2013 Frugal Living Challenge

Kerry_Woman

natnat - All the best for the move. Hope things work out job wise.

LolaLemon

good luck with the move NatNat.

Not doing much, working away, been busy with sons clubs.. drama show was last week, new arts centre, and just as the interval started, the fire alarm went off! poor kids didnt know what was happening. all was ok, and we were alowed back in, they then missed out half the seens adn let teh kids do the big fanale and their bows. a lotof the kids where dissapointed that they didntget to do their scenes, but they got to do it on thursday night too.

dad is still coming to my house to decorate my room, i picked the wallpaper - lining paper for 3 walls to be painted a 'warm' white and a paterned paper for the wal behind the bed, forty blimmin quid for 2 bolts! dad has said he will buy me flooring instead of having rugs down until i have the money, as teh floor boards arent that great, i did want to sand them then paint white and have a few small rugs but just not possible, so this is more money that i will owe my dad grr.

made flap jacks last week (or was it week before?) apple n cinnamon - major success!

was at the school fete at teh weekend and picked up 4 cook books for 80p! one was brand new - ma broons but n ben cook book. been admiring it for years and i got it for 20p. its £10 in the shops.

hope all is well.

skintwellie

:)Hi Guys,

Haven't been on here for awhile, but have just caught up with all of your posts. Good luck with the move natnat!

I have been lucky enough to win an amazing weekend away in Birmingham next month - 5* hotel with loads of champers, dinner, spa treatments, tea at Winterbourne House, ride in a limo and a concert visit - Wow what a fantastic prize, I can't wait (especially as I have a wonderful new man and it will be a peach of a 'date'!)

Also my food budget came in at under £100 last month for 5 of us! - Yes, I know I can't quite believe it either. I did make use of some foodie freebies and have grown some spicy leaves and lettuce on the windowsill in the kitchen. Found an amazing Blog - from someone named Jack who lived on less than £1 per day and has put the recipes on the 'Below The Line' website (sorry bit of a knobhead when it comes to technology so can't give link, but it is on www.agirlcalledjack.com/category/below-the-line-budget-recipes/page/4/ but I'm sure some of you are using this already.

Have managed to download some free tickets to The Vegetarian Show which I will be going to with my eldest daughter in a couple of weeks time. Most of my spare time at the moment is spent either walking the dogs (legs def looking better toned) or growing veg in the garden. Was wondering about trying to earn some extra cash by writing a true story for one of the Take a Break type mags. Just wondering if anyone has experience of this - if accepted how much do you get paid and how long before you get the money after they publish it?

Going to really try and spruce up my house over the summer for very little outlay. I have managed to get some marvellous items through freecycle including a wavy mirror (I think it came originally from IKEA) complete with all the fittings and a whole box of real wood flooring - enough for my hallway. I have reciprocated by giving away some items that I no longer need including garden furniture and some craft stuff.

Happy frugalling everyone xx

LolaLemon

I no longer have an overdraught. i alos no longer have a good relationship with my bank. my card was flagged for fraud in march they said they would cancel my card, a new one never arrived. i went into bank on saturday to get some cash out and a new card ordered. they made me fone to report it lost n stolen then i said i needed £200 out they told me i can only get £50 because i dont have my card. they would give me £50 based on my signature and some i.d. So i closed my account. to close my account and take out over £1000 all i need was my signature and some i.d.
now currently hunting for a good current account.

Went to the Lana Del Rey concert on Thursday and have to say, she has been the single best person i have ever went and seen. i was dissapointed taht they moved her from a smaller venue to the secc, her songs are big stauim but she is not, she hasnt developed the personallity that is needed for inbetween songs and endings for big stadium yet... although what she did do would have been amazing in a smaller venue.

I cut the grass last night - at 8pm! with my brothers fancy pants lawnmower, currently strugglin to see due to the heyfever

Hope all is good

Kerry_Woman

LolaLemon - Sorry to hear that you had issues with your bank. Hope you get things sorted out soon.

LolaLemon

Kerry_Woman wrote: »

LolaLemon - Sorry to hear that you had issues with your bank. Hope you get things sorted out soon.

Thanks, I've just recieved an email from santander to confirm I have been accepted for their 1 2 3 account. at the same time i ticked the box for the 1 2 3 credit card and a savings account. Only ticked the cc box as u get teh cash back for shopping, so if i get it, i will only use it in those shops - like supermarkets etc that are on the list, and pay the same amount online when i get home so im not going to get a bill with a 'you owe xx'. in theory i should always be in credit with them from teh cash back.
I did want to go with a building society but i had a look and i will get about £60 back per month just by paying my bills. Next thing is to see if i can move my mortgage to them and get more back each month .

Got to thank this frugal living, as if this was about 2 or 3 years ago, i would have been declined for the new account, so rather proud wee moment for me when i got the confirmation email

Kerry_Woman

LolaLemon - That's great news.

LolaLemon

Hello hope all is well.

no word back on the cc - not too fussed as its not a real need, but i would like it for the cash back for spending in tesco - haha clubcard points and cash back now that would be nice. i dont think i am going to get it as they didnt allow me to have an over draught - agian now no longer a need, but a good thing to have for an emergency - thankfully i am startingto get a little emergency pot going.

the washing machine - the bf got his sisters old one and attempted to instal it 2 nights ago.. needs a new pipe this i will pick up from the plumbers shop this weekend --- this morning i woke up to ants in the kitchen; all over the sink! ive never had ants before so im blaming it on the washing machine, it had been sitting in her garage for months apparently.
The spiders where having a feast this morning! oh it was horrible! i sprinkled borax and paprika everywhere, got into work and looked up on line and it should have been Cayenne pepper! haha

My dad offered me another loan this week, this time to take son on holiday - im now debating on accepting this or not. one hand i dont want to be him any more money, on the other, i would love to take son on holiday... decisions decisions...
im on schedual to have £2000 saved up by chritmas to pay dad back for the car.. would only be another £1000 left to pay him for the car.

vintagebrighton

Afternoon... I haven't posted for a long time due to health problems but I'm now ready to get going again. Kinda have to as I've lost my income for a good few months Anyway, I'm gonna read from the beginning, catch up with you all and start setting the frugal challenges again!

skintwellie

Hi Everyone,

Hoping you are all enjoying the lovely sunshine. Thought I'd share the following with you. I was in Co-Op yesterday and the bread was being reduced. I asked the lady if she could reduce the Wholemeal loaf I wanted any more (was already reduced to 80p). She said that the amount that they could reduce it by depended on how many of those loaves were left. As there were seven, she reduced it to 30p! - Result.:j

Have a great weekend all. x