2014 Frugal Living Challenge

sparrer

My window cleaner comes every 4 weeks and charges £7, I'm happy to budget for that, don't like looking through foggy windows!
I'm losing the plot a bit lately, money seems to slip through my fingers like water so I really have to tighten my belt. Not the best time of year to do it but needs must. I've limited presents to a maximum of £10 each, I have 19 immediate family members (children, grandchildren, great grandchildren) plus 8 others to buy for so it'll be interesting to see what I can get for my money. The annoying thing is 5 of them have birthdays within 10 days either side of Christmas as well - bad family planning!

cw18

Glad I don't have that many.... or quite that close

Only planning on Christmas presents for 14 at most, possibly only 10....

GD4 turns 1 on Monday, then OH's birthday on 27th, his niece (who comes to stay at mine) on 28th, my DD on 2nd Dec, OH's great niece around that time (leaving that one to him), then Christmas, then my Dad on 28th Dec, then me towards the end of Jan (which doesn't cost me ), with GD3 the following day.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Morning all,


managed to get to 'poundies' and pick up 6 bags of sugar.. as that's what it said was the max you could buy, when I was at the checkout, I asked if they were rigid on that, and they sais no, people can buy whatever, soooo will go back this weekend and stock up on more..we don't go through as much sugar as we used to, due to our boys not eating in the house so much, and me cutting down on how many cups of tea I have during the day lol


anyway sorry I haven't posted the alcoholic ginger beer recipe earlier, couldn't find it in work, but here goes..


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ALCHOLIC GINGER BEER


200gms grated fresh ginger


2 teaspoons of ground ginger


2 tablsppons of honey


2 oranges ( zested and juiced)


800gms sugar


1tsp of dried yeast


1tsp of yeast nurtients


4 and a half litres of water..




put 1 and 1/2 litres of water into a large pan.


add all the ingredients except the sugar, yeast, and the yeast nutrient.


Simmer for approx. 45 mins ( add the sugar about 10 minutes before the end 35 mins)


take off heat and leave to cool.


then add to the demijohn, and add the rest of the water.


add yeast and yeast nutrient.


Then shake the Demijogn for 1 - 2 mins, to mix the yeast etc


put on air lock


ready in 5 days..


then filter the ginger beer to remove any sediment..


If you want an extra bit of kick/bite to it, the person how gave this recipe also adds chilli to the mix..


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I am def going to try and do some before Christmas, as I like the crabbies ginger beer, but I just cant justify the price on a treat, I used to buy one bottle now and again, and maybe a box of them at Christmas time, at the moment if I bought one bottle in mr T it is over £2 a bottle...


so if anyone is good at maths.. how much would a bottle of home brew ginger beer cost??

COOLTRIKERCHICK

we are nearly ready to put a new bathroom suite in at the smallholding, and have been trying to find a good cheap one, there is one now local to us on ebay... used, but I don't care lol... this includes toilet, sink, bath, taps, shower ( and hopefully the shower cubicle waiting for seller to get back to me on that one) a bedet etc and not to far off the style that I would like, no bids yet 8 days to go, and starting price £100.. so I well and truly got my fingers crossed for that...


will use the bum washer as a planter in the garden if we manage to win it lol

[Deleted User]

Thanks for posting the ginger beer recipe, COOLTRIKERCHICK. Will definitely be having a go at that:T

Just one query (prob obvious but I haven't a clue:o) what's the yeast nutrient that you list as one of the ingredients please?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

carbootcrazy wrote: »

Thanks for posting the ginger beer recipe, COOLTRIKERCHICK. Will definitely be having a go at that:T

Just one query (prob obvious but I haven't a clue:o) what's the yeast nutrient that you list as one of the ingredients please?

I think she said you can buy it from brewery shops etc..


will have a nose around the internet, to try and find some links




edit....


just typed it into ebay


http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R1.TR11.TRC1.A0.H0.Xyeas&_nkw=yeast+nutrient&_sacat=0

Busymumofthreeplusdog

WARNING I NEED TO RANT!

My hubby was going into town this evening to visit a friend.I asked him to get me 2 x £15iTunes vouchers as Tesc@ as they had a £15% off special until tomorrow. He managed to spend £45!!!!!!! On booze, crisps and chocolate. I had spent 4 hours today doing xmas shopping online, making sure I got best prices, going through cashback sites, looking out for voucher codes. He has single handedly undone every bargain and penny I saved in the space of a 10 min shop!

I'm so frustrated I could weep!

Kantankrus_Mare

Aw busymum........I feel your pain. It must be a man thing. My OH always used to do that and I used to get so frustrated and think whats the point?

Since we have been allocating a set amount (in cash) for the weekly spends, he has changed entirely. Now its him moaning at me for spending it all.

When we used credit card for shopping, he would stick anything and everything on it which we paid in full each month but would leave us nothing spare.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

I cant trust hubby even with his debit card... so I have had to take it off him, and put it in my purse, and just give him cash.....


he is now SLOWLY taking notice of what things cost..


I feel your pain... and your frustration..

[Deleted User]

Busymumofthreeplusdog wrote: »

WARNING I NEED TO RANT!

My hubby was going into town this evening to visit a friend.I asked him to get me 2 x £15iTunes vouchers as Tesc@ as they had a £15% off special until tomorrow. He managed to spend £45!!!!!!! On booze, crisps and chocolate. I had spent 4 hours today doing xmas shopping online, making sure I got best prices, going through cashback sites, looking out for voucher codes. He has single handedly undone every bargain and penny I saved in the space of a 10 min shop!

I'm so frustrated I could weep!

Aww busymum, I know exactly how you feel. I must admit I had a wee chuckle to myself as this is eactly what my OH is like - and it is awlays on rubbish! A few years ago I banned him from having a card that allows him to spend from our joint account after him putting the account into overdraft several times:eek::eek:.