2014 Frugal Living Challenge

LolaLemon

Penny2myName wrote: »

After just discovering youngest DS has ran up a £385 phone bill in a week, I definatly need to live as frugal as I can for this month so I can get as much together as possible to pay the bill when it comes in at end of month. His outgoing calls are now blocked.

Ouch! and :mad: are they able to put a monthly limit on?

CT19720 wrote: »

Thanks for the info about Historic Scotland, I'm going to see if there is an England version. We used to have merlin passes but have not renewed them this year, mainly due to the cost and because last year we didn't really use them much. But I still love the idea of paying for a membership of something, and having days out as a family.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ is the one that is linked on the Historic Scotland page, yours is only £48/adult with up to 6 kids too!

sparrer

Hi M23B I get packs of dried plain cous cous (not keen on the lemon or corriander ones) in @sda or Mr S. A pack will last me about a month as there's only me. I believe it's cheaper to buy in ethnic stores/markets but there's nothing like that nearby so get it from the above. Just looked up how to make it, I like cooking but that's just too much like hard work! hth
Must look up AP, usually have to buy far too much for one person but worth a browse. Thanks for the reminder

System

Penny2myName wrote: »

After just discovering youngest DS has ran up a £385 phone bill in a week, I definatly need to live as frugal as I can for this month so I can get as much together as possible to pay the bill when it comes in at end of month. His outgoing calls are now blocked.

Penny2myName. I am on contract but I have asked the mobile phone provider to put a block on any calls/services/apps that will take me over my monthly limit.

Shortie

Afternoon all

- Breakfast (Jack's 9p porridge) and lunch munched in work. Am on the last of my teabags and on my emergency stash, whoops. I'm going to have to pop out today or tomorrow for teabags and will grab work-team milk at the same time as I think I'm due my turn
- Thanks for the Ravelry forum tip, there are some fab groups on there and there was a link to a lovely, easy circular scarf thing which is fab.

Mr Shortie recorded a program that was aired yesterday (possibly a repeat?) about a family that did a self-build extension. It got usreally thinking though.... If we get a builder who is willing for us to cut costs where possible, we could potentially dig our own foundations, lay the wiring ready for the electrician and recycle the existing bricks from the clapped out bit of the house we're pulling down. Besides being slightly more eco-friendly by recycling the bricks, it'll save us some material costs, some costs on skips AND we can reuse the existing bricks at the front of the rebuild to 'stitch' the new building work into the exisiting building better (ie the bircks would be a perfect match) as it's not so imporant to me if the bricks at the side and back are a slight mismatch (which would be expected as the new bricks won't have weathered etc)

... it makes sense in our heads anyway...

[Deleted User]

happycrafter wrote: »

Good morning

Think I have the most jumbled up lunch box today lol
I have couscous left over haricot beans, sprouts, cucumber, tomato, cheese cubes, raw mushrooms (my fav) and pork pie chopped up.

That sounds like a really good lunch. I think I may have something similar to use up odds and ends for lunch tomorrow.

[Deleted User]

mummy2threeboys wrote: »

As for party gifts We tend to buy gifts from poundland they do some fab books, dvds and craft packs, we spend about £4 per child with gift, card and wrapping.

Did something positive today ive been accepted to volounteer at my sons nursery in september with a view of a job at the end of it..we cant afford child care costs so a job that works round the holidays is the way forward, i need to look into my level 3 qualification now, and hope its not too dear, thankfully i can do it at home provided i have 16 hours at a school/nursery

Have a great day all

Thanks for the info about poundland for children's gifts. I spend a fortune last year on stuff for my 2 nieces and am looking to really cut back this year. My 5yo niece loves crafting so i will keep an eye out for their craft things.

Congratulations on the volunteer position. I hope you enjoy it and also get a job at then end of it. I have signed up to do some volunteering this year too.

KazLA

Looking for some suggestions for a block of wensleydale and cranberry cheese, normally it gets gobbled up, but this was given to us from Mr M and is 'festive' - containing brandy and spices! I really doesn't work at all as cheese (for us anyway!), but don't want to chuck it...

