What small DFW things will you do w/c 11th June??

allydowd

EXTRAS:


* Did DW's tax return. She is due a substantial tax refund. :j

* Renewed Tax Credits. We are entitled to nothing but that's another thing crossed off the list.

foxgloves

Hello Thursday Frugalistas,
A very low spend only today......just a local paper, which I bought specifically so I could read the article I intend to send in a letter about. Hope it gets published. So £1 spend only.
Against this backdrop of virtuosity, here is my list of mse bits & bobs:
*Fruit compote from freezer at lunchtime to make fresh fruit supplies last a little longer.
*Jacket potato night tonight - mr f is having a portion of chicken curry on his. I'm going to make a salad from edamame beans, avocado, the last bit of feta, walnuts, etc. The potatoes are starting to sprout but will be fine once I've tidied them up.
*Make tomorrow's packed lunch - half done, just need to add a cob.
*Today's fitness was cycling to the local shop with a strong wind against me......cooo, that was hard work. The cycle back was fab.....4th gear all the way, sailed home in a matter of mere minutes!
*Did a couple of surveys.
*Finished meal plans.
*Wrote shopping list.
*Baked sourdough loaf....it's just proving & will be ready to bake this evening.
*Postie brought some useful vouchers from Waitrose, esp money off some cat biscuits which Cat has just decided he really likes.
*Tie in greenhouse tomatoes & cucumbers.
*Stake up aubergines.
*Investigate floppy pepper plant. Also have a floppy tomato......no obvious signs of a problem, must just be playing hard to get. Have fed in case nutritional deficiency.
*Pot up baby lavender plants grown from free seeds.
*Plant out next batch of 6 baby lettuces. Will bottle cloche from marauding molluscs.....tho' nesting blackbirds are doing a fine job of pest-clearing atm.
*Have another look at dress-making pattern for tunic-type top. I am capable of simple dress-making but very unconfident. However, I bought some fabmongous patterned jersey fabric from our local market recently (£8) & want to be wearing it, not keeping it in a cupboard waiting for sewing confidence to strike. Must remember to use ballpoint needle. Do you remember Stitchywitch who used to post on here? She was sewing guru & advised me to use a ballpoint needle for machine sewing jersey. Must get a grip & order pattern & stop wimping out. Am StitchyWIMP!
*Use-it-up - discovered this morning that a lipstick I don't really like (too vampy) is ok if I just put the smallest bit on, more like a lipstain. Will continue this & get it used up. I spent the money. I should use the product, or it's another chunk of plastic jettisoned when I haven't even used it.
OK, time to make a coffee & take it down to the greenhouse.
Cheers all,
F x

determined_new_ms

Afternoon guys I'm feeling like a sewing goddess! The last 2 days I have made 2 pencil skirts. Yesterday's was made from navy ponte using a pattern. I wasn't 100% happy with the fit, the curves didn't hit the right place. So today I made one with scuba (both are jersey/stretch material) and I drafted the pattern from my measurements directly onto the fabric. It fits like a glove! I used a stretch needle on the one today and it was better than the ballpoint yesterday. I also used my overlocker for the first time and did 2 folds on the material, so was a more economical way of cutting it = less wastage

Just general no spending small things today. Nothing to write home about!

DawnW

Evening all

All this talk of sewing and I must confess that I haven't yet patched that pair of pesky jeans that appeared on my list for a while and then absented themselves Must get on and do it though, as I discovered today that I can now wear jeans again without it hurting my tummy :T
Tired today as I am sleeping (not very well) in the spare room due to OH having man flu that causes him to crash about, and snore even more than usual :cool: But I did get some things done:


Bit of shopping
Updated spending diary and spreadsheet :A
Went into town instead of straight to the SM - shocking how much this saves, even though it is time consuming :eek:
Bought tissues and cold meds from Savers
Kitchen rolls from the pound-ish shop
On-offer premium brand sausages and bacon from Iceland, and paid with shopping vouchers from RM surveys
Two big, cooked ham hocks for £5 from the local butcher. Quite a few meals there! One of them is now in the freezer - must update inventory!
And got the other few bits from Sainsburys
Haven't made it back to the Thursday market since I have been out of hospital - must make the effort next week!
Sold an item on ebay

Watered the back garden pots and various other things, as the forecast storm was just a bit of wind and drizzle round here
Cut back the new growth on my minaret fruit trees (basically upright cordons). I am gradually getting the hang of pruning them!

Gave hall and first flight of stairs a good clean
New potatoes, mangetout, and the first few broad beans with dinner
And strawberries for pudding


Glad you are feeling a bit better Ally - you got quite a lot done today

Gemsy81

Evening everyone....been rather quiet on this thread as I have had a lot of work on (and still do, but have surfaced for air).

I have finally done my debt free diary, and already feel better for it. I woke up in a big panic the other night worrying about money, so I have spent a lot of time on work accounts which has helped me a bit, as I know what I am doing now.

Got bought a free lunch today by a supplier...although sadly my steak was horrible and I didn't feel I could complain as I wasn't the one paying!

Just a quick loaf of bread and big bottle of milk bought today. Tomorrow I will be planning the next week's worth of food...half way through the money and I have underspent by £40 so far, so I'm looking forward to seeing how far under budget I can get our groceries for the month (I have allowed us £250).

allydowd

Hi June-Penny-Jugglers,

Morning. Awoke early. So, "up and at 'em." I am determined to not lie in bed feeling sorry for myself.

