2014 Frugal Living Challenge

LionessInWinter

Bobarella wrote: »

First day in my new temp job. £4 in tips. Plus free coffee & lunch. Cant complain. Super shattered now but off until wednesday so will soon bounce back. Great to hear about the NZ situation for NT very interesting.

Congratulations and Good Luck with the new job

BigMummaF

Nicki_Sue wrote: »

Hi All!

Have caught up again after reading through, some fab and inspiring posts.
An update from me: Some might remember that Dh was made redundant this summer (he was made redundant in Oct last year too so we've not had much luck!). Long story short it has worked out for the better as the new job is brilliant, he loves it, the pay is much better (he's just had a payrise after completing his initial 12 weeks) and even though we had to buy a car and must run / maintain it we are still a little better off. Onwards and upwards.

Christmas is mostly sorted, with Park vouchers having done a lump of the shopping. I've just DH's bits and pieces to get now which I'll do shortly. Christmas dinner is just for us four and we'll do the same as last year and enjoy a Lidl Xmas dinner. We don't go mad on food at Christmas so it's just a (tasty) special Sunday dinner really.

Feeling really optimistic about next year and have bought a new page a day diary (thank you cheap deals shop at 1.29) and have already entered payment / savings goals and the like.
We are far from swimming in ten pound notes but the going is going at the moment so we are saving as much as we can and enjoying the frugal lifestyle still. It's second nature now!

Does anyone have big goals for 2015 in mind?

I've seen the ads for those vouchers; you can choose which shops to use them can't you? Mind, I don't spend an awful lot--The Offspring are big enough to buy what they want all year round so we've had a £20 pp thing for gifts for a few years now--& I pick up bits of "special" food & things when they're on a good offer from about August-time. Luckily me muvva isn't keen on donkey-flavoured potato triangles & the stuff they like, so her spare storage becomes my larder for the duration
When The Offspring were around 10 yrs old (there's less than four years between eldest & youngest with another in the middle ) I caught them looking in the drawers under my bed.. it was so comical to watch from my hidey-hole thru the bannister Keeping a straight face I asked them "what do you think you're doing?" as I broke cover, & 3 sheepish heads bowed as they mumbled "we know you buy posh crisps for Christmas". Being a single parent (long story) I would buy own label stuff throughout the year, but 'splash out' on a few brands for special occasions...I must be the only parent with kids more interested in searching out w@lkers than w@lkmans :rotfl:

quidsy

Haha, we do that with the crisps too buy offers or value through the year but I buy "fancy" when I seen them on offer from september but store them in the loft. Everyone gets excited when they finally come out.

Frugaldom

Good luck in your new job, Bobarella.


CW, I'd to give up my NTS membership as there is nothing at all within reach of me but I am amazed at the number of countries listed with exchange agreements on this scheme. If I was 20 years younger, I'd be tempted to start saving to see many of the overseas ones. Suspect my travelling days are over until I reach State Pension age or, at the very least, free bus travel throughout Scotland. :rotfl:

Frugaldom

creditavenger wrote: »

For those considering buying National Trust and/or English Heritage membership, why not consider joining "Heritage New Zealand" instead? Google their website for details.

HNZ membership is open to UK residents and costs considerably less than either NT or EH memberships alone, but gives access to all the properties of both NT and EH organisations under reciprocal access agreements.

See the "Visiting Rights to Overseas Heritage Places" section towards the bottom of the "Membership Benefits" page.

Family membership for a year is 79 New Zealand dollars which works out at approximately £39.82.

Some people may question the strict ethics of joining an overseas organisation in preference to the UK ones, but I can't afford NT or EH prices. I salve my conscience by buying the kids sweets and ice creams from the NT/EH shops, which is money they wouldn't have otherwise.

Apologies if this suggestion offends anyone, but this is a money saving site afterall :money:

Done for the right reasons, this is not offensive in the least, I think it is fantastic that it is even possible to do this. It is all charity and it is showing support of our global heritage in a manner that makes it affordable to those who may, otherwise, not have afforded such a luxury. :T

COOLTRIKERCHICK

I am starting to hate this time of the year again..


prices are starting to go up on fruit and veg..


grapes have gone up to £2.50 a punnet in some supermarkets..


I don't scrimp on my turkey, always order it from the butchers we buy a turkey saddle/crown so all meat, and we never buy it will stuffing..


we haven't bought any of the fancy stuff they advertise on tv like the frozen deserts etc...


for us Christmas day is a glorified sunday dinner with more sweets and nice things to eat..


haven't even put the decorations up for the last 2 years...lol


have also cut back year on year on how many present/gifts I have bought..

Bobarella

That's brilliant about the crisps Big Mumma. I'd say if your children can get excited & enjoy little pleasures like that you've done a great job of raising non consumers.. so great work.

Picklepot

Hi All


Apologies if i'm not on the correct thread for this - I don't know my way round the OS board well but sure one of you may be able to help.
Can anyone advise on oldstyle spray cleaners, and/or essential oils please?
I have recently become very oversensitive to modern cleaning products and airfreshners etc.. I cleaned the shower of lime and scum with a well known brand (doors and windows open too!) and had such a tight chest for 2 days have not used it since. I now cant seem to tolerate surface spray either kitchen/bathroom . Plug in air freshners and candles had to go a long time ago as they were too strong. The latest is the tumble dryer sheets which I tend to slide into the drawers/bed clothes in DS2 room when he's at uni.
Many years ago I was asthmatic but I have been fortunate it has been dormant for a long time.

cw18

You might want to take a look at Stardrops. A lot of people use that for everything, much like a multi-surface cleaner. Also suitable for hand laundry.

Kantankrus_Mare

"Lizzie Dripping"

23 sbs.....my best win for ages and takes me to my daily target

Edited to add.

Oops wrong thread