2014 Frugal Living Challenge

sparrer

Went to pick up 5 cards a friend had made for upcoming birthdays etc., she's made them so beautifully and personalised them but wouldn't take anything for them so I popped into the local farm shop and bought two pots of hyacinths on bogof for £1.95. She was thrilled with them so less than £2 very well spent.

Shortie

Evening all

Thanks for the replies about the wool - I'll have a look at the sites ta :beer: I did join Ravelry the other night as it goes as I wanted to have a nose around the crochet patterns. I'll have a look at the forum too to see if any inspiration hits there too..

We don't have elderly family really anymore. The current 'oldest generation' (if you can call them that) are in their early 60's.

I did wonder about making a blanket for my Mum as she really feels the cold, as well as seeing if I can make her some wrist warmers as she has Reynauds, so wondered if it would help help her warmer at home. Buuuuuttt.... that won't help her fingers and I'm not tackling fingered gloves, lol...

Other than that I wondered about a light shawl for summer holidays, or a heavier one for indoors in winter. Maybe a slouchy hat and/or scarf? Once I 'twig' a pattern I'm good to go, but I tend to get blinded with too much choice or thinking things are too old fashioned.

A bit like my garden - too much choice of what veggie seeds to plant where so I sowe and grow and leave Mr Shortie to choose where the stuff goes :rotfl:

mummy2threeboys

Ohh i forgot i got this through th epost yesterday, its a free monthly mag,(glossy beauty type) no cost at all..some of the prices will make your hair stand on end but nice to flick through with a cuppa http://www.cliquemagazine.co.uk/

Coulddobetter

Just been reading Frugal Queen and decided that I wouldn't wait until the end of the month to pay off extra on our mortgages so paid an extra £101.89 on main mortgage and another £24.22 off BTL. Feeling very virtuous :j means we must change our spending ways.

OH wants to get the logs tomorrow so will be spending money. He was very impressed when I gave him it in cash, he is finally seeing the light

CDB x

Frugalsod

I spent some money but am not counting it as it was from my free amazon coupons, so no impact on my bank balance.

zafiro1984

mummy2threeboys wrote: »

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

I've tried the equivalent Mr S one, same price but they used to be 99p, price went up in the autumn. They are just small off cuts of smoked salmon, quite tasty, and I use them in quiches, fish pies, and sometimes do a puff pastry parcel with salmon, leeks, peas in a cream sauce.

Just trying to be frugal in general today, a NSD, cooked chicken roast in the woodburner, vegs on top, only used the dishwasher once, so hopefully electric units will come in at under 25 for today.

Our house is at the bottom of a valley, opened the door this morning to see a 'stream' passing by and taking some of the driveway with it, dogs didn't want to go out but got pushed out, hopefully tomorrow will be drier. Several trees down, some are quite big, certainly enough for a couple of years worth of fuel, it just needs processing but that is a summer job.

miss_empty_piggy

zafiro1984 wrote: »

Our house is at the bottom of a valley, opened the door this morning to see a 'stream' passing by and taking some of the driveway with it, dogs didn't want to go out but got pushed out, hopefully tomorrow will be drier. Several trees down, some are quite big, certainly enough for a couple of years worth of fuel, it just needs processing but that is a summer job.

that sounds terrible. Hope you are all ok.

Back to work for me today - have been chasing my tail all day - can't get used to being on the rollercoaster, but I'm sure I will get used to it. Came home and had sold 7 items on fleabay and they all paid straight up so been wrapping etc. I forget how much I hate that bit. Darling mother will take them to the PO for me as I leave town before open and return when shut so it would be weekend otherwise. I have bribed her with a jar of HM blackcurrant jam which she loves so its win/win here.

Night night everyone I'm pooped and it's blowing a gail out there tonight. Time for the onesie and 5 HWBs (DOH is aware and I get very chilly without him here)

mum2one

Finished Measurements: 30" deep x 60" wide (excluding fringe)
• Knitting Needles: US 8 (5mm)
• Yarn: Serene by Premier Yarns – 1 ball desired color (90% acrylic/10% polyamide; 656 yards/600 meters; 10½ ounces/300 grams)
Extras: Yarn needle, crochet hook for attaching fringe

Gauge
16 sts and 23 rows = 4" in Knotted Lace Patt.
Use any size needles necessary to obtain the specified gauge.

Abbreviations
beg – beginning
k – knit;
M1 – make a stitch by lifting the strand of yarn between the
stitch on the left needle and the stitch on the right needle and
placing it on the left needle, knit into the back of the stitch
mm – millimeters
p – purl
patt – pattern
p2tog – purl 2 sts together
rep – repeat
sl – slip
st(s) – stitch(es)
tog – together
yo – yarn over
* – repeat instructions after asterisk as specified.
Instructions:
Beg at bottom center point, cast on 5 sts.
Beg Knotted Lace Patt as follows.
Row 1 (RS): P1, * yo, p2tog; rep from * across.
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: K1, M1, knit across to last st, M1, K1 – 2 sts increased.
Rep Rows 1-3 of Knotted Lace Patt until piece measures
approximately 30" from beg.
Knit 4 rows. Bind off loosely.
Finishing
Weave in ends.

Fringe
Cut 13" lengths of yarn. Hold three pieces of yarn tog as a group; fold in half. Insert fold through center point of shawl and use a crochet hook to pull ends through the fold loop. Tighten to form fringe. Place fringe evenly spaced along two side edges. Trim fringe if necessary.


(can't get the pic to post)

Also got a pattern for a lacy scarf that takes 1 x 50g ball of double knitting wool, if anyone wants either the pic to go with the shawl or the knitting pattern for the scarf - send me a pm with your email address - then send it you, once you shout yep - got it safe - delete your details.

xx

nat21luv

Pretty frugal day for me, another NSD that brings with it another no hot water or heating day the guy came and fiddled with the boiler for 2 hrs before leaving and letting me adjust the timer...I did and it still didn't work. What idiot does a job and then not test it?! Tried to call him back but he's been ignoring my calls all afternoon/evening. I'll give him one last ring in the morning then I'm on the phone to the LL to kick bum!

Anyway, leftovers eaten, menu plan to be done tomo, and finances done today. It's a hairy month, I need to make an extra £150 to float even, that's the 7 big birthdays and 1 baptism 200miles away I have to pay for

nomi76

My car cost double what I had hoped for the service but I needed 2 new tyres as well. I put money aside each pay for this but it still hurts.

Only worked a half day today and was starving. Was very tempted to buy lunch but came home and ate instead. Really trying to eat out of the freezer I am great at buying stuff but need to eat them.