2014 Frugal Living Challenge

tatabubbly

Hey guys! how are we today!

Well, today is a spendy day, I need to get some milk and some fresh fruit and veggies. Going to see if I can meet up with a friend as well for lunch to see if I can cross off lots on my list today!

Shortie

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

only need bread today...


going to venture outside in the garden soon, now that the rain has stopped... need to assess and start getting the greenhouse cleaned and ready for next month, to start sowing...


I know its cheeky, but I am going to see if I can get a free greenhouse heater on freegle and facebook.. if not, might try the candle and the flowerpot heater in there...and see what happens

I was supposed to clear out and clean down our greenhouse yesterday but didn't get round to it, whoops..

Might be worth asking on freegle, a chap near where I used to live offered up a parafin heater and I was lucky enoughto get it. I haven't yet usedit we moved that year and I didn't make proper use of the greenhouse last yearbut planni g to uae it this year if I can can time at home in the light without rain or a ram packed weekend!

littleskintdragon

Morning!

Hoping for a nsd today except dd's school lunches for last week. Personally id rather her have packed lunch but its not what she wants

Last week during my frugal attempts i managed to spend £286!!!
I did manage about 20 presents in that from the b00ts sale for £40, £35 of ehich was vouchers.i also got a big box of baby wipes from the baby event at mr.t.

This week im not taking my purse out!! When i need something im going to take out some cash & use that.

If i hadnt have written it down id have never have known.

quidsy

Hoping for a NSD today.

Made parsnip soup last night which should cover me for 3 lunches this week. I also made a slow cooker meatloaf for dinner yesterday, there is a lot left over so brought 2 slices in to work with a couple of slices of bread & a whole baby gem lettuce. Plan to cadge a spoon of mayo off the canteen & put a hot meatloaf, lettuce & mayo sandwich to have with the parsnip soup. Dinner will probably be more meatloaf & a salad.

I did not stop eating yesterday. I went to gym in the morning then ruined the effort as I just ate all day. I have put a halt on it now but the next couple of days will be salads & left overs to make up for how much food I wasted yesterday in my binge.

Coulddobetter

Good morning
Been missing a few days had a bug so spends at e chemist. NSD yesterday as I didn't leave the house.
Used up lots of Christmas food and the sweeties are finally going down.
I had set myself a target if no new clothes but whilst out last week saw a lovely coat at half price perfect for our holiday later in the year so I bought that oops so I have amended my signature.
The declutter is going ok, sold 2 more items on eBay yesterday :j

CDBx

Penny2myName

Been doing my imeasure readings again, and decided yesterday to do a daily one for this week, so yesterday I had used 5 units gas and 5 units Electric, I shall do another reading at midnight tonight so then it is a clear 24hr reading, yesterdays was more a 15hr reading. I want to go about my normal daily to day living and see what it is actually costing.

KazLA

Feeling the Frugal vibes today!

Realise I boil the kettle quite a lot on days I am at home, drink a lot of water, but at this time of year, like it warm, so top up my glass from the kettle. This morning I boiled a full kettle and poured into a flask!

Have had 2 glasses of water and just made a cuppa - all good!!

Read somewhere about going paperless at home, some things are way beyond me at the moment, but we do use a lot of kitchen roll, so following the advice of replacing with cloths on a handy place, Have cut up some cloths and wrapped them round the kitchen roll tube/holder. When milk is spilt, or water needs wiping up, or something needs cleaning, I just grab one, use it and put it straight in the washing machine, to be washed with the next load. It's working really well at the moment. I have put a paper roll on top of the kitchen cupboard - where we keep the spares, and have used an odd sheet for drying the cat litter tray after washing it, as don't feel a machine wash is enough for something like that, when it could be reused on the table etc eughh!!

Trying to do the same with wet wipes, cut cloths half the size, wet them and put them in a zip lock type bag. They were fine for a week or so, but now starting to smell at bit 'off'! Any suggestions? Should prob google homemade wipes...

Had a fab free day out yesterday at local woodland park, childrens activities & free lunch for 4 of us!

I know it's only a month in, but I really hope I can keep up this way of life, I am loving it sooo much, enjoying more time doing things at home and with the children, is such an unexpected side effect of what I expected to be a 'grey' month of no spending. I'm getting such a buzz from it.

Whenever we go away on our caravan, I always come home feeling that my house is too big and that I hv too much stuff, having managed with so much less, and actually finding it so much simpler and more relaxing, and I think I am starting to live closer to my ideal life. Suddenly quite emotional, in a happy way! A long way to go, but currently loving the journey.

his_missus

abby1234519 wrote: »

I have a lot of bread flour so really should get back to baking our own bread with my pullman loaf tin. The problem I have is that I can't slice it thin enough for sandwiches so it ends up going to waste. Does anyone have one of those rotary slicer things where you choose a thickness and then just slice away?

I really want to be frugal I just don't know where to start.

I have a rotary electric slicer. It is great for slicing bread and meat evenly but it's quite messy. I end up with breadcrumbs everywhere and it's difficult to clean properly after using it to slice a joint of meat. I also find with mine I can't just continuously slice, I have to do it a slice at a time!

his_missus

Hi all,

Life's been a bit hectic of late but hopefully we're back on the frugal bandwagon again. £37 shop this weekend as we're trying to eat as much as possible from the freezer. Had the heating on a lot recently at the weekends to get washing dry, grr!

hollieinbloom

Morning all, what a chilly day! I'm just about to go make a hot pot for tea tonight. It's so cold in the house today so I'm wearing my dressing gown until I warm up. I'm planning a big stock up on toilet roll this week. I buy the ones in home bargains but as we don't have a car I can't buy them all in one go unless I were to get a taxi. I am sending OH to work with £4 each day to buy the packs of 18 Nicky rolls for £3.99 and it's manageable to carry them home. He works opposite it so thats handy. I'm trying to stock up on 1 thing a month so if I see an offer on I will take advantage of it! hehe.

Got a monsters university annual for DD in the argos sale for 99p yesterday. I reserved it online and popped down to pick it up and that's going away from her Birthday in April. Very pleased for that price! xx