2014 Frugal Living Challenge

WantToBeSE

Good afternoon all

Been back to work this morning (groan), but can't really complain. It was only for 4 hours and I never work weekends.

I am waiting in for a parcel today (the Nexus 7 that i ordered from CPW for £99-bargain!), and then I must face the supermarket.

I am not sure whether to go to Tesco- I only live 2 mins away, and have a few coupons- or go to Aldi-a 20 minute drive, no coupons but always cheaper. Hmm, any suggestions?

I have written a shopping list and will stick to it.

Had lunch on the way home in the car (home made) so no spends there.

Coulddobetter wrote: »

I tried starting it last week and guess what we only had eggs on toast, an apple and a satsuma so real reduction in our normal food costs. Is there a catch?
Sorry for the rambling post.
CDB xx

Hi CDB, welcome to the forum

Re the 5:2 diet. I know a lot of people think it's great, and have had success with it, but i just don't think it's healthy. Eating less than 500 calories a day for 2 days a week just doesn't seem realistic to me. What i always think when trying to diet is "Would this set a good example to young girls?". If the answer is no (which in this case, it is), I wouldn't try it.
I think good old common sense- eat less, eat healthier and move more-is the only way to lose weight long term.

thepennyfarthings

Hi all,
Hope everyone had a peaceful christmas and not been too badly affected by the weather.

I got a polytunnel for christmas !!!!!!!!!! (for some reason I can't use smilies/icons at the moment)

Any hints/tips/suggestions regarding the polytunnel would be very welcome. It will be up at the allotment, I have half a plot and the tunnel will be five metres long.

Some of my aims for 2014 are:

Grow a lot more of my own food.
Source free wood for wood burner (it heats the whole house!)
Make more use of the breadmaker.
Take my own lunch to work.
Have lots of no spend days!

Haven't been near a shop since 23rd Dec. OH has just popped out to get some milk. Great start with the NSDs!

Keep safe and warm everyone.
tpf.

bmma

HI will post 3 month budget plan later, today have lentil stew simmering in the slow cooker,made home made hummus, bread baker will be used today,home made soup for tomorrow and home made scones for tomorrow-niece visiting, lentil stew has rice in it-complete meal and will have a few portions to freeze.

Kantankrus_Mare

Shortie wrote: »

I don't go there either tbh KM, though I still talk to NTG but that's out outside of that forum

We moved last year and although there is a kicthen garden already here, we had no time to do anything with it last year - I plan to make good use of it next year though You?


So, I popped out at lunchime and got a reduced perfume set and a good array of hairbands for my neice. I checked with MiL first before buying perfume (you never know at what age parents agree with certain things so I thought it best to check) and I'll check out a pair of ear phones too in a mo.

Jeez.... work-wise today is really dragging - so glad to have a chance though to catch up on some threads I've not read for a while thought to be fair

Yep still got the allotment with more enthusiasm some years than others. recently got a new job in the restaurant of a local garden centre and one of the perks is 25% staff discount so will help with seeds and plug plants for this year hopefully.

his_missus

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

Well, our first bit of frugality last night. Normally, my husband prepares far too many veggies for the Christmas dinner and what doesn't get eaten goes in the bin. Without him knowing that I'm wanting to be more frugal this year, he saved all the left overs, whizzed them in the blender and made patties out of them which were then shallow fried! Was a hit and made me happy as I hate to see waste!
Guess its a kind of bubble and squeak which I have never had before.

I used to buy "veggie burgers" from the SM which were basically mash with bits of veg in and coated in breadcrumbs. Hmmm....I usually make more mash than is required to freeze some, I might make something like this

Initially, I'm going to start the year off concentrating on reducing the food I throw away to zero and a budget of £80 a week for food, fun, birthdays etc. I know to a lot of you that might seem an over generous budget but a) we've cut back enormously from what we used to spend, b) I have 5 cats (included in the £80 budget) who probably have over a tenner a week spent on them and, c) I'm hoping there will be change left over each week to save.

Tonight, I need to look in the fridge and see what I can freeze/throw in the curry I'm making tonight/use up before it goes off. Why do we feel the urge to stuff our fridge full of food for one day of the year? There's only the two of us!

mama67

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

JUST A QUICKY!!!


Right I am putting a packet of bread mix in the bread maker, but I am putting it on dough only.... once that is done, and I take it out of the bread maker. Will I need to leave it to rise????

Hoping this isn't too late CTC.

When I do a dough only loaf to bake in the oven, I shape n put n the tin then just leave for approx 10 to 15 mins to let it get its rise back then bake as normal.

hth

slowlyfading

This thread is moving fast at the moment!

Having leftover turkey with jacket pots for tea tonight - nice and simple for tea, and using leftovers MSE points all round!

I've sorted a budget for our household, and although it's quite a bit higher than some, it'll be amazing if we stick to it, as we've got lots of plans for 2014. But, the plan does include £500 savings and £350 OP every month, which I'm hoping we'll manage with some strict budgetting.

Have a good evening everyone

COOLTRIKERCHICK

thanks Mama67, I asked over on the os board too,


Has anyone worked out how much an actual loaf costs to make??


I can buy an 800gm loaf from A$dafor £1 and from te$co for £1.30, BUT I seen them painting the bread with some sort of solution before baking, and it is making me think,even though there will be less additives than sliced bread, there might be more stuff in it than if I try and bake some myself... Hope that made sense

yukkibear

We had a big bowl of leftover veg from yesterday and I've been staring at it this afternoon wondering how I was going to NOT waste it. Cooked a casserole in a bag thing tonight, so threw the veg in it for the last ten minutes, hey presto no waste and saved on using more veg.

Mountaingirl

May I join you here? I'm quite determined to be more frugal this year, starting with getting a proper veg garden together. We have just under 2 years until our first child goes to Uni and then another year until the 2nd goes. At that point life becomes more expensive, so we need to get into good habits now!