2014 Frugal Living Challenge

kb_soma

Hi all, just checking in. Keep up the good work! I made 6 jars of marmalade today, hoping it sets!

Frugalsod

Frizzle wrote: »

Not very frugal but bought a Panasonic bread maker today! Very excited! I have been making bread and hm pizzas for a few months so hubby thought this would help to save time! Fingers crossed!

If you use it a lot and the cost of your bread use falls then it is frugal. If you usually have two loaves a week and then make it yourself it will save you around £2 a week. So if you spent £100 on the bread maker it will have paid for itself within a year. Then each year afterwards you would be saving £100 a year from its use. On that basis the return on investment would be 100% per annum. Can you beat that with any other bank savings?

DawnW

kb_soma wrote: »

Hi all, just checking in. Keep up the good work! I made 6 jars of marmalade today, hoping it sets!

Just in case it doesn't - tip it all back into the pan and reboil for a few more minutes, keep an eye on it and keep testing

kb_soma

Thanks dawn, it's set a bit more today, not quite jelly though it is spreadable. I'll give a few more days and if it hasn't set I'll re boil. I had some on toast this morning as I was feeling impatient. It was lovely!

Coulddobetter

sparrer wrote: »

nsd/npd

Made a tray of dog biscuits to take to the dog sitter while I'm away. Her dog and mine love them, they're full of goodness, no rubbish and so inexpensive to make

Hi Sparra could you provide a recipe for these biscuits please. My dog has arthritis and I don't like to give her any rubbish. These could be perfect for her.

Sorry not been on here for a while. Frugal living along with healthy eating seems to be taking a back seat at the moment:o

I need to get refocused on both areas. Been saving up for our holiday in June I cannot wait. It helps to make working more enjoyable. DH and I both have the same ethos about spending money on holidays and experiences rather than things. We have enough things to last us until we leave this mortal coil. If you know what I mean.

Coulddobetter xx

Frizzle_2

Frugalsod wrote: »

If you use it a lot and the cost of your bread use falls then it is frugal. If you usually have two loaves a week and then make it yourself it will save you around £2 a week. So if you spent £100 on the bread maker it will have paid for itself within a year. Then each year afterwards you would be saving £100 a year from its use. On that basis the return on investment would be 100% per annum. Can you beat that with any other bank savings?

Lol! Good way of looking at it! I love making bread but find it takes so long so hopefully this way I will get the best of both worlds!

lynnejk

I'm pleased it's turned a bit warmer and so it seems are my seeds in the planters on the balcony (my garden).
Now have mixed salad leaves, rocket and beetroot sprouting away and the herbs are certainly growing on well :T
Not making much ATM but not spending much either - kind of balancing in the middle :rotfl:
Money-making should pick up after this week as DH is back at work, thanks GA, and I have two full weeks of work to look forward to
Am making a determined effort to get the apartment really clean and tidy this week and plenty of home-made dinners in the freezer while I have time this week
Hope you all having a great start to June
Lx

skintygerlinky

Evening Frugalites xxxx


Meal plans done, food shop done (inc some good YS bargains) and toiletries topped up.


Lets see how we do this month!!!


*squares shoulders, dusts self off, deep breath, frugal attitude once more in place**


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS-zK1S5Dws&feature=kp

Shortie

Hiya Skinty! Long time now see, good to hear the refreshed resolve


A positive frugal time for me since the weekend - I submitted my tax return last night which was great - got it out of the way in looaaaddds of time AND I discovered I'd done my estimates wrong and I owe less tax than I thought I would :j:D. As soon as I've got the money for that back together I'll pay it off. I know it doesn't need to be paid until Jan 2015 but I'd rather just get it out of the way and gone


I also checked our oil levels at the weekend (we're not on gas here) and since the new combi boiler has been installed, we've used hardly any oil. So we have hotter water that is instantly available and stays at a constant temperature, AND we're using A LOT less oil for the priviledge :j:T

Been doing other frugal bits, mainly around experimenting with making things from scratch at home and trying to shop sensibly where we've been needing to buy bits.

One thing I do need to tackle is the kids cloths - put bits that are too small for my eldest up in the loft for my youngest, and see if we can sell any of the bits that are too small for my youngest - decluttering while hopefully raising a little bit of spare money

[Deleted User]

kb_soma wrote: »

Hi all, just checking in. Keep up the good work! I made 6 jars of marmalade today, hoping it sets!

I love making jams and jellies. Think I will have a look at getting organised for doing some chutney's for Father's day gifts this weekend.

I also plan on doing Jams, jellies and marmalade for christmas gifts this year.