Couperwife Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 ok, my first month (short of 1 day ) I am very proud of myself I havent kept a log of what Ive spent or saved, but I can tell you that I have: bought NO magazines only shopped once a week on £50 made myself dinner more often than buying it at school made dinner from veg rather than buying processed/ready made meals used washing soda and vinegar rather than buying expensive washing powder and ive found it quite easy I have bought some things, but only on necessity and not "because" so, there you are, feeling very cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Well done Cathy I have made a list, so far it is very short and also very boring I am well under spent for the month, so doing well with the £4K challenge, but the big bills start rolling in from the end of February Keep up the good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoebe Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 well done Cathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Well done Cathy I was doing really well until I got stuck here in Paris due to the snow in London. I had to go out and buy something to wear as had nothing with me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Doesn't that count as