2014 Frugal Living Challenge

rockm87

Love our Dolce Gusto machine. I agree though not the hottest!

I tend to bulk buy on amazon when I have a voucher or two. Our little treat.

SarahB1989_2

My flatmate has a nespresso machine that looks very smart in our kitchen but is rarely used! I just bought myself a little cafetiere instead, it can't make a latte but it does do lovely coffee and far nicer than instant.

curly33

Hello all,


I always read but rarely post but wanted to suggest to DawnW a recipe for blackberries - I like this one


http://eatseasonably.co.uk/what-to-eat-now/recipe/blackberry-eton-mess/

natnat13

Hi I would like to step up and join please. I have lurked around for a couple of years and am very good most of the time then will have a blow out!
I have been reading this years thread and am up to page 65!
I am a single mum to 2 DS's who are school age. I have just gone back to work, pretty much full time, my hours vary, I can't work out if this is a good move with tax credits or not. I have no debt apart from interest free credit on my sofa which I may pay off so its one less DD a month. My main aim is to buy a house again, I am paying a lot of my rented property and it grates on me as I feel I am chucking money down the drain. So I am trying to be frugal and save, save, save.

lynnejk

:hello: and a BIG welcome to the new people.


I can see that it must be easy to slip into spending money when you seem to have plenty coming in. I think that I spent so many years in debt and hard up that I just find it difficult to spend money, especially on myself. It really would really frighten me :eek: if I thought I was getting myself into debt and prefer to see some savings sitting there now in case anything happens, even though it's not much at the moment. We do at least have a holiday each year though try to get a 'bargain' if I can, but think knowing we are going to get some sun sometime later helps on the not so good days


Don't get me wrong, I will always have 'champagne tastes' as the saying goes but so many years of 'beer money' has made me cautious. I like to eat well, and maybe spend more on quality food than others, but don't enjoy 'ready-made' anyway, and love my fruit and veg which are sooo expensive now. On the other hand I don't eat cakes, biscuits, chocolate and crisps apart from the very occasional time or when DH buys them :rotfl:


I know it wouldn't do if we were all the same and think that's why these threads are so helpful - lots of different people and their different attitudes but all trying to make the most of the pennies we have, and helping each other to do the same. I know I have found it motivating, informative and supporting to be part of these communities - so thanks to all :T


Hope you all have a fabulous Friday
Lx

Shortie

Very well said lynnejk. You're very right - even when I'm not posting much I still find reading the messages on this thread are great at keeping motivation and spirits up

Thanks all xxx

[Deleted User]

Today is a lovely sunny morning so I plan to make the most of it:
1. Get washing out on the line.
2. Start my running made easy programme.
3. Sit outside and do some more crochet

I also need to do some more Ironing which I will do later on this morning.

I am aiming for a NSD today.

Frugalsod

Shortie wrote: »

Very well said lynnejk. You're very right - even when I'm not posting much I still find reading the messages on this thread are great at keeping motivation and spirits up

Thanks all xxx

Also it helps with solutions that we never thought of. It can really help if someone else has worked out a solution already.

Bad_Weather

Hi all!

I am trying to get on board the frugal wagon - it is slippery.

I too have champagne taste - but years of debt taught me I can't have it all. So OH and I are trying to save and be frugal in the home so we can go our holidays and buy our clothes or whatever.

I am finding our monthly "pocket money" is helping. Our work lunches and everything comes out of it, really makes us take our lunches into work from our food budget.

Anyway! Frugal things I have did today:

1) Ran into work (only 1.7 miles)
2) Brought my brekkie AND lunch in with me - lunch is some yummy homemade (first time ever) cheesy pasta sauce. YUM.
3) Wearing a top that was my mothers back in the day - vintage at its finest (i went to buy one and she said she had one similar at home - she did).
4) Recycled an old Cath Kidston iphone cover that was bin bound - LOVING it.

Erm..thats it! x

DawnW

No work :j:j:j I am off till after Easter now :T:T
Went to stock up my unit this morning - not much sold again, so may have to rethink there. May look for an outlet that is open more than 3 days a week.....

Went to the garden centre to get some plants for the bed I am going to nag OH to dig over and redo. I got some raspberries and a rhubarb, and some new herbs as some of mine are old and woody. Might have a go at cutting them back though, see if that helps

When we got back, we had a phone call from the garage where OH's truck is in for its MOT and service, and we are looking at a big bill this time :eek: Still, it will have to be done, and in all fairness, we have had it 4 years now and it has sailed through each time up to now. I am hoping he will sell it and get something smaller that we could both drive, and go down to one vehicle - he must be over his mid life crisis now surely :rotfl::rotfl:

Well, I will need to keep the other bills low now! Salad sarnies eaten for lunch, and I am planning a Jamie recipe I found for fish bake for supper, using up one of the big trout from the freezer - I got OH to fillet it earlier all ready to go

Thanks for the lovely blackberry ideas - I especially like the idea of the tray bake and the eton mess I have also found a muffin recipe, and as a bit of a muffin connoisseur, I MUST try that one :rotfl:In fact I will try all 3

Hmm it is clouding over a bit, so I had better get the sheets and duvet covers off the line - don't want those to get wet :eek: