2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugalsod

skintygerlinky wrote: »

Happy Saturday all xx
Don't know about you, but cooking from scratch inc healthy snacks (spicy mixed nuts, hummus etc) means I'm eating loads better and seem to have lost a bit of weight - to be fair, this was the usual few pounds after Xmas which was basically made up of After Eights and wine!
However, I'm thinking about what to eat and making sure my meals are balanced and taste good. May be just my imagination but even at this early stage my hair seems in better condition and skin doesn't look so tired!

I have noticed the same. I have also saved money doing everything from scratch. It is interesting to see how much I save as well. My blood pressure is lower, from a much lower salt intake and my weight has dropped as well. So far I have lost 7 kg without any effort. Not always every week and even over Christmas I only put on a small amount and am already below my pre Christmas weight already.

Even though I now use much more cream than before, several pints a month, it goes into my cream of tomato soup, and baileys. The canned versions have as much as 5 teaspoons of sugar in each can. Yet I am still losing weight and saving money. I think my food is also tasting a lot better as well. That might be down to the lack of additives in my diet now.

nat21luv

I've been out in the back garden today sprucing up with the children, looking better but needs pressure washing.

Lunch was leftovers poured on jackets, kids enjoyed it and I had some ropy looking salad. Tonight is more eating out the cupboards, I have to say I'm really enjoying the challenge and how organised it makes me feel having a meal plan

Another NSD for January and my competition win of £150 Topshop vouchers arrived it's going straight on eBay as I'd much rather have the money

Just_be_2

Hello all Having returned from a new year holiday to Paris yesterday I have started my 2014 challenge today. Have had a NSD to kick it off and we have loads and loads of batch meals in the freezer as well as cupboard stuff. Have worked hard on a meal plan over the past few weeks and plan to do a monthly shop of £80 (for myself and LO) and then £10 weekly mini-shops for fresh produce. I intend to change my signature when I find out how (any help with this would be greatly appreciated!) to keep track of the £1000 I MUST repay by June (loan from family member). All extra cash will go on this debt so I will be scrimping and saving and trying to cut back on good shop where I can. I'm very excited for the year ahead!

pm2326

Afternoon all

Managed to get 2 weeks worth 'fresh' stuff at Aldi this morning for less than £15...means my plan is working so far. Just need to fill up my empty 2 pint milk carton from the 4 pinter and pop it in the freezer.

Also managed to get washing on the line at 8.30 this morning, even though it was frosty at the time, brought it in about an hour ago and it's dry so no damp washing hanging about and clothes smell lovely :T

Have received my home insurance renewal documents today, it's going down by £1 but I'm going to see if I can get it cheaper elsewhere.....have to remember to go through cashback site for even more money off!

tatabubbly

Its lovely to get rid of the debt!! Trying to be as frugal with our wedding plans next year.

I'm planning on getting my wedding for all saved up for by the end of this year as next year I wanna save for our flat.

Frugalsod

Currently making soups to use up all the veg in my fridge before I start taking deliveries of veggie boxes from Abel & Cole. First box is a small box, just to see what the size is. Plan to get a medium box £14 which will probably last me 3 or even 4 weeks, so will actually save me money plus no need to go out. It will also lower the pressure on my cash in my wallet as it will not be used as much for vegetables.

Goldiegirl

Frugalsod wrote: »

Currently making soups to use up all the veg in my fridge before I start taking deliveries of veggie boxes from Abel & Cole. First box is a small box, just to see what the size is. Plan to get a medium box £14 which will probably last me 3 or even 4 weeks, so will actually save me money plus no need to go out. It will also lower the pressure on my cash in my wallet as it will not be used as much for vegetables.

Let us know how you get on with Abel & Cole. I've seen their delivery van go to a house just up the road, and have wondered about them. I want to get as much delivered as possible, as not going to shops reduces the risk of impulse buying


Had quite a nice day today.


I had 3 eBay parcels, and as they all fitted in the letter box, we dropped them off at the nearest box, and went for a walk as it was a sunny morning. In nearly 5 years of eBaying, I've had had one parcel that wasn't delivered to the buyer, so I think it's an acceptable risk to put them in the post box if I can, and not queue at the post office to get a certificate of posting for low value items. Our walk was much nicer than the post office queue


Then back home to ironing, hanging washed sheets on the line, eBay listing and French stick making. I think this weeks effort is a better shape than last week.


Also, a NSD, 3 in a row


This evening, we have the remainder of a box of wine from Christmas, and we've recorded a film to watch


Enjoy your evening everyone

Frugalsod

Goldiegirl wrote: »

Let us know how you get on with Abel & Cole. I've seen their delivery van go to a house just up the road, and have wondered about them. I want to get as much delivered as possible, as not going to shops reduces the risk of impulse buying

That was one of my reasons as well. There is a minimum order amount which is higher than the small box. So I added some Bramley apples. Though I will make some apple crumble with these so no problem. There is also a £1 delivery charge which is not unacceptable.

They have set delivery days. Mine is a Friday. The boxes are apparently reusable so will be returning those as soon as possible. I initially was put off by the weekly order requirement but after speaking to someone on the phone from the company that you can opt out for any week you do not need any veg. You need to give at least two days warning , and can do that online, but since I meal plan I can do that a week ahead.

As a new customer I will be getting a cookbook to help me make use of the veggies, a choice of red wine, white wine or extra virgin olive oil, with my first delivery. Then the 4th box will be free.

An alternative is to see if you are in a dairycrest delivery area. The milkmen will delivery the veggie box when they do their rounds. I used to get my milk from them as well, but I now live in a block that makes such deliveries impossible. The milk might be more expensive than the supermarkets but it comes fresh every couple of days and only rarely does it fail to get delivered. The other advantage of the milkman is that if you order online before 9pm anything then it will be delivered the next day.

chirpycheap

happycrafter wrote: »

Started off a good day but got home and son was dumped by gf other son had his phone knocked out his hand at school and the screen is smashed (not an expensive phone but still annoyed) OH sat down and the couch went crunch. So I've been crafting tonight to destress. Dinner was all homemade fish chips and mushy peas. Hoping tomorrow will be better and a possible nsd though I may need eggs for baking.

I know what you mean, it sometimes seems like two steps forward and one back! The timer on our central heating system has broken so whilst it is still okay to use the heating it is going to cost £50 to replace.
Then my student son arrived home from an academic conference overseas to discover that the hotel has stuck an unauthorised £100 on his card. Looks like we will be subbing him until it gets sorted out!
Looking positively it means that the savings that we are making puts us in a better position financially than we would have been!

Lovely tray of roasted veggies for dinner cheered us all up. Used up lots of floppy vegetables and made some garlic bread with a stale loaf-yummy!

BMG

Goldiegirl wrote: »

I'm making changes gradually . If I did everything all at once, I think it'd be too much, and I wouldn't be able to sustain all the changes.


I'm just wondering if you've slashed your budgets too quickly. Would it be worth setting the February budgets slightly higher, so you aren't anxious about exceeding the budgets all the time? Then you could shave a few pounds off the budget each month, so you don't really notice it.


I don't want to think of people not enjoying their days out, because of this challenge.

I haven't got a choice but to have the low budgets. I just hate staying at home and go out for a change of scenery