I'm also being realistic with my list. I don't want to make a huge list and then "fail" at completing it.

Debt-Free-Nillionaire Continuity Plan Year Four:

THINGS I WILL DO:


* Check online banking. Done.

* Take medication. Done.

* Turn off alarm clock until tonight, it resets itself automatically. Done.

* Make omelette from leftovers for breakfast. Done.

* Defrost the half portion of chilli to go with a jacket potato for lunch. Done.

* Decide on what to make for dinner perhaps a casserole. Some sort of stew creation is simmering on the hob using leftover everything.

* Wash wee white car which is like a bug cemetery as my commute takes me through moorland and mountains and Bug Central Station. Done.

* Update maps on SatNav for free. Done.

* Drink loads of water. I have a headache and I think it's dehydration. Done.

THINGS I MIGHT DO:



* Try and motivate myself to go for a short Bike and Go cycle. Done. 10km along the prom.

* Look at whether we have the gear in stores to repaint a window frame which hasn't fared well over the Winter. Maybe tomorrow.

* Get the sewing machine out to alter some trousers. Maybe tomorrow.


To live without risk is to risk not living.

PurpleFairy26

Morning all :hello:

Hope you're all ok. All this talk of sewing makes me want to make all my own clothes but a cushion cover is about my limit.

Cancelled my half days holiday yesterday as I worked about 9 hours in total. Am off today and don't intended doing any work. My list for today:
Washing out another load to do
Repack snacks for smalls at another event tonight
Go and get some netting and see if I can put it up over raspberries and blueberries
Bit of cleaning at home
Ideally like to get a few things in loft, this might be ambitious without mr PF
Long run, outside so good for soul and waistline
Make some biscuits, not so good for waistline
Check banking and surveys
Do some home admin, file stuff, apply for a couple of things, phone insurance that haven't yet paid out to see if they will etc...

Right must get smalls up and ready for school. Have a good day.

DawnW

Morning all

That looks quite a big list to me, Ally!


Well, OH seems to be well on the way to recovery from his lergy as he was up before me and had stripped off the bed and put the linen in the washing machine. It was only done a few days ago, but I always insist on washing the bedding if someone has had a cold - all those germs :eek:


He is also muttering about cutting the hedge...
As for me, today I intend to:
Give the kitchen a good clean
Pack an ebay parcel using recycled materials, and list at least one new item
Water pots in front garden
Triage fridge

Meals from home
Make a cake
Make a bolognese

Make pesto from basil in the greenhouse
No spending planned for today


Hopefully more, but we will see!

foxgloves

Morning Friday Friends,
Mr f had a later start today, so I nobbled him for solicitors dates, fetching the summer duvet down from a shelf I can't reach & making coffee. And his reward for this was having to put up with me vacuuming manically around his feet! Anyway, here are today's frugal offerings:
*New mobile phone battery ordered - £6.99. I have no idea how good £6.99 worth of battery will be, but it's an old phone, it's fine for my current SIM-only contract, so I'm giving it a go. Used a £5 voucher, so have only actually paid £1.99.
*Cleaned whole house using minimal products & washable microfibre cloths.
*Didn't waste any bin bags.......traipsed each individual bin out to the wheelies to get extra steps!
*Checked for Prolific surveys - none today - am up to £33 again, so might cash out soon.
*Collected together voucher stash for our city centre trip tomorrow. I have a feeling this could be 'Big Birthday Camera-Buying Day'. Big birthday not till end of year, but he is getting very twitchy about the fact that the camera he really, really wants & has spent ages researching, has just gone out of production & the new replacement model is getting poor reviews due to cheaper materials having been used. I have said it's fine to buy it now, as long as it goes away until his birthday. I have saved £65 of survey vouchers towards it, which will help with the cost.
*Arranged a day out with some friends. I suggested a picnic to save us all some cash & they are fine with that, so we're bringing our own food & I will make an inexpensive cake for us to share over a coffee.
*Water veggies & check the plantlets I potted up yesterday are doing ok.
*Re-plant the ivy cuttings that the local blackbirds have yanked out of the pots & strewn all over the courtyard. Will put some food out to divert their interest away from digging for worms.
I'm intending to have the rest of the day for leisure. We're busy tomorrow & going down to Mum's on Sunday, so it'll be a chance for me to stitch a bit more of this gift I'm working on & to read my book. How lovely! Sitting in the garden reading will feel like such a treat!
Wishing everyone a lovely day,
F x

allydowd

foxgloves wrote: »

*Collected together voucher stash for our city centre trip tomorrow. I have a feeling this could be 'Big Birthday Camera-Buying Day'. Big birthday not till end of year, but he is getting very twitchy about the fact that the camera he really, really wants & has spent ages researching, has just gone out of production & the new replacement model is getting poor reviews due to cheaper materials having been used. I have said it's fine to buy it now, as long as it goes away until his birthday. I have saved £65 of survey vouchers towards it, which will help with the cost.

DW's advice is to avoid Grey Imports. These are cameras shipped from outside the EU. You can read more about the pitfalls of buying them here. (Link) (Link2)