2019 Frugal Living Challenge

Hello everyone,

Nicky_Sue - So sorry about the bungalow it's such a shame LL think like that I'm a great believer in everything happens for a reason and I'm sure there is a perfect property out there waiting for you

Ecoelle - Thanks for the link

Pay day for me today (woop!) git a bit of shopping but I am going to get some more bits tomorrow

C xx

Thanks guys.

Our electricity figure is for gas as well as electric. I am trying to reduce it. We are being more careful with lights, turning things off at the wall. I have booked in for a smart meter fitting in April. Hoping it will help to track the usage.

The pet figure is high. I am going to try and reduce it. We lost one of our cats recently to cancer so i have been spoiling my furry baby.

The insurance is job cover for my husbands work plus a policy for life and critical illness, i have a syndrome which may lead to me having to stop working before retirement so we took a policy.

The food I'm working on. Stopped buying so many treats...stick to the list!!!

We do get child benefit but i save it for my daughters future so don't count it as income in that sense.

We both have pensions through work so didn't include those figures as it comes out before tax so is not included in take home pay.

Thanks guys for your suggestions. I am going to monitor spending closely this month..fingers crossed it's a good one x

Well I finally did it! Make some skincare night facial oil from essential oils and a few carrier oils. Cost me pence to make as opposed a well known Spa brand would be charging 60 quid. (used my birthday Amazon vouchers to purchase ingredients). Been saving loads of empty jam jars and bottles. to refill from what I've already used to be eco friendly Next on my list is moisturiser and hand cream for Hubby . I bought some cheap utensils from Wilkos (metal bowl, whisk etc )and some beeswax and shea butter online and after that I plan to make some bath bombs as I found a website that sells fragrance oils' Snow fairy' and 'Alien' fragrances which my daughter loves. My daughter got a snow fairy body spray from Lush 20 QUID !! I will be making that next (bit of witch hazel ,vodka and mineral water with fragrance) and that will be a fraction of the price. Think once I get a bit bit competent I will make as presents for others throughout the year
I worked in the beauty industry for many years and it never ceases to amaze me what a rip off it really is ! But to me skincare is as important as healthy eating and exercise being the largest organ of the body etc. I will keep you posted and I may even post a few recipes if anyone is interested ???

Not a bad couple of days. Delivery of 12 eggs from my friend on Friday. Don't pay her for them but often give her a pot of homemade jam or similar. She had some of the cheese my other friend had given me last week. So far have made egg mayo for sandwiches and banana muffins with bananas out of the freezer - I pop them in with their skins on and when I get them out let them defrost a little then just snip the top off and squeeze them out. Great to then mash for muffins!

Big vat of courgette (from the freezer) and potato (last in the garage from the allotment) soup made. I didn't like it but luckily OH did especially when I added some chilli flavoured cheese!

Also found some blackcurrants in the freezer so decided to make some cordial. Haven't made it before so hopefully my DD will like it!

Did have to go and buy DD new school shoes but got these from the local outlet stores so Clarks shoes for £24.99 so a necessary buy at a good price. I have had terrible problems with my feet and joints over the years so insistent she is fitted and has sensible shoes (gosh I sound like my Mum!)

No weekly shop this week as we are going to use from cupboards and freezer until DSS gets back on Friday. Small £8 shop of necessary fruit and veg today and a few bits for DD packed lunch. Going to try and last out now until Friday or even the weekend if we can. Going to OH parents for dinner on Saturday night and a friend for lunch on Sunday (we will take pudding) so if I can even stretch until Monday even better!

[QUOTE=spudsmum;75384957]Nicky-sue sorry to hear about the bungalow such a shame - hoping something else comes up in the near future.

Not doing so well today - work has gone crazy busy and we are implementing a new system which looks to be a nightmare - its all being completely rushed and it's just so stressful.

Also looking likely that we'll have further belt tightening to do soon - husband is a staff rep and has been called into a big meeting today at work for a "significant announcement" the company was taken over last year so I'm sure this is not going to be anything good [/QUOTE]

Thanks lovely. Keeping fingers crossed for your husband's work.