2014 Frugal Living Challenge

skintygerlinky

Evening Frugalites xxx

Cheapo day today - bus fare to work and that's it! Got loads of potatoes at the mo so just made a load of mash to have with some pie thing made with ingredients that were already in - recipe in this month's Arseda mag, the one with filo pastry on top. Was lovely!

I'm not religious, personally speaking, but I often give something up for Lent - this year its chocolate, cake and biscuits. Ohhhhhhhhh chocolate. Sweets. Biscuits dunked in tea. How I love you..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPmaaTcxW2o

Florenceem

Goldiegirl wrote: »

I feel really happy this evening. I've got two days off work next week. As I only work two days a week, the next time I go to work is 20th March.


Wednesday and yesterday were NSD's.


Fridays normally are NSD as well, but I've just this minute made a planned purchase, to help with my new frugal life.


I've just ordered a slow cooker from Amazon. I think this will be really useful, and I hope to use it often.


Along with my breadmaker and yoghurt maker, this will probably be the last 'gadget' I need


Not a need, but a want - I'd really like a steam mop. I think we might end up getting one in the next few months, it's still being thought about !

I am thinking of getting a steam mop. I want one that does carpets too.
I think my friend has a good Pifco one.

TM6

abby1234519 wrote: »

I did because I was drained after doing it! One of the reasons why I love Ynab, I can project income and expenditure for as many years as I want. Obviously things change but it shows me whether overspending this month (even if I have the money) will affect me in 7 months etc



You are welcome

It really does show things. I tweak it a lot. I also have my main budget and another one set up to keep track of wedding expenses.

And then I have my whatif budget. So if I want to play around and see what happened if one of us didn't work etc!

I update mine every two days initially, otherwise you get off track. After a while you can just do it every week or whatever

I know it isn't a free programme but once I got through the trial I realised I needed it! I've strayed to other budgeting programmes but this is my favourite.

Well thank you Abby - you are my Financial Fairy Godmother :A

We have saved SO much money today :dance:

lhead123

Florenceem wrote: »

I am thinking of getting a steam mop. I want one that does carpets too.
I think my friend has a good Pifco one.

Don't get a pifco! we had one and it only lasted 6 months before OH broke it - the handle is so flimsy its unbelievable! Don't get an H2O mop either, they are flimsy as anything and way overpriced.

We now have a Morphy Richards 9in1 and its brilliant, and really sturdy. If you can, go to somewhere like the range and try them out to see which one you like. No matter what the adverts say you need to push quite hard to get off dried in dirt sometimes, so really need one with a sturdy handle x

Florenceem

lhead123 wrote: »

Don't get a pifco! we had one and it only lasted 6 months before OH broke it - the handle is so flimsy its unbelievable! Don't get an H2O mop either, they are flimsy as anything and way overpriced.

We now have a Morphy Richards 9in1 and its brilliant, and really sturdy. If you can, go to somewhere like the range and try them out to see which one you like. No matter what the adverts say you need to push quite hard to get off dried in dirt sometimes, so really need one with a sturdy handle x

Thanks for the advice - we have a Range here.

DawnW

Everybody is doing really well today :j
Me... hmm

Bought chocolates for my team at work And I ate some

Boss drove me nuts :mad: And then I had a text from my credit card company to tell me that my card has been scammed :eek:

I checked online that the cc fraud line number was correct (it was) and phoned them. Apparently 3 small payments were taken all to the same organisation, then a big one to a firm (I googled) that sells perfume that is MUCH more expensive than the ones that I buy in the duty frees :eek:

Anyway, they have cancelled the card and will refund the stolen money, after asking a lot of questions such as whether I still had the card in my possession, if anyone could have had access to it etc :eek:

Made me think - do I actually need credit cards? I only use this one, and always pay it off each month. Why don't I just use a debit card? Am I right in thinking you need a credit card for some things? I will probably keep this one, but it reminded me that there are 2 other, unused ones in a drawer at home. I will find the paperwork and close those accounts.

Apart from that, I took lunch to work, and we had frittata for dinner tonight, which I made from eggs that needed using up, some parmesan from the fridge and peppers, mushrooms and bits of chorizo from the freezer. Might have some apple pie in a minute

The train turned up, so did the bus, and it didn't rain

And no work tomorrow :j:j:j:j:j:j:j

cw18

DawnW wrote: »

Am I right in thinking you need a credit card for some things?

If I remember correctly....

if you purchase something on a credit card that costs more than £100 (even if you only use the card to pay a deposit), then you can also claim back from the card company if the goods don't turn up or turn out to be shoddy, but you don't have the same come-back with a debit card. I always pay for high value items using a credit card, especially if it's something that I can't take home with me (most recent big items were the cooker, fridge and washing machine for DD when she moved house last August - ordered on-line for delivery a few days later).

EstherH

Wow, I have just finished reading the whole of this thread which I started about a week ago. I'm not in debt but very tight financially at the moment and I have really found inspiration from you all on here.

Thank you. Esther x

Shortie

I no longer have a credit card but I believe there is a higher level of protection on them for online payments?

Frugal day today - I worked from home and stopped Mr Shortie from nipping out for cream from the corner shop by reminding him that we have natural yoghurt to use up

The large expected medical bill isn't coming yet so I've moved the money into the tax fund for now.

Have the inlaws staying over this weekend but hoping not to spend any money othrr than a MineCraft membership that I promised DS2

lovefullshelves

Evenin frugals
NSD #4 today for me, best bit about work being home too...no temptation!
I'm feeling sorry for myself but don't tell OH as he was truely pathetic last week with the same cold! Haven't treated myself to anything online to cheer myself up. And don't fancy going shopping so it should be a cheap w/e as all we need is milk!
HM leek soup for dinner, all I need is a cow and it would all be homegrown too!
Scone pizza and chips for tea..delightfully cheap and stodgy!
I do miss Somerfield, its free magazine used to have great cheap recipes in it!
Off to feel pathetic in bed xx