2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Shortie

Haha, okaay.... we have lots of rain, I won't be doing any gardening today. But then my ankle is hurting to walk on so am actually glad that it at least wasn't raining and my ankle was fine

I hear the kettle calling my name :-)

Shortie

Cooooo... feeling very energised this morning :-D

Kitchen sorted from last night (joint effort), chooks feed and watered (DS1), Mr Shirtie is making thick pancakes with DS1 at the moment. I've hoovrred the hall, living room, dining room and kitchen, and will do the annex in a mo. I'll put off... I mean save!!.. hoovering the stairs until later. Mkre washing on so will check that for the tumble in a mo.

Bring.It.On :-D

Frugalsod

Well did a shop at Ald? £63 yesterday and now have topped up many things so can now get through the month with a few minimal spends. A number of the items will last me for a few months but I am trying some of the other products to see how they are. So no risk of a big shop being required for this month.

alja

lynnejk wrote: »

Just wondering if you ever think to look in charity shops. Depends where you live but if you go to a 'well-heeled' area you can often get something quality for the same price as new in the stores.

Yes, I often pop in to the ones in my town, I actually went in to my town's ones yesterday and managed to find another little cardigan for just £4.

Not found a lot lately, but will keep popping in just in case. I have quite a few pieces of clothing from charity shops

Picklepot

Would like to ask what you all think about sending cards and gifts to family who never respond or who's relatives say a thank you on their behalf but they recipient doesn't contact?

Have battled with this as i think you should give because you want to but feel its a very one sided relationship . I stopped sending gifts in case they were unsuitable and sent vouchers i have now reverted to cash but i cant remember my niece and nephew (they are 18 and 23) every saying thank you or making any comment or contact - although their mum usually does.

I cant decide whether i am being really horrible questioning this or just being realistic?

DawnW

Evening all :j
Lazy weekend as I haven't done much again today.
Eggs for breakfast again :rotfl:and I made a lemon tray bake to use up some more (and a couple of shrivelling lemons from the bottom of the freezer )

Potato, onion and bacon hotpot for lunch, with spring greens from the garden

Work trousers washed and dried on the line ok, despite intermittent drizzle.

And looked after baby GD while her Mum had a blissful trip to the supermarket on her own :rotfl:

Work tomorrow but only a 4 day week as I am using some leave from Friday till after Easter :T

Picklepot, perhaps it is time to stop sending these gifts now they are presumably earning their own money? They obviously don't appreciate them. No need for a big announcement - just send a card wishing them a happy birthday from now on?

Busymumofthreeplusdog

Picklepot wrote: »

Would like to ask what you all think about sending cards and gifts to family who never respond or who's relatives say a thank you on their behalf but they recipient doesn't contact?

Have battled with this as i think you should give because you want to but feel its a very one sided relationship . I stopped sending gifts in case they were unsuitable and sent vouchers i have now reverted to cash but i cant remember my niece and nephew (they are 18 and 23) every saying thank you or making any comment or contact - although their mum usually does.

I cant decide whether i am being really horrible questioning this or just being realistic?

In my family we stop when kids reach 18. (Some family members stopped before that!). With perhaps a 21st gift( not sure yet as none of them gave reached that age yet..)

alja

Oh, I would definitely say thank you to anyone that gave me a gift Picklepot. You're definitely not being horrible for questioning it! Can't say I've dealt with that situation myself, so not sure what to suggest but I don't think I would be happy giving gifts to people when it feels one sided like that without any real thanks from the recipient at least.

Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend! Today was a NSD for me, went to my friend's LO's birthday party, which was lovely. Looking forward to a chilled out evening. Will do a little bit of swagbucking I think, not long until I reach my target

lovefullshelves

I agree Picklepot, a card would suffice, as past 18 they should be earning! At my age I'm just glad to get a card! ->A<- card!!
Today has been most idle but i have been nowhere and therefore spent nothing!
Tomorrow we're off to pick up some free seed potatoes:D yay! My rainbow chard is up too:)
I was wondering, does everyone have a 'proper' holiday? We never have, we just have days out in the summer. Am I really, really mean?!
Off to make a cuppa x

cw18

Depends on what you mean by 'proper' holiday

When the kids were small we had a few years when we took them to a H@ven camp in this county, and one year when we did something similar in South Brittany - all self catering. Two years we also rented a bungalow (one in Devon, one on the Scottish borders) and went self catering in those.

In 2002 we grabbed really cheap flights to NY (under £100 return per person) and booked a 'suite' in an aparthotel for a week out there self catering.

In 2003 we had a weekend in Dublin (as an American friend who was staying with us for a month wanted to visit there).

We also had a number of years when we used a family owned property in the Lakes - pay for gas, electric and phone, air the property and clean through, so peanuts compared to the others.

Didn't go away at all after 2004 until 2010 as we took in a dog in December 2004 which meant it was either very expensive (kennels!) or impossible. And also down to my health issues (2006-08) and (late) hubby's cancer (2007-08).

Used the place in the Lakes in 2010 for a weekend with the chap I was seeing then (left DS2 at home dog sitting). Then nothing until 2012, having had the dog rehomed in 2011 (he was a great family dog, but by then I was on my own and I was really, really tied to the house and life was totally revolving around him)

In 2010 my OH and I went to the Lakes property a couple of times. Last year we went up several times (a couple of full weeks and several long weekends). This year we've already done one long weekend, have another coming up with my 2 youngest GDs, a 13 night stretch when I'm on my own for the first 5 nights before he joins me, then a 5 night break with my 2 oldest GDs and his niece. We're also going to check availability (when it's not in use by the owners or other family members) to see if we can fit in any more long weekends. The weekend we've been up cost us just over £18 for gas & electric (didn't use phone at all), so the trips there don't exactly break the bank

We're already talking about booking a H@ven break in a couple of years - taking my 4 GDs, his niece and his great niece (currently 10.5, 9 on Tuesday, 3.5, 2.25, 5 months and 4 months). If we were booking for this year, then depending on which site we went for (for the lowest level of accomodation I'd take, which is only second up) we'd be looking between £650 and £800 - plus possible something extra (maybe £30) for some activity vouchers for the 2 eldest and spending money (mostly for drinks in the family entertainment room in an evening). We both agree that's not bad for a week at the end of August for 8 of us, but it's still time to start saving up........ And we'll almost certainly have to hire a minibus to get us all there and back with the luggage (we could all get into the two cars if we only take the clothes we're wearing plus one change and nightwear )