2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Goldiegirl

chirpycheap wrote: »

but I do like going to the Cinema and Theatre.

Yesterday I found out that the local (20 miles away) cinema has some live National Theatre screenings this year. I love going to the theatre in London but it's soooo expensive when you live in Cumbria. I'm really chuffed that I can go and see King Lear live, in the Carlisle, for £13. OH is going to buy it for me for my birthday yay. Still saving up for Hamlet though, possibly in the Autumn.

I'm a big film and theatre fan.


We have cut back on the cinema quite a bit. We go if it's something we really, really want to see. Actually the last time we went was this time last year to see Les Mis. Love that film, I was buzzing about it for weeks afterwards. Wednesday is our day off, so in theory we should sign up for Orange Wednesdays, but mobile coverage for Orange is terrible here, so it wouldn't work. But Mr GG is over 60, so he gets a couple of quid off for being a senior!


We've also stopped buying DVD's, as we watched them once, and put them in the cupboard.


However, what we do is wait for all the films to go on to Sky, and watch them on there. We're also big sports fans, so watch a lot of sport on Sky too. Sky maybe isn't the cheapest option, but as we like both films and sport, it is one of our chief sources of entertainment, so we feel we are getting our money's worth.



As Cydney said, West End Theatre is very expensive - it's bad enough living in Kent, but the cost of travelling down from Cumbria, plus theatre tickets, hotel and eating...doesn't bear thinking about.


We've started going to the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. It's only two years old and the travel costs and tickets costs are a lot less than the West End. The productions that we've seen have been very good quality. After pay day I intend making a booking for later this year.

cydney65

Goldiegirl wrote: »

We've started going to the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. It's only two years old and the travel costs and tickets costs are a lot less than the West End. The productions that we've seen have been very good quality. After pay day I intend making a booking for later this year.

Used to live in Whitstable and spent many a happy hour at the Marlowe.

Yes used to go to the West End every month when I lived in Kent, usually to the Donmar as I was a member and got cheap(er) tickets and advanced notice. There is a theatre in Keswick but I do love me some London theatre (snob I know!) King Lear is my fave Shakespeare play so will look forward to seeing that in May. Hamlet is my second fave play and apparently Benedict Cumberbatch is playing the title role in the autumn so saving up to hopefully get tickets, travel and hotel for that. I missed out on Coriolanus

Well picked up the nursery stuff which is much better than I thought. Did a small amount of shopping in Mr T and Mr S and then bulk bought dog food from the local pet shop which turned out over £20 cheaper than the usual shop! So the dogs are sorted for about 6 months now Grand total for groceries this month £24.57 :T

Goldiegirl

It must have been lovely to live in Whitstable.

In November, a couple of friends and I went to Whitstable for our annual pre-Christmas outing. We had coffee, went for a long walk along the front, had lunch, a mooch in the shops, and more coffee before we came home. I enjoyed all the unusual little shops, much more fun to look round than the chain stores.

In the spring, Mr GG and I will jump on the train to Whitstable on a Wednesday, when neither of us work.

Edit - just noticed Shortie's post. How exciting that you are going on a cruise in August. Cruises are another thing that I love. It's one of the main reasons I'm on this challenge, to live modestly from day to day, so I can put money by for future cruises.

Frugalsod

Today has been a NSD but it looks like I will have to get some milk sooner than I expected. My bank and credit cards have not been touched since the 2nd. I have a birthday dinner to get at the end of the month, so that will impact the credit card but I shall still have lower debts at the end of the month than I started with.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Shortie.. We all have those days, weekends, weeks where things slip and we have a takeaway, or go a bit mad on the shopping, I always say we need these... to cheer ourselves up, have a treat etc, BUT the main thing is we know how to rain things back in...


I have been doing good, with the £5 daily budget for supermarket spends... yesterday it was £3.50 3 packs bread rolls, £1.50, milk £1 and a stew pack of veg £1, I only really wanted carrots, BUT they only had the expensive organic ones left (the arsda right by us is crap with the stocking levels of the fruit and veg). Good job I was under budget, as I sent hubby to get T bags and he spent over £5 ON Tetley tea ones!!!!!! my fault, as I was a bit under the weather this morning.. and didn't want to go to the shop...so good job I was under my daily budget yesterday..

23rdspiral

Thanks so much mum2one for your thoughts and hints on selling things in various places - I have bookmarked you post so I can refer to it. I think Ill make myself a challenge. I'm a hoarder by nature so selling rather than donating might work for me.

:j I'm really happy I've got on an Upholstery Course, and am only having to pay %10 of the fees! :j I'm glad I asked. I Love vintage / older furniture (almost all of our furniture is second hand, heirloom or from the tip!), and I love sewing & fabric so this feels like a great skill set to learn. (I've recently been made redundant from the council & the area I'm highly skilled in is simply not hiring due to the cuts) fingers crossed I will do well

Needed bread, peppers & meat today.. Got all on offer / whoopsie at local Coop

nannygladys

Hello all
Not been on here posting the last few days, but after a small blip (it was on food!!) its not going too badly - blame it on my cold!!


Anyway been reading and its a brilliant thread but Im forever reading and not posting - it takes that long to read I find its bedtime before I think about posting lol


So thanks everyone for keeping me in line and keep it going. PS Im another one who is a Filofax (or similar) junkie - I just love them, but unfortunately it doesn't always keep me on the straight and narrow.
nannyg

mummy2threeboys

Sorry will ctahc up with posts properly in a mo ..just posting this thinking of doing it as have family of 5 so could be a nice meal out for us free kids meal for every full paying adults under 12 years and up till 2nd feb ..sundays only (http://www.beefeatergrill.co.uk/content/beefeater/footer-pages/bg-kids-free-s.html

Kerry_Woman

Made toad in the hole today and there is enough for tomorrow's dinner.

Checked my local theatre and there is a play I might go and see later on this month. Usually go to the afternoon on Saturday. I used to go quite a bit, but they did not have many murder mystery, thrillers or comedies on, so I stopped paying the membership fee.

Mended my work trousers. I always wear trousers as I have a skin problem.

afoolwithmoney

Another NSD but will have to have a shop tomorrow for some veg. Think menu planning will have to be attempted & stuck to!!