2013 Frugal Living Challenge

dizzy_lizzie

Sorry not been on much lately due to various reasons but catching up now.
Hope you start to feel a little better Mooloo soon. Spring is almost ready to peep around the corner...I keep telling myself this and late afternoons are now lighter. Maybe it's not the right time for you to be thinking about Etsy and Folky etc. You're putting yourself under undue pressure which won't help. Spring or Summer may be a good time whilst using the months up till then to do a little house blessing the flylady way (link)
I know how you feel. I have some promised projects to make for people and I'm doing a lot of 'putting things off' at the moment. I've even had a google at 'procrastination' and ways to overcome it but bookmark them to read later :rotfl: Honestly I have to laugh or I'll cry!

I've had a lazy morning and still in jimjams so off to have a bath and get motivated.
Keep well everyone.
x

natnat13

I have not had a very frugal day, went to Mr Ts without a list and although I thought about what I was buying still spent £76!! But my cupboards were bare before and are now fairly full!
Also cleaned my kitchen and bathroom through this morning, changed the beds, now going to do a bit of work before the DS get back from their dads. Have a good weekend everyone x

lbnblbnb

I went into town today, to the library. Had to pay £2:60 for reservation fees and some old fines but got six books out I will love reading. In the past I could always justify spending money on books, but I like the idea of releasing them back into the wild for other people to read!

I then had half an hour until I met my friend and was about to walk round the shops (it would have been the charity shops) but stopped myself as there was nothing I need, waited for my friend in the car and listened to the radio. Nice to have some peaceful time actually.

Does anyone know if you can sub normal porridge oats for steel cut oats? I have some overnight oatmeal recipes for the slow cooker I would like to try, but not sure...

[Deleted User]

Just back from shopping. Have stocked up on mince from Lidl, down to £2.15 for the steak mince, gammon joint, bacon chops (never tried these so hope they are nice), pork chops and various other bits and bobs.

Went into Home Bargains for the first time today and was amazed at the bargains. Got some Ragu for making Lasagne later in the week for £1 a jar and some loo roll at £3.49 for 18 rolls. If the loo roll is any good I will be getting I here again. Didn't have time for a big rummage as had frozen food in the car but will be back for a longer look around soon. Can anyone else recommend a good bargain from here?

Came home and made some 'Anything Goes' soup using up stuff we had left in the fridge - some carrots, onions, potatoes added some lentils and some coriander. Just about to eat it now so hope it tastes good.

miss_empty_piggy

natnat13 wrote: »

I have not had a very frugal day, went to Mr Ts without a list and although I thought about what I was buying still spent £76!! But my cupboards were bare before and are now fairly full!

I did the same but spent £145.00:eek: However, everyone was fed up with the boring menu plan we had so I've rubbed it off the board and I will make what ever from my now extremely full freezer so I think we'll be fine for quite a while now. We have 3 gannets in our house and they've already devoured some of it, I've hidden some of it in the garage (extra bottles of pop and crisps that were on offer). It's bonkers here, I spent most of that money on drinks, they're all lucozade addicts (so is DOH as well) which costs a fortune. I've bought some Mr M isotonic drinks which they turned their noses up at, and then about 7 bottles of value squash as well as the jumbo fresh orange juice. Once it's gone, it's gone. They'll have to drink the squash. It makes me laugh that they like sports drinks as I'm the only one who does any sport!!!:rotfl:

couldsavemore_2

we have been eating well from our freezer with just some bought fresh veg as we have needed it.

yesterday we made another huge pot of tomato sauce for the freezer . and some veg stock. also 15 jars of marmalade enough to last several years i think:rotfl:

reading lots of blogs about frugal living and picking up some tips. some are a little extreme for us but everthing helps. still trying to use up toiletries and cleaning products before buying any new.

planning to grow a few bits in the garden this year we did try a few years ago but with only a small garden we were hardly self sufficient. this time i may cocentrate on just a few bits . ie herbs lettuce runner beans tomatoes . does anybody else do this.

LolaLemon

natnat13 wrote: »

Lola I've got an S3 and love it and that's a good price for your contract x

i used to work for t-mobile, when i left i moved from the staff plan to friends and family which gives me half price on my line rental. wouldnt move from them even tho i sort of want to, just need to put up with non british based workers answering the fon, not understanding anything i say, all to save some pennies, but every penny counts!:rotfl:

i feel a lot lost these past couple of weeks. im rubbish at this monthly pay, i prefer weekly. i seem to be just giving money away left right and centre. and i dont like it.
i have all my receipts to do this week for my first full month of seeing where all my money goes. ive been wanting to put them on as and when i got them, but ive not had time at work (i use the p.c. as i dont have a pc at home, just a tab and they are rubbish for what i need to do, good for games though)

natnat13

This is an interesting read - http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1641364/How-I-lived-on-1-a-day-for-a-year.html

NSD for me today hopefully. Fuel light on on car so going to try and walk everywhere til Fri night then it will be three weeks since I filled up.

Savvy_sewing

I strive to save then blow it all because i gave in and bailed the kids out on their electric.
Cut and sliced some red peppers and froze them yesterday. as i had too many.but still had to bin curly kale and oranges. Not good.
Am a little brighter and feel more capable . altered a wedding dress for one of kids friends. took two hours. buti didnt charge as i hadnt done it in years. She has said she will get me a bottle of wine and some choccys. Next time i will quote prices.

Baking_Mad

Sorry not been around much recently, kids and I were very ill last week, some kind of very nasty virus, couldn't shake it off for over a week and still not feeling 100% yet.

Struggling with budgeting this month, not much money left and OH doesn't get paid until middle of next month! :eek: Off to get a couple of newspapers with Aldi vouchers tomorrow morning.