2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugalsod

quidsy wrote: »

I don't know, Ive only used 00 but it is recommended by Jamie Oliver as the best for pizza bases so it's good enough for me

TBH I have tried both and strong flour does work well for me. I shall look into the idea of making more dough and freezing it though.

TM6

:dance: TM6 is a VERY happy bunny today :dance:

I have been on a weight management course for 6 weeks now and when I was weighed today, I really expected to have gained weight this week. Why? Last Friday it was my Auntie's 80th birthday and on Saturday we celebrated my DD1 21st birthday with a Dr Who party. On Sunday we went out with my Mum for lunch so it was a full on weekend of celebrating.

But today, I have lost 2lbs :eek:

I am so chuffed Four more lbs and lots of these :j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j and I will have lost a stone.


:T Very, very happy - my fit and frugal regime is working :T

Shortie

Congrats TM6 !


No spends so for me today. Pay day for me and I've done the initial internal sub account transfers, and am waiting for 4 direct debits from yesterday to come out but have got them all logged. Am sitting waiting to hear about the mortgage advance before I pay my monthly amount to my Dad, as I can wipe the whole remaining balance off in one go with that (provided I get the advance that is). I have my main direct debits then coming out over the next few days into other sub accounts speciallly set up for phone bills, utilities, etc... Money is aside of food shopping too

So, at the starting pistol (ie on pay day) I have a whopping £77 left to get me through the month.... I have played this month's budget differently though - besides needing to pay for a trip on the EuroStar this month (a weekend away for a friend's birthday that we reeeeeeaaaaaly want to go to), I've budgetted a tenner for a team lunch tomorrow (very impromptu decision and much needed as we've all been taking a lot of flack recently) and I've allowed 2 lots of £1 cinema too (which we can coincide with the cheap market, cheap shops and cheap petrol). So the £77 is 'up for grab's at the moment, as it were.

I'm realistic enough to know that I couldn't go a whole month without spending on something else unplanned... but what would others do? Split the money between weeks in the month to help 'spread the budget' across the month? Or just see how it goes?

Urgh... I'm fed of things being so tight at the moment. I know I don't have to pay my Dad off as much per month as I do, but I want it out of the way so I push myself really hard to do it. And this year after years of no 'away' holidays, we're determined to enjoy ourselves - hence going to Paris for a weekend, booking a half term Sun Holidays holiday towards the end of the year, our big holiday in teh summer hoildays... But well... quite frankly... I'm suddenly remembering how expensive holidays can be

mum2one

shortie - def agree re hols I've just getting stung for £208 for entry visa's plus awaiting solicitors bill as I have to have a letter to say I'm a single parent...

cw18

I'm really lucky for holidays. I have the use of a property in the Lake District when it's not being used by the owners (family members) or their close friends or other relatives. We read gas (LPG) and electricity meters as we go in, pay for what we use on those plus any phone calls made (line's set up to ring you back and tell you what it cost after each outgoing call), air the place and give it a clean through before we leave. Means cheap breaks for us, and the place isn't as 'musty' when the owners want to use it - plus it's having a regular eye cast over it for potential problems/damage.

Last year OH and I had 5 nights up there with my 3 GDs (4th wasn't born), 8 nights with his niece, a week just the two of us, and I think it was 3 long weekends together. This year we've already 'booked' one long weekend to coincide with a food festival (but may ask to extend that one as OH has now booked the following week off work), a long weekend with my 2 youngest GDs and a 5 night break with my 2 eldest GDs and OH's niece. On top of that I've booked it for a 13 night stretch with me there on my own for the first 5 nights, and then OH with me for the rest - but DS1 may be joining me for the first couple of nights now so that he can bring my car back (he loves it up there anyway, and I'm sure he'll take great delight in dragging me up a big hill for walking training :eek: )

Buffythedebtslayer

am hungover so possibly a little more grumpy than normal. It was a budgeted night out but honestly shouldn't have gone moneywise. Although it was great to see my friend.


heating is off, am on the sofa with two small hot water bottles and two smallish dogs.


Also sick of having no money. Haven't done well this month AT ALL.


It is my own fault, I didn't work out much of budget and haven't sorted out the food cupboard. spent LOTS in supermarkets. haven't wasted anything really, but haven't enjoyed much either! I did better in January, but I think I fully expected to be skint then, Feb was meant to be easier.


sorry for showing up and whinging. I suspect it is mainly feeling hungover.


I shall go to sleep for a bit.

tatabubbly

Got my flights sorted, a little bit of a bargain and I've used some of my airmiles (never done it before!)

So now all I have to find is the €120 to make up for the braces and put the money I've used for my flights back in.. Won't have to pay to go anywhere now until July so I'm gonna try and see if I can hold off on any other big expenses.

Today has been a NSD, went tutoring so that money is going directly into the pay for braces fund! LOL! Just realised I've had braces on for the last 10 months. Time has flown in and there is a massive change in my smile. It's a lot of money but definitely worth it, I just can't wait to get them off me now!

Florenceem

To those feeling hard done by as short of money - I tend to think this way - helps me -
So many in the world have to live on $1 or less a day.
When it is raining - I think -
People in the world are dying/going hungry because of lack of rain to grow crops.
When having ME and osteoarthritis + Menieres's Disease makes me fell sorry for myself - think - of others worse off than me -
I went to visit my cousin yesterday - she is 9 years older than me - has Dementia, many health issues and is now incontinent.
I feel blessed that I have a free bus pass to go and visit her and am fit enough to do so.

TM6

:j Another NSD making 3 in a row :j

Buffythedebtslayer

Pasta and Cherry coke are well on the way to curing the hangover. A quick episode of Modern Family and a dog walk and then it is time for the kitchen to meet it's doom!!!


Only three days till I go back to work. It has been so nice.


*sighs*


xx