2013 Frugal Living Challenge

natnat13

wuvvies maybe you'll find you just needed a big shop this week and you'll do a smaller one next week? I know you probably already do but making a list and sticking to it always helps me, bargains are only bargains if you need them x

cw18

At the moment my spends are looking very good - and low

Unfortunately my combi oven (which is less than 3 years old!) gave up the ghost on Thursday I'm currently trying to decide what to do in terms of replacing it (or not), and keep swaying from one choice to another as finding the money for this almost certainly means I'm going to be looking at going over budget (not helped by the fact my built in fridge/freezer needs replacing at some point, as the fridge door keeps opening itself ).

First option would be to replace it with the most basic of microwaves, which should (in theory) be the least expensive similar replacement. Unfortunately I use the conventional oven in it more than anything else (though possibly only just more than the jacket potato setting over the course of a year), as it's cheaper to run that than my big built in oven when I'm only cooking for me (or baking off a single half-baguette / garlic bread stick). I probably don't use my built in oven more than twice a month as a result, whilst using the small oven a couple of times a week. So I guess my electricity bill could well go up.

The second option would be to replace it with another combi oven. But do I actually use it enough to make a big enough saving on the electricity over the life-time of the appliance in order to justify the additional outlay? I don't have accurate figures for the potential savings, so can't do that calculation properly - but I suspect not unless I go for another 'cheapest' option and it lasts for a fair old time (and this one hasn't lasted well).

The third option would be to think about replacing it with some other type of cooking appliance, such as a halogen oven. But I don't know enough about those to know if they'll cook all the kinds of things I put through my combi, so I guess I need to do some digging there.

The final option would be to do without anything and save myself the cost of a replacement completely. So I'm not rushing into a decision, but will see how I manage without one for the next week or three (or until I start to tear my hair out because I don't have one )

never_too_old

cw18 wrote: »

At the moment my spends are looking very good - and low

Unfortunately my combi oven (which is less than 3 years old!) gave up the ghost on Thursday I'm currently trying to decide what to do in terms of replacing it (or not), and keep swaying from one choice to another as finding the money for this almost certainly means I'm going to be looking at going over budget (not helped by the fact my built in fridge/freezer needs replacing at some point, as the fridge door keeps opening itself ).

First option would be to replace it with the most basic of microwaves, which should (in theory) be the least expensive similar replacement. Unfortunately I use the conventional oven in it more than anything else (though possibly only just more than the jacket potato setting over the course of a year), as it's cheaper to run that than my big built in oven when I'm only cooking for me (or baking off a single half-baguette / garlic bread stick). I probably don't use my built in oven more than twice a month as a result, whilst using the small oven a couple of times a week. So I guess my electricity bill could well go up.

The second option would be to replace it with another combi oven. But do I actually use it enough to make a big enough saving on the electricity over the life-time of the appliance in order to justify the additional outlay? I don't have accurate figures for the potential savings, so can't do that calculation properly - but I suspect not unless I go for another 'cheapest' option and it lasts for a fair old time (and this one hasn't lasted well).

The third option would be to think about replacing it with some other type of cooking appliance, such as a halogen oven. But I don't know enough about those to know if they'll cook all the kinds of things I put through my combi, so I guess I need to do some digging there.

The final option would be to do without anything and save myself the cost of a replacement completely. So I'm not rushing into a decision, but will see how I manage without one for the next week or three (or until I start to tear my hair out because I don't have one )

How about a mini oven,i purchased mine about 6 - 8 months ago from Lidl for £29.99 and i love it:D

seriouslyfrugal

Wow this week has gone fast ! managed to have a low spend week :j although the car insurance is due out next week :eek: which I have got the lowest price for.

this week for me has been the start of a de -clutter so far I have 4 bin bags for the charity shop :j:T

Allie I have used the local college for beauty treatments & hair cuts and never had a problem which reminds me I must book a haircut tomorrow with them :rotfl:

hope everyone has had a good week & that next week is just as good

JayneC

cw18 wrote: »

(not helped by the fact my built in fridge/freezer needs replacing at some point, as the fridge door keeps opening itself ).

