2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Skinnylatte

I'm in, have a debt free day of Dec 2015, but I want to try and clear it next year

helencal80

In the new year I plan on changing the way we eat. I will be buying a breakmaker and making all our own bread, pizza bases etc.
I just wondered if any of you make your own pasta and if you would say it was worth it?


I know it probably tastes better but what about financially? We don't eat "fancy" pasta, but use lasagne sheets, spaghetti, tagliatelle and probably would be more adventurous if we made it ourselves.


Thank you x

charlies-aunt

Can I join in too please? I have a 3k static debt that I want to shed and I want to get into the frugal mind-set

longtermplanner

23rdspiral wrote: »

Does anyone have any "demotivation" comments?!

Or if not, does anyone know if dishwashers are the sort of things included in the Janurary sales?

I find washing up demotivating! That was what you meant, wasn't it?

I got my current Bosch washing machine in the Jan Sales 2 years ago, so I bet you'll find a dishwasher.

Sazzie23

Signing up for my first allotment next week, hoping it will provide me with something to occupy my mind and body and keep me out of the shops, as well as maybe actually providing a source of food. Can walk there easily in 20 mins, cycle in half that.


Need to find some free advice on where to start.

longtermplanner

helencal80 wrote: »

I just wondered if any of you make your own pasta and if you would say it was worth it?

I don't think it saves any money or tastes much different if you are only doing the basic sheets, ribbons etc.

It would save money if you do raviolis - and taste better. But it's pretty time consuming.

helencal80

Sazzie23 wrote: »

Signing up for my first allotment next week, hoping it will provide me with something to occupy my mind and body and keep me out of the shops, as well as maybe actually providing a source of food. Can walk there easily in 20 mins, cycle in half that.


Need to find some free advice on where to start.

Hi Sazzie,


I have had an allotment so will try and help a bit.


First of all, only grow what you buy. It's very easy to get over excited when you start out and grow all sorts of stuff. But the whole point is to save money!


Secondly, if you get a choice of allotments try and choose one that looks as if it has been worked at all in the last season as it will save you work. Also a plot near the water is the best idea!


Thirdly, buying baby plants ready for planting out is very expensive in the long run so get yourself a propagator or 2 and get some seedlings grown on your windowsill.


Last of all, my local Poundland does a huge selection of gardening items. Cloches and fleece etc are costly but essentials, I say spend £1 on them!


Hope this helps you get started.

helencal80

longtermplanner wrote: »

I don't think it saves any money or tastes much different if you are only doing the basic sheets, ribbons etc.

It would save money if you do raviolis - and taste better. But it's pretty time consuming.

That's pretty much what I thought. I won't waste my money until the kids are more adventurous! Thanks x

quidsy

Re dishwasher. We got ours for 50quid off ebay. Worth every penny, excellent condition and saves arguments. Look in charity shops, gumtree and freecycle too. Loads of people just get rid rather than try to make money. I love those kinds of people. Lol

COOLTRIKERCHICK

no dishwasher here.. I can remember my mother having one when they first came out....novelty soon wore off, she used to rinse the plates etc before putting them in the dishwasher, and in the end she said for the extra few minutes she might as well wash them... I have never even fancied having one... plus the expense of buying one, the electric they use, plus its sooo much cheaper to buy Washing up Liquid etc than the dishwasher tabs..


I have been trying to find the time to work out my budgets etc for next year, but I dont seem to have 2 minutes, let alone the the proper time to sit down with pen, paper an calculator to work out a budget, BUT I am toying with the idea.. of only trying to spend £5 a day on shopping ( I pass 3 supermarkets on the way home from work, which is only 4 miles away, and one of the mr A is literly just outside my front door), With a safety net of another £20 in the 'shopping purse' just incase there are any bargains, whoopsies, mega offers ..


I am going to TRY and get this to cover everything, catfood, laundry etc..Sounds hard... But it will be all about juggling what to buy on the day...


BUT if I do see a mega deal, them it would be silly not to blow this and bulk buy...( might be worth me working out/putting aside a budget for bulk buys)


I have started buying the sugar in Farmfoods at 2 for £1.50