2014 Frugal Living Challenge

macwah97

Shortie wrote: »

Sorry, haven't managed to catch up on all the posts since Saturday evening and I need to get back to my work (:() but from here we had a semi-frugal weekend and today's not going badly either

Saturday we did the £1 cinema and took our own juice and treats. Then we popped to the local soft play place for free (we have memebership) but spent a little bit more than a tenner as we had more tea/coffee than we planned. wethen went quickly to the local f&v market and got some f&v but also stocked up mega-stylie on spices, lentils and I also got some dried chickpeas to try out falafels yesterday.
Sunday was spent indoors cooking, taking down the tree decs, hoovering...
Today I brought my breakfast and lunch into work and Mr Shortie took the kids back to the softplay place for a last day of burning up energy before going back to school tomorrow

We have been buying newspapers this weekend that we don't normally do - one for the sun holiday tokens, and the other for the slimming world mags. I have the slimming world books somewhere but have been getting these in for some inspiration / a kick-startto eating healthy again

I'm reading lots about decluttering too. I hate our clutter but I half do a job and it all creeps back to a mess again soon after. I really do need to crack on and just chuck stuff, not keeping it 'just incase'

Oh, and I treated myself to some wool on Saturday too so that i can carry on with my crochet blanket. I really need to try and find a cheap source of wool though as I'm thinking of making some bits for people for Christmas but the wool alone can be quite expensive!

I crocheted basic blankets for the more senior members of our family as Christmas presents using wool from pstretch** and BM......turned out to quite warm and snuggly

miss_empty_piggy

Frugaldom wrote: »

Miss Empty Piggy - I have a can of gold spray paint that I use for things like dried pine cones at Christmas, have you tried it on glass bottles? I think this is a fabulous idea and had never thought of adding blackboard paint. I also love that and have a handmade wall board for writing down my shopping list. I also saw an old table revamped into a chalkboard table and then used in childrens' bedroom - it looked great!


I've got gold and purple and red and silver at the mo. Decorated our (grown up) living room silver and purple and so just spray painted all my decorative things to match. In the kids living room it is still red and cream etc but some of the stuff is faded and tired so a quick spray paint and we're good to go.

With regard to the blackboard paint I've got my eye on a whole wall AND the big fridge freezer (so I can write what is it - or rather what needs to be bought next shopping day).

When I figure out how to get pics on I'll post. I never thought of doing pine cones - they can be my next project. x

miss_empty_piggy

I used to use toilet rolls with tumble dryer fluff in (my sister runs a laundrette and I got her to bring it home in a bag for me.

Also, I used to fold the newspapers into a fan and then criss cross them over themselves into a snake like concertina thingy. My grandad used to make me do this for him when I was little and I never forgot - they're great if you've got nothing else.

cydney65

Spent 85p on some reduced speciality bread in the Co*p. I know it's still expensive but we love it as a treat and it all gets eaten.

Cat had to go for an emergency appointment at the vets today. They're going to bill me so dread to think how much that will be. At least I have some money put aside for just such an emergency and bubba Cyd is feeling better now after half a ton of injections and antibiotics!

Daughter has been told that she will probably be early as the baby is engaged now at 36 weeks. Need to decorate the nursery very cheaply so looking at pictures I can print off from the internet.

Habibiboo

mummy2threeboys wrote: »

oh this reminds me someone said about buying firelighters, ive heard pinecones make good firelighters, but havent tried it yet x

:wave:
Yes, we usually have a spring and autumn gathering of pine cones for firelighting, they do work well but should be dry- not much chance of that if you gather them at the moment. We try to gather after a couple of dry days, then keep them in a spud sack in the garage,where they seem to dry out pretty well. Sometimes keep some in the log basket, but one of our dogs has a messy game of trying to steal them and chew them into millions of tiny pieces on the hearth rug! :eek:

Eating from the cupboards and freezer is going well but, as with Frugaldom, I'm finding porridge is featuring heavily on the menu! Still, it's just the weather for it!

Hope everyone's OK :wave:

Nicki_Sue

Another NSD here for me. I'm back at work so head down and busy with that, no time for anything else.
The freezer looks good and I have most staples in to do until the end of the week.
The youngest (3yrs) got his first birthday party invite today so have a present to find for that on Saturday but I can usually find something nice from Orchard Toys, a card and a sheet of wrap for *just* under a tenner.

Mountaingirl

Did the weekly shop today, quite reasonable, went to Ald! where I am always impressed by how inexpensive but good their stuff is!

Nicki_Sue

cydney65 wrote: »

Daughter has been told that she will probably be early as the baby is engaged now at 36 weeks. Need to decorate the nursery very cheaply so looking at pictures I can print off from the internet.

Exciting times! have a look on Pinterest for pics and cheap nursery decoration tips x

thepennyfarthings

At work today!
Packed lunch.

NSD:j:j:j

Will catch up on thread tomorrow.

Stay safe everyone:)
tpf.

Coulddobetter

A NSD today. :T

Had stir fry again for dinner but all the ingredients were in the fridge and freezer. Used up yogurt and fruit for puds for OH. I go mad at Christmas buying too much fruit, why I think everyone would eat fruit I have no idea...

Have filled our lunch flasks with leek, potato and ham soup for tomorrow. OH will take a bread bun as well.

Will probably be spending tomorrow as we need more logs for the fire and OH wants to get a lorry load as he is convinced that we are going to get all the bad weather from the states!:o

CDB x