My fridge did this and I found rehanging the door on the other side solved the problem, not sure why , maybe it was on a bit of a slant. Anyway it worked and was ok for years afterwards... You can usually do this without much problem as they're designed to open either way. HTH

Can't really advise re the combi, maybe you could try an ask on Freegle? worth a shot?

Been to my new allotment today. Not sure I'm going to like allotmenteering, some of the people I've come across there are quite patronising and a bit jobsworthy (the rules are somewhat OTT to me), still I'll persevere. To be fair some of them have been lovely too... Maybe I should have a Newbie alert badge:rotfl:

Posted some stuff on Freegle and have someone coming for an ebay item I sold later on, plus I have 2 items to pack and post. Am severely poor at the minute so that will help a bit.

Baking_Mad

vintagebrighton wrote: »

We were spending a fortune on soya yoghurt till I bought a yoghurt maker (half price at £7) from Lakeland. I don't use any of their starters cos they're all milk based and I think it defeats the object of saving money! Found a recipe on the internet using a pot of live soya yoghurt as a starter for the first batch and a litre of soya milk. Took a couple of goes to get right but I'm in the swing now Loads of lovely fresh live soya yoghurt for use in cooking, smoothies and just on it's own.

Also, if anyone likes homemade smoothies Lidl are the best value for huge bags of frozen berries..... yum

On the frugalling front, found a code on here for 5 issues of the magazine I bought for the cost of one. :T I just need to remember to cancel the DD before it goes up the to full cost but it's noted in my diary!

A no spend day yesterday. Went to buy fresh veg, eggs and cheese but these were all out of the shopping money ~ We keep a separate jar for food/household money which has £300 at the beginning of the month.. it usually lasts the whole month and we eat very well.

Will be another NSD today but will be going out for a long walk later.... up to the Downs and down to the sea.. Lovely

Oh, sounds interesting. What kind of yoghurt maker have you got? Is it easiyo or Lakeland own brand? Might think about getting one. Can I ask, does yours come out quite thick or is it runny?

cw18

never_too_old wrote: »

How about a mini oven,i purchased mine about 6 - 8 months ago from Lidl for £29.99 and i love it:D

I have one and hate it. It's never cooked anything properly

cw18

JayneC wrote: »

My fridge did this and I found rehanging the door on the other side solved the problem, not sure why , maybe it was on a bit of a slant. Anyway it worked and was ok for years afterwards... You can usually do this without much problem as they're designed to open either way. HTH

Not sure how easy it would be to do with mine as it's a built-in appliance... plus it would make it totally the wrong way round for my kitchen as it's at the end of a row

It's almost 11 years old, and it's been doing this for about 9 momths now.... I've been holding off as long as possible, but I don't think I fancy leaving it another summer!!

rising_from_the_ashes

*sigh* wishing I lived near somewhere where there were colleges for cheaper haircuts / beauty treatments ......

vintagebrighton

Baking_Mad wrote: »

Oh, sounds interesting. What kind of yoghurt maker have you got? Is it easiyo or Lakeland own brand? Might think about getting one. Can I ask, does yours come out quite thick or is it runny?

It's this one

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/7531/EasiYo-Yoghurt-Maker

I bought it before Christmas when it was half price ~ love it so much I bought my daughter one for Christmas. Looks like it's not reduced at the moment but I think I'd probably pay full price for it.

I didn't bother with any of the extras... my son's vegan so we can't use any of their bases. I looked on the internet and found how to make soya yoghurt. Took a few goes cos apparently you can only use soya milk that has nothing but soya beans and water or it doesn't work. After a few goes I found the right milk and worked out how to get lovely thick yoghurt. Seriously, you have to slice the stuff I make :rotfl:

I think when it turned out runny it was because the 'milk' wasn't warm enough to ferment... I guess a thermometer would help with that?