2014 Frugal Living Challenge

judi24

mmm all this talk about early retirement makes me think about my future. I always thought I would work until i had no choice but to be honest i am tired of the rat race! I have a good job, close to home, that pays well and gives me some job satisfaction - but it just doesn't feel right anymore! Once the debt is paid and I have a few good adventures with my kids i think the mortgage will be tackled! Can't actually believe i am saying this!!! Might try to become mortgage free next!!!


On a completely different note - I was very tempted to get a take away tonight - but made leftover pork fooyung with rice and curry sauce from stuff that was in the house and it took me less time than getting in the car and queing in the take away!!! and it cost nothing!!! Iwould kill for a glass of wine though! But I have signed up for the Dryathlon so not going to have any!

pm2326

lindsayr2403 wrote: »

It may also be worth looking at a different delivery/supermarket. Ocado has very cheap delivery (often free or 99p), and tesco do a 'bulk buy' of prepaid delivery slots… thats a lot of money otherwise. Alternatively, buy an extra meal each week for a few weeks then don't do a weekly shop one week. Save £7 straightaway!

Sainsbury charge £6.95 if your delivery is less than £45.

happycrafter_2

Tea tonight was left over mushroom and lentil curry for me and frozen chicken and bacon pie for OH and kids served with chips and mushy peas. Tonight OH and I have started to clear out our spare room, I use it as a craft room everyone else as a dumping ground!
Tomorrow we are having a big clear out of old paperwork and I am also having a good sort through my craft items. Just started on a big biscuit tin full of cross stitch kits so I can see how many I can use up as cards this year.

thepennyfarthings

Evening all!
Hope everyone is o.k regarding the storms we have been experiencing. Took children & dog to the allotment this morning to do a quick check, all o.k at the moment.:)
We were caught in the hail stones:eek::eek::eek::eek:.
Eventually got home, put everyone's clothes in washing machine, nice hot showers and made lots of mac cheese:j:j:j:j. OH had leftovers when he got home from work!
I am amazed I have enough food in to make so many meals!
This year I am aiming for a total spend of £5,200 on food & fuel. I think this is doable as I now have a polytunnel (have yet to build it:eek:) and will aim to grow as much as possible this year.:)
Bought a new charger for laptop today, last one gave up, unexpected cost £30:(
My total spend for this week (friday to friday) £61.45 any money leftover is going towards debts.
Going to book the four of us up for an evening of observing the night sky:). Its free:j:j:j. Hoping to see Jupiter:j.

Stay safe everyone,
tpf.

alja

Another NSD for me today my friend who said about going for a meal tomorrow also wanted us all to go for lunch in a well known coffee shop too. Thankfully due to another reason we're not going now, sounds horrible saying "thankfully" but I really can't justify the prices they charge in those places on the same day as going out for a meal!

Finished off my shampoo sample sachet this morning, so another free hairwash for 2014!

I'm tempted to go to Tesco early tomorrow morning. I'm not sure how much of their sale will be left, but I have a couple of clothing vouchers I need to use up. So I may go and see if I can pick up anything good clothing wise

pm2326

evening all....
feeling proud of myself as was seriously contemplating getting a takeaway tonight but by the time i finished sorting bits and pieces in kitchen i decided to make something from the fridge...so ive used up 2 mini tortilla wraps by making qasadias (s) and made a side of bubble & squeak, quite random but finished up some left overs.

have also sliced the remaining beef into 3 more portions and froze them along with the remaining brussel sprouts and some sausages that had to be used today.

hollieinbloom

Evening frugalies! Today has been ok weather wise here in the East Midlands. A bit windy but not as bad as it has been in the past weeks.

Today I have updated my filofax and should have my notepaper for it through from Amazon tomorrow. I also ordered some coffee syrups in the amazon boxing day deals and a milk frother so I can make my own lattes at home instead of going to costa I used vouchers so all free (well...i had to do loads of surveys to earn it but hey ho).

I am thinking about buying a shredder but they are so expensive! all the cheap ones have bad reviews so I don't think i'll bother. I might just get my dad to take all the stuff i want shredding to his work and do it lol.

Going to B&Q tomorrow so OH can spend his vouchers he got for crimbo and going to pop into dunelm mill which is next to it to get a storage box. The big tesco is just a short walk from it all too so I will go in there and grab some bargains if there is any left.

Anyone been in Tesco and seen any washing powders on offer? xx

skintygerlinky

Hi All, I'm new here!
Just texted a lot of friends to say 'Well folks - don't know about you, but I'm completely skint!' - so far, lots replied in same boat so I've directed them here to the MSE website and forum. Solidarity and support are the order of the day!
I have some lovely celebratory events coming up this year (mainly milestone-y birthdays for family members/friends) and as I'm on a very low income at the mo, there is just not any cash left over to fritter away. So I need to reign it in, end of. Great to read the messages here and will deffo be posting with updates.

littleskintdragon

Evening everyone, finally caught up and everyone seems to be doing very well.

Went to mr,t earlier and got a few essentials, pet food etc.

Really need to check the bank but i know i went over my overdraft yesterday and im dreading looking :-/

I also had a soup maker for xmas but havent used it yet, bought a stew pack for 87p to bung in with some potatoes. I did think about returning the soup maker because i dont need it but dont want to offend? I quite often make leek & potato in the saucepan and blend it in the smootie maker.

I need to start writing spends down & keeping tabs on spends.

pm2326

pm2326 wrote: »

evening all....
feeling proud of myself as was seriously contemplating getting a takeaway tonight but by the time i finished sorting bits and pieces in kitchen i decided to make something from the fridge...so ive used up 2 mini tortilla wraps by making qasadias (s) and made a side of bubble & squeak, quite random but finished up some left overs.

have also sliced the remaining beef into 3 more portions and froze them along with the remaining brussel sprouts and some sausages that had to be used today.

now having a wee whiskey or 2 to use up some flat lemonade....couldnt think of a better way!!