2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Shortie

Mooloo, don't feel bad about the bank of Mum closing. If desperate maybe it can re-open but by saying no to sarni money it might guide (force) Twin1 into thinking more frugally and standing on their own feet a bit more. Being cruel to be kind as it were xx

Shortie

Okay, so I've had a bit of a 'breathing space day' today. I worked from home and it's been nice as the boys are in school and there haven't been the mass of distractions that occur in the office. It's given me tme to start re-planning my yearly svings forecast too which has been fab as it's been stuck on mental 'to do' list since totally fluffing up the amount I thought my tax return would be.

So with the minimum I know I can save per month, I've planned roughly how long it will take me to pay off the rest of my car loan to my Dad (small mount now but I've had to divert this month's payment to cover part of my tax return payment), then how long to save for my next year tax return (much better armed/aware this time, whoops), then how long to save for the heating, and then the building work. The heating and bilding work have bee pushed faaar out now, but at least I have a plan in place which means it's noted down and out of my head.

Any frugality we can achieve can go as extra savings to hopefully make everything on the plan shuffle a bit closer


In terms of today, we've munched food from home and I'm thinking of a 'bulk' online food shp from Mr T to try and get organised for when our new grocery budget starts next week. Though I'm thinking of keeping bread off the online shop so that we can swing by weekly to see if we can get reduced bread, whilst also picking up fresh fruit and veg. Not sure if that's a very good dea or noth though. I whole heartedly expect to do 2 deleiveries a month this way as we don't like to plan a whole month's food - 2 weeks is out max for menu planning

ellie-g

Just purchased 3 x 2.5 kilo bags of king Edward Potatoes for 59p each bag. (Yellow sticker at Sains).They were reduced from £2.39 a bag. So a saving of £1.80 per bag.

My crystal ball tells me I will be eating lots of baked potatoes, freezing lots of mash and making loads of veg soup for the next few weeks. I had run out of potatoes and have been eating rice and pasta instead, so tatties will be a nice change.

Other people arrive at the checkout with a trolley full of different goods. My idea of shopping is quite different. I shop to replenish my store cupboard and adapt my meals until I find food at a good price. I just dont know how the average family are coping with the rise in food prices-it must be so hard if you are paying full price for things.

Shortie

Evening all

I haven't done an online Mr T order for quite some time, but I *thought* they didn't take the money until the delivery day (as that's the day they know the final order amount in case they are out of stock of some things etc)

I've just put in most of my order for next week (knowing I can amend it as I go), booked my delivery slot to ensure I got it and carried on - but it needed me to enter the card details, and then went through online verification... I hope this is just so they've got my card ready verified for on the day they take the payment and not today ??? I'm stuffed if they take it before the delivery day as I've booked it for the day after my payday.

Is this a big whoops moment?

Just_be_2

I really enjoy catching up on the developments of this thread every evening! Very encouraging. I spent £2.49 today. £1.50 was for mother and toddler group which we thoroughly enjoyed and filled a morning- had lunch at my mums and on the way home popped to l!dl to get butter (used the last for this mornings beans on toast!) which cost 99p. I didn't even feel the urge to buy anything else! Came home and did finger painting and jigsaws whilst my leg bone and remaining meat etc boiled away for my stock- managed to bag up 5 pints of the yummy smelling stuff! It's currently cooling to go in the freezer. The plan for this evening as LO is already asleep is to amend budget having switched energy supplier and taking out a contents cover. Then to do a bit if research into surveys- something I would definitely like to get into- any extra advice or tips greatly appreciated

Just_be_2

Shortie- I was under that impression too an am almost sure that its just so theyve got the details ready to finalise on delivery day. Possibly read T&C or check bank balance?

KazLA

Smarter_and_harder wrote: »

I have started on Swagbucks but think I am missing something! I have seen people say they have earned money on there but over two days I only got to 98 points! Not sure that is working out for me!

I feel exactly the same!

Flutterby83

With regards to the online shopping, I used t3sco a couple of weeks ago and they took payment on the day, not sure if this works for every company but if they substitute or you return anything, they refund on the day of delivery. I would check your balance just to make sure.......

Cantfindafreeuserid

It took me a while to start earning on swagbucks but now I cash out pretty much every week. I always go for the £5 amazon voucher as I think its better value for money (only 849 swagbucks) and I can save all year and spend it on christmas presents :-)

Every day I do the daily poll and NOSO and I check in regulary for surveys. I noticed that over christmas and new year the amount on there dropped alot but they seem to be picking up now. I go to my dashboard and peanut labs for surveys. I also play any videos on peanut lab and my homepage. Sometimes the ones on your homepage are there again if you refresh and you can earn from them again.
If I need to top up my bucks I play the videos on swag tv play 10 for 3 bucks I only watch them until the counter goes up one then move on. This is boring and timely but sometimes needs to be done.
I am currently trying to earn 250 swagbucks a day but this isn't always possible esp when I get screened out of surveys and this seems to happen alot.
Hang in there and cruise around the site getting to know it. It will soon all slot into place and before you know it you will be cashing out :-)

Shortie

Thanks all, will keep an eye on my bank balance. How annoying will that be? Also wonder how they would handle if I amend my order etc in the run up (adding or removing things)