No-spend January/Frugal February - the no-spend challenge continues

[roguepixie]

OK - am attempting to start the second thread ... hope this works.

[roguepixie]

Hope to heaven all from the no-spend thread pop over soon

[Bossybritches22]

[roguepixie]

Oooooooohhhhh, it works!!!! I did it, I did it

Hello, Bossy

[Ams25]

Okay, I've been lurking for ages, but am now going to start contributing to celebrate the new thread!
Maternity pay finishes this month, so we are going to be skint! Menu planning has been a godsend, today 1 packet of mince eked out with pulses and vegetables made one cottage pie for four (well, two and two minis!) then added kidney beans and chilli to the remainder for two meals worth of chili to go in the freezer.
My other big bargain was getting teeth checked for me and toddler for free (remembered maternity exemption so thought I should get checked out while it was still free).
Did buy some salad and flora, and slightly sinned by getting a box of red wine. In my defence, it was pretty cheap, and I figure will last longer than the equivalent number of bottles because hopefully we won't 'just finish the bottle.' hmm, that's my story anyway. Right, off for a glass of cheap red and a dollop of cottage pie!

[Lexilicious]

thanks for the checklists link! will put 'download checklists' onto my to do list ;-)

Still too disorganised to take packed lunch to work but had breakfast at home at least. Dinner yesterday was roast shoulder of lamb (nearly 2kg for £13 so a relatively cheap cut) and tonight was lamb leftovers done in the frying pan with spices and then tossed together with broccoli and pasta. There is masses more meat so tomorrow may be lamb curry done sloooooow because I'm working at home and can therefore start it about 4. Will also make stock from the bone and fatty offcuts.

[Leilandri]

Well done Rogue and a good name btw :)

[spewgloriousspew]

Oh look, new thread!

I love the monster jean repairs, reshape. I've bookmarked for future reference.

I went into town and furtively ate my homemade sandwich at the back of Costa while shoving food into baby's mouth and drinking the cheapest drink on offer. I was prepared to play the baby led weaning card if approached. I also took the boy on his maiden bike voyage. The good thing is that if I go into town with him on the bike (to hang out in library etc), then I can't actually buy anything as I no longer have baskets to cram full. I haven't got panniers and am putting off buying them, and can only get his changing stuff and a spare babygro in my rucksack. So, this should save me lots. It was so nice to just get on the bike and go today, rather than loading up the pram.

Lexilicious, could you keep aside a portion of your evening meal to reheat the next day for lunch? That's an easy way of making lunch - all you need is an old ice cream tub or similar.

Also, here's my cheap-skate tip of the day: you know when you receive letters with stamps that Royal Mail have kindly left unmarked? I cut them out and use them to send my own letters. It's surprising how many get through the system without being inked .

[reckoner]

Oh I've missed loads.
New thread!
fishpond big congrats on having a boy!
leilandri good luck with the job interview!

I am reading 'cut the clutter' by the lady who does organizedhome.com. It was in the library and couldn't leave it on the shelf :)
DH passed his exam today! Next he will do his adult numeracy level 2 and he's dreading it.
Did spend a bit today. DH got a chippy again (£5.60), £5 parking and some butter, bread and milk (£7.99)

[Bossybritches22]

reckoner tell your DH there's lots of practice papers online. I was mortified when I failed mine recently, but it was down to knowing the system/methods they use today. I can't add up sideways!

[Fishpond]

Sneaky post to mark my place

[Fishpond]

Ooh can we be money-saving march?

[Meglet]

I haven't been clothes shopping in the sales. This has never happened before.

So I think I'm doing ok. I'll know more once the car and house insurance have all been finalised over the next month. Until then I'll have to be strict with myself.

[NannyPlumIsMyMum]

I will join your spangly new thread.
I'm very strapped.
In process of losing my job due to Ill health and I'm no longer on sick pay . Supporting 2DC and my DH has 2 other DC we are financially supporting .

[Murtette]

Fishy - I'm having a boy too. When are you due? I'm mid-May.

I've had a bad few days, not really slipping off the wagon but lots of expenses cropping up at once. Whilst in ASDA yesterday, remembered DD needed slippers for home & nursery as well as vests; we'd finished the de-icer; DP had broken the water jug... all of which, with a few other odds & sods & bits of food came to £39.

Today the car was MOT'd and needed £15 worth or work as well as the cost of the MOT itself. And I have to get it taxed in the next fortnight. And then the boiler man called to say that the part we need is £600 plus labour or we could get a new boiler for £1000. I think we'll be doing the latter as the boiler is old and I can see more and more things going wrong with it. Crazily, tomorrow we'll be paying bump's deposit for his place at nursery next March as the nurseries around here are few & far between.

On a positive, there will be 8 of us for lunch on Sunday and I've realised I've got enough fish in the freezer to turn into a fish pie.

[IamMummyhearmeROAR]

Leilandri- good luck with the job and Fishpond congrats on your baby boy!

Great new thread! Thanks Rogue Pixie- looking forward to a frugal February and hope it's even more of a success for us all than January!

I made pizza for the first time tonight (I'm down to the wire with the shopping) and had 3 unexpected guests so stitched it out with some wedges and garlic bread. Kids said it was the best pizza ever so I'm chuffed.

[IamMummyhearmeROAR]

stretched

[Bossybritches22]

Come & say hello on the old thread & waste fill up the last 10 posts!

[reckoner]

iammummy we have homemade pizza every weekend. Its so much nicer than any shop bought or takeaway ones. DH even started doing stuffed crust. Oh la la :)

[reckoner]

murtette ouch at the new boiler cost! But it should hopefully be more efficient than your old one and save you some money over time...?

[reckoner]

rogue FAB end to the last thread

[IamMummyhearmeROAR]

Mmm - stuffed crust sounds very advanced but delicious!

[roguepixie]

murtette - get the new boiler. We had an old(er) boiler and didn't appreciate how much money we were chucking away until we replaced it. The bills have fallen significantly in the months since we have had the new boiler in. And, tbh, the extra cost is worth it.

iammummy, homemade pizza regular at chez-rogue as well. DS won't eait it if I haven't made it.

Bossy , I wasted filled the thread ... couldn't help myself

[roguepixie]

Thank you reckoner ... I got carried away

[PermaShattered]

Whats this checkout download that's been mentioned?! (I'm new on this credit crunch thread :-( )

[PermaShattered]

I mean checklist!