2014 Frugal Living Challenge

mum2one

pm2326 wrote: »

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!

Might be worth looking around and go back to your own insurer, I did that and we saved £90 on the buildings and contents - saved the move.

Had to renew the gas and boiler cover, a nice bit of flattery, I got £55 knocked off the policy xx

Coulddobetter

Another NSD today. Yippee!
I was given some partridges so decided to cook them for dinner tonight. I thought there was 2 but when I defrosted them I had 3. I had never even eaten them before so wasn't sure what to expect. I used the hairy bikers recipe except I didn't have any juniper berries nor did I know where I would have bought any .... I did have everything else including chestnuts, gin and an orange. I have never put gin in anything before.:o
I can report the sauce was lovely the partridge was quite bland but edible. We had it with mash and I have enough for either the freezer or dinner tomorrow. I made cookies today, pork casserole, leek and potato soup and treacle sponge( OH favourite).
Sent OH to charity shop with 5 more items for de cluttering. I put 1 item in the bin.
Posted my first eBay last Sunday and it seems quite popular. Once we have the cash I have seen a birthday present I want to buy with the money and it seems I should have enough. I will put another item on tomorrow.
I have been offered some extra work but it will take me hours to prepare with no support and probably after costs will be worth a fiver, so I have decided I would rather pull my belt in.

miss_empty_piggy

LizH wrote: »

Hi,

I've been very ill and it has taken 3 years to get back on my feet. You can imagine what this has done to our finances with only my OH working.
I have just started a new job and the light at the end of the tunnel has been ignited.
Whilst recovering I've come up with some ingenious ideas for saving money and have tried the plant pot heater which does work but you need 2 for a normal sized lounge.
It's going to take some time to dig ourselves out of debt.
Looking forward to this new year and just being here. :j

I've used the plant pot heater. I usually have it under my desk for when I'm working late and everyone else has gone to bed. I usually end up putting my feet on it and they keep lovely and toasty. I do agree that more than one is better so think that I will give it another go with two in the room next time. Thanks for the reminder. Can I ask, did you use 2 plant pots (one on top of the other - or did you use just 1? I'm just curious).

sorry to hear that you've been so ill x x

mum2one

A frugal day - popped into town, sorted out DD with her own bank account, picked up some xmas prezzies...
Claires - sale on - bogof - got 2 ladies handbags (original price for the 2 £35) £6 so one has gone for mum for mothers day, other friend for Xmas, got DD and me 2 beach bags (again 2 for £6) and make up bags they were reduced to £3 - the lady was really nice at the till - offered to split the sales so that I could put the 4 x £6 bags through 1st to get the 2 sets of £6 off rather than having the cheapest off..


a small confession I was going to do that anyhow!!

DD and I had kids meals at McDonalds.

Best - popped to argos for some more presents - didn't pay much attention - got home and 1 item wasn't there (but there was right amount of items)

ordered "LOVE" words - £1.99 - instead I got a toilet brush holder and toilet roll holder (this) worth £9.99 - def better bargain

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8329958.htm

The icing on the cake - managed to get my 1st choice on the Sun breaks - got half board for free - (had to pay for 4, but be just me and DD) inc the service charge be £80 (the 1st weekend of school hols!) - the official price - £550........

My parents 51st wedding anniversary today (thou I haven't been to bed yet!!!) and DD has just made her a cake going to put some jam and cream in it 2mor - lot cheaper than supermarket cake.

I'm def enjoying these frugal ways xx

daisystar

Morning all!! I've been away from the boards all this week as I've not been too well (great fun when your stomach muscles are this stretched ) and have just caught up - finally!!


Thank you so much for all your help and advice re: the baby carrying

mummy2threeboys wrote: »

Lol yes i had that for months..wow i didnt realise you actually had a baby in there..humm lumpy moving bags are hardly a fashion trend are they?:p

LOVE this!! Hahah!!

happybird71 wrote: »

I have a Close Caboo carrier for my tiny DS which is cosy. I was loaned it from a work colleague. I honestly couldn't have coped without it. Also have a Boba 3G for DS1 who prefers it to the buggy if he's being Mr Independent or for going on a hassle free walk. It cost about £95 I think but we got so much 2nd hand on EBay, Gumtree and Jack & Jill Market (Kiddy car boot sales in Scotland that are amazing!) that it was worth it. I originally hired two different ones from Slumberoo then kept the Boba and paid the difference. There is probably a 'sling meet' in your area or a FB group for ideas. Personally I wouldn't recommend a Babybjorn just because I know how comfy the Boba is for baby & I & ergonomically better for baby (big word from my carrier research!)

