2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Shortie

Thanks cw18. I put a lot of pressure on myself, and the prospect of being skint and saving for years was awful and really getting me down. I am good at budgetting and shuffling numbers but it has been getting me down.

I will still be skint, I realise that. But I'll have a decent sized kitchen where the annex is, a utility room where the kitchen currently is, a warmer more efficient house, an an extra bedroom. At least the pressure of the house issues will be gone and I will feel better whilst still being skint

We're going to get a second quote for the building work hopefully this weekend, and we're hoping this guy will let us cut some costs with Mr Shortie being a labourer, and cutting costs with building materials where possible (I already want to reuse the annex bricks as the will stitch into the existing building at the front perfectly) so we're hopig to be able to cut costs there..

It'll be a fair way off yet as we need plans drawn up and submitted to the council and I will be carrying o n saving all the while... but we'll have the work in progress xxx

Shortie

Whoops! Duplicated above post as I went through a tunnel on the train

MallyGirl

Shortie wrote: »

Thanks cw18. I put a lot of pressure on myself, and the prospect of being skint and saving for years was awful and really getting me down. I am good at budgetting and shuffling numbers but it has been getting me down.

I will still be skint, I realise that. But I'll have a decent sized kitchen where the annex is, a utility room where the kitchen currently is, a warmer more efficient house, an an extra bedroom. At least the pressure of the house issues will be gone and I will feel better whilst still being skint

We're going to get a second quote for the building work hopefully this weekend, and we're hoping this guy will let us cut some costs with Mr Shortie being a labourer, and cutting costs with building materials where possible (I already want to reuse the annex bricks as the will stitch into the existing building at the front perfectly) so we're hopig to be able to cut costs there..

It'll be a fair way off yet as we need plans drawn up and submitted to the council and I will be carrying o n saving all the while... but we'll have the work in progress xxx

We held off doing our extension for some years but in the end decided to just get on and do it - I was sick of talking about it and every time we had a new design done the price went up! I wanted to get good use out of it before eventually downsizing, rather than live through all the disruption and let someone else enjoy it. So glad we did as it has totally changed how we use the house - the orangery bit is warmer, lighter and not draughty so we basically live in it. Luckily we have an offset mortgage so we paid for it out of our facility and can 'overpay' it back by being careful and frugal for a while.
If you can afford it then I say 'go for it' - but keep the costs under tight control

skintygerlinky

Morning Frugalites xx

Shortie - home is where the heart is and it sounds like yours is a busy, happy one! Your plans sound like they will benefit everyone there xx

TM6 - thank you! I love your quotes! xx

allie - cheers lovely! Appreciated xx

Will post properly later this evening but I'm in a bit of a fighting mood this morning. Also realise that whatever's going in my life is still nothing compared to those who have been living in these awful floods with hardly any help!

So tune of the day is dedicated to them and all of us strong Frugalites!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJDnJ0vXUgw

lovefullshelves

You all make me feel short at only 5' 10"!
Made a herman apple cake yesterday to try to stop OH buying apple pies, don't think its gonna work as 4 pieces of cake dissapeared last night! Least it uses whats already in the house:)
Ham was yummy last night:) Soup for dinner was good as took out ham, then just bunged lentils into the slow cooker! (I added all the veg when I cooked the ham). So 4 portions of soup in the freezer, 2 bagies of ham for future meals, and still some in the fridge. Might look for a leek/ham/orzo recipes
Hope no ones too wet x

[Deleted User]

I struggle to get trousers to fit too. I am only 4ft11ins so at the other end of the scale. M&S do a short fit its not that reliable. If I can get a 27ins leg then I am ok. I am on the round side too which makes it harder to get stuff to fit. I generally don't enjoy clothes shopping so avoid it until absolutely essential.

Frugalsod

Yesterday end up being a SD, I bought a few things that I wanted and used up my outstanding gift balance so everything only cost £11.40. Still will be able to get to Friday without spending without a problem.

Just planning on what to make with my next veggie box that arrives Friday. So will be able to get through without much problem food for the rest of the month with not much else needed.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

as I had to drop off parcels for work to the post office, decided to go to the chemist opp to buy bubble bath and soap.. so spent £1.59 in total.... cussons bubble bath £1, nivia soap 59p.. which I was pleased with... if I ha gone into a supermarket, might have ended up buying a few more things...


Car only needed a tyre of MOT yesterday... so not bad, it coul have been a lot worse...

Mrs_Cheshire

skintygerlinky wrote: »

Evening Frugalites xx

Had a tough few days personally and also a relative is getting hounded financially - hopefully everything should reach a conclusion soon! But you ain't never gonna keep us Frugalites down so that's a cue for a song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS-zK1S5Dws

Ended up having an impromptu day in town today! Had some research to do for uni and a friend was going in so I got a lift there and back for free!
BUT...have been a bit spendy today inc.
Over £4 in Costalot for a coffee and a soggy croissant. I was asked if I wanted cream and I decided I would - didn't realise it cost 35p extra! Also £3 to post a teeny tiny parcel for my friend's birthday. A few other bits and bobs and later and I'd spent £11.60.

Now....here's the interesting thing. Only before Xmas, I thought that £11.60 was simply not a huge sum of money but oh my how things change when you pay attention! Am already regretting my cardboard brekkie a Costalotta. That £4 could have gone into my savings!!

Anyway, also had a chance to visit two of my lovely, beautiful city's museums today for free, free, free. They were pretty quiet too so I was able to have a good look around and one exhibition reduced me to tears whilst another gave me a chance to listen to some music I'd never heard and a brand new artist I'm gonna check out on Youtube in a mo.

Once again...this thread is doing wonders for my attitude, never mind my bank account. Thanks all xxx

Which museum's did you go too?

Mrs_Cheshire

I'm still managing to keep within my budgets. Managed to save £330 on my car insurance this year by using the comparison sites. I'll also get a half price MOT voucher nearer the MOT date so that's good too.
I also saved £30 on my contents insurance in Jan and got free breakdown for the year so lots of savings here being made!


Need to do some research as I want to buy myself a decent pair of walking boots!