2014 Frugal Living Challenge

cottage_retreatist

Oh yes-I get the frozen veg and it's all good-I think the key is the cooking-they taste much nicer on the hob than microwaved!

Hope that helps?

DawnW

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Are the Tesco value frozen peas still like bullets?? lol..

If you cook them gently for a bit longer than it says on the pack, adding a pinch of salt and half a teaspoon of sugar to the cooking water, they are fine

Kerry_Woman

Finally done my budget for the year. As my Mum lives with me and kindly pays for the food, I am keeping a separate budget for that. The budget for that is £1,800. This also includes money for things like bleach, washing up liquid. As always I am trying to reduce the food spend, but somethings go up in price and now do a menu plan. My other other budget is £9000, which includes property maintenance, other bills and my travel fares. In the past both budgets added together came lower than the budget I set for myself.

This weekend I did a small bit of decluttering and made a fruit cake.

January is the expensive month of the year, as I have to pay home contents insurance, pre paid prescription card and the property maintenance. The property maintenance can be paid monthly or half yearly. I prefer to pay it in all in one go. I usually save for these in the previous year.

zafiro1984

I've been trying to get ahead of myself today with cooking

Made 12 portions of apples sponge, 12 portions of apple and blackberry sponge, 12 portions of HM orange marmalade sponge. Chopped the rest of the cooking bacon up into small bits and cooked them, now in freezer to use in various dishes, made 48 hobnobs (Twinks recipe) All to be frozen - hopefully it will stand me in good stead for a few weeks.

I had an idea to use up some bacon rashers left over from Christmas. Lined two very small cake tins (4") with the rashers, going to fill them with cooked minced turkey and mushrooms and make a sort of parcel. I'll see how they turn out, we'll have them for tea with some veg. - here's hoping.

jackel

Hi Mountaingirl - We grow our own veg. too and for years have ordered form Tuckers though we sometimes send for some things from other suppliers. We find Tuckers are the best value and have larger amounts in the packets. Efficient service too. jac.xx

Nicki_Sue

A NSD for me and lots of "sorting". A big declutter and throw out and my kitchen & pantry have been reorganised to make meal planning / shopping lists easier.
All ready for school tomorrow and I'm back at work. I work from home so upstairs in the office - extra thick jumper out and fingerless gloves set out. I won't heat the whole house for the sake of one room. Flask ready to fill and take up saving kettle clicks and me accidentally falling into the fridge every time I walk past.

So far, so good. I'll miss the boys but am very ready to be getting back into a routine again!

[Deleted User]

Just a wee thought for those who like buying magazines. Check to see if your local Library service offers free digital magazines via zinio (Spelling??). I just discovered this recently just by browsing on my local council website - they offer a good selection too, including Good housekeeping, various home d!cor magazines, health and fitness etc

I have had a mega busy day and feel shattered already. Went for a swim this morning and my towel was taken from the poolside - it had my key attached. The company response was to charge me £1 because I had lost my key to open my locker. A letter of complaint about levels of customer care will be going to the manager shortly.


I have been getting ready to go back to work today and also doing a bit of de-cluttering. A big cupboard in the spare bedroom now 90% cleared out. just got a few bits to do but needing a break.

I still have shopping to do for work - I buy the breakfast things for the Nurture group kids and its then refunded and my packed lunch to make up.

miss_empty_piggy

joolsybools wrote: »

What a lovely idea!

Well thankyou joolsybools
I can't take the credit they're both from much more creatively -minded folk than me, but it makes me happy and she'll love having something different and made for her especially. x x x

miss_empty_piggy

DawnW wrote: »

I think that the expensive home shops and the glossy home magazines are great, if you think about them as sources of ideas for your own projects, whether small craft ones, or big home renovation ones, instead of spending loads of money on what they sell or advertise

I totally agree, plus you can make it more personal to YOU. x x

Goldiegirl

I'm a committed de-clutterer. I've been de-cluttering on and off for around 5 years.


Last year was the first year that I'd set myself a target - 365 things or lots of things, in the year ( if, for example 5 books went at the same time, I'd count that as one thing) I ended up doing 379. I would like to do 365 again this year, but to be honest the house isn't that bad now. The key areas are now the loft and garage, and are mainly larger things which need more effort. I'll be happy if I get to 300.


I sell on eBay, give to charity or send to recycling - very little is thrown away.


Anyway, I did my supermarket shop today - or rather ordered it online.


I LOATHE going to the supermarket for food shopping and have done it online for many years now. Normally, I order the usuals, and if there's offers on my usuals I will take part in that offer.


This time I was comparing prices per kg or litre, looking at offers and generally taking far more care. I shaved off about 30%, compared to what I might normally have spent so I was pleased. It took ages to do though!


I have the delivery on a Monday evening, in a cheaper delivery slot. I'll keep to that for the time being, whilst I'm in my 'stocking up' phase. But ultimately, I want to only have deliveries every two - three weeks, and take advantage of free deliveries for orders over £100. (deliveries on Tues to Thurs).


I will also start doing, from time to time a YS run, in the evenings.


I want to make sure the things I'm doing are sustainable. That's why I'm not going to go every week to Aldi in the next town and do YS runs every week, because I wouldn't keep it up.


Anyway, time for tea - I have a new HM loaf waiting for me!