2013 Frugal Living Challenge

ostrichnomore_2

should meet my budget this month I think, just about, it's helpful to see exactly which areas I've been going over budget to help me be better in future, but I've made up for it by lower groceries bill due to trying to eat mostly out of stores/freezer.

Interesting question above

What you feel you do well to live frugally
Not materialistic or interested in keeping up with the Joneses, so many people seem to be constantly spending on decorating/furniture/new clothes all the time.
Batch cooking and buying reduced food to keep groceries down, which allows me enough to get some treats as well (like a nice steak maybe) without spending a lot overall.
Run a very economical car - it's small, it's old, it's had better days, some people laugh at it, but I love it and it costs hardly anything compared to most.

What you are still working on
Spending money out of laziness - my overspends this month are almost entirely due to that. Especially buying lunches and paying to park near work a lot of days, instead of remembering to bring in what I've got at home for lunch, and walking 10-15 minutes for free parking.

seriouslyfrugal

Morning everyone

hope everyone is ok

woke up this morning to a blanket of snow ( like most people) still at least it will be a no spend day :T

staying in the warm although I have seen the kids out with thier sledges - as they are off school

still being frugal here but nothing major to report

stay safe and warm everyone - have a good weekend

also have discovered that RHS WISLEY IS FREE ENTRY ON 01.03.13

http://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/what-s-on

may be worth looking at your local rhs garden if you have one !

skintwellie

Mooloo wrote: »

Derr so cross with myself, but as I am in a low place its easier said then done. I just wish I could focus better.

Hope you feel better soon Mooloo - sending you lots of good Karma - I have felt like you many times in the past, please believe me - things do get better!

My little ones got sent home from school this morning, so we have spent the time cooking and baking. Bit pe*d off as they normally have free school lunches and I have had to rejig my menu plan. My organic box arrived today (my one extravagance!), so will plan next weeks meals around the contents. Today we made scotch pancakes and had them with veggie sausages (homemade) and baked beans.

Have made soda bread to have with veggie stew tonight. Still hoping to come in at under £100 food bill for the month. Will have to do first 'big' supermarket shop of year soon as stocks running low. Will try and go to Mr M Sunday at about 3ish to get best markdowns, subject to snow, of course.

Have sold book on Amazon today, so another £7.50 to add to my 'savings' pot.

Happy moneysaving everyone!:)

ps. How do you do the signature thingy, someone please! x

never_too_old

skintwellie wrote: »

Hope you feel better soon Mooloo - sending you lots of good Karma - I have felt like you many times in the past, please believe me - things do get better!





ps. How do you do the signature thingy, someone please! x

Afternoon

at the top of this page you will see User CP click on that, then at the side it says edit signature, click on that and make your signature.hth:D

Savvy_sewing

Thanks am trying to focus. I had to collect DGD early too.But they at least had the dinners first. mind you she has just demolished a whole packet of custard creams that were in the cupboard.
I spent £9.71 in the corner MR T. bread. milk.ham and a cheap bottle of wine.
I resisted temptation to buy chocolate at the last minute. I went in before I collected DGD which saved on buying sweets as well.
I just found my housekeeping journal for 1992 and the first entry was about food. menu planning and all the same as we are doing now. I have some prices written down as well which is interesting.
I shall have to see what they compare to to todays prices. also reminds me that 20 years on and I still havent mastered it all oh dear

[Deleted User]

Focussing on frugal food again this week. Frugal on the heating is out of the question - no snow here but absolutely freezing here in Scotland. It is great to come home, sit in front of the fire and have a warming cup of tea. I choose to be frugal but glad I can still afford to have the heating on when needed. My thoughts go out to all those who cannot.

Just done part of the weekly food shop for next week. Spent £10.44 in Lidl and will have a smaller spend later in Mr T. Waiting until about half seven before I head to Mr T as that is about the time they reduce the bread. Having said that there was hardly any left in Lidl - a bit of panic buying going on I think.

Going to make a Victoria Sponge later to split up for snacks/treats across the weekend. Cream in the middle with either some Jam or some Lemon Curd (bought last week to try it, 22p Mr T value range).

[Deleted User]

Heading to Mr T in time for bread reductions was worth it. I have restocked the freezer with enough bread to last about a month, plus got a couple of packets of tea cakes (I love a toasted tea cake with a cuppa) all for £1.77. Also got what I needed for meals for the rest of the week. Cost all in still less than £20:j.
Will probably have to spend more next week as I have run the freezer down a bit. Splurging with a bag of value Jaffa cakes in front of the telly now!

skintwellie

Good afternoon everyone, hope everyone is managing to stay warm! Kids have been out playing in the snow and have come in starving - making bacon (last of Christmas freezer stock), oven roasted bubble and squeak and baked beans. Got a winning email - have won a free litre carton of Cravendale (every little helps when you are being frugal!).
Have run out of cat food and am now wondering if they will eat dog food! - Otherwise its a mile walk to the village shop!
Found half a pack of sausage and apricot stuffing at back of freezer so thinking of something yummy(!) I can make for tonight.
Happy frugalling. x

Becky_2

I have made breakfast muffins this morning and using up various bags of dried fruit. I made a double batch so now got 24 muffins. This is my mid morning snack at work to stop me buying snacks at work.

dandelionclock30

Skintwellie- Your cats will eat the dog food if they are hungry.However its best obviously to give them their cat food as it has all the proper nutirents in for them. I get mine Asdas Tiger meat 24 tins for £10.00 and also one of them has Go Cat biscuits.I get a big Packet for about £2.00 from Wilkinsons or Tesco and they also have packets of pet pieces from the butchers which cost about £1.20 for a big tray. This is about the cheapest I can get it down to and they are really well cats.
Also Iceland do 4 pints of Milk for a pound which I think is very good.