2014 Frugal Living Challenge

cw18

tokicat wrote: »

I bought large bag of potatos what is the best storage method to make them last the longest?

Depends whether you mean a sack from a farm shop or a large supermarket plastic bag.

I have a cloth bag with a blackout type lining, and I tip them out of plastic bags into that. Best results I've had.

Mrs_Cheshire

I keep my potatoes in a brown paper sack, I've bought some in the past in the large 12.5kg bags so just keep one of them and transfer them if they come in a plastic bag or from my veg box!

[Deleted User]

Afternoon folks, I am waiting in this afternoon for my bathroom sink to get fixed. OH was shaving yesterday and decided that the sink wasn't draining away properly. He decided to take the U-bend apart and wash it out. All fine so far...except he now can't get it back together again. He swears there is a bit missing, meaning that he lost it! My Uncle came round last night to have a look at it and he can't get it back together either. I wish I had been home when OH had his brainwave as I would have talked him into trying some sink un-blocker first. Oh well. My Uncle is trying to call in a favour from a friend of his so we will see how much its going to cost to put right this afternoon.

DawnW

Shortie wrote: »

GoldieGirl,

Sorry to hear about the unit DawnW. Hopefully it will pick up, otherwise as you say will the craft fairs be better for you?

After that I have my (free from work) eye test. I'm pretty sure I now need glasses - work will pay for the lenses and I have a choice of free frames but the ones I saw on the site from the Co that do the vouchers aren't my style. Not that I know what my style are.... So I expect to be spending out on frames sometime soon

I sell vintage items and antiques GG. I admire all the people on these boards who do crafts, but I am all fingers and thumbs I agree if you need glasses you should get ones you are happy with

sparrer wrote: »

nsd/npd, and covered the tiny bit of loose sealant around the bath with tippex, it's now lovely and white and saves the cost of having someone in to take it all off and replace it. I used tippex to cover a small chip on the edge of the bath when I moved in, 10 years later it's still impossible to see unless you know it's there.

Thanks for the tip Sparrer. Our 2 year old enamelled bath has a tiny mark on it, which I suspect was a manufacturing fault as nothing has ever been dropped in it, and it doesn't look like a chip IYSWIM :mad: I have bought some enamel repair stuff, but it takes days to dry and has to be built up in layers, so I haven't done it - who wants to be without their bath for days? I suppose I could do it in the summer when we wouldn't freeze using the shower cubicle in the loft conversion, but I will definitely be trying this tip out

tokicat wrote: »

Good morin everyone

I bought large bag of potatos what is the best storage method to make them last the longest?

They need to be stored in a cool dark place, but out of danger of frost Tokicat. If they are in a brown paper bag, they will be fine in that, but keep the top covered up unless they are in a really dark place, or the potatoes will go green in the light, and you cannot eat them then. If they are in a plastic bag I would tip them into something else if there are too many to use in a few days. A thick paper bag is ideal (like the ones bbq charcoal comes in) or a cloth sack, or one of those potato storage bags that Lakeland sell. These look a bit pricey but I have had one for years and years, so I don't think it is expensive if you look at it as something for long term use. Perhaps some of the pound shops do them now?

Just walked down town to pay the excess rent on my unit I cheered myself up by buying some seed potatoes and shallot sets from the pound shop As I only have a little garden, the small packs that they sell are just right - and I know from experience I will get a lot of new potatoes and shallots from the £2.98 outlay

I also had a lucky find in a CS - a lovely wool, alpaca and mohair mix coat with a posh brand label, in great condition, which fits perfectly. It was £10, but I think that was a real bargain

I am sitting by the woodburner eating crumpets and honey that I bought in Aldis yesterday for lunch Not very diet conscious I am afraid but very yummy! Must get up and do some housework in a minute, and get my suitcase packed for a work trip tomorrow

roxykitten

Oh my god!!! I am still here, it has taken me since the 27th December to catch up on all the posts! I have been reading bits every day and I have finally caught up! anyway, NSD for me today, pjs on, heating turned down, catching up on some housework while the kids chill with some films, ds was sent home from school ill yesterday so we deserve a pj day in my eyes


goldiegirl, we are the same, I am part of this challenge because we are saving for the things we really want to do, we have a holiday booked up for the summer and we are having major stuff done on our house also. Then our next plan is to save to take the kids to Disneyworld in a few years time!


