2015 Frugal Living Challenge

maria3104

DawnW wrote: »

Perhaps when you are properly better, you might like to think about painting the old furniture? I have just done a couple of bedside cabinets of this type - I would have replaced them not with new ones, but with nice antique ones, had I been able to find any in the right size. The space is quite tight, and these fit just right, so I painted them with chalky furniture paint and waxed them, and it has transformed them, and made the whole room look nicer. It is easy to do as well, as the paint is water based and just washes off the brushes, clothes etc (I always get in a mess whenever I paint )

I am not a fan of the whole shabby chic look, but I must admit it looks pretty in a bedroom, and if your OH isn't sure, just show him how much similar furniture would cost to buy already done :eek:

Hi

Yes this is the plan. I have a very clever neighbour who makes a living doing this. I do not aspire to sell anything, but do plan on chalk painting and waxing whatever I buy. I really like the look.

My kitchen airer has brought back some memories, makes me laugh, this is the first time I have not had one, and I am missing it big time. Oh well.

No veg garden for me as the chucks and ducks would be bound to decimate it.
Have fun all.

Maria

maria3104

Sorry to double post, Happybird71, just read your post properly.

I LOVE DAVE RAMSEY

I have no credit card debt, (but keep them incase). I do have an emergency fund, only £1000. Do not have 3-6 months of emergency fund and long to pay off mortgage. The IRS is USA pension fund, like our pension system gets us lots of tax breaks. I have done this since age 18 and am now sitting comfortably when 60. However, I still have an overdraft and a mortgage.

So a work in progress. I especially love his gazelle and cheeter talk on youtube! Could watch it and watch it.

Good luck with reaching your debt free goal. Maria

parsniphead

Evening everyone

I have been dipping in and out of this challenge for the last few years and have been re-reading the thread this evening getting loads of inspiration.

I have been very frugal for many years now due to being in debt for a long time and until recent years being single. Since I got married and had a child I seem to have slipped and in the past year I feel I have totally lost control of my finances. I really want to not only get back to where I was but to do better to pay off the last of the debt, get some savings behind me and hopefully pay off the mortgage as soon as possible.

I still meal plan but being so disorganised I always end up not following it. This needs to stop so I'm going to join in properly if I may and keep myself on the straight and narrow.

I have done the months food shopping apart from a few fresh items which will need topping up. I also have some veggies in the veg patch in the garden but still have loads of room available so more peas need putting in this weekend. I did plan to make this year the most productive ever and with some effort I will do this but I need to be more organised. I also have a small stock of bread flour so im planning a batch cook of rolls for the freezer tomorrow. In the past week I have brought two sandwiches for lunch at work which is something I haven't done for many years. Again lack of organisation.:mad:I'm quite good with food and rarely waste anything but I don't want to waste anything so again . . . . . organisation.

One of my other issues at the moment is the absolute state of my clothes which is ironic as I'm a seamstress and have no excuses. ALL of my jeans are ripped to pieces or too big so a few alterations, repairs and possible decoration of holes is needed.

I think that should keep me busy for the next day or so.

JustStartingOut

Well our washer/dryer packed in last week, :mad: so spent to day at father in laws catching up on a week and bit of washing :eek:

Ordered myself separate washing machine and dryer this time, so if one packs in then not as bad. Only got the washer dryer from when we were in a flat and had no room for a separate dryer.

I've scoured the internet for the best deals to suit us and where I don't have to wait 2 weeks for delivery!
So got both items from same online place with reduced prices and my mum's discount (she retired from the store back in December but her discount card still works online :rotfl:), and to be delivered on Thursday morning!

Kerry_Woman

Still plodding along. Have decluttered quite a bit this week. Did manage to give a carrier bag of things to the cs a few weeks ago. Have started to fill up another one. It is amazing as to what I have found that can be decluttered and had the courage to get rid of it. There is still quite a way to go. A few things can be taken to the recycling centre.


Really have to monitor my food/household spends. It is up this year for the first four months compared to the same time last year. Have managed to get some things reduced and Mr. A price guarantee for the last few weeks. Have resisted not buying things though and managed to buy some things using vouchers that was needed.


Not a lot of temp work at the moment, so looking at my options regarding work.


Just deciding of how much more I can cut back on.

slowlyfading

Kerry woman - I've got a blog post on how to save money on grocery shopping, if you want to take a look

Kerry_Woman

slowlyfading - Thanks, will definitely take a look.

slowlyfading

Kerry_Woman wrote: »

slowlyfading - Thanks, will definitely take a look.

Great let me know if there's anything specific I can help with!

parsniphead

Evening everyone

A good day here today. After a dismal and very rainy start the weather brightened up nicely for a couple of hours in the garden this afternoon.:) it certainly lifts the spirits. I have checked what I have in there at the moment and made a list of what I need to do or get in. So I have potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli, cabbages and garlic. The apple tree looks like it may give me my first good harvest this year and I have some lovely mixed leaves growing int he greenhouse. I need to get some more peas in, some tomatoe and cucumber plants and definately some spinach. I prefer this in sandwiches to salad leaf. Mum has some beans starting in her greenhouse so I will bring them up soon as she has only a small space. It's better than I thought.

This morning I made 14 bread rolls to freeze. I would have made more but I have very little freezer room at the moment.

I have also looked at the food stock and hopefully I will be able to stretch the stocks out and extra week or possibly two. I may pop into the coutry tomorrow and pick up a bag of potatoes to last until mine come through. I share it with mum so for a few pounds we are sorted for weeks.

I have also been doing some more sorting in the house as I need to get the house running more smoothly. It's nice to see junk disappear and surfaces reappear.

So far the only thing I have which hasn't been used up before going off is a half pot of natural yoghurt but I'm going to have a look and see if I can do anything with it rather than throw it out.

I'm feeling so good at getting my life back on track. Right off for a bath the a bit of crafting.:)

lynnejk

Hiya everyone :hello:

Frugaldom wrote: »

Has anyone started off their veggies this year? We are still getting sub zero temps, frost and snow so only the hardy herbs are growing.

Our weather like yours atm and even the daffs are shivering :rotfl:


Regarding the books - If anyone's interested it might be worth having a look at your library. I hardly ever buy a book, especially new, and usually find the library has one/can get one/has something similar and it doesn't cost you a penny :money:


With the grocery budget there's a great thread on here which is the monthly Grocery Challenge atm May 2015 Grocery Challenge which has loads of tips and recipes and if you want some support is a great thread to join.


For those looking to make some extra pennies each month there is also another thread on here atm Make £10 a day May 2015 , again with lots of ideas, sites and very supportive.


Don't forget everyone to check at renewal time that there isn't a cheaper deal out there that you could use. I'm probably preaching mostly to the converted but some forget


Just finishing the monthly accounts and will be back when finished


Hope you all have a super Monday
Lx