2014 Frugal Living Challenge

23rdspiral

NSD here today. Did some tidying up, and had some friends round for 'afternoon tea'... so we ate up the leftover Stollen from Xmas Week, which was only 59p as a woopsie! :beer:

On Friday I cleaned out the cupboards under the kitchen sink, and found 3 packets of sponges! And this is after husband declaired last week we were out of them! ah well, lesson learnt: Don't Trust Husband to Look In Cupboards!:p

On finding all those sponges, plus 3 bottles of Zoflora, 2 bottles of hand soap & 2 bar soaps, and 3 1/2 bags of dishwasher salt i've decided to put an embargo on buying cleaning things untill I know I'm on the last one.

I found a bottle of Stardrops (LOVE that stuff) But it's gone sort of gell-like. Has anyone else had that happen? I'll ask on the oldschool thread there too.

DawnW

Nicki_Sue wrote: »

I did look at that actually but my office is 16ft x 15ft with two single pane large sash windows (original so can't be replaced) - I don't think it'll beat the chill though.

Can you not look at cheap secondary glazing solutions that use cling film? Or even proper secondary glazing? A relative of mine has had a lot of success with removable units which fit inside the windows of the listed Georgian house they live in. In the winter they fix them in place, but in summer they are taken out and stored away.

Frugalsod

23rdspiral wrote: »

NSD here today. Did some tidying up, and had some friends round for 'afternoon tea'... so we ate up the leftover Stollen from Xmas Week, which was only 59p as a woopsie! :beer:

On Friday I cleaned out the cupboards under the kitchen sink, and found 3 packets of sponges! And this is after husband declaired last week we were out of them! ah well, lesson learnt: Don't Trust Husband to Look In Cupboards!:p

On finding all those sponges, plus 3 bottles of Zoflora, 2 bottles of hand soap & 2 bar soaps, and 3 1/2 bags of dishwasher salt i've decided to put an embargo on buying cleaning things untill I know I'm on the last one.

I have done the same. When I emptied out the under sink cupboard I found loads of things. So am trying something new. I am only keeping things that I want under there. Everything else is in one of those back of the door shoe storage systems, so I can see it. I have found lots of duplicates so have those in a box to be used up first. I am also using a shoe storage system for computer items and now spare toiletries that I have found in the bathroom. So now my bathroom shelving is much neater and easier to clean, plus I can target the things that I want to use up.

23rdspiral

quidsy wrote: »

Have a potato and leek soup in the slow cooker and a parsnip and bacon soup on the hob, one will go in the freezer till later in the week and one will feed me and oh lunch for the next 2 days with a sandwich.

Thanks! I've never thought of bacon and parsnips together before, but have some leftover cooking bacon and MIL has given me some parsnips (which I only ever roast) so i think I'll try that.

Frugalsod wrote: »

I have done the same. When I emptied out the under sink cupboard I found loads of things. So am trying something new. I am only keeping things that I want under there. Everything else is in one of those back of the door shoe storage systems, so I can see it. I have found lots of duplicates so have those in a box to be used up first. I am also using a shoe storage system for computer items and now spare toiletries that I have found in the bathroom. So now my bathroom shelving is much neater and easier to clean, plus I can target the things that I want to use up.

It's tricky isn't it? Having spares bought in BOGOFs but then not wanting to see them all the time, and then forgetting they are there! I might try your idea. A couple of weeks ago I switched the majority of the dog's things into a hanging storage system and i'm Really Pleased with it. It means i can see when she's running low on teeth sticks & poo bags, and it stops me putting things down on the counter.

quidsy

DawnW wrote: »

Can you not look at cheap secondary glazing solutions that use cling film? Or even proper secondary glazing? A relative of mine has had a lot of success with removable units which fit inside the windows of the listed Georgian house they live in. In the winter they fix them in place, but in summer they are taken out and stored away.

Our bedroom is single glazed too, is 26 by 22 ft and a single plug in radiator takes any chill out at night and makes needing bedsocks unnecessary. My neighbours with the same crappy listed, single glazed, metal and glass square window use a foam insulator during winter and forgo opening their windows. We opted for thermal blackout blinds and lined curtains but tge big rooms still get frosty.

thepennyfarthings

Evening all,

At work today!
Took my own lunch and avoided walking round the shops.
NSD today:money:
OH made curry using up the last of the roast beef, so dinner is sorted for today and tomorrow:j
Stay safe and warm everyone.
tpf

Nicki_Sue

Random one..... has anyone else bought "classic" stardrops recently and thinks it has changed? The scent isn't quite the same and it doesn't seem quite as effective cleaning-wise. It was newly put out, a new design so not something that has been in a warehouse for six years

sparrer

Having done an inventory of cupboards and ff, I did my weekly shop this morning (always do it on the way to fellowship meetings on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings to save petrol by killing two birds with one stone), and it cost me £3.92p as I only had to buy bread flour, milk and ff&v. I didn't realise how much less I'd spend in @ldi than the 'big 5', I'd ignored the change in my purse and got a tenner out to pay!

Kantankrus_Mare

Have dug out my elderberries and brambles from the outside freezer and have enough to make 2 demi johns of wine (12 bottles) They are just defrosting in two sterilised buckets so can get them started tomorrow.

Just done my on line shop with sainsbobs to use my £12 off voucher.
Been really selective instead of just whizzing through "my usuals". Seem to have got loads for my money and let it go just over the £100 to get free delivery.(Had a bit of a panic though when I couldn't find my vouchers after putting them in a safe place but found them. lol.

Not going to be a cheap month elsewhere for us though as we have 3 dental appointments, I really need to get my eyes tested and the car is going in for its MOT.

One of our rental properties is due for its landlord insurance but actually have that saved!

Oh and my allotment rent needs paying. Nearly £100:eek: and really don't know why ours is one of most expensive in the country. OH thinks I am mad paying for it but when you work it out over a year, its only just under £2 a week so a cheap hobby for something I enjoy and get a little something back from.

Loving this thread as it is keeping me motivated. Was even looking at my seeds to see what I can get growing soon.

DawnW

Well, a use-up fail here today :mad: I had planned beef and stilton pie, but cooked the beef with an onion and some frozen mushrooms in the SC, made the pastry, put it together - and forgot to put in the bluddy stilton! Grrr! It was a very nice HM beef and mushroom pie, no complaints at all, but I completely failed to use up the ingredient I bought the stewing beef for

Also made a flan case for a quiche later in the week, and cooked a small gammon joint that had been lurking around since Christmas. Its sell by date was today, so I thought I should cook it. It will do for supper tomorrow with jacket spuds and salad.

Not a NSD for me I am afraid, as I had to buy chicken food.

On the plus side, I did sell an unwanted item on ebay

Back to w*rk tomorrow There is masses on at the moment, and I am struggling to maintain any enthusiasm. However, I have to, as I am a manager and what we do is outward facing. Next Sunday afternoon I will need to head off and stay away overnight as I have an early meeting too far away to travel on the day. I am not looking forward to that - as it is I leave at 7.15 in the mornings (at the latest) and do not get in till 6.30 in the evening (at the earliest) so I really hate losing bits of the weekend as well :mad:

Oh well, no good moaning, time to find a spare calendar and start counting down the days I think! Perhaps when my escape date has been agreed I will feel more positive!