2014 Frugal Living Challenge

icontinuetodream

I have done the food inventory and meal planned today until the end of march - I will only need a minimal outlay on fresh f&v, dairy and cereals!:D

We are getting the greenhouse turned round and re-glazed where necessary this week so I will able to plant out my flower and veggie seeds in the next few weeks - not to mention regaining my kitchen worktops by re-homing my potatoes which are chitting!!
Obviously, this is assuming that nothing too drastic happens weather-wise here.... fortunately, I am in the east of the country._pale_...hugs and best wishes for those who are struggling with the weather conditions:grouphug:

I am going to keep a complete spending diary for the whole of March to see where every penny goes - I am also going to start to monitor my electricity usage now that I have a functioning washing line!!;)

Anyhoo....got to go and sort my leek and potato soup ..the focaccia has been out of the oven for ten minutes now so its time to eat!! Nomnom!!:D:D:D

pm2326

skintygerlinky wrote: »

Afternoon Frugalites.



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

Thank you! I got mega excited even though I have another 6 unsecured debts to clear ..... but I'm a bit odd :rotfl:

Have made a lovely chicken, leek & potato soup for work lunches, was so tempted to have some for tea but had to use the curry I'd already defrosted from freezer on Thursday

Need to use up the remaining leeks and potatoes so going to make another batch of soup in a couple of days, so probably living on soup for the forseeable future as no room in freezer but it means I wont need to go shopping :T

Got hair cut this morning and then bought milk, bread buns and some cat treats, total spend of £14, but that's all the shopping I need for at least a week, may even be longer as I can use some of the emergency milk from the freezer so hopefully wont need anything next weekend.

Florenceem

Had a lovely time in the kitchen cooking - frugal style today. Our dinner was yummy and cost £1 for the two of us. Photo on - What are you making for dinner tonight? thread.

pm2326

I have a leather handbag which I use for work, the outside is still in perfect condition but the lining inside is ripped and keeps getting caught in the zip.

Rather than buy a new bag, I'm going to remove the lining tomorrow before I damage the zip.

Never done this before (would have just bought a new bag) so the bit I'm stuck with is what do I replace the lining with? I don't have a sewing machine so trying to stitch a new lining in by hand is going to be difficult.

Any ideas?

happybird71

Hi everyone. Had a lovely dinner date with DH last night. £60 and worth every penny. A rare occurrence & treat. Friends insisted on babysitting.

My 12 year old GHD straighteners died this week . Thought I'd have to cough up a lot of money to replace them. Showed my DIY Dad. Erm...a fuse! Oops! I am so baby brained it is unbelievable. Ordered new birthday trainers today. Very excited. Old ones very done. First post baby 10k race in May. I just need to get out & train now!

teabody

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

Really pleased for you! Love how we all feel elated despite it being someone elses achievement!! Motivates me to keep going to financial freedom.

Shortie

Congrats on paying off the catalogue pm2326!

Today was definitely not frugal - I had my eye's tested and naively assumed I could pay for the glasses on collection (I get paid next week) but I needed to leave a 50% deposit. We then went shopping to get bits in to 'top up' our current store cupboard/fridge with slimming world friendly foods (starting the diet today)

I need to transfer money out of a savings account to try and not go into my buffer this month (especially as I'm applying for a mortgage advance with the same bank!!) but I can't get online to the bank that my savings are in, so will call them tomorrow morning if there are still issues - just hope y savings make it in before the payments go out...

DawnW

pm2326 wrote: »

Thank you! I got mega excited even though I have another 6 unsecured debts to clear ..... but I'm a bit odd :rotfl:

Have made a lovely chicken, leek & potato soup for work lunches, was so tempted to have some for tea but had to use the curry I'd already defrosted from freezer on Thursday

Well done pm2326, I am not surprised you are excited - I remember that feeling Keep going, you can and will be debt free :T

I have to travel for work today, for a distant meeting at silly o'clock on Monday morning :mad: and because I live near very damp parts of the country the trains are very disrupted, which means I need to set out before 9am - so happy Sunday....

Still, it looks as though the flights are ok at least, and I am counting down the days now till I finish ...... I will miss the buzz, and some of the people, but not the relentlessness of it all, the long hours, the way it takes over my entire life, the boring commute, the stupid deadlines, having to catch trains and planes at all hours of the day and night, I could go on.......

Quite big spends over the next couple of days :eek: but at least I will be able to claim most of it back in expenses.

Back late Monday night :mad:

Buffythedebtslayer

Morning Frugalies


How is everyone?


I haven't been very successful re frugalling, planning a new bedroom as mine is in need of decorating, value paint from homebase but do need one piece of furniture.......new desk £40 from IKEA.


however I did discover that my Flask from Ikea is really good. I love my dogs but once you go into the kitchen they want to be up and out and I would like to have a cup of tea in bed occasionally! SO after spending yesterday with a flask of tea, watching a terrible film, with a blanket and room plans I decided to make a flask of tea to take upstairs and see if it would keep warm till the morning!


and it did! I was SO pleased. it was hot! I made it about 12.30 and woke up at 8 and am still drinking it now


Of course the dogs woke up anyway so I am in the living room but hey ho, good to know it works so well and I can use it for work.


XX

Buffythedebtslayer

AND I just had my last cup of tea from it, just now and it was STILL hot!!


how fab.


The man I am giving my fish to (long story!) can meet me till 2.30 so am at a bit of a loose end.


by the time I have done with him it will be too dark to do anything outside.


still I have the washing on.


and there is always indoor house work!


one good thing