2024 Frugal Living Challenge

weenancyinAmerica

I keep a tiny bottle of oil of cloves on hand for toothaches. Very effective. I have had the bottle over twenty years so far - I just use a cotton swab to add it to the tooth so it lasts forever. One trip to England, my roommate on the trip (BigNancy - why I am called weenancy) had a toothache. She sent me to the pharmacy for hydrogen peroxide. The storekeeper even asked if it was for a toothache as that was the major reason people had asked for it. Worked for her. I do the same thing at home - rinse with a mix of hydrogen peroxide and water. Then if that doesn't work I use the oil of cloves as it is strong. 

dND

Good morning all,
A quick heads-up to those who follow Nancy Birtwhistle; her 'Clean and Green' is 99p on 4mazon daily kindle deals today.

Prudent

I am a bit behind with posts due to being busy with care issues for my daughter and feeling unwell myself. I felt like I was wading through treacle a bit last week. Frugaldom's fabulous FB photos cheered me up. Thank you so much to everyone who is contributing. I am learning lots from the thread.

I managed to get into B&Q last week and buy a heated propagator and a soil thermometer. I can take this money off the grant I got for the allotment and it leaves me with £200 still to spend.

I spent the weekend doing a bit of decluttering and catching up with friends. This morning OH helped me take some bags to the charity shop. I am on a campaign just now to minimise 'stuff' a bit more. I do regularly keep on top of this job, but I would like to take it a step further. I am hoping that less 'stuff' to look after will free up my limited energy for the allotment.

This afternoon I am going to the allotment to tidy up and mulch the rhubarb patch and to pop a rhubarb forcer on one of the plants for some early rhubarb. I was gifted a forcer last year by a friend who was moving. I think I put it on a bit late so hoping for better results this year. Once home, I am going to check the fridge to see what needs using up for dinner.

suzeesu2000

Thanks weenancyinAmerica oil of cloves on list for preparedness store. No, not a prepper as such, just dont want to be caught with my pants down.

patentgirl

Morning everyone lots of good advice on here as usual welcome newbies.
I have planting envy at the moment we recently downsized to a small bungalow after just  having kitchen  extension added we have not even started on the garden apart from weekend gone where we took car load to local tip,  DH has great idea's most of which we are saving for but will take time currently full of building materials and unloved not big area DH wants to save bricks hard-core  etc for his planned projects so can't see me starting much seeds till we have the areas mapped out but we do have a long shady path that runs all along side of bungalow about a metre wide any ideas for things to grow in pots that need very little sun?

fionaandphil

@patentgirl We have some blackberries growing along a narrow fence area in the garden.  You could plant some in pots and move them when you are ready?

Kerry_Woman

I decided to add up all my spends tonight.  Planning not to spend anything tomorrow.  A very expensive month as I was expecting.  Was off for a week at beginning of month as so to be in for my orders, eg household cleaning products.  Did buy shoes for work, good soles and got money off.  Have booked to see a ballet local to me about the girl who has to tap her red shoes to get her home. Also to visit a cat cafe in London(for what would have been my Mum's birthday). Got a free ticket for a exhibit for office staff.  All happening in February.  Another 2 free event is also happening in February locally.  Also booked a solve a murder night at a local theatre, Jessica the writer who lives in Cabot Cove in June. This month I have been working for the trust for 3 years and at my current location for 1 year.  Has been very stressful where I work - someone off for long term sick, changes and extra workload.  I am on anti depressants for my mh and do admin in a mh team.  At least I have another week off in February. I have some seeds that I must pot, can only put them in my kitchen in my flat.  No balcony as I live on the ground floor. Have carefully planned my budget for next month.  No major spends for next month, as got what I needed and wanted this month.  

suzeesu2000

Still frugally eating from freezer/fridge/pantry shelves. Why is there no empty spaces?
Been following a frugalista on YT. Shoestring Jane if anyones interested. She’s in Essex and all her tips are uk focused. Very enjoyable.
DH put raised beds together early today so it’s yard work for me today.
Have a good Wednesday everyone xx

Siebrie

She has a blog, too: shoestringcottage.com.

Prudent

I will check the YT and blog thank you. I often watch Jane, Frugal Queen in France on YT. 

An expensive day for me. The car has been flashing up 'low battery, charge by driving' a few times recently. Yesterday the blower stopped working on anything other than full power. Thinking they were connected I asked OH to take my car to the garage and explain the problem. I was unable to go and should have waited until I could as OH just asked them to put in a new battery. It was a whopping £180 and the blower problem is still there so it will need to go back in again. I do keep a 'car fund' but I don't want to spend more than necessary as I am considering replacing this car. At the moment things are a bit in limbo as I am waiting to see if my medical driving is renewed this month. I don't want to buy a new car only to find out my licence is not renewed because my health is poor just now.

Other than that most of my day has been spent on care issues for my daughter. I squeezed in a short walk before the stormy weather started and now I am thinking of making a shepherd's pie.