2013 Frugal Living Challenge

Kerry_Woman

natnat - Sending you hugs.

[Deleted User]

natnat13 wrote: »

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

Just me and OH natnat. On a good week I can spend £20 - £25, a normal week more like £25 - £30. This week was not good - even having spent the £38 I didn't really buy anything 'proper' for meals so will have to get creative as I am not spending another penny. Well, except for whatever it costs this week to get new (or ideally part worn) tyres for OHs car.

Frugaldom

I think it's time to inject a little more energy into this challenge. Sadly, I haven't the time to keep posting here while posting on the frugal forums but do feel free to pop over anytime. After running it here for so many years, it seems few are really interested in sticking it out, so I won't be doing a challenger list here in 2014, it will simply be a challenge in which anyone can take part.

My own budget is looking really tight, with less than £450 remaining to last until the end of the year to include Christmas, so many other mini-challenges have been incorporated along the way. I haven't included those here, either, sorry 'bout that.

Hope your DS enjoyed Hallowe'en as a Ninja Turtle, Lola

natnat13

Thank you for the hugs Kerry woman
Thats interesting about your food budget allie, I have just joined the grocery challenge and budgeted £180 for the month for me and the 2 DS's. I am hoping I can shave some off this, I must start writing everything down again. I have just made some yummy banana buns / muffins with gone off bananas while the oven was on for tea. I have also annoyingly chucked a load of yoghurt 5 days over date away, it was tasting a bit fizzy!! I hate waste but its my own fault.

We could all do with a bit of a gee up, thank you frugaldom for all your efforts x

[Deleted User]

Thanks Frugaldom, I am glad the challenge will still run next year, even without the list of challengers. This is one of my favourite threads and it would be great if it were busier.

Quite a few of the threads I subscribe to a pretty quiet which is a shame. I have noticed a change in the thread over the years and some of I miss some of the contributors who now no longer post.

I still need to keep on top of my finances and really value the inspiration I have had here over the years. Without this I would be off track a lot more often then I currently am. I will keep posting regularly on this thread and I hope many others will too.

LolaLemon

Thanks everyone. i was rather proud of the way it turned out. He still wants a 'real' costume though. he might get it from santa, he might have to save up himself for it. will need to see how money is in december.

Thanks frugaldom for all your effort over the past few years, it has really helped me to understand my situation and to live as best as i can with what i have.

[Deleted User]

After a week of overspending on food and not having a proper food plan I have signed up to do the GC on the OS thread again. I have been struggling to think what to have over the past few weeks so had a good look on the recipie index and got some great ideas for food for next week. Sent OH shopping with a list today for some of the stuff.


Going to inventory the freezer, fridge and storecupboards and plan some batch cooking this weekend as well as get organised for winter car bits - more screenwash, deicer, blanket in car etc.

What is everyone else up to this weekend?

natnat13

I am off out with friends tomorrow but driving so I don't spend money on taxies and booze!

[Deleted User]

natnat13 wrote: »

I am off out with friends tomorrow but driving so I don't spend money on taxies and booze!

I hope you have a fab time. Good idea driving, taxis are so expensive, not to mention the booze!! Enjoy:).

debbiedeejay

Good Morning everyone

Sorry for being AWOl - had lots of reasons why I haven't but am not going to bore you all

Have been merrily try to frugal my way in life as per norm - some good days and some bad.

Have had a bit of financial crisis in the past few months as my living costs all went sky high including a rent increase that was way out what of what I thought it was going to be (but can't argue as it still is lower than other properties in this area and I have had quiet a bit of work done on my house this year that has improved it ) So have had to pull in the budget belt a bit more, its getting there but I know I have room for improvements still.

My DD3 decided at last minute to throw a "halloween gathering" at home for some of her college mates - I managed to feed what seemed a huge amount of people on mini jacket potatoes, homemade chilli, hot dogs,homemade french bread mozzarella pizzas nibbles and cheap crisps!
It was all out of the weeks shopping budget so no extras were bought so we just ate out of the freezer rest of week.
I had to knock up a Halloween costume too for myself on the morning - I went as Queen of Hearts (T!m B7rton style!), ended up wearing my DD1 prom dress(its black and red rockabilly style) ,stripy tights from days when DD1 was a bit of a indi/emo/whatever she was on that day, sewed playing cards all over the dress,wore a curly wig from another costume I have, put a toy crown on my head and painted my face.
It took me half hour to come up with the idea, cost 49p for the playing cards, and it went down a storm!

At midnight I walked (still dressed up)a friend back to her house with my dog and on the way a taxi nearly crashed as the driver was gawping so much!

Mind you at that point I was probably looking more (Panto) Dame of Hearts than Queen of Hearts!

Anyway have taken off the cards and dress just needs cleaning so at least its wearable again:)

So now I need to get my sensible head on and start checking out energy and insurance prices and sourcing Christmas presents.

keep up the good work everyone!