2018 Frugal Living Challenge

shish100

Tonight's valentine's treat is a raid on the freezer, I have found some southern fried chicken! I'm going to make a nasi lemak with it (coconut rice, and on the side - peanuts, cucumber, anchovies). It's nice Indonesian that isn't too hard to recreate.

I think OH is getting more on board with frugalling! He is seeing the benefits as both of our cars needed new brake discs

Kerry_Woman

Buffythedebtslayer - Sending you hugs.

shish100

Sending you big hugs Buffythedebtslayer.

spudsmum

Frugaldom wrote: »

Apologies to anyone who dislikes me adding links, please just ask me to remove this rather than report me, if you feel it inappropriate. This is a link to a very old blog post covering all the homemade cleaning products that we've challenged ourselves to use as part of this challenge - homemade laundry and cleaning products

That link is really interesting thanks. Must put done time aside to experiment with homemade cleaning products.

indigowarrior

Hi all quick question.
My children are being adopted this year and I wont see them again until they are 18 most likely. I want to buy them a goodbye gift each. Is it it okay if I leave that out of the planned spending?

spudsmum

Hi from Portugal - still warm here but cloudy.

Having a lovely time and spending a lot of time sleeping (a combination of very young children and shift working genetally means we get little sleep and survive on pure adrenaline for long periods of time) so hoping to come back quite refreshed.

Frugaldom I've not bought cards for years as I think its a waste such a lot of time, money and effort then they just get thrown away. Only exception is my in laws who get upset if they dont get a proper card - they do keep them all though so I dont mind as much. The smalls make cards for us for birthdays and mothers/fathers day. No valentines nonsense or tat here for me and DH either - we make sure we show our feelings throughout the year, we dont need a special day for that.

Buffythedebtslayer bless you - hope things improve soon

Indigo I really feel for you - I really dont think anyone would frown upon you for buying your children gifts in those circumstances.

I'm really interested in these loo rolls - i buy the cheapest of the cheap - smartprice or similar but do sometines wonder if its false economy as we probably use more. Mind you a few times DH has come back from the shops with the good branded stuff and I've been reluctant to use it as its felt slightly like I'm wiping my bum on pound notes.

On the frugal front, my spend up to now has been €190 - €30 on wifi, the rest mostly on drinks and snacks and on the local bus - pushing these prams up the many hills here gets old very quickly. I dont think thats too bad for five days holiday - hoping we can get through the last two days with minimal spends. We brought €500 with us so hoping we can bring a good chunk of that back

Had emails today to say I've been cashed out £5 from swagbucks and £10 from panelbase. DH has also not used his petrol allowance (£30) this week so thats another £45 I have ready and waiting for debt repayment when i get home - almost makes the thought of coming back to the freezing cold bearable.

Frugaldom

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

why the heck would anyone mind you adding links??????????

I don't know, but I tend to get reported whenever I do

The boards have been well weird lately.

The rabbits both need dentals and the Guinea pig had an op. Emergency fund has all but gone.

My brother in law is seriously ill. Everything here sucks (and I know you shouldn't say that but that is it)

Sorry to hear the negatives are trying to outweigh the positives, Buffy, it's always a bad time of the year without having to deal with stuff like that. I hope your BiL's health can improve soon.

I've been making a couple more planters from milk cartons today so I can get a few seeds sown. If anyone spots the Aldi fruit tree offers, please let me know, as I haven't seen them listed yet and I thought it was usually February.

Frugaldom

indigowarrior wrote: »

Hi all quick question.
My children are being adopted this year and I wont see them again until they are 18 most likely. I want to buy them a goodbye gift each. Is it it okay if I leave that out of the planned spending?

The point of frugal living is so we can afford other things and I think special gifts for children definitely qualify as other things. (I'm guessing you are a foster carer) If the children are taking good memories with them then anything else is a huge bonus, so I hope you find something really, really special for them.

indigowarrior

Hi Frugaldom. I am not a foster carer. I am a birth mum.

[Deleted User]

Frugaldom thank you for the links, I really appreciate you taking the time to do them.

Buffy, sending hugs:grouphug:

Started a new job yesterday and I can already see that it is a toxic environment full of gossip, politics and backbiting. My aim is to stay well out of it but the atmosphere is not pleasant to work in.

Frugal plans this weekend:
1. Really need to get up to date with washing and Ironing. Was away for a long weekend last weekend so this really needs doing.
2. Meeting a friend for coffee but instead will invite her to mine to minimise spend.
3. Food plan and food shop. Need to plan and prepare some packed lunches and snacks for next week at work.
4. Relax and read my library books. I am a big reader and books are my 'one weakness'!! I buy a lot of books but am really trying to get books from the library rather than buy. Currently have 3 books to read (one which was bought before Christmas and two library books).
5. Finalise curtain making for my summerhouse. OH and I have decided not to have a summer holiday this year and instead holiday from home. We will set aside a small amount of money for days out but we will spend a lot of time in our revamped summerhouse relaxing and barbecuing. We redid the summerhouse last year but I still need to finish a few touches including those curtains. I have been putting this job off but it really needs done.

Have a great weekend when it comes everyone xx