2013 Frugal Living Challenge

skintwellie

[Deleted User] wrote:

I get frozen berries from Lidl - I usually go for the raspberries as I love making raspberry crumble. They are 500g bags which is bigger than you get in the other supermarkets (they are usually 340g I think). Can't remember what they cost but can remember thinking it was better value with the bigger size bag. Will have a price check next time I am in Lidl.


I too have been trying to reduce my food budget and was doing Ok on £25 per week but it seems to have crept up to £35 per week again. Would like to get this down again, if possible. I found this thread really inspiring

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4084527

especially the menu plan done by Butterfly Brain. I did a price check on the Tesco items she mentions on her list last night and some of the things have gone up in price since she posted the list but they are still at a great price. I did my shop in Tesco last night based on some of this list and I got 3 carrier bags worth of stuff for £11.34. There are certain things I am fussy about so tend to buy branded such as chopped tomatoes but otherwise will be sticking with this again to see how it goes.

Thank you - sounds great, will def check out site and pop into Lidl next week. Another NSD for me - have been catching up on some competitions and baking for the week today - used some milk past its sell-by date to make lovely light scones and muffins.

Becky_2

I have been reading all your posts in this thread for a while now. I find reading your posts inspires me to try to save where I can.

I just wanted to pop in to say if you have a staff net in your workplace do try to read it as often as you can. I have today booked myself a haircut with a hair dresser someone recommended on staff net, when I mentioned the advert I was entitled to buy one get one free haircut. So that is £30 saved later on in the year.

Also, we had our water meter replaced earlier this week because it was leaking. Today I rang the water company just to make sure that they had received the reading for the old and new meter (which they hadn't). I was informed if we complete the form that they will send us, we will be entitled to a refund on a previous bill because of the leak, might not be much but every little help.

Good luck to you all with this challenge.

JayneC

skintwellie wrote: »

Hi Everyone!

I have just googled and found the website with meal plans and recipes (possibly everyone already uses it, but haven't seen it mentioned on here before) it is www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk.
We are a family of three adults and two 5 year olds. I am planning to grow a lot of our own produce this year and already have a pretty impressive herb garden and grow lettuce on the window sill in the kitchen. I'm going to try and bring our monthly food budget in at £100 per month. Watch this space!!!!

x

This is weezl's website. She used to post on the grocery challenge thread a lot but don't know if she still does - I've not subscribed for ages as I can't keep up!!

Good to hear how everyone is doing.

I've still not been grocery shopping since before Christmas, mainly as I have no money... Did a mini shop, just bread and veg for £5, so good job I keep some supplies in. I've had milk as we get that delivered. But am running very low and cried a bit this morning when I found that the cat had eaten the fish I'd put out to defrost:(. Managed to improvise and had corned beef hash instead and found some jaffa cakes I'd forgotten I had:)

DS is going back to school in a week after being home educated since last summer, so now I have to buy a full school uniform that wasn't budgeting for, luckily his dad is going to give me some money towards it.

Also woodburner is smoking a lot and think it needs cleaning - even though it swept in Nov - so that's going to set me back too.

Seems like it's all going on at the moment:(

Ah well I'm sure it'll get better, good job I'm naturally frugal or I would be crying;)

miss_empty_piggy

I know it can sometimes seem hard JayneC, but things will pick up. I can remember sitting in the dark with candles on (wasn't cut off but was getting close to it), had no money for food and my boiler had been condemned - I had no hot water or heating for about 2 months and it was when it was the really cold weather. I felt like nothing could get better, but inevitably it did, and you will get through it - you sound like you've a hardy personality and you'll be fine. Friends and family will help out if you ask for help (you'd want to help your friend/family if they asked I'm sure). We're all here for you too. Big Hugs honey. x x x x x x

miss_empty_piggy

Just got down to last £30 in the bank (before incur major bank charges) and I get a letter from Mr T bank saying they've made a mistake on my hom e insurance and they are going to refund me £109.23, plus they've also applied £119 refund to my remaining monthly instalments which means that my payments are coming down by about half. Am so pleased. it couldn't have come at a better time.

miss_empty_piggy

JayneC wrote: »

Also woodburner is smoking a lot and think it needs cleaning - even though it swept in Nov - so that's going to set me back too.

just been on frugal queen - she said that recently cost her £40 - obviously she doesn't live where you do, and I appreciate that £40 is huge if you haven't got it, but just thought that might be useful.

SandraScarlett

I've won a year's free subscription to The Gourmet Society! :j Martin had a linkie on Wednesday and the first 2013 entrants won a whole year's membership, and everyone gets a free month.:T

So all my meals out will be 2 for 1 -no need to print off my coupons.:)

xx

xnatalie81x

OLDBILL- that sounds about right. My mum has the 123 account and get £38 interest plus the cashback from the other things I earn £12.44 mth on my current ISA so if you use your isa allowance as well (mine is at 3%) you could earn an extra £149 on top of that 250 meaning an easy £400 a year - although you'd need 20k in the 123 account as over that you don't earn any more than the 3% (my parents have much more than that hence using Isa"s too!)


All quiet here

mummy2threeboys

Morning all..happy sunday! (major tidy up day for us) just going to asdas price compare to see if we get any vouchers off. Had a non frugal day yesterday £25 on train tickets to london but mum bought lunch and tea so evened out about right had a fab time at the theatre, so much so i think this is the way to go as gifts for mum ..we get on so wel and shes on her own, so its lovely to send time together, i know we can get discount tickets from about £15. I saw blood brothers a couple of years ago on £15 tickets..brilliant.
Anyway im waffling. Nothing exciting to report..have listed all ebay items ready for listing at the end of the month (hoping it might draw more bids in after pay day) . Have a good up coming week..ive got breast feeding peer training again,,9 more to go and im qualified eek.

miss_empty_piggy

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I've won a year's free subscription to The Gourmet Society! :j Martin had a linkie on Wednesday and the first 2013 entrants won a whole year's membership, and everyone gets a free month.:T

So all my meals out will be 2 for 1 -no need to print off my coupons.:)

xx

congratulations that is awesome - I'm made up for you.:j