This is super super helpful happybird71, thank you so much. I have joined a fb group but its like another language and is more about selling, so to have actual brands recommended is what I really need and a great starting point Unfortunately there is no sling meet/library near me so my research is mainly online. I remember being this baffled when I started with cloth nappies but once you get into it you soon learn the language so fingers crossed I'll be an expert soon!!!

mummy2threeboys wrote: »

Lol i couldnt afford a baby wearing coat , so i crocheted a panel to fit acorss the gap ..i undid my normal coat and made a crochet patch to go across it..like this ..hope you can see it lol http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seaweed

Did the job perfectly..trouble is being 5ft and tiny feet i resembled a darlek he he he

mummy2threeboys - this is brilliant!! And thank you for your advice too - multi quote doesn't seem to have picked it up but I've taken it all on board and appreciate it mucho!!


I was never too keen on the bjorn for DS either, it was DH who really used it now and again when walking the dog but whenever I did it just didn't feel great, and I was always aware of the 'crotch-dangling' situation so felt guilty anyhow, not ideal Luckily with your first you can just cuddle them all the time in the house though can't you, with the second I want to be able to keep them close even when I'm dealing with DS1 or getting stuff done so I'm excited about investigating this - frugally of course!!!


Thanks so much again everyone and so sorry if I've missed you, I feel like I read lots of posts giving help and haven't managed to find them again to reply to personally so please don't be offended, this thread is just massive!!!


Happy (frugal) Sundays everyone

littleskintdragon

Morning everyone, just catching up and checking in!
Night feeds are a fab time to catch up on my phone, saves me dozing off!

Me & dh decided to go for a little walk yesterday around a big shop, ended up buying nothing there, but did take a conservatory brochure :eek: ive always wanted one..... Not bought though. I want to be able to buy one outright when we have one.

We then decided we were starving and went to the mcdonalds down the road, we could have so easily eaten before we went, so im slightly angry with that allthough its the closest we'll get to a meal for 2, so i shouldnt complain!!

Then went to c00p to buy a couple of bits, which came to £6.25 so not bad, and did get a stew pack in that for £1 to make dh soup for work, will add some pots to it, and hopefully get about 8 portions of yumminess out of my soupmaker!

Good news, is that my bread maker got fixed yesterday so we can also have fresh rolls with the soup :T had looked for the part online, and it was £20, but fil made it for me

For tea i had defrosted some mince so i made, a chilli and a lasagne, bulked out with lentils. I then decided i didnt fancy eating either, and stuck them both in the freezer and took my mother up ob the offer of calling for tea :rotfl: quite handy as i now have three meals for us all plus a few lunches of soup for the week!

Managed to wash some bits and stuck the airer outside for a while, think its easier in winter as u can run and get it back in before it rains.
Also kept the heating off until 5pm, which i plan on doing more often, allrhough i have to be careful with having a small baby.

Think thats enough from me now, ive probably bored u all by now

TM6

Good morning Money Spiders :j

It is now the 12th and although I have only had 1 NSD I am definitely getting more frugal

I am keeping up to date with my money spending diary and it is looking REALLY good. I will only know at the end of the month how much I can transfer into savings but it is looking very promising.

My biggest change thanks to this frugal challenge is that I am inspired to cut back to the bone so that I can save more.

So with that in mind we are going to work on 3 bank/building society accounts for our system - we will be opening a 3rd one on line today

Acc 1 - Pay goes in and Direct Debits, Standing Orders come out
Acc 2 - Everyday account for use with debit card
Acc 3 - Savings account

I see January as a step learning curve with the fruits of saving showing in February

Thank you for all your inspiration on here :A

mummy2threeboys

Money spiders..love that name lol.

Im looking at the sun holidays today, hopefully still tehre tommorrow when we book, isle of wight fingers crossed.

Decided to buy the boys a telescope for thier joint birthday in May..its about £60 and has good reviews..think ill save the boys birthday money they get for it , think it just about covers it. Sadly quiet excited about it lol.

Have a great day, hubbys upstairs with eldest building a huge lego (fake) ambulance station he got for christmas for his nanny, younger 2 are watching tom and jerry classics and im still in my jim jams having my 3rd cup of tea, shaping up to be a nice lazy day, will go in the garden later with the kiddies to break up some stuff to go to the tip.

See you all soon , love reading your posts x

happycrafter_2

Morning everyone

spent most of yesterday doing crafty things, dont think any money was spent yesterday.

today lunch is left over frozen beef in gravy (from boxing day) hm frozen roast potatoes then what ever veg is in the freezer. Going to make some toffee sauce from the stack of condensed milk I bought in aldi when reduced to 49p to serve with ice cream for pudding.

need to do some baking this afternoon so will have to go up the shop for some eggs.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

how do you make toffee sauce??


I bought pudding with toffee sauce from a local produce event. and OMG it was amazing, would love to try and make my own