2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Daisychain1 · 6 January 2014 at 8:02AM

A bad nights sleep for me. Was woken up by the heaviest rain and hail. I thought the roof was going to cave in. Then I couldn't get back to sleep.

Onwards and upwards for the rest of the week. Today's frugelness will be

An NSD
B, L and D from stores
Bus to work with bus pass already paid for
Quick shower instead of usual 10 mins. I am getting better at this.

Have a lovely day
DC1

InClover · 6 January 2014 at 8:03AM

NSD for me yday.

Makes me so happy writing that.

happycrafter_2 · 6 January 2014 at 9:18AM

Morning everyone

Hope everyone is safe and well from the weather.

Today's plans:
Breakfast lunch and dinner all from home (2 back to work 1 back to college 1 still in bed today)
Do at least the daily total on swagbucks
Take £20 out for the week fresh essentials milk fruit and veg
Do banking
Finish off cardigan now I have got my head around the pattern
Back stitch the card I'm making

HopefulFuture · 6 January 2014 at 9:35AM

Morning all!

Off work today with a heavy cold and nasty cough so decided to use the time constructively and join the MSE forum. I've already joined the 'Debt Free by Xmas 2014' thread but would also like to keep in the loop here.

I've made lots of financial cutbacks over the last year but want to try and tighten my belt even further - I'm almost enjoying it and it is amazing how little we can actually live on.

I get paid weekly so budgeting is easier (until my rent comes out in one hefty sum out of a week's wages!).I work full time but am single so running a house on one wage is a challenge. I already walk to work as much as possible, take my own sandwiches, buy reduced food, freeze home made meals in bulk, sell on Ebay and have had a lodger (sadly left a few months ago but I'm advertising for a new one). Still open to lots of new money saving ideas though!

Good luck to everyone !

littleskintdragon · 6 January 2014 at 10:34AM

CT19720 wrote: »

Ran out of polish whilst cleaning the lounge, and wondered if anyone has any ideas for a hm one, instead of going to the shop to buy a can.

I always use a mix of white vinegar, stardrops, and zoflora to clean, but not sure what I can do to polish glass or wooden tables. Any ideas?
I use microfibre cloths, especially good for glass etc, and then i use polish when i want it to smell pretty

Dd's last day off today and taking her to softplay, sold a smoothie maker yesterday so i'm using some of that money as a treat for her. We rarely go except when she has parties in on of them.

Got a soup make for xmas, and bought some leeks yesterday so going to attempt it later. Not sure how the machine works, or whether i need to fry everything first?

Everyones got me thinking about homemade coleslaw now! I love it, i also make celery apple and raisin coleslaw, its lovely. Bought it once, but have always made it since and its just as nice.

Last weeks food shopping came to £30, i usually have a £50 budget but maternity pay isnt streching very far! Dont have very much in the freezer now, but am using up all half packs before shopping again.

Someone was asking about value products, i buy value biscuits, oats, rice, pasta and put them all in glass jars or tins. They look lovely in the work tops and are sooo much cheaper. Think i bought the glass jars in hb about two years ago so theyve more than paid for themselves.
I also buy mr.t value naan bread, and have tried curry sauce for 20 or 30p it was quite runny but for that price i didnt care. Esp when your using leftover meat with it!

Going to get ready to go out now, but will pop back later to catch up.

mummy2threeboys · 6 January 2014 at 10:55AM

Morning all! Last day of holidays for the elder too. Its tipping it down so having an in tidy up sort of a day so a great ns day.

missed out on bread maker

Good news have converted hubby to try mr t online for 6 weeks to see how it goes, fingers crossed it also means i can meal plan and hopefully save money as hubby has a tendancy to buy a few too many treats for the wee ones!

We almost allways use value, but be aware value isnt allways cheaper sometimes brand ones are on offer and work out cheaper, like value beans about 29p but then sometimes you get branston 4 for £1..not huge savings but a saving non the less!

Humm homemade coleslaw..fancy that now, i have some steak grills in the frezzer , that whould be perfect.
Tea tonight s beef stirfry, hubby got 3 large packs of stirfry veggies (different sorts) for £3 and i found beef down from £4.50 to 75p ..so £3.75 but its enough for 2 meals for 2 adults and 3 children (will freeze half)
Todays plan of action get down to listing food and meal planning for the week. Bake some fairy cakes for the boys packed lunch..hubby stole the last part of sponge cake we made ..was looking forward to that as well..cheeky so and so lol.
Have a great day all xx

CT19720 · 6 January 2014 at 10:59AM

littleskintdragon wrote: »

CT19720 wrote: »

Ran out of polish whilst cleaning the lounge, and wondered if anyone has any ideas for a hm one, instead of going to the shop to buy a can.

I always use a mix of white vinegar, stardrops, and zoflora to clean, but not sure what I can do to polish glass or wooden tables. Any ideas?
I use microfibre cloths, especially good for glass etc, and then i use polish when i want it to smell pretty .

Thanks for that, I'll get some microfiber cloths and give them a go.

I’ve seen you buy value naans. Have you ever tried these or these instead? The first one is 2 garlic and coriander naans for 40p, and the second x 2 plain naans for 20p.

We go through loads of naans here, and these are lovely compared to the x 2 naans you get in the bakery section for 80p a pack.

In tesco you will find these cheaper naans in the fridge units with the takeaway curries. For the price of 1 pack of plain value naans you could get 2 packs of these with a few pennies left over! I often buy 4 packs at a time, and freeze them.

littleskintdragon · 6 January 2014 at 11:14AM

No i hadnt seen those, Thanks for that! I always get them from the jars section. See ive already saved money

I agree 2, with the value not always being cheaper, i tend to have a look at whats on the shelf.

I dont bulk buy as some of u do, unless its very very cheap. I might have a think about this though for anything i can store in the garage.

My parents bought us a massive box of nappies for the tiny one last week, so he's sorted for about two months, and then i have £20 boots vouchers to buy some after that, then ill have had my mr.t vouchers back so im Hoping i can go most of the year not paying for any

mummy2threeboys · 6 January 2014 at 11:33AM

This looks intersting..just wondered if anyone has tried it? I do ike a treat of salmon but the price means its a real treat, just thinking i can add a few slivers to some salad and potatoes?
http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=258089050

patentgirl · 6 January 2014 at 12:33PM

Morning all This thread grows so quick hard to keep up but determined to try in case I miss anything!! Really pleased haven't had to do a big shop yet since xmas only bits and pieces like bread and milk been using up freezer and store cupboard, although got my parents stopping for a week tomorrow so will have to go soon, going to try and get everything from local shops trying to support them more this year instead of big supermarkets will go to Aldis monthly though for extra bits. A NSD today for me!! 3rd since the 1st!!