2014 Frugal Living Challenge

System

how about wraps? I make them with leftover chicken, a bit of salad, and light mayo and it seems to fulfil the 'junk' craving (use wholemeal wraps if you can get away with it

I think the wraps might work. .

pm2326

mum2one wrote: »

Theres a link for the NHS prepayment - follow the link on there if you want to go ahead with it

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

What I use to do was order a 3 monthly pre-pay - then make sure I had enough in month 3 to last me for the next month, then buy a new one in month 5 to month 7 then again mth 9/12 so I would only buy 3 sets over the year, but that was before the option of buying a year one (you pay direct debit over 10 months).

It is def worth doing as it saved me a fortune, as I was (still am) asthmatic and there not a free item.

Now I'm type 2 diabetic on medication - so as such now all my prescritions are free (which is as the amount I'm on my repeat has 16 items on it). xx

thanks for the info x

Daisychain1

I've been gone for two days and I've missed 8 pages of chat. Wow we like to talk

Well the reason I haven't been able to keep up with posts and write my own is because I have been crazy busy at home and work. The good news is I have been very productive and very frugal.

My only little extravagance was a trip to our local. Before 6.30 they do a meal deal, and along with a £15 off voucher a 3 course meal for to people cost £13. Bargain .

I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to read back through the posts and excuse me if you've already mentioned this but did anyone watch Extreme Cheapskates on Sky on Tuesday night? Wow I thought I was tight :rotfl:

All have a lovely day. Hugs to those who need them

DC1

happycrafter_2

Morning everyone, feeling very sleepy today as the rain battered the windows last night and kept us all awake

Watched a rerun of Jamie Oliver's saving money meals last night my OH said why are you watching it when you keep making comments about everything he does lol and when he said to the couple lets work on reducing the waste from herbs instead of the fruit and veg that they chuck away I switched over.

8 more rows and the cardigan will be ready to sew up! So that should all be done tonight then hopefully finish back stitching a card I have been making.

Only need to buy some bread tonight on the way home so a cheap day even OH is on board properly now as he gave me all his change and said you have it cause if its in my pocket I will spend it!

mummy2threeboys

happycrafter wrote: »

Watched a rerun of Jamie Oliver's saving money meals last night my OH said why are you watching it when you keep making comments about everything he does lol and when he said to the couple lets work on reducing the waste from herbs instead of the fruit and veg that they chuck away I switched over.

i know what you mean ..annoyingly all of his ideas you can find free on the internet as well, loads of ideas ..lovefoodhatewaste is a great free website. Personally ive never liked the idea of having to spend money (quite a bit in this case if you buy his book) to save money..seems a bit well defeating the object.

That said.. i Dont know if anyones quitting smoking but found this app (not sure if its free? doesnt say) but it tells you how much money you have saved by not smoking http://quitnowapp.com/ although if you do spend money you wont just be saving money but your health too.. good luck all xx

Stayed so much in budget( not drinking in the week and hubbys cut down loads) that we have some pennys to take the elder two to the saturday cinema matinee..its £5 better spent than on a bottle of wine i think! (we take our own snacks)

mummy2threeboys

Daisychain1 wrote: »

My only little extravagance was a trip to our local. Before 6.30 they do a meal deal, and along with a £15 off voucher a 3 course meal for to people cost £13. Bargain .

I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to read back through the posts and excuse me if you've already mentioned this but did anyone watch Extreme Cheapskates on Sky on Tuesday night? Wow I thought I was tight :rotfl:

DC1

Wow well done on your wee jaunt out sounds lovely! No havent seen that program will have to keep an eye out for it..wonder if its on demand?

afoolwithmoney

Forgot that I had ordered six spelt rolls so £3!!! spend today. On the plus side Im eating a lot of soup at the moment & they are huge so cutting them in half & in freezer they will go. Intend on trying to make my own but understand spelt can be difficult/heavy to bake with. Any tips out there please?
On the up belated xmas cheque in the post from dadi bless thought he'd forgotten me & an early b'day present from a friend of a slate photo frame. Fingers crossed puppy wont be able to wreak that one!!
Off to pop cheque in bank that & OH has some work this week has covered rent thank god.... No treats to celebrate usually a bottle of wine but trying for a dry January & babysitting tonight

Soworried

I have had a very frugal week. Last week I was gifted a HUGE turkey 12-16kg according to it's label :eek:

I roasted it on the Sunday morning and made a roast dinner.
Monday was Turkey breast wrapped in bacon with mushrooms, onions and melted cheese, even the cheese was part of a lo cheese board
Tuesday was Turkey curry and rice and lunches were Turkey soup made from the giblets and lo sprouts. Sounds vile but it tasted amazing :j
Wednesday was Turkey tikka lasagne. We have also had a few turkey melt sandwiches and turkey and stuffing sandwiches.

Now 20 portions of turkey have been crammed in to the freezer to make pies and curries at another time.
The carcass spent yesterday in the sc and has just been turned in to around 4 litres of soup. My problem is I now need to make space to freeze this in portions or I will have to turn on our 2nd freezer :cool:
I am confident that I will come in under budget this month as I could feed an army on our supplies and I only have 1 DD left to come out for just under £8. The car is filled with fuel as I had a double nectar points on fuel coupon.
I have taken the rest of my budget out in cash to make me more aware of it going down.

I'm off to dig around in the freezer to see what to make for dinner, anything but Turkey :rotfl:

Florenceem

mum2one wrote: »

Fingerless Gloves - these are so easy to knit.

You will need - 4mm needles (old size no 8) and 50grams double knitting wool

1. Cast on 34 stitches

2. Rows 1 to 12 - Rib each row (k1 p1) (as you have an even number each row starts with a knit stitch)

3. Change to stocking stitch, - row 1 knit, row 2 purl

4. Stocking stitch a total of 28 rows

5. Go back to the rib style (k1 p1) - do 6 rows of this rib,

6. Cast off

To make the thumb section

Just above where the rib ends at the bottom of the glove go about 1in (2cm up) pick up 8 stitches and k1,p1 for 6 rows - do the same on the other side of the glove.

2nd Glove

Repeat as first

To sew up, turn gloves inside out, your sew in 2 parts, from rib (bottom of the glove and then join the sides including the bottom part of the thumb rib, then from the top of the thumb rib to the rib at the top of the gloves.
Stst 8 rows Cast off


Do the same for the 2nd glove.

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The pattern is so easy - to adjust.

if you were doing a pair for a man then adjust as following

cast on 40 stitches
then the st st - do 32 rows before the rib.

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I brought 100 gram ball of double knitting and got 3 pairs of gloves from them, so there was some for Christmas presents xx

Hi, want to have a go at knitting these - many thanks for the pattern. I have been reading the pattern through - got a bit lost when you said - stst 8 rows - I have tried to highlight that bit. Am I being thick here?

teabody

Hi all,
Everyone is filling me with inspiration ....or at least motivation to be Frugal. I set myself a £400 food budget for the month along with fellow MS - Ixia.
So far:
SAT £56.18
WED £12.03
Remaining:£331.79

Very pleased with that! I have a xmas deficit (not through shopping but OP's ....ooops)

Too keen i think....but will benefit us in later months.