2014 Frugal Living Challenge

happybird71

Hooray! I've finally caught up! :T

I'm so inspired by everyone's suggestions. At the moment I think it'll be hard to have any NSD's because I tend to go out somewhere - anywhere! - every day to avoid my almost 2yr old DS from destroying the house! Today's play group will be £3 if I go weekly. Just tried it out.

I also recommend Asda Little Angels nappies. Our local SM anyway. Tesco Totbots or whatever were cheap and erm, unreliable! (Are we not allowed to say actual shop names?)

I am feeling quite proud of myself. Did a freezer inventory on Sunday & organised it. Inherited a big swanky American style fridge freezer with the house & the freezer is rotten! Shelves & no drawers. I find it so hard to find anything. Cooked lasagna yesterday - one to eat & one to freeze & today I cooked 2 chicken dishes to freeze - all whilst 'wearing' my 11 week baby & DS1 was watching Postman Pat (bad parent!)

Nobody has mentioned it but I really recommend the money course from Christians Against Poverty (CAP). You don't have to be Christian! DH and I went for the 3 or 4 nights it ran a few years ago. They recommend a cash system rather than using cards all the time. The example given was that you would think twice about handing over £60 for say, a coat, but you think less if you just put your card in your machine. They also recommend 3 bank accounts once you work out your budget. One for Direct debits, one for the budgeted weekly cash withdrawals eg birthdays, hairdressers and another for savings. They're also amazing for sorting out debts if they are a serious issue. The person matters, not just a case of declaring you bankrupt like a lot of agencies.

Anyway. Please excuse the waffle! Babies are in bed so off to relax for an hour (or do dishes & laundry most likely!)

Sky_

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.

If you don't want PAYG, Tesco do capped contracts with unlimited texts. PAYG was no good for us as one of my teenagers has a serious health condition so I want them to be able to contact me at all times. The capped contract works really well.

Frugalsod

You are not alone in wasting a lot of ready made salad. It is apparently the most wasted food item of all. I try and cheat by not buying it ready made salads and only making it myself. I try and get the lettuce wrapped because it lasts longer and then only take off the leaves as I need them. I buy the other ingredients and make it myself, though in small quantities so that nothing is wasted. Keeping it in an airtight container also helps slow down the decay. I can then make a lettuce last a week or more. The other items last better so little is wasted.

Penny2myName

Sky_ wrote: »

If you don't want PAYG, Tesco do capped contracts with unlimited texts. PAYG was no good for us as one of my teenagers has a serious health condition so I want them to be able to contact me at all times. The capped contract works really well.

He has had the phone since April, and most he ever went over before was by £17 normally he has stayed in usage. The contract it's self is for 24months. Still 16months to go, what I shall do is keep it blocked from outgoing calls for now, and next month check if it can be capped, if not keep if from out going calls for a second month. Then with luck he will be more used to just text rather than calling. He has unlimited text.

vw_campervan_mum

Hi I would like to join too please - has taken nearly all year to catch up with this thread :T
I have taken up some tips and will be trying to keep to £4k for the year after housing/main bills.
I followed Debt Free in 2012 then 2013. Learnt a lot about budgeting then. Became debt free by selling my house but have lost previous equity due to prices diving. Have also left my stressful job so need to keep costs down while job hunting. Wish to be part-time if possible and make craft sales at weekends. Need to keep on-going frugality as a priority then.
Hello everyone

afoolwithmoney

Frugalsod wrote: »

You are not alone in wasting a lot of ready made salad. It is apparently the most wasted food item of all. I try and cheat by not buying it ready made salads and only making it myself. I try and get the lettuce wrapped because it lasts longer and then only take off the leaves as I need them. I buy the other ingredients and make it myself, though in small quantities so that nothing is wasted. Keeping it in an airtight container also helps slow down the decay. I can then make a lettuce last a week or more. The other items last better so little is wasted.

Thank you Frugalsod think I will just cut out the salad buying until the better weather arrives but will keep your advice in mind. Hopefully by being more aware of the foods Im now preparing salads will be a food of the past & the weight will just fall off!! Ok who am I kidding :rotfl:

daisystar

happybird71 wrote: »

I'm so inspired by everyone's suggestions. At the moment I think it'll be hard to have any NSD's because I tend to go out somewhere - anywhere! - every day to avoid my almost 2yr old DS from destroying the house! Today's play group will be £3 if I go weekly. Just tried it out.

I am feeling quite proud of myself. Did a freezer inventory on Sunday & organised it. Inherited a big swanky American style fridge freezer with the house & the freezer is rotten! Shelves & no drawers. I find it so hard to find anything. Cooked lasagna yesterday - one to eat & one to freeze & today I cooked 2 chicken dishes to freeze - all whilst 'wearing' my 11 week baby & DS1 was watching Postman Pat (bad parent!)

Anyway. Please excuse the waffle! Babies are in bed so off to relax for an hour (or do dishes & laundry most likely!)

Haha!! I know exactly where you're coming from! My DS just turned 2 and we stayed in today as a one off - I thought it would help as the weather is so great and I'm 7 months prego, but it was exhausting!!!! Off to groups again tomorrow thank goodness


I'm hoping to baby wear this time in order to get maximum cuddles and also still get things done - do you use a sling or a bjorn type carrier? I'm just starting to look into slings as I've got a bjorn but wonder if something else might be more comfy. And you're not a bad parent!!!

Frugalsod

afoolwithmoney wrote: »

Thank you Frugalsod think I will just cut out the salad buying until the better weather arrives but will keep your advice in mind. Hopefully by being more aware of the foods Im now preparing salads will be a food of the past & the weight will just fall off!! Ok who am I kidding :rotfl:

I wait until the weather is good because the salad items are cheaper then as well. I am very lucky in that I have a very convenient greengrocer. Who is not cheap but the items last well. I always opt for seasonal food as it is so much cheaper, plus too many salads can really put you off them.

Frugalsod

DawnW wrote: »

I wouldn't personally add too much porridge oats to main meal recipes, as you can end up with something a bit like savoury porridge :eek:

I don't know what others think, but I find chopped or grated veg (carrots, celery etc), lentils or other pulses, or pearl barley better for bulking out meat dishes, just one or any combination

I have never tried adding porridge either. Though do use loads of lentils and pearl barley.

CT19720

When we have a lot of salad left over - I am guilty of buying it and not using it- I tend to do dinners with wraps or pitta bread, like fajita, hm souvlakia, hm kebabs. For some reason my lot won't eat a whole salad for dinner, but will eat the salad bits in a wrap or pitta bread. It may be because when we have meals like this I don't do any kind of potato to go with it, so if they want to eat lots, then they need to eat the salad. Works every time!