2013 Frugal Living Challenge

Kerry_Woman

Still plodding along.

Have managed to save a little bit of money on food in the first half of year compared to last year. Going to try and save more money if I can. Cook more from scratch and be more mindful as to what I get.

One thing I want to do is not to buy anything unless it really is necessary for the rest of the year (food and toiletries not included in this).

Still managing to do some decluttering, which I am happy with the progress.

Hope everyone else are ok and managing. Hugs to those who might need them.

miss_empty_piggy

Hi All

I've managed to get my frugal mindset back. I fell off the bandwagon a little but am managing to get myself back on track. I find it much easier when I'm about to leave work for the school holidays. I love being at home everyday and having the time to plan meals and shopping, so stop wasting food unnecessarily because I'm tired. I'm getting organised with money and deadlines etc. Had a bit of a time when I had two bank accounts over the overdraft limit and ended up paying hundreds in bank charges each month. It gave me the kick up the butt that I so desperately needed but feel like I'm back on track again now. Have been reading frugal queen's back blogs as I find her story so inspiring.

Today I am proud of myself as we had a family BBQ at my mum's house and we were all tasked with taking something. I was asked to make pasta salad, rice salad and potato salad - I also took some wine from the stocks (that people have brought to my house in the past that I was never going to drink) and some vodka (again that I can take or leave). Now I know that I have paid for the ingredients in the past, but I didn't have to pay anything out. My mum spent £80.00 which god bless her, she did buy all of the meat, but when I left that was absolutely loads of food wasted. It pains me to think of her spending that money for it all to be thrown away.

How's everyone else doing? I can't believe that we've got half way through the year, it goes so quickly - although I have started to buy some presents for that lovely big celebration that we have at the end of the year.

LolaLemon

Frugaling away here, looked at taking son on holiday, cheapest was bulgaria coming in at a grand... Didn't book as I would be more in debt to my dad, insteadive booked 3 nights glamping in Argyll. Already have sleeping bafs n mars,,today I bought gas for the camping stove, a wind up torch and a camping cooking set. We are staying in a little hut that has foam mattress' a fridge, microwave and a little tv/dvd set and thats it. So a step up from camping. I was going to just take the tent but the weather has changed. Typical, my week off work!
I'm just gathering up things we can take to entertain us, games, books, telescope etc. Son is soo excited!
I'm taking pasta, sauces, tins of tuna, mayo, farm eggs, and some meat and we should be set to go.

Have eventually started advertising some of my barely used/still got tags on stuff. Hopefully it starts to shift soon.

Clearing out the house is a very slow progressive thing, but its happening.

Hope everyone else is doing ok.

LolaLemon

Can't edit on this fone but that should be BAGS and MATS . Oh and the glamping pods cost £30/night. Booked for 3, have the option of staying friday night too.

[Deleted User]

Hi folks, I am still plodding away too. I have been less frugal over the last couple of weeks - seem to be spending money on lunches out meeting friends and ice creams in the sun! Well I am on holiday I suppose.

However I do find this time of year a good time to take stock and look at my finances again. Going to spend some time looking over my budget later on today.

miss_empty_piggy

LolaLemon wrote: »

We are staying in a little hut that has foam mattress' a fridge, microwave and a little tv/dvd set and thats it. So a step up from camping.

I am also planning on doing this. There are little wooden ecopods, I'm really looking forward to it, should be fun. Hope you have a great time x

miss_empty_piggy

I've tried hard to be frugal today. DD2 had the day off school as it is the local country show which is huge. She had entered some things in and had a pass to get in for free, as long as it was before 9am! However this would still mean that I would have to pay £15.00 to get in, plus food, drinks and rides etc. We went a couple of years ago and she was exhausted bless her and fairly bored after a short while, despite me spending over £60.00 trying to keep her entertained etc.

So we dashed up there at 7am to take her entries in (free), then headed to the beach where we spent a lovely day together with our picnic and flask. It was lovely and we both really enjoyed our selves. We had to pay £2.50 to get onto the beach (it was £1 the last time we went), I know there are free beaches but this one is very clean and is accessed through a private farm and they have built a big toilet block which is kept clean etc. so I am all in favour of helping local farms and businesses to keep going through these hard times. I also bought her an ice cream from the van. Total cost £4.20, not bad for a fab day and stress free.

Plus on the way home a friend at the show text to say DD2had won first prize with one of her entries, with £2.50 prize money.

debbiedeejay

Morning everyone:)

Have been quietly frugaling away at life in general.

- keeping to normal shopping budget best I can , last week a bit out though as DD3 birthday BBQ, ended up with 12 quarter pounders left over and some sausages. Cooked off the burgers in oven ,cooled them and now back in freezer. Deskinned sausages and made scotch eggs.

At work we have medical students that live above us, they were leaving to return home as at end of placements and a couple of us were given bags of food and toiletries as they were going to bin them.
I ended up with lots of Qu!rn items,frozen fish,vegs,tins of tuna,custard and coffee plus about 15 various used and un used toiletries! I was so grateful.

My Dad had a fall about 6 weeks ago(he was returning from his daily visit to the gym and fell up some steps- he's 86!) so I had, up to fortnight ago, popping in 3 times a day, but he is on the mend now plus he has had a cataract op last week so after work I am spending lots of time with him, I need to get his garden into shape as its so overgrown and neither of us can afford outside help so thats going to keep me out of mischief for a while - but on the bright side I do get free lettuce,spring onions and tayberries!

Oh and a good friend of mine gave me a bag of clothes with the words " I was going to give them to charity but I thought I would miss out the middle man and just give them to you!"- She knows me too well and I must admit I have nearly worn everything!I know I felt awful that the charity shop had missed out so I might just offer my services at the preschool where she works to help clear down at end of term instead.

Happy Days:)

[Deleted User]

It is that time of year again for me where all the family birthdays start. Been getting myself organised:
1. MIL - pressie and card done. Made up a wee hamper of toiletries that I bought in the after Christmas sales.
2. Mum - done. Knitting bag and needle case bought in after Christmas sales.
3. Niece - age 6 - done. Bracelet and bag.
4. Niece - age 1 - still to do.
5. OH - 40 this year! We are having a party for him in the house. Also having a wee holiday in a few days time which is his birthday pressie.


That's all the July and August birthdays. I have my Dad in Sept and BIL in October and I never know what to get them.

mummy2threeboys

HI allie..ive started christmas pressies lol..but then at the moment a make a lot of things. All my birthdays are in may thankfully.
This week acquired some cherrys for free so made 4 pots of jam £1 for sugar. Was gifted an ice cream maker, so have made my first batch of mint and meriagne ice cream (mint from garden , merigine was gifted from mum) . Currently sipping home made ginger beer Have plans for lemon and fennel, ice cream and dill and caramelised orange...any other ideas? (have all those indredents)..so made a pint for 50p.
Bought a smaller vinateg yogurt maker the easy yo is a litre and just too much in one go, this one is smaller, muct get some natural yogurt though. used to make it a lot but found it hard to get through as boys like it sweet and i perfer natural..cant win lol.
Amount of debt £287 this month..bit lower as its summer hols and tax credits has taken £70 a month of us .
Have a great week all x