2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Just_be_2

I've had a very frugal day today- another NSD and made a lamb toast which we all enjoyed a lot! I roasted a leg of lamb so have got plenty to freeze (I'm hoping to get another four Sunday roasts worth- I eat a small portion, LO does also and DH had a mans sized but we allow him that!) I also parboiled parsnips and potatoes for roasting and popped them in the freezer for next week. Out monthly shop is on the 20th and I have enough batch cooked meals in the freezer to last until then and lots of tins and frozen bread for lunches at home (LO and I). My NSDs won't get the chance to have a good run now as we attend a mother and toddler group every other weekday and so swimming on a weds- but these will be the ONLY spends and they come from the 'activities' budget and at £1.50 for 2 hours playing, snack for LO and coffee for me it's a bargain! I agree with compromise point- I would not be willing to compromise on LOs social activities in order to save a few pounds- it would be unfair. I'm making headway menu planning and bargain hunting/brand switching as well as the biggie which is not eating out when we've got plenty of good at home! It's going good

Just_be_2

This is slightly irrelevant but it will help me keep track of my progress to paying off my debt- I want to change my signature which how's at the bottom of my posts (I want to track my debt clearing progress an use it as an inspiration to myself when I see it below a post) but I am not able to edit it! I am able to edit work info etc on my account page but just no option to edit the signature. Any ideas? I've written something there once- as you can see below. I just can't seem to edit it. Thanks in advance.

afoolwithmoney

Another NSD yippee Have a feeling that could all change tomorrow though. Off to try damage limitation!

Cantfindafreeuserid

Just_be wrote: »

This is slightly irrelevant but it will help me keep track of my progress to paying off my debt- I want to change my signature which how's at the bottom of my posts (I want to track my debt clearing progress an use it as an inspiration to myself when I see it below a post) but I am not able to edit it! I am able to edit work info etc on my account page but just no option to edit the signature. Any ideas? I've written something there once- as you can see below. I just can't seem to edit it. Thanks in advance.

At the top of the page there is a green banner with a drop box 'quick links' click that then go down to edit signature

Just_be_2

Thank you! Much appreciated

Cantfindafreeuserid

No problem

chirpycheap

skintygerlinky wrote: »

Hi All xx

So, please humour me as I list my MSE resolutions for my frugal '14:

I will not spend money on:
New books - let's read all the unread ones I have first, then use my lovely local library for others
Clothes - have joined Crazy Clothes Challenge on here and set budget of £100
Candles - I must have given out a vibe of being a scented candle-y person as have been given a few over the last two years!! So, need to light them and use them!
CD's - impulse buys need to be put on hold for a bit. Let's re-visit and enjoy the ones I have
Magazines - I seem to flick through them and moan that they're rubbish. Best stop buying them then, Skinty - you will save £3.50 and will be in a better mood!
Gigs - this is quite tough but it is just so expensive (£40+ sometimes) to go and see a band. Maybe this can be put on hold til the summer
Toiletries/Make-up - Got plenty of make-up, operating '1 in, 1 out' system. Use toiletries up before buying new
Junk jewellery - re-visit beads, necklaces and rings and wear them!
Eating at uni or at work - need to make food at home and take it in. When I stick to this I eat well and feel better. Surely it's a no-brainer!

Phew! Glad to get all that off my chest!

My list would look very similar! I don't go to concerts but I do like going to the Cinema and Theatre. I have been using Show Film First and have enjoyed a few freebie cinema visits that way.

We have also decided to try and cut down on gift buying and OH and I have decided to cut down how much we spend on each other. Quite frankly we have enough stuff and we are often to be found buying something just for the sake of it. Gift buying is such an individual thing and I am often surprised by how much people spend on each other but then people might think that we are a little over generous!

So taking the view that amounts spent on gifts is not set in stone we decided that for my birthday next week we will use the £10 Amazonia voucher we were given at Christmas and buy me a book for my birthday. Total spend £1.11 and I get a book I've been wanting for a while!:rotfl:

Blindsided_2

Hello!
Would love to join in! Sat down over Xmas and realised I buy things purely because I think I'm getting a bargain, have a garage full of things I don't need, so going to get round to selling them!

Have taken my card details off amazon I know have to input them manually and it makes me thing twice before I buy anything.
Hoping I can stick to a budget of £100 this month ( minus gas elec and rent) it's going to be tough but I have two freezers bursting with food and cupboards overflowing !

I'm a bit of a shopaholic though so it's going to be tough

Had a nsd today, hoping for the same tomorrow, other than a nursery sweatshirt for my youngest who has finally got a place! Yippee! But that's only £5

mum2one

I had a frugal day - parents 51st wedding anniversary - prebooked panto tickets (got them on 2 4 1), took our own drinks and sweets in.

Then mum and dad took DD and me for a meal to celebrate - cheaper than planned as half my gammon was uncooked - my meal was refunded and I was given a free pud as an apology (and for apparently complaining nicely!). £12 saved...

There presents
£20 willow statue from DD (pd for from a survey)
off me - Camera and a mp3 player for mum (£115 reduced to £47)

Just waiting for Boots sale on Wed - aiming to go with a list - can't spend more than £60 (having to jig money around) but it pays for itself.

Hoping to get some items on ebay sellers - DD's bike, personal DVD player, CD player - got upgraded over Xmas - if not there go car boot, xx

judi24

NSD for me today - DS's rugby was cancelled so no temptation to go to club house for a drink afterwards. Then went to gym - took kids snacks with me so didn't buy anyting there either! Had left over pork roast dinner tonight - it was lovely - included a pack of stuffing balls left over from christmas and we had the chocolate pudding I bought and didn't use at Christmas as well.


I made the mistake of going to siansbobs yesterday with the kids - had a £10 off a £50 spend but ended up spending £85!!!! I cannot set foot in a supermarket now until pay day - the house is full of food so appart from bread, milk and fruit (we are all trying to loose weight so fruit is dissapearing fast!)


I also had to go to the dentist and needed a scale and polish - the bill was £56!!! I can claim it back with my health insurance but its still gone from my account in the meantime! I still hope to get to the month with a slightly positive bank balance - but will definately be tight for the rest of the month!