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

lauren_1

Just a quick update...first one since the 9th

We again have been working our bums off and have clubbed together another £400 extra this month to throw at our debts :j

We have decided to switch our internet from tiscali to sky....they send dp a letter offereing free internet, well its their base package offering 2Mb (no point getting any faster as most of somerset can only handle 1.1Mp) There is a £40 activation fee and then its free afterwards plus a free wireless router and 12 months McAfee so based on a years usage we will be saving £140 or £11.66 a month (taking off the activation fee) :T

I wont be away too long this time and should be back to daily updates by next week.

Crown

Hi Lauren,

I wondered what had happened to you. good to see your still on the challenge. 400 quid is a great in one month!

Good luck with the broadband. I have heard that getting connected can be a nightmare with sky but oince its up and running its fine. With regards to Mcafee its great if you can get it free for 12 months but have you ever thought about using the free alternatives such as AVG and Either Zone alarm or Comodo for a firewall?

I am a PC techican (well one of my jobs) and find that these take care of most internet nasties for a majority of users. there is no real need to spend anything on a a virus subscription if you do a little research

Iona_Penny

Hi Lauren
I just wanted to say how well you are doing, and to be able to reduce your debt by £400 in one month is amazing. Looking forward to further updates.

Mortgagefreeforme

£400 in one month, that's something to be proud of. Just think of all the interest you'll save by paying that in to your debts. It must have been tough going but you should be very proud of yourself. Well done

lauren_1

Thanks, just lucky i dont have to pay for our childcare! good old mums.

We are going to take it easy foor the next week or so, its our sons first birthday soon and we have planned a picnic for the whole family (i mean the whole family, eek)

OOh, before i forget i just want to list our latest bargains

BOLD crushed silk and jasmin tablets were £4.49 for 48 in morrisons + 25% extra free so thats 60 tablets, we had a 50p off voucher from the more4baby club for any bold tablets and as we only use half a tablet we get 120 washes out of that!! oh and there is a voucher on the more4baby website that will let you print out a voucher for the family essentials bounty pack!!!

We are just starting to build up ds and dd winter stuff as people are getting rid of them now its summer and picked up a navy fleece AIO buggy snuggler for £2 at a car boot and some jumpers and stuff.

I love sundays now its like going shopping but dfw chic, we are planning another one this week as we have just cleared out the rest of the attic and some of dp's old stuff from his mums although it does feel like we have sold everything in the house (minimalist sweetie) i like the cleaner, junk free house albeit a bit echoey.

JET34

Hello Lauren,
I am so glad that everything is going well for you and yours. You really seem to have this living frugal undercontrol, I really admire what your doing and I love reading your thread to see how your getting on!!!
WELL DONE

slowlyfading

This thread is amazing and you should be so proud at what you are achieving
sf x

lauren_1

I have lost another 5lbs so a total loss of 16lbs since the challenge began and even my size 12's are getting a bit loose so i feel another shopping trip coming up, i might even break a rule and go to primark as a treat:j

The little guy is walking properly now and will go to taunton to buy him his first pair of shoes with his birthday money we could get him measured then get the off of ebay but its his first pair, the grandparents are buying and i will be too impatient if i see a pair we really like so clarkes it is......plus i think they have a sale soon well cant be too thrifty with his money now can we? :rotfl:

slowlyfading

Well done on the weight loss! Enjoy the shopping trip
sf x

JET34

Well done on losing all that weight .... And you can't skimp on his first shoes after all it's for his little feet!! and clarks have some lovely first walker shoes I paid £17 quid for my son's..
Enjoy your shopping trip you deserve it!! (Primark can just as cheap as a charity shop anyway)