 3 months. When that's up, cancel, reapply in DH's name - they say you can't do it from the same address, but yes you can! Just change the email. Return to step one :T Different names, different passwords - heck it's not *that* hard to outsmart a computer I have also tried other DVD by post, but actually I think Lovefilm gives te best service.

Thanks Lauren - you've inspired me to give up pointless spending for Lent - maybe even for good :rolleyes: ha ha

lauren_1

I started to do a 2 week trial last week, rang up just now hoping they would offer me longer but they cancelled it no questions asked, quite miffed they didnt offer me longer than 2 weeks, DOH

chickadee

Oh well, I hope you made the most of your two weeks!

Well done for having a go at this. It is very inspiring. Good luck!

Spendless

Empty glass baby food jars are perfect for making gel air freshners in :j . There's a thread on o/s board telling you how to do it. Ideally you need distilled water which you may not have been but there's been varying degrees of success using water from TD etc, or ask on freecycle, someone may have had to buy it at some point for their car and is wondering what to do with the rest of it.

lessonlearned

Great thread & well done you.

Have been doing something similar for a while now - but currently spending a bit doing up my house ready for sale (MSE way of course). Apart from that my spending is down to the basics.

Anyway - a good free deoderant (ie kitchen ingredients you already have) is a 50/50 mix of cornflour and bicarb of soda. Very effective. I keep a mix in a small plastic container.

Bi-carb is also a good free toothpaste. I use it a couple of times a week, keeps teeth nice and white but it might be a bit abrasive for every day use so ask your dentist for advice. (Like the other poster I think that the very cheap toothpaste might be a bit harsh).

Good luck.

TurnaroundSue

Hi Lauren - this is a great thread - I shall be logging in on a daily basis to see your progress! :j

I have joined the Give Up Spending Money For Lent Challenge so similiar to your challenge, but only for 40 days and not as frugal; but must say you are a real inspiration :T

I thought you could give a empty food jar to each of your family and friends and ask them to put their pieces of soap in them when they come to an end. Collect them all up and make a big bar of soap and then give them back to start all over again!! Save you having to make it and from the sounds of an earlier poster (sorry, can't remember your name) wont be at all smelly. :rotfl:

Good luck, I can't wait to follow your progress.

TTFN