2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Shortie

OOohh thanks cw18 xx

So it sounds liek i need to get cracking asap with the electricity switch anyway, and hold fire for a few weeks with the home insurance

Thanks !

Just_be_2

I'm desperate to monitor my credit report as I'm intent on improving credit rating. I just cannot justify paying the monthly fee that is charged. Is there any other option to see your credit report for free? I find it ludicrous that you have to pay so much to see information about yourself! Any advice greatly appreciated

[Deleted User]

Most of the credit agency's will allow you to access your record for 30 days for free. They ask for a CC so at the end of the 30 days they can start charging. Make sure you cancel before the end of the month.

Just_be_2

Thank you Deleted_User, I've actually had the 30 day trial and have cancelled the membership before i have to start paying, so am looking for alternatives to access the information without paying!

littleskintdragon

Noddle is free? U pay £30 for the credit score annually if u want it, but if u just want the report its free to join and no monthly fees.

Just came out of hiding with that bit of advice...
Still reading every day and doing my best.

Nicki_Sue

Hi all, hope everyone is having a good weekend?

I've been and topped up with a few pieces of fresh fruit for pack-ups etc and what not and have tidied/sorted the kitchen, freezer ad pantry and taken stock of everything I have in. Apart from the odd fresh item I shouldn't need to do a shop as such now until Thursday.

Now weve had DH's basline weekly wage slip I've been able to speak to tax creds (childcare!), know what our revised amounts are for everything etc I've ben able to work out a weekly and monthly budget for everything. This month will show how realistic the budget is and whether we need to tweak here and there but it's a good foundation.

DH has a chance to take part in the workplace pension which we are keen to do but want to give it until after Xmas to see how much leeway we have in order to work out how much we an cofortaby afford to put into it.

Doing well!

Frugaldom

Hi Nicki_Sue, glad to read you are now able to sort out your new budget. Hope OH is enjoying his new job.

Thoughts here have turned to autumn and winter preps - foraging, preserving, new stock of laundry liquid made, gathering sticks for winter kindling, mending clothing, looking out curtain linings and generally preparing for the long winter months.

Apples are being wrapped in paper and stored in cardboard boxes and surplus berries frozen for future use. Today is a soup making day to use up courgettes and patty pan squash, this will also get frozen.

Hope everyone on here is doing ok, managing to keep on top of their bills and spending. Autumn can be a bad time of year with the steady run up to Christmas, so be on your guard... make and mend now, get those gifts organised and stay ahead of the game.

Hoping to have another frugaldom meet-up next month, so please do get in contact if you are within reach of SW Scotland.

[Deleted User]

Frugaldom wrote: »

Hi Nicki_Sue, glad to read you are now able to sort out your new budget. Hope OH is enjoying his new job.

Thoughts here have turned to autumn and winter preps - foraging, preserving, new stock of laundry liquid made, gathering sticks for winter kindling, mending clothing, looking out curtain linings and generally preparing for the long winter months.

Apples are being wrapped in paper and stored in cardboard boxes and surplus berries frozen for future use. Today is a soup making day to use up courgettes and patty pan squash, this will also get frozen.

Hope everyone on here is doing ok, managing to keep on top of their bills and spending. Autumn can be a bad time of year with the steady run up to Christmas, so be on your guard... make and mend now, get those gifts organised and stay ahead of the game.

Hoping to have another frugaldom meet-up next month, so please do get in contact if you are within reach of SW Scotland.

I am in central Scotland and would love to have a frugaldom meet up.

Your preparations sound so idyllic to me. At the moment I feel as if I hardly have time to shop never mind preserve or prepare for winter. Would love to get out of working full time again.

Nothing majorly frugal to report, just checking in.

[Deleted User]

Just had a wee catch up of th thread since not been on for a while. We have beautiful Autumn day here so I am hoping to go out foraging tonight. I may have left it a bit late for Brambles so need to go and check my usual local stock.
Some projects needing finished off which I ideally would like to get done in next week or two are:

1. Finish off shabby chic painted chairs.
2. Make Jam/Jelly.
3. Finish off bunting.
4. Make cushions to go with shabby chic chairs.

It is my sisters 40th in November and, as is usual for her, she is planning something extravagant. I have got part of her present which is a green teapot but not sure what else to get her. Any ideas folks?

Frugaldom

Good luck to all who are able to switch contracts on leccie - still on same prepayment here but have driven down the consumption drasticall, thanks to logburner for heat & cooking.

Allie23, our frugaldom meets are posted in frugal forums, we have had a couple over the past couple of months, you are more than welcome to join - I thought you were already a member there but there? Maybe you are a different Ally.

Hoping to start plotting, planning and preparing next year's veg beds today, plus get some trees properly planted that are currently in tubs. Lunch is camp fire cooking and meeting frugal friends. Sun shining, longish cycle ride to get there, happy frugalling everyone.