2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

Janey51

Today, I have only spent £6.37 :j

And had a letter from British Gas to say they are reducing our monthly DD from £61 to £27 :j

I knew I could do it. Makes walking around in the dark worthwhile. Offsets the cost of the oil a little bit.:D

Penny2myName

Dear Janey51, I do hope your wonderful tales of woe are just that tales, and not reality.:o

System

Why does frugal husband not tell frugal wife about his stashes of valuable goods?

Frugal husband ought to draw a treasure map of his secret booty (on the back of an old envelope, naturally)

Frugaldom

Janey, I think I need to agree with 'Jumble's 'back of envelope' treasure map idea, as there may not be such a thing as insuring against frugalism just yet. :rotfl: I think I'll ask everyone in my household to keep their non-frugal items well hidden and labelled - "this item is not suitable for Janey51 treatment"

I didn't see the "documental" on living on a garbage heap and don't really fancy that much - think of the combination of all that methane and trying to kindle a fire. :eek: I think I'll save awhile longer - haven't checked to see what I can afford recently but last time I looked I had enough to buy a flat-pack log-style cabin. (Edited in - a very tiny garden-sized one, not the 2 bed/shower room one LOL) Oh nooo.... that means I need to go for a frugal google again!

On the pressie front, I have almost completed the gift for my 'High School Musical' mad niece... it's a decorated folder containing a complete 'How To organise your own show' including the essential 'how to raise extra pocket money & save' to fund your first show. It has the usual notebooks, calculator, blank music sheets, songwriting suggestions, iron-on transfers (had free samples of transfer paper, so made up similar slogans to those I found for the movie), costume design section (including hm fabric samples & colour samples cards) and I was even able to print off some mini posters (available as free downloads) from the official website. Just need to make sample 'pom poms' now and print off the 'how to make pom poms' guide (I'm using recycled wrapping paper and the shiny wrap that you get around bouquets). I'll also print & laminate some personalised membership cards that she can hand out to her school pals. I think she'll like her 'stage show' kit and sis agrees. I'm sure 9 year-olds are into secret projects and organising stuff. At least this keeps both girls similar with their pressies - the younger one loved her 'how to save for my first pony' kit

Isn't frugaling FUN?! This is WHY I miss all the programmes on TV - I forget or I run out of time. Wednesday, Channel 5, 7.30pm is written on my kitchen board, calander and diary and I still thought I had missed last night's episode!! I forgot it wasn't on!! :rotfl:

slowlyfading

NSD :j :j :j first one in ages it feels like lol

LollopyBear

Oh Janey, your tales of woe tickle me! You have such a way with words. I think the idea to have a treasure map on the back of an envelope is a great idea!

We had a letter from Direct Line saying our buildings insurance was going to be automatically renewed on 28th Feb at a princely sum of £481.16! :eek: This is for buildings alone, no contents or anything else.

I said Eff off to Direct Line and hit the comparison sites. The best one was for Buildings AND contents and some other bits and pieces we couldn't afford before through the Cooperative for £196 according to the comparison site. I still wasn't happy though so I went through the oily hand and found I could get £35 cashback back and then going through them and re-entering the details on the cooperative's site I managed to shave it down to £186 (plus £35 cashback). :j Happy frugalite! That's around £300 saved

On the spending front I am still doing badly . All very necessary things and got in a frugal way - BOGOFs, discounted and points/cashback but it's still eating away at my budget. I'm planning a NSD tomorrow though! I have a lot of work to do before back to school next week (BOO!) so that should keep me chained to my desk.

I do have a couple of friends who are twisting my arm to come to London just for Sat night clubbing ("it's ONLY £17 on the train. Come on, when are we going to have time/energy to do this for the next 5 weeks?"). That would blow my budget to smithereens and I don't think it is worth it, but how to explain? Alcohol and travel are my biggest areas of wasteful spend that I need to cut back on anyway!

DdraigGoch

Nyk, you have very lucky family - such wonderful presents

I used to do this sort of thing, but when they're nearly 20 and 17 then it doesn't work! I'm working on a Frugal 20th birthday present - any ideas anyone?

I had another NSD today.

Ye Gods and little fishes, but it's cold out there! I went out picking up wood for the fire and by the time I'd picked up a pinny-ful my hands were so cold I couldn't even stack the wood properly .... brrrrr.

Anyway, new DH and I had our MSE honeymoon this week - an overnight stay in a lovely hotel, mostly paid for by our Matron of Honour! We had a bit of a disastrous evening meal, so we very gently pointed out that this was our honeymoon and the manager offered us another night in the hotel "so we can really look after you properly" .... how nice is that? Aren't we fortunate? So, next question, do I get any Frugal bonus points?!! And we only spent £17.32 on the whole outing - apart from my Valentine's present from DH [£24.95, reduced Clarins cleanser/toner package - he's getting the idea :j:j]

Janey51, your trials and tribulations sound so familiar! I had a similar problem with the wood, only it was a lovely piece of oak ... and it's me with the wood fetish! Though the Fully Feminist Frugalite mentality is still invoked, I shall take heed and hide any "treasures" immediately :rotfl:

Thank you everyone for your support and many, many grins. This is the first and last place I visit every day.

You're working wonders

DG

FunBrum

nykmedia wrote: »

Added in the blue bits Also wondered if they ever have 'open days' for supermarket bins

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
They may have a special day for the over 40's, where they have an assistant that actually gives you a 'leg up'!:rotfl: Wonder if anyone has had the nerve to ask for Nectar points on there goods?!:rotfl:

Janey51

Penny regrettably, tales of woe are all true.

As I am a vertically challenged person, DH puts all his valuable goods on the tops of cupboards usually. But I suppose he thought the odds of me picking that particular bottle of wine or square of wood were minimal. I tell him to put things away with a note on saying "do not use". Yesterday I got accused of removing his £10 winning lottery ticket but I had merely tidied it away (well, it had got caught inside a book I moved).

DdraigGoch I am pleased to brighten another frugalite's day. What does your name mean? How about "Little Frugalite who lives in the wood" or "The Ferreting Frugalite"? And I thought I was the only one to still wear a pinny when out frugalling. I also carry a bag for anything useful that might need hiding from prying eyes.

Funbrum never mind Nectar points. We should get a dividend for reducing the amount of landfill.

bails

Ha ha, I love catching up on this thread, and am disappointed when there aren't many pages to read! Janey, your posts had me in stitches and gasps of horror at the same time! Your hubby sounds very understanding

DdraigGoch, congratulations on your recent wedding! :beer: I hope you will be soon initiating your DH into the Ways of the Frugalite.

We had a lovely evening yesterday, a homecooked meal (red onion and goats cheese tart with asparagus and new pots) and sat outside by the fire with glasses of elderflower and sparkling water; bliss. I wondered how many people were maxing out their credit cards at the same time. Oh made me a beautiful card, I got mine free - he did buy me a pressie, a lovely big crystal split in two for book ends, and I am giving him a Love treasure hunt over the weekend, probably with me at the end of it
Right, I am off to update my spending diary once and for all and then report back... Have a lovely Friday everyone x