2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom

Mumfirst - I have a soup thread with recipes on the frugalforums, I'll try to remember to copy some of it over here for you, as it has the break down of costs to the exact penny per recipe.

Boomdocker

I have got my slow cooker out for its very first use today, it has beef and ale casserole in at the moment and the house smells amazing! Hopefully this will prove to be a frugal way of cooking and I hope to be able to freeze portions in the future.

Have updated my signature today with points and vouchers that I have left over from this Christmas. I like to save them and even if I get a couple of joints, gifts or bottles of wine then I am happy with that.

mumfirst_2

Aww thanks Frugaldom much appreciated.

Frugalsod

Frugaldom wrote: »

Well, you guys can't half chatter among yourselves - I have zero chance of catching up with 20+ pages of posts so I'll just say welcome to my 2014 challenge, good luck to all of you for 2014, welcome to all the new-comers and I hope to see as many of you still posting by the end of the year with updates of how much you have saved and how close you are to kicking clear of any debts.

I do not think I will be debt free but pretty close. Even if I do spend anything my loan will be only a matter of months from being cleared regardless, and then everything can be funnelled into clearing what is left of the credit card debt. So I should end 2015 debt free and with substantial savings as well.

Florenceem

zepsgal wrote: »

My coleslaw is grated carrot, sliced cabbage (preferably white cabbage, I have made it with savoy and it wasn't as nice) with the sauce made from mayo with salt and pepper. Occasionally I put a dollop of mustard in it to liven it up. Preferably whole grain cos I like the wee bits in it

I put grated carrot, chopped up white cabbage and onion in Coleslaw. I add Mayo - big bottle - 99p shop. Add whatever flavour you want - I like garlic granules in mine.

InClover

Miss Empty Piggy - thanks for tip re milk at Ice****. Unfortunately I live in the wilds and my nearest one is over half hour away by car. Next time I'm there I will get some to put in the freezer through.

InClover

Yesterday was a NSD - 1st one of the year. Yaay


Today I had to spend but don't think I did too badly. £30 on birthday present for daughter. Have to post it Monday but chose lightweight present to keep the cost low. £1 for big roll of wrapping paper. £1 for large bottle of Pers** washing up liquid. £2.89 on fruit and veg. £3.50 on 4 books from the charity shop as I can't give up reading. I know I could go to the library but always forget to take books back on time and end up paying fines. At least this way the money goes to charity and 4 books is my limit for the month. The were on bogof too. Then £5 sponsorship money to a friend who did a New Years Day dip (mad fool). Again, was for a good cause - cystic fibrosis.


I'm going out tonight with a fellow cash strapped friend so we have set ourselves a limit of £10. Which, if I spend the whole £10 will make my spend today £53.39. Not brilliant but better than if I hadn't been thinking about it. At least I won't have to buy any food this week, am using up what I've got and trying to be creative. Last night I had vegetarian sausages (left here by daughter when she moved out) mashed potato, tinned sweetcorn and HM onion gravy. Not would I would normally choose to feed myself but tasty and filling. Off to see what I can rustle up for today now.

Dollydaydream_2

InClover wrote: »

Yesterday was a NSD - 1st one of the year. Yaay

. £3.50 on 4 books from the charity shop as I can't give up reading. I know I could go to the library but always forget to take books back on time and end up paying fines.

I used to spend money in charity shops on books till I found out that I can manage my library loans over the net. I can renew them, search the catalogue and reserve for free all from the comfort of my armchair. Now when I see a book reviewed that I would like I simply reserve it from the library, it may take a while but I know that I will get it in the end. This applies to non fiction as well, if I think I may like a book then I get it out from the library first of all. Mostly I decide that there was only one or two things in it that I wanted in it so photo copy them and then send it back to the library, only if I think that the book is really worth having do I put it on my wish list. Saves an awful lot of space on my book shelves as well.

Caseymoo

Well yesterday I had a semi frugal day lol. Did inventories of the cupboards and freezer and did a mean plan for the next 3 weeks and also a food budget for the next 8 weeks as using last years sealed pot money to buy food and there's enough money (hopefully) for 8 weeks .
Spent £50 on cupboard essentials and things like toilet rolls, tin foil etc and LOTS of reduced fruit/veg which will save me a fortune in the long run so chopped it all up froze some , made some sorbets, lollies and smoothies so should be ok for the next weeks and bought enough lemons for the year as they were 13p for 6 i normally pay around 30p each so bought as many as i could! Also spent a little more than usual as got the in laws coming tomorrow for a second Christmas to exchange gifts etc as we spent it with my family this year so that should be nice x

We are getting married in Cyprus in July so booked our flights and got them £160 cheaper than we budgeted for as we have extra luggage for wedding things. Booked hotel for the wedding night as staying with my Mum for the rest of the time and bought bridesmaid dresses, chair sashes, ties etc etc for the grand total of £425 so very pleased .

Then spent £20 on birthday presents for my Dad, Grandad and FIL which are all today and tomorrow and filled the car up which was £40.

Finally my car broke the week before Christmas, the gearbox went and with it being an auto very expensive to fix. Im self employed so had to go out and buy a run around to get me by as had around 50 deliveries to do. But just got my best bargain yet found a gearbox on e*ay to fit my car for £160- was going to cost around £1000 to get my car fixed but now ive got this gearbox will be £400.

So an expensive day but hopefully won't have to spend any more money until next friday.

sparrer

Just found a good way to curb a spending urge, when I buy things I definitely don't need. I tidied one of the kitchen drawers, it's amazing what was in there! Found bits I'd completely forgotten about some of which are now in the cs sack and some in the car boot box. There are 14 more drawers in the house, if I do one every time I get the urge to shop it should save me a small fortune!