2015 Frugal Living Challenge

nannygladys

Getting nearer and I still haven't decided on totals, I keep working it out but then getting cold feet, I know how much I need for the bills, it's the rest I'm having problems with as I don't want to fail. I think I will have to reconcile myself to having a small emergency fund put away just in case, I have one for other things but I'm not touching that, oh get your head together women you can do this, where's that coffee .....

his_missus

Wombatchops wrote: »

Got really cross today. Like a good frugaller I've been trying to save gas and electricity all year. Got our half yearly statement today. We are in credit by nearly £60, but they are going to increase our monthly DD by £18 per month from February.

This is a company who offered to put us on a lower tariff when we were £140 in credit in summer, but then locked our account due to an internal glitch their end, and by the time it was sorted said that that tariff was no longer available, and when we complained said they couldn't do anything for legal reasons.

I am really cross. And because my husband transferred us to them and didn't put my name on the bills, I can't even argue with them and have to wait until he can be bothered.

Rant over now.

My utilities company wanted to increase our monthly payment by £16 a month from November even though we were £95 in credit and never had a monthly bill over £44 despite paying £52 a month by DD. I sent them an email via their website with all my calculations asking them to explain how they'd reached this extra £16 a month usage, why they thought I'd be in debt by May if my DD didn't increase blah blah! They reduced my DD back to £52.


Can you contact them online? If you have an online account you can log in and send an email and they'd just assume they were dealing with Hubby.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

I tried.. doing a £5 a day for the 4 of us, (£35 a week spend) but this didn't include our own pork. did manage it for a very short while, but I found it hard, bloody hard.. once my freezer drawers had been emptied.. plus I found I was running out of ideas for meals etc..and it ended up VERY basic.


as this is the year I am going to try and be a bit extreme.. I really do need to get back and look into this again..


The thing is I have 2 strappig lads ( age 20 and one just about to turn 19) , and a hubby who all like to eat, and I have noticed if I give them smaller portion, in less than an hour they are in the cupboard, or asking for more food..


Is there a good meal cost calculator anywhere, where I can put the price of all the ingredients in, and the amount of portions I want to get out of it, and then it will tell me how much per portion will be... ( it will be quicker than working it out on the calculator lol)

his_missus

Wombatchops wrote: »

Question for anybody who can help (or point me in the right direction). I don't use garlic that often, but whenever I need to buy it from a supermarket I can rarely buy a single bulb but have to buy a pack of 3 or 4, so they go off before I use them. This is such a waste of food and money.

Any of ideas on how to prolong the life of the surplus bulbs? It would be much appreciated.

I buy minced garlic in a jar for about 90p (usually found in the indian aisle at the supermarket). I usually use a tsp whenever a recipe calls for a garlic clove. The jar lasts ages in the fridge. Not much use to you if you need to use if you need to use a whole garlic clove though...

Wombatchops

his missus, thanks for your advice. I'll see if I can get in touch with my energy supplier online. As for the garlic, I only bought it on Monday, so it's not worth getting the minced garlic just yet, but when I need to buy it again, I'll go for that option, because it's bound to be less wasteful going forward.

cw18

Crush the garlic, and freeze in ice cube trays with a bit of water.

Not tried it myself yet, but have read about it many times and plan to try it myself this year. I can almost always get a single bulb from the likes of Mr T, but 3 or 4 packs work out cheaper (often have a 3 pack of organic for about the price of 3 individual non-organic). A!di only sell multi packs, and I'm normally there when I need.

icontinuetodream

Alternatively, you can either leave it whole or chop/crush it and put it into a small jar, topped up with olive oil....then just use as you want and the oil takes up the flavour too...nom nom!!

cw18

bah! in the last month I've had a clear out of glass jars - and all my "small from spicy sauces" went into the recycling !!!

oh well, I guess I'll just have to find a reason to make pasta and sauce so I can use up the last sauce in my cupboards in a jar that might do for garlic preservation

vw_campervan_mum

Well done Youngmummy on the hair. I have just done the same! Googled how to and cut my own hair short. DD didnt seem keen but a couple of friends say its fine so Im sticking with it. Also tried dye but that hasnt taken so well. Decided to leave it though in a couple of months I will just go gracefully grey and save on hair dye

vw_campervan_mum

_party__party__party__party__party_

Happy New Year everyone and Good Luck with our frugal resolutions