2013 Frugal Living Challenge

miss_empty_piggy

Hi All

Trying to be as frugal as possible here, did a smaller than usual shop and I think the kids have finally taken the hint and the tasmanian-devil-style gorging appears to have stopped.

Planning on reducing the bill again this month and trying to get by on what we have in the cupboards etc (which isn't a right lot to be honest).

Just wondered what everyone was planning on doing for a frugal-style mother's day?

My sister has her mother in law staying over and I thought it would be a nice idea to all come to mine (my parents, her and her daughters, husband and MIL and my other sister too) to have some quality time together and some bacon and egg butties and a nice cuppa rather than 'going out for dinner' which always ends up costing an arm and a leg these days. However, no-one has got back to me so it appears that this is a carp idea and they're not interested!!! oh well, will have to rethink. Thinking of getting something for her garden (as she's dieting) plus it doesn't just last for the day.

Would love to hear all your frugaller's suggestions:j

MadamMim2013

I have been working hard on budgets and got all rather stressed by it all....

After a mini explosion temper wise DH is now interested in being shown what's happening (or not) in the money department... he's in for quite a shocker & I'll not be holding back either..

Frugal or not I have saved for over a year for a special treat for myself and I shall be collecting it tomorrow (fingers crossed) I know it'll not stop my book fetish but it'll allow me access to freebies when cash is strapped & the library or C Shop is off limits

I shall not be allowing myself to feel guilty about purchase (new to me, not full price, over £70+ saved) I've been meal planning all week and stuck to it using up leftovers for lunches or nibbles! So I've more than made up for it!!
Hellooo to any new peeps :wave:

[Deleted User]

miss_empty_piggy wrote: »

Just wondered what everyone was planning on doing for a frugal-style mother's day?

:j

I am doing a very frugal Mothers day. Thankfully my mum has never been keen on Mothers day, usually dubbing it a 'made up holiday so the card companies can sell more stuff'.

I have made her a card - cost pennies and revamped some toiletries I bought in the sales after Christmas - wrapping them in fabric and with ribbon to give a vintage feel. That with an Isle of Skye candle and I know she will be happy with it. I am taking the gifts up tonight to her house and we will have a wee hour chatting and seting the world to rights.

quintwins

I don't buy my own mother anything and usually we would get my mother in law flowers and a card and maybe a small gift but as moneys abit tight i ordered her a box of 4 cupcakes instead they will only cost £5 but i think she will like them and it shows alot of effort went in, we usually spend about £30 on her so this is greatly cutting back. Generally we don't bother with mothers day usually i get a box of poundland chocolates but i'm on a diet so will only get a card this year we feel it's a made up halmark holiday how ever my mother in law is a huge help to us in so many ways hence us buying her.

I joined a gym not frugal at all infact it's £68 a month for me and hubby but in 2 weeks he's lost a stone and i've lost 8.5lbs so worth it imo we are shockingly unfit tho. We are also on a low carb diet and the additional cost of meat is starting to show so i will be using up whatever i have in for awhile and trying to save as many pennies as possible.

Olderbutnotwiser

How about a home made cream tea for Mothers Day, my kids did that one year and it was sweet. They made scones and got jam and clotted cream, fairy cakes and sandwiches with the crusts off! They also dragged out the tea pot and cups and saucers and made it very pretty. With a homemade card thats quite frugal x

LolaLemon

https://www.livebelowtheline.com/uk-guidance this page has a link to a cook book for living on £1 per day... i downloaded for the recipe ideas, but i will use what i have in the house rather than go and buy new stuff. (im posting this in a few places so others see the link)

I am also thinking of trying to live on £1 per day for a week as per the challenge and see how i get on (at the same time as them doing the challenge)

natnat13

My son (who's nearly 7) came in and gave me £1 for mothers day this morning, bless him! I told him to go and put it in his money box but he got really upset and said no so it's now sat on the side! My mum passed away a few years ago and I've sacked the husband so no MIL to worry about. My dad does have a partner but I feel a bit weird about getting her anything so it will be a non exisitant day for me! I will do something with my boys but I would have done that anyway.

[Deleted User]

Frugal plans this week:
1. Packed lunches all week.
2. Free exercise - walking and using the school pool once a week.
3. Food plan made and shopped for.
4. Free evening activities - having a jigsaw and games night with OH.

I have signed up for a local craft class which costs £1 per session so that is the only planned spend this week. Spending evenings doing crafts and practicing my knitting stitches and, less enjoyably, work for school!

LolaLemon

frugal living coming along nicely, could do better, but march is always a really spendorific month. Its my son and my brothers birthday at the start of April.
This year we are having a Harry Potter themed party. Everyone has to come dressed as a witch/wizard. no muggles allowed. I'm trying to get intouch with the local college to get 40odd wands made (cheaply) we are having a herbology class (they get to take home their own cress pots), a Potions class - diet coke and mentos type things... decorate tehir oen fairy cakes, and a game of quiddich all after being sorted into one of the 4 houses. Quiddich will be 2 hula hoops that they have to get a balloon through... not thought about rules or how they are going to do it without killing each other, but im sure we will get there hahaha

so far i have bought son a telescope (£45 down to £10) crystal growing (£35-£55 down to £10) a guitar (£45 down to £10) (mr t was great last night!) 2 board games under a fiver each! all thats left toget him is a skylander pack and im on track for under £100 on gifts. me and his dad are splitting the party. just having trouble on finding a suitable venue.
Im painting an old sheetto look like a brick wall, making a sign for platform 9 and 3/4, painting a forbidden forrest so they dont go near the kitchen, need black covers for the tables... buying a box of the nasty flavoured jelly beans to mix in with ordinary jelly beans... going to make a lot of cakes, fruit dipped in chocolate and on lolly sticks and just rename them all something from the books.

System

Sounds fab Lolalemon, who says frugal can't be fun and exciting. I bet they will absolutely love it!!! My daughter said her 'best party ever' was one I did at home that wasn't a patch on what you are doing. It was just girly fun with music, nails & hair being done, games and a tea party. :j

As for my frugal living, I've got a budget in place for the first time in ages and am trying loads of own brand stuff in the supermarket & stocking up on cheap bread, milk, cat food etc everytime we go past Aldi. Also saving a lot of money by doing more home cooking and its tastier too. Taking on extra work too like mystery shopping and just started doing a second job for Leapforce. Money being funnelled towards debts and expect to be a lot better off this time next year