2013 Frugal Living Challenge

LolaLemon

Frugaldom wrote: »

Lest we forget, BT have also just issued their email updates of impending price increases... line rental going up yet again! Pretty soon it's going to be a tenner a week just to have a phone and internet but I need to admit to the fact that Internet has been the biggest money saver I have ever encountered, so I won't be complaining about it too much.

Edited in - 11% increase in anything is absolutely outrageous, so it makes food price increases off the scale. Our local shop now charging £1.38 for a bag of sugar and over £2 for porridge oats! Managed to stock up on sugar at 85p/kilo from Home Bargains and oats at 75p/kilo from Aldi but without a car and with no public transport here, it's getting beyond a joke.

Heating costs are my main worry - no way could I afford to heat my house to room temperature throughout when coal costs £13.50 for the cheapest bag and the electricity meter eats cash like a horse eats grass!

It is beginning to look proper scary for most people now, not just those who have always 'just managed'.

[Deleted User]

Frugal weekend plans:

1. Food plan to do. Just back from short break so need to remind myself what we have in freezer and what we need to buy. Aiming for £25 spend max.

2. OH pay day today so want to put some money into Credit Union account tomorrow. Also take Library book back at same time.

3. Boil kettle once each day and fill flasks with boiling water for use throughout the day.

4. Ironing to do.

5. Use shower at local gym - pop in after my walk!

6. Remove second freezer and fridge (insanely we have two of each!!) Recently bought a chest freezer so need to get rid of the small under-counter one this weekend. The second fridge will be kept to fill the gap where the under-counter freezer was but will not be plugged in & used as storage for veg.

7. Buy more candles. Ask for these as birthday (in November) and Christmas gifts.


Have a great weekend folks, happy frugaling.

Becky_2

I started my new job 6 weeks ago and have been very busy in my new role. I have barely had time to think about this challenge but on a positive note I haven't had much time spending any money either.

I have started to put spare change in a jar and have already collected £14 which will go towards a treat.

50% of our Christmas presents are already sorted which feels great. We try to stick to a maximum of £15 per person but some presents have cost less than a fiver.

So far we haven't used the heating that much. In the summer we were very lucky to be given loads of free wood so we try to use the log burner as much as possible.

Good luck to you all with this challenge.

Becky_2

I forgot to say that you can get a free eye brow arch at the Benefits counter in Debenhams on your birthday. Just show proof of your birthday and your Debenhams beauty card. I have booked mine already in November. I was told that you got to have it done on your actual birthday.

[Deleted User]

Hi folks, pay day for me today so getting the budget done for the month and have sent some money over to my emergency fund. I am trying to build up an emergency fund of around £10k.

Not a frugal day here though - physio appt tonight and then halloween bits for my nieces.

LolaLemon

Homemade Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
These were dress rehersals and in the making stage.
I made my own face paint after finding out that the top 10 facepaints have had lead found in them under tests - that and they costa fortune!

2 spoons of face cream, 2 spoons of corn flour and add natural food colouring till desired colour. mix and apply.
washes off great. the corn flour stops it from dying the skin

i gor cheap material for the front of turtle, well under belly, and drew on the markings, for shell i got a turkey pan from the £1 shop and used parcel tape to cover, use the remenents of the material for the belly to make straps and some blue material for mask, belt and arn n elbow pads, very 80's version of the turtles. Think i was about £5 out of pocket for the materials. we made the swords with some card we had in the house, wrapped with tin foil and then sellotaped around so it didnt tear easy. made the 'L' on the belt with card and sellotaped around that to make it shiny, added a cardboard loop around the back and taped in place. I did have to buy the green jumper, paid £7 from m and co. we were going to paint the belly on but i decided to sew it on so i could remove and use the jumper again. .

we are really pleased with the costume. and feel it is better than buying one. I just need to learn how to make good eye masks!

Sorry for the images being soo big, the thumbnail one came up broken when linking

Need to get car tax today and also the car in in the garage as i bumped it against a sign for a shop, didnt think anything of it, took it for mot and they pointed it out to me, didnt realise i could fail mot on that. but as i had put it in a month early, i had time to get fixed. they told me they wont charge for the 1st mot and once fixed it will sail past second one as that was the only thing to come up. old mot cert is still valid for road tax.

Kerry_Woman

Plodding along. Have gone back to meal planning. For this month I am going to keep a close eye on the amount of money spent on food and try to resist buying things that are not on the shopping list. Am aiming to use up 6 items of toiletries this month as well. Still doing the odd bit of decluttering.

LolaLemon - Love the costume.

[Deleted User]

LolaLemon your photos are fab.

Less than frugal weekend here - just spent £38 in A*da. That is what happens when I go without doing a proper food plan and shopping list. Normally I spend less than £30 each week. Oh well, back to doing things properly next week.

natnat13

Hi all
Just checking in.
Lola that costume is great.
I am feeling a bit fed up, been temping and it's coming to an end so I'm panicing slightly about money, I'm fine, I have other work and tax credits thank god but its always a worry so back to serious frugalling I go! I have been meal planning since working full time. I have given up coffee and alcohol for health reasons as well as money ones! Split up with bf, not to save money lol but it does reflect because I'm not going out so much (he was never flush so it was all 50/50 which was fine by me but I can't afford constant cinema trips, meals out as lovely as it was). Anyway that came to an end so I'm in charge again!
I am cutting right back for xmas and people will just have to understand. Heating thermostat is right down and blankets and candles are ready. Where I live is quite isolated so I did a "Winter stock up" the other day on tins, uht milk etc, mostly value stuff.
It all just seems like a constant battle at the moment, I hope next year is better.

natnat13

Allie who is in your household if you don't mind me asking? Just thinking about shopping budgets.