This challenge has really made me think about my spending, I have been shopping at aldinis saving around £30 a week from this time last year, and every time I go in a shop I am talking myself out of spending, and I havnt spent any money this year on lunch at work! very pleased with myself!


roxy xx

DawnW

That's right Roxykitten, every penny we save by not buying tat, not wasting food or fuel, is a penny we can spend on something that we really want

I STILL haven't done any housework

But I do have sweet and sour pork in the SC for supper, and washing blowing on the line outside - hopefully it will stay there :eek:

pm2326

With the money I've saved so far this month I've.......

just paid off my catalogue in full (£165) and closed the account :j:j:j:T:T:T:T

skintygerlinky

Afternoon Frugalites.

pm2326 wrote: »

With the money I've saved so far this month I've.......

just paid off my catalogue in full (£165) and closed the account :j:j:j:T:T:T:T

pm2326 this is ACE!!!! Really made up for you - bet it felt great to close the account? Well done you!!! xx

Went food shopping with my sis today!! She shops in one of the Big 4 supermarkets usually and has been saying for yonks that she needs to cut down/evaluate her spending. Her family consists of her, hubby, son and daughter. They hardly ever throw any food out, don't buy for the sake of it and don't store items for months on end as they always make a list. So some good shopping going on there!
On the down side, they buy lots of pre-packaged stuff which ends up costing loads.

She has said for years that whilst shops such as Aldini offer cheap bargains, it just 'isn't the same' as shopping in the Big 4. So, this week we've had some frank discussions re: shopping and saving money- something her family needs to do as, like so many people, they are in debt with an expensive year ahead.

Today she made the move to cheaper shopping! We went to Hero(n) first - she looked a bit fazed and said 'I can't see anything' but eventually came away with pasta sauces, pizzas, rice and coffee which all worked out cheaper than Big 4. Next to Aldini where she got a full week's shop, inc. lunches for all the family over half term week (her and hubby are both off work too) plus treats.

Overall she reckons she has saved between £40-£50 this week! Not a bad start! She's going to ring me later with her meal plans. Fingers x'd!!

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

Cantfindafreeuserid

Oops .........I have just been on approved food and placed my first order! I went on mainly for the ce cream mix as it is something my son loves but I hate paying for so now he can make his own I had to shuffle my basket around to get to £15 order but not exceed the first delivery price of £5.25 well I managed it bang on the £15 and I think just about at the weight limit but now have 24 twin packs of ice cream mix coming so 48 in total :rotfl:

I ordered some other bits including 4 3kg bags of pasta :rotfl: I basically bought a lot of things that will last past their best before dates. We do get through alot of pasta and thought at that price I can't really say no as it will all get eaten. It might take years but it will get eaten :rotfl:

Anyway I am looking forward to my delivery I spent £15 on food and saved £29.37 so that's pretty good as far as I am concerned it's a shame the smallest delivery cost is £5.25 but even removing that from my saving I am still saving £24.12

Goldiegirl

Shortie wrote: »

GoldieGirl, what cruise did you book? I'm sooooo looking forward to ours this year. 3 years ago we went on our first (and only) cruise and t was only the third time the boat had cruised (and it was they 20th year of the company too) - it was absolutely fab!

We're going on the maiden cruise of Britannia, in March 2015, which is a P&O ship. We went on a cruise in 2001, as a special treat for out 20th wedding anniversary. It was meant to be a one off, but we loved it so much, we just keep on doing them. I love that you unpack once, yet can see so many different places on one holiday. Hope you have a great cruise shortie.


Fortunately, today has been much more frugal. We had pizza for lunch, using up some bits and bobs for the topping. For tea we are going to have spicy fruit loaf which I've done in the bread maker - it smells fantastic!


Fortunately we've had no storm damage, the winds last night were the worse we've had this winter. It's a lot calmer today. A few heavy showers, but much better than it has been.