2014 Frugal Living Challenge

mum2one

Hope everyone ok, not a no spend day - but some good news, DD had to go to allergy clinic at hospital, good news she is not allergic to nuts, shell fish, latex or latex resin (she had an allergy attack at dentist among others). But she has to go back in 6-8weeks for blood tests.

Normally we would have gone to 2 4 1 pub, as a treat, downgraded it to McDonalds.. (£13 spend for 3 of us instead of £40 pub)

Went to £1shop - realised that is my nephmis - took small basket, made it a cash only purchase and spent £3 (£2 of that was for xmas prezzies) usually spend £20 without thinking.

Downfall - popped into Boots - spent £75 in sale... (but includes £17.50 soap and glory set - mothers day from DD) - hope to make the money up by Feb to cover it.

Positive - Today started Jan's money coming in, so transferred the last bit from Dec into saving account (£33 - saving for hol) but normally that would be spent.

Family day out 2mor - but its the only real day out over Xmas as we've all had bugs one day or another so it weighs out ok. xx

Buffythedebtslayer

Quick Questions


Do we know if Linda T got the job?


Shortie how are you doing? any news re work?


Mum2one thank you for the biscuit/scone recipes


miss empty piggy - I have added up Christmas, got to 1000 and stopped in horror, my old me is also being locked away....!


Penny to my name - the hours I have spent on the computer this holiday have made my wrist hurt! I am looking into moving the laptop upstairs so that down here I can do other things.


23rdspiral - hope all is well


ALJA - I sell on Preloved and am going to try Gumtree, for items I wouldn't post or need a specialist market.


I survived eating the soup but haven't had a brilliant day - or few days really. Felt very low and unhappy. House is a mess and I have been too unwell (since before Christmas) to be on it. All in all 2013 sucked.


Still tonight am starting to feel better health wise.


Brain wise I just caught up on whole bunch of questions/comments from early on in the thread so am a bit fuzzy, I really like it here tho.


Today was a NSD and we had fish fingers and chips (horrible) for tea but not as expensive as the normal takeaway. I also made cheese sauce with pasta for lunch and had Granola for Breakfast. so all from the cupboard and although Mum has done a supermarket delivery for tomorrow which I don't technically think we need she is off on hols soon, so my proper frugalling doesn't start till the 20th.


I have lots of gardening plans. Want to buy a raised bed to grow my veg in. Used to do it in the garden but with two dogs it isn't very easy. Mind you some look fairly tall (am searching E bay) so it might worth doing. The bit of the garden the dogs can't get to isn't hugely sunny......




just going to post this in case I lose it.


xxx

tokicat

If anyone has a waitrose card their new magazine is out which is free for cardholders and comes with two cookery supplements. Some lovely recipes. Just bought some reduced bread for freezer so only spent 45p

butter-fly8

Hi all, I'm new to this but what a better way to start by signing up to this challenge, still a bit unsure how I'm going to achieve my goals but will do my research and reading on this site and also take some inspiration from you guys. Good luck and best wishes in 2014 and hope you achieve your goals.
(oh and hope I'm posting in the correct place as not sure what I'm doing yet)

miss_empty_piggy

Sorry to hear that you've been feeling down buffythedebtslayer - just know that we're all here for you. Here's a big hug :grouphug:

Welcome to all the newbies - good to have you aboard :hello:

Coulddobetter

Evening everyone. Had to go to t**** tonight and spent £26.97 on fresh fruit &veg, tea bags and mr m drain cleaner, don't ask....
The good news is I avoided the reduced Christmas stuff and YS meat. I felt so virtuous :T
Had homemade soup for lunch and then used up mash, carrots and beef stew from earlier in the week. It was lovely, then OH had chocolate torte and Christmas pudding ice cream. I was very naughty and had nuts, biscuits and some Christmas chocolate this evening. Well when they are gone I will not be replacing them. I hope by being frugal with my cash my waistline will also benefit.
I had rehearsals tonight and walked rather than use the car, so I may have walked off a nut or two.
CDB x

sparrer

4 nsd's so far this week, same tomorrow as no plans to go out. The vet bill yesterday was painful though
As I put the Christmas decorations away I gave them all an overhaul, made a string of mini stockings from a couple of old tatty felt ones and glued the fallen-off pieces of garland together and infilled it with ribbon bows, now it looks like new.
Halfway through doing my ff/larder inventory, didn't realise I have so much food! (And almost all of it ys). Apart from milk & ff&v I shan't be shopping for at least three weeks.

Shortie

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

Shortie how are you doing? any news re work?
<snip>

I survived eating the soup but haven't had a brilliant day - or few days really. Felt very low and unhappy. House is a mess and I have been too unwell (since before Christmas) to be on it. All in all 2013 sucked.
<snip>

I have lots of gardening plans. Want to buy a raised bed to grow my veg in. Used to do it in the garden but with two dogs it isn't very easy

Sorry to hear you are feeling down Buffy, those kinds of infections are the pits. Especially over the festive season. Glad you're starting to feel a little bit better though xxx

Dogs? You should try gardening with chickens that keep escaping from their run. You're there minding you own business when suddenly there's a 'booaak?' behind you. You turn around to find an inquisitive chicken behind you trying to inspect (read here 'wreck') your handy work :rotfl:

Work-wise, still not really sure what's going on but I'm just cracking on and waiting to see. I'm making my work more visible (copying lots of people on certain emails) as my boss has told me before that I need to be more vocal around what I'm doing. He knows I'm doing stuff, but he says I need to be shouting it out more so that people know I'm cracking on (iyswim?). I'm not the kind of person to blow my own trumpet though so it goes against my nature, hey ho. It seems though from what I'm hearing, that it was a very sudden thing and that management were given a day to come up with the names so if it comes again it might be the same (meaning we at least aren't all sitting waiting to see where the hammer falls)

xx

happycrafter_2

Good morning everyone hope you are all well and any poorly peeps are feeling better, this dreary weather doesn't help at all.

Well I woke up this morning with an idea of what I could make with some Stilton I froze after Christmas and for the life of me I can't remember what it was!
Going to crack on with th spare room soon so hopefully I can get some baking done this afternoon going to try mum2one scone and biscuit recipes

sweetpea26

Good morning all

Been fighting with the 'black dog' these last few days due to finding out some very stressful news in extended family. Feel exhausted but will hopefully with a bit of rest get there.

Good news is that I spent nowt yesterday

Making a list today to buy few bits at supermarket tonight.

Love this thread