2018 Frugal Living Challenge

sinkorswim2018

Cutting it fine with £94.06 left in my budget to see me through until payday, Wednesday. Going to have a facial this morning amda haircut thos afternoon which sounds extravagant, however it's costing £12 in total for both.
Will be very pleased if I do make it within my £800 monthly budget... Will be a saving of £400. That means at last I will be spending under my income instead of over and my cc will start to go the other way.

Moll

Well done Aruba - that's absolutely brilliant and an inspiration to everyone to keep going x


Im plugging away at this end , If you have a "Heron " shop near you , I buy their mis shaped bacon at between £1- £1.29 a pack , and get LOTS of meals out of it , Im trying to lose weight so cut all the fat off , but it worth the fiddling and cutting , as out of a pack this morning , I saved maybe a pound of bacon , just to use with bacon & eggs , cut 2 lots up in bags for the freezer to make breakfast muffins , The recipe is very easy , Now the recipe tells you to make individual ones in cake cases , meant to be nibbles , but I make mine in a huge flan dish , and when its cold , just cut slices off , . so this morning ive made one like this Slice potatoes thinly and line the bottom of your dish , put that in your oven on 200c, to be cooking , when you think they are soft enough , add this mixture that you have pre cooked in a frying pan , Bacon ( Or suppose you could substitute with something else . ) fry bacon and onions , ( Just put any amount you need to fill whatever dish your using ) add a tin of baked beans , , when your potatoes are cooked enough , put this mixture on top . add 4 beaten eggs , and top with a little grated cheese , put back into the oven until its all cooked and the eggs are set , This makes a huge amount , hence why so many eggs, but it keeps for days in the fridge, and nice on its own , with jacket spuds/ chips / salad etc etc , We are lucky with eggs, ( Actually its egg day today ) as a local farmer sells free range eggs on the market every Friday for around £1 a dozen , Listed more on the bidding page, and got a few bids already so im off to a good start, , Good luck everyone with whatever you are planning to do this week ,

PennyGrabber

Well, after another visit to the doctor, I've paid £8.60 for another prescription and I have another week off work.

In terms of feeling better, I can sense (but can't yet see) the light at the end of the tunnel. Doctor said the chest pain which I've been really worried about is pulled muscles from all the coughing.

I know that next week will be another frugal week, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to do a bit of decluttering-style housework if I'm gentle with myself.

Had to pick up dd from school today as she's feeling poorly too...

On the plus side, I've been using up more bits from the freezer that I wouldn't necessarily have used had I been at work. Today will be sausages and a jacket or sausage sandwich. Yummy!

Day out at my sister in law's house tomorrow. We're having our Christmas, as didn't see each other during the holiday. She's really excited, so has bought turkey, crackers, etc!! It'll be fab, although my appetite isn't great atm.

PG x

SuperSecretSquirrel

I've been lurking in this thread for a while, just had to delurk to say thanks
Moll for that recipe! Potato, bacon, onion, beans, eggs, cheese, cook in a flan dish, and eat by the slice... This sounds like an excellent cooked breakfast alternative that can be prepared in advance, right up my street, thanks

grandma247

Frugaldom wrote: »

Would this work using smaller jars so they fitted into something like a small stock pot?

Yes just use the time for pints for anything under a pint. Its a safety thing. I don't sterilize my jars first. I just use clean washed jars and fill with hot apples and liquid. Wipe the rim of the jar with a damp cloth then a dry one ( I keep face cloths for this purpose) and put the lid on. The whole lot gets pasturized in the boiling process.

evuka

CheshireCat wrote: »

Good luck for 2018 everyone, I think it's going to be a good one!

CheshireCat, I think so, too! I have that feeling so strongly since the year started

Kerry_Woman

Still trying to plod along. My Dad passed away yesterday. Did not have much contact with him. My brother and his wife came down to sort a few things out, then came to my flat. My sister also came down to my flat. We then had a discussion about what needs to be done. My printer also is able to scan and photocopy. So I was able to photocopy somethings for my brother. I have to go to the hospital where my Dad died on Tuesday to sort something out then onto the funeral director's office. I live close to them to deal with things. My sister is now going home which will take her 2 and a half hours.
Have trying to be really careful with spending. I am joining a social club where my friend works. I have paid the joining fee, then will be interviewed by the club committee. There is also the annual membership that will be paid after the interview.
Have also been decluttering quite a bit in the flat. Am amazed as to how much I have got rid of already. This year I want to decorate the flat.
I have an on going temp job starting on 5th February in a school, in the front office.

DawnW

Sorry Kerry Woman, you are really going through it atm
It is good that you have a brother and sister to share the burden, and positive that you have a job to go to in February. Best wishes, and take care xx

Moll

SuperSecretSquirrel wrote: »

I've been lurking in this thread for a while, just had to delurk to say thanks
Moll for that recipe! Potato, bacon, onion, beans, eggs, cheese, cook in a flan dish, and eat by the slice... This sounds like an excellent cooked breakfast alternative that can be prepared in advance, right up my street, thanks

Glad you like it . I find its nicer with chunky bacon , like you get in the mis shaped packs rather than thin slices

Moll

Kerry_Woman wrote: »

Still trying to plod along. My Dad passed away yesterday. Did not have much contact with him.










Even though you didn't have a lot of contact , its a horrible thing to have to sort out the details, Sending big hugs x,