2013 Frugal Living Challenge

Kerry_Woman

miss_empty_piggy wrote: »

Made a start on the garden, I've made the smallest dint in it, but it's a dint nonetheless. I've also made Jam, and decluttered DD2's bedroom to give her more space. I totally agree with you Kerry Woman it's really hard to sometimes not get down. We'll have to be here for each other.:grouphug:

Thanks for the support. Only did a tiny bit of decluttering today. Glad that you are doing alright.

Kerry_Woman

mummy-of-2-boys - Welcome to the challenge. Hope all goes well. Congratulations on the baby news.

miss_empty_piggy

Kerry_Woman wrote: »

Thanks for the support. Only did a tiny bit of decluttering today. Glad that you are doing alright.

it's still all over the kitchen table, and will probably stay there until I move it into the garage......until I eventually DO a boot sale (probably next year knowing me!)

Well I've been in the garden again, I've moved all of the rocks to the "rockery" (feels very 70s having one of these but I love it) and found some old trellis behind the wendy house which I attached to a small bit of wall which has no fencing. I think I made a slightly bigger dint than yesterday's. Tomorrow I will be attempting to take down the climbing frame.! Thankfully it is wooden and I am hoping to make a pergola out of it at some point (in the never never). :rotfl:

One of the worst parts about my garden is that a large section of it is block paved. This is lovely but I have a massive problem with grass and weeds growing inbetween the cracks. I am very lazy and don't get them out quick enough and then just end up leaving it as it overwhelms me.

Today I saw a gas flame tool that burns them off but wondered if anyone else had used them. It's a gas bottle with a long metal hose which you ignite and burn the weeds off. It's £20.00 and £4.00 for the gas cannister which I would happily spend if it works, as it would be an investment (I get really fed up buying weed killer that I think is just water as it never works no matter how many pounds I spend on it). Any feed back would be really gratefully received before I part with my hard earned pennies.:T

LolaLemon

Weeds in the cracks bug me too, but I find a good scraping with some sort of blunt object then a good dousing of salty water.

miss_empty_piggy

Thanks LolaLemon, I've done the scraping part before (although never used the salty water) but just does my back in it's such a big area - plus there is the laziness factor! You're obviously a far less lazy than me. lol x

miss_empty_piggy

Well I bought the tool and it's brilliant. DS was on the job today and she did an awesome job. Everyone in the family will use it so even though it was an initial outlay, it will get used.

Hope everyone's had a great day, big hugs to all who need one. x

mummy-of-2-boys

hi everyone. so my frugal living journey begins .... i took some money out the bank earlier and still have money in my purse hoping i can make it last till the weekend ! (see sig)

i took LO blackberry picking today ... we didn't manage to get many but it was free and kept him busy for abit ... we aren't doing anything this week that should cost money its mainly if we need milk etc ... so should be a pritty low cost week hopefully

miss_empty_piggy

DOH is taking my DD1 and his DD1 to a theme park for 2 days with hotel stay. As my DD2 is too small we decided we'd have some very valuable mum and daughter time together. As she always seems to draw the short straw, I've taken her to London. I thought it was going to cost me the earth but so far the frugalling has been on my mind. We've managed to get the loan of a lovely house just outside L and are going to take train/tubes tomorrow to as many museums as possible. I know it won't be a free weekend but 2 nights in a hotel we'd be looking at at least £200. I looked at train tickets which would have been nearly £200 for the both of us, the £37 petrol I filled tank up with and the £10 food and drink bill at services isn't bad so far! I know I could have made a pack up but it was a little bit last minute decision to come tonight rather than in the morning, plus wanted it to feel like she was getting a little bit of luxury (if you can call it that), as my friend says "to an 8 year old m******ds is a 5 star restaurant" and she is picking up the frugalness, she checked people's table rubbish and got 2 stickers for the free coffee ! She's brill, plus she knows the museums are free, but we'd have paid anyway as we're "geeks", her words. Can't argue with that! X

Kerry_Woman

miss empty piggy - Hope you all enjoy your trips.

LolaLemon

miss_empty_piggy wrote: »

Thanks LolaLemon, I've done the scraping part before (although never used the salty water) but just does my back in it's such a big area - plus there is the laziness factor! You're obviously a far less lazy than me. lol x

Ive only done it once in the 6 years i have lived here! well twice now. :T

I think that puts me at the laziest position, if i could get up and move myself to it :rotfl:

Your trip to London sounds amazing!


I've just spent a fortune on school uniform. Seriously, why cant we go back to having badge only on the blazer, instead of all this having to have it on the p.e. t-shirt and shorts, polo shirt, sports jumper, v-neck jumper, bag, hat & scarf.
What i have spent on the essentials only for school, i could have paid for a trip away abroad for a week for the two of us!

Hope everyone is doing good. Enjoy your summer holidays to those south of the border