Feel bad not responding to other posts on here, but I normally pop on to post an update and then catch up via the emailed daily notifications the next day (or 2!) later, by which time questions have been answered and things have moved on.

But.. just wanted to say I am loving the thread, helping me keep motivated.

A couple of books I am reading, which are really good to are:
The New Spend Less Revolution - 365 Tips for a better quality of life while actually spending less, by Rebecca Ash

(other one is actually upstairs, but Frugal life with a piggy bank on front, will double check if anyone interested - expect reply 2 days later, lol!)

Both from library. Have also just ordered one about square foot gardening, as determined to spend more time out there as a family this year, and let 7 yr old DD have her own space too.

Hv had a v productive day - cleaned all outside, downstairs windows, inc conservatory, with my new Kacher window vacuum that I received for Xmas - love it! Tidied out play house, which I don't normally do til it warms up and hoovered and mopped behind sofa's etc inside, so feeling really good and £0 spent. (Although DH has popped into town (on bike at least, so that's good!) to pick up a new electric toothbrush - ours died last night, and I said we can manage with manual for now, but he has found it on offer for £23, down from £60 and is using his Xmas money - I've given him a £5 love to shop voucher towards it! so no actual wages spent...)

sparrer

KazLA wrote: »

Looking for some suggestions for a block of wensleydale and cranberry cheese, normally it gets gobbled up, but this was given to us from Mr M and is 'festive' - containing brandy and spices! I really doesn't work at all as cheese (for us anyway!), but don't want to chuck it...

Sprinkle it over pasta bake or bolognese
Make cheesey dumplings
Cheese scones
Cheese straws
Add to omelettes
Crumble into fruit cake mixture before baking (yes really, it's delicious!)

you can do the above with most strong/spicy cheeses, mild ones don't work so well.
hth

Goldiegirl

Frugalsod wrote: »

These were gifts coupons from market research. I do have to get some milk later this week but will be using the cash that I withdrew on the 2nd. I will do that for all my top up needs during the month. It will mean that my notice board will be clean as nothing will be added to it for the month.

By allowing myself very little treats that have no impact on my bank and credit card balances means that I am more likely to stick to my budget. The more I succeed in maintaining no impact on my accounts the more determined I am to continue.

I did have a clear up of my amazon wish lists. Managed to research some bags for travel were not what I was looking for. So deleted them.

I think it's important to have a few little treats along the way.


If I use vouchers or points, or money I've earned from eBay, I don't treat it as cash expenditure on my budget.


For example, yesterday I received a voucher for £10 from M&S for 'ladies lingerie'. I'll use that to get £10 worth of knickers. I don't actually need new knickers at present, but I'll put them away until I do. I'd be losing the value of the money if I didn't use it.


Also, I think it depends on why you are working towards a frugal lifestyle. If I was debt clearing, or wanting to be mortgage free, I'd probably use my eBay money to clear debts or pay my mortgage. But I'm here to cut my living costs, so I can have a comfortable retirement with treats..... so I don't have a problem in treating myself now


Today I've spent money on an essential treat.... had my hair cut today. I like to keep my hair short, so I have to go every 6 weeks. I also have my hair coloured too. I used to have it coloured every three months, but I have cut that back to every 5 - 6 months. I've been going to my hairdresser for more than 30 years, and she does give me a 20% discount for being a loyal customer, and she has also become a friend. So, the haircuts will stay as a long term feature of my life - maybe one day I'll do without the colour, but not yet. But on the frugal side, I've cut my husbands hair for years, so we do make some savings there. But I don't trust him to cut my hair!!


I've finished my cupboard re-organisation, so I've got a place to keep stores. It's just as well, a 3KG bag of penne pasta takes up a lot of space!

KazLA

sparrer wrote: »

Sprinkle it over pasta bake or bolognese
Crumble into fruit cake mixture before baking (yes really, it's delicious!)

you can do the above with most strong/spicy cheeses, mild ones don't work so well.
hth

Ooooh, I'm thinking the fruit cake may work, as it currently tastes like a cross between cheese and mince pies with brandy butter!

Will have to give it a try, thanks.