2015 Frugal Living Challenge

happybird71

Hi everyone. Feeling fairly positive. Following my monthly meal planner to the letter and have only spent £36 on food this month so far. About £10 of that was on loads of baby snacks which will last a while. Have put one item on ebay as I ran out of time on Sunday night in between putting the boys to bed and my friend arriving. Stuck the rest on gumtree but no success so far.

Went to Tesco today to return a broken food blender. Getting my points refunded. Also returned a top I bought for DS1 before Christmas but decided to return it - although I had thrown out the receipt. Tesco only exchange clothes which is a bit frustrating. I think I paid £9 at the time and I got £3.50 back but bought a £5 top so the new top actually cost £10.50. Oh well. Lesson learned

Thanks for the coupon website. I can't remember who posted the link but it's brilliant. I need time to study it.

Wee question - if I do competitions will I end up with loads of junk mail? Which kind are the most successful? Thanks. Keep going everyone! Loving this thread.

nannygladys

Total spend so far this year is 74.01 on bills and 8.79 on food so total is £83.70/7000, so on track. The money on food hasn't actually come out of this year's money either as it was roadkill I found around the house!!!!!

I got my oap forcast the other day as I'm due to retire soon, so as I'm going to keep working I'm going to live on the pension amount and bank my wages to see if it's feasible to give work up altogether.

Anyway going for a look around

Nannyg

maria3104

quidsy wrote: »

Blimey, just changed car insurer. Current provider sent this years quote which was £400 more expensive than the online comparison, plus am getting £25 back with TCB so from Feb I will be £24 better off

Great saving. Did you check it is a which recommended or 5 star policy. One of the few things I buy that I check with which.

Have discovered the joy of decluttering. So much more satisfying than buying stuff. You tube says it will make me thin! Worth doing just for that...seems unlikely when WW, DW, atkins and lots of others failed.

Have been focusing on paperwork at home and work and have shredded a massive amount but realistically only just touched the problem. This weekend I will force myself to do the airing cupboard and will then reward myself with a frugal/fun day out in the fresh air.

Wombatchops

mummy2threeboys wrote: »

Ok I have a challenge. We eat out maybe twice a month at a (insert junk food shop) Sometimes at a nice pub resturant..this is usually down to going into town and thinking ooh we need to have lunch /tea whatever. How do I avoid this. I know I could pack lunch/picnics but how can I do it in winter when there is no warm/dry place to eat ..Ideas..this would save about £35 a month easily.

I can think of two options. One is to eat lunch before you go into town, or come home before tea time. Would that work? Or are you caught short because you can only go at certain times of the day which encompass the lunch/tea period?

The second option depends on whether you are shopping on the high street or in a shopping centre. If it's a shopping centre, are there benches where you could all sit and eat a packed lunch? That's something that I have done on numerous occasions.

Have either of those suggestions helped at all?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

It looks as though you have formed a habit of eating out in town.. you need to break the habit.. as wombatchops have mentioned what about adjusting the times and length of time you go/are in town?


what about putting something in the slow cooker the morning you go to town, and just put some snack bars etc in your bag, so you can eat them on the go, and when you get home your meal is already cooked waiting for you??


Talkiing about slow cookers... I am going to use my one today in the first time in yonks.... think it might be lamb... casserole .. As its not minted lamb... I was thinking of putting a few spoonfuls of mint sauce in to make it like a mint gravy ..


on the slowcooker page on Facebook, people do 'puddings/afters' in them.. has anyone made any?


I have a packet of basic sponge mix ( te$co basic ) that I bought on a whim many moons ago ( might even be out of date now) is there anything I can make with that, if I make the sponge mix up?

Bambywamby

A frugal couple of days for Castle da Bamby...


*Four hours extra work
*One spendy day and one NSD
*Have garnered a mystery shop which will take £15 off a grocery bill for a well known Supermarket.
*Four huge bin liners of clutter gifted to a Freecycler.
*Gutted the kitchen... and feel much better for it, even though it's my least favourite room to clean.
*Listed a few items on 3bay.
*Bought a cooking gammon reduce to half-price. Baked it and it is a touch salty. So now it is sliced and frozen... should be okay in small amounts.
*Won £4 on an instant I got as an xmas stocking filler. Only scratched it yesterday... I am indeed learning patience lol.
*Given a duvet from a friend for the poochie's room. He is a Labrador who loves muddy puddles... so I need to change his bedding every three months.
*Lost 3lbs this week... very pleased as I have still eaten well.
*Dried a few washes on radiators and have had heating on only at morning and night.
*Started weeding the veg plot for this years organic produce. Urgh I hate weeding but feel good for doing it.
*Put some savings in my Isa.


Okay that's about it... very windy and mild today, definitely worth getting some washing on the line.
Have a lovely day all... and a productive, peaceful and enjoyable weekend.


xx

quidsy

maria3104 wrote: »

Great saving. Did you check it is a which recommended or 5 star policy. One of the few things I buy that I check with which.

It is a 5* policy. Offered exactly the same as the old one but 400 quid off. Not sure what old insurer was thinking really!

Mrs_Cheshire

I've just done a couple of quotes for my car insurance as it's due in about 6 weeks, it appears they want £300 + extra for me this year, that could be interesting trying to find the extra money to cover it. I usually pay monthly but a couple of insurers weren't offering it, so will have to check them all out!

mummy2threeboys

Thanks fo rthe ideas re eating out..yes it a naughty habit..mostly the boys say "Mammy can we get K@c or Macdonoughts" and I am rather too weak to say no especially As I know I won't have to cook ! I think the idea of slow cooker before going out or eating before is a good Idea , i'm just a little lazy on that part..must get that organised..and take snacks. Our centre doesnt really have benches , it does have a nice empty area upstairs though..sit up there I guess. Thanks for the ideas.

Re comps..SEt up a new email. Make sure you tick the do not want any spam/post/calls etc . I use the ones on here ending today ..the more you do the more chance to win , but if you do not have time I do twitnija and twitlicious (twitaclous you can retweet each comp a few times usually) You need to do minimum of 100 a day i guess , but they are so quick to enter and free xx Any more advice i can offer please do ask, I have had some lovely family sdays out, meals, outfits toys etc for free. From some lovely companies !

Right all of this years spends on me done Decided not to update my summer wardrobe..I can do that next year, make do with what I have! I really need to reign in my going out trips though I think I planned about 6 camping trips and 1 holiday yikes!
Have a good weekend all x

maria3104

quidsy wrote: »

It is a 5* policy. Offered exactly the same as the old one but 400 quid off. Not sure what old insurer was thinking really!

Very impressive saving. Congratulations:T

I have just traded in £200 of RRP books for £17 with amaz0n and hope nothing gets rejected. I am working on the theory, I no longer want or need them. I had a wobble though. First book was a .29p value. As I wobbled, I thought of the if I reach £15 I get free postage and a £5 voucher, just do it.

It is done. Do I feel lighter, not yet, but I am aware of how very stupid I have been in the past buying all this stuff. £17 is now for me 4 days groceries. Have to keep being positive about decluttering. More love less stuff etc.
Off to watch flylady before bed and plan tomorrows action.

Maria