2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Coulddobetter

Another NSD today yippee!!

This thread has given me inspiration to use my cooking skills. I made a quiche from things lurching in the fridge and freezer, we can have this for lunch tomorrow with salad and wedges from the freezer.
I didn't have any pasta sauce to go with the meatballs I got out of the freezer for dinner, so I made some from squishy tomatoes, celery, red onion and a box of L*** tomatoes. Served it with spaghetti and it was lovely.

I decluttered today another 28 items, sent them to the charity shop. They included a couple of handbags, work suits, a skirt I haven't worn for a few years. I have put somethings in a bag ready to try my hand at eBay. I haven't sold anything before so wish me luck.

hollieinbloom

Coulddobetter wrote: »

I decluttered today another 28 items, sent them to the charity shop. They included a couple of handbags, work suits, a skirt I haven't worn for a few years. I have put somethings in a bag ready to try my hand at eBay. I haven't sold anything before so wish me luck.

Well done on the de-cluttering I'm going to do this tomorrow with our clothes but instead of taking them to the charity shop, im going to take them to the shop in town that pays 50p per kilo for clothes. I stashed loads of DD's clothes away when she grew out of them and I'm going to sort through them and see what can go in the bags, what I want to keep (incase we have anymore children) and what I want to sell on ebay.

http://www.cash4clothes.co.uk/ this isn't the store round here but you might have one near you

Good luck with Ebay! it's alot of fun checking in to see if people are watching or if they are bidding! xx

sparrer

I'm not confident enough to sell on ebay but have just read on this thread about gumtree and preloved. Sorry I can't find who mentioned them but thank you, I'm going to give them a go and see if I can raise a few £'s that way

zafiro1984

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

Bottled some homemade wine that was sitting in two demi johns in the cupboard. Its only a white kit wine and I tend to use this for cooking as I hate spending £4 - £5 for a wine to cook with.

Have some elderberries and brambles in outside freezer which I will defrost over next few days and make red wine. Now this is initially only good for cooking but some years matures into a lovely drinkable red wine!

That reminds me, I have 2 demijohns of blackcurrant wine sitting in the laundry room and 2 larger bins of cider in there as well. Must bottle them as they have stopped bubbling ages ago.

Blackcurrant wine is very moorish, we like it dry and I make about 40 bottles a year. We buy very very little wine as I make about 200 bottles a year of varying sorts, some as presents, some go to the immediate family, some to cook with, and the rest to drink. It's so very cheap to make once you have the equipment. I worked out it costs under a £1 per bottle. The positive side is you know what is in it (no chemical sprays on my fruit or veg) and the Customs and excise don't get any tax)

mum2one

I have just found my local facebook sellers group, and have sold a few bits through them, eBay is easy to use, but its making sure you account for all the costs. I have also used my local paper as they have free adds, - your better off aiming for one that has a once a week edition as generally most people will ring within the 1st day

listing fee (unless the item is 99p or less or a free listing day)

ebay final value fees

paypal - they take a set fee + a %

postage - not just stamps - packaging as well

I looked at selling a tablet on there, and a rough estimate if it had sold for £100 I would have lost £15 on all the fees...

On the site you can find out what the fees are

nomi76

Must be the day for coleslaw. I quite often buy the premade bags but I know this is more expensive than making my own. So knowing I had onion and carrots at home bought some cabbage. It is cheaper and very quick to do.

Not so frugal was buying a coffee pod machine. Although I did have xmas money to spend so really its fine I guess and it makes delicious drinks.

Have to get my car serviced tomorrow but should not be too bad.

I then need to start on a decluttering mission and might try and sell a few things.

My next goal is to cut back on food spending.

millionaire_in_training

Had to end up bringing lap top to bed to read this as was determined to catch up eventually.

My big frugal thing was to call Virgin and discuss my contract with them. I have successfully reduced my charges by just under £20 per month and they have upgraded both my broadband and I am getting a tivo box. Also told the kids that they would have to start paying their own boxes in their rooms or they would be coming out. They both agreed to pay so that's another £10 saved. Am very happy with that result

threepenny_bit

used some bendy celery and a wrinkly onion as base for soup, added stock cube, ham end from our joint and frozen peas and carrots. Thickened with a little instant potato and served with toasted naan breads from back of fridge. Lovely warming, filling meal and nothing spent today

threepenny_bit

I am trying to do the 10 10 challenge I read about on the internet - decluttering 10 things for 10 days and getting rid of some stuff.
I was a bit bored and tidied a drawer out today, went to recycling with christmas tree, sorted out dvd's and cookbooks and took them to the swap room at the recycling centre. Felt very good to be be getting rid of things

TM6

Dincanada wrote: »

I am trying to do the 10 10 challenge I read about on the internet - decluttering 10 things for 10 days and getting rid of some stuff.
I was a bit bored and tidied a drawer out today, went to recycling with christmas tree, sorted out dvd's and cookbooks and took them to the swap room at the recycling centre. Felt very good to be be getting rid of things

WOW - that sounds interesting....a swap room at the recycling centre. I wonder if ours have one?