2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

MarkyMarkD

whitewing wrote: »

Wow, great posts today and I'm particularly inspired (nay, honoured!) that a MSE superfan is on board!

If you mean me, then thanks! I'm only lurking on the thread but maybe I can contribute the odd useful thing from time to time - it wasn't actually my first post on the thread!

I spend far too much to pretend I could ever live on £4,000 but I am an MSE at heart - I think Martin says something about not living less well, but doing it for less, and that's certainly my approach. In other words, spend the same money (if you can afford it) but get more for it. That's not to negate the values of the challenge, just a different approach and the reason why I can only lurk!

(I have the Tesco carrier bag around my shoulders in true frugal style).

I hope that is a Tesco carrier bag you've almost worn out by re-using it loads of times and earning green points, and that's why you are "wasting it" by wrapping it round your shoulders.

OH is washing the car with stardrops at my parent's as we are watermetered and they are not.

That is seriously frugal. Unfortunately my parents live too far away and they are metered too! Not washing the car might be even more frugal? But then I heard that your car is less aerodynamic if it's dirty.

In the shop, they also had some dear little baby outfits, in blue, pink and also cream. Reduced to £1.50 bargain. And do you know what, frugal people? I even resisted buying any, not even the cream ones. I'm not even close enough to have missed a period yet. (redglass, as well as having a phantom pregnancy, last week OH and I started trying for a real one). I am also getting uptight as MIL, DS and OH want a little girl. I want a little boy. (Although, I am sure that even when, if, I do get pregnant none of us will mind).

It's always hard to resist baby things IMHO. I desparately wanted a baby girl and was over the moon when we went for the scan and found out. She had all her names and everything the same day!

MarkyMarkD

Jumble-Bee wrote: »

Hello everyone!

am i imagining it, or is the delicates cycle on the washing machine much shorter (and hence much more frugal) than a regular cycle?

perhaps one of you obsessive electricity meter watchers will be able to enlighten me

If you leave the machine on its default setting for each type of wash - or don't have variable temperature control - then it probably is quite a lot cheaper but that's mainly because it will be at a lower temperature. The lack of vigorous action, and the shorter cycle time, will save a bit but nothing is as expensive as heating up the water.

Even then, you cannot generalise as easily as this.

If your machine is cold fill - and most seem to be, nowadays - the water is all heated using electricity. How expensive that is depends on your supplier, whether you have economy 7 and if so, whether you are doing the cycle overnight.

If your machine is hot and cold fill, some cycles use hot water from the hot water supply and other cycles use cold water and heat it up as they go along. The more gentle cycles often heat up as they go along, because that's more gentle than simply lobbing a lot of 60 degree water on your garments.

That's probably a lot more detail than you wanted! But basically you can't guarantee which cycles are the cheapest without meter checking it yourself.

CharliesAngel

Evening all

I'm climbing the walls with all the free starbucks coffee i've had today lol.. work got a bit suspicious after my fourth trip :rotfl: got a baby bag of ground and two buy one get one free vouchers.. not sure what to do with the bag of ground without a filter...

got taken out for lunch by my sis so that's saved me having tea.. or in fact ever eating again...all the tapas you can eat for a tenner.. i had to undo my trousers in the car on the way back lol

I went wild (it is payday) in oxfam and got 5 books for £1.49 so that will keep me quiet on the train.. i know it's not very dfw to buy books but i've got a library (and whole house) to fill... it all looks very empty since i moved from a studio flat into this three bedroomed house a year ago.. i'm tempted once the decorating is done to have a look on freecycle for stuff..

i'm still laughing at the kenwood mixer v gold debate.. not sure which i'd prefer!!

ooh and i'm online from home as of... now! my dad's given me his laptop and they've offered to pay for broadband for a year bless them.. i'm probably getting on their nerves lmao :rotfl:

I'll shut up now...

CA x

System

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

That's probably a lot more detail than you wanted! But basically you can't guarantee which cycles are the cheapest without meter checking it yourself.

:eek: crikey, yes thats a lot of detail!

i get to pick the temperature (lukewarm!)

I have no idea how it heats the water though - but wouldnt it be the same method on regular or delicate anyhoo?

i think i will just conclude that yes, it would be a wee bit cheaper, and then I will be happy even if its not strictly true!

MarkyMarkD

I agree. If it's a "select your own temperature" machine, it's probably going to heat the water the same way and to the same temperature, so the main saving will be the reduced wash time and reduced agitation.

I'd rest easy believing that it's saving you a few pennies on electricity.

It's probably more important to note that it is better for your clothes too which could save you more money than the electricity saving.

nevadagirl

CharliesAngel wrote: »

I'm climbing the walls with all the free starbucks coffee i've had today lol.. work got a bit suspicious after my fourth trip :rotfl: got a baby bag of ground and two buy one get one free vouchers.. not sure what to do with the bag of ground without a filter...
CA x

I've ventured out of lurking again to say that you could make an impromptu filter using the cut off top of a pop/squash/water bottle turned upside down and lined with paper towels or a j-cloth or a muslin square or something. I am sure this is not ideal because of the dye/bleach in the paper towels and may be a bit of a scald hazard so be very careful. I had to improvise until payday when my last coffee machine packed in, I'm dangerous without coffee in the morning. :rotfl: If you have a metal funnel somewhere that might be a bit safer, or it might just be simpler to take it round to someone's house and use their machine to drink it there! Tell them you'll bring the coffee if they supply the cakes

Now if someone can help me work out how to use random household objects to grind my free Starbucks coffee beans I'll be very happy

And I promise not to drink it until the morning :eek:

Janey51

:eek: :eek: :eek: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH:eek: :eek: :eek:

Murder most foul is about to be comitted in this house.
DH has come home with a food smoker

I hate the taste of smoked food.
It is now partially assembled in the middle of my kitchen table with DH looking proudly on.
Why, oh why? It cost £60 :eek: I need a cold flannel on my forehead and a lie down.
We are living in a tip after the house fire. I have no vinyl on my kitchen floor. All DH's power tools and DIY toys are gradually taking over my house and now my kitchen table is host to a massive metal contraption that looks like a cross between Darth Vader and R2D2.

redglass_2

elantan wrote: »

redglass isnt the chicken damoda just the best ...ive been very fortunate to go to a few amazing countries but of all my travels the gambia has the most delicious food what an amazing place as well ...

Even having to look after 11 teenagers 24/7 for 2 weeks :eek: hasn't put me off the place. I'm plotting to get back there within two years, can't afford it before then....Elantan, I've lost track of things while I've been away so I don't know what's been going on with your hubby but I hope everything works out OK for you.

elantan

the gambia is amazing i will go back one day myself and cant wait ...the banjul ferry will live forever in my memory ....and jinack i left a part of my heart there ...it's great to talk about it with others isnt it ? those memories will stay with me forever...to watch a community of wonderful people playing checkers with milk carton lids (talk about frugal these people can teach us all so much) and be so happy ..well words cant describe it

MarkyMarkD

I can't imagine why anyone would need their own personal food smoker! Can you not buy things smoked if you really have to have them in that condition?

Unless he spends half his time fishing and intends to make his own kippers, or something, it seems like a mad way to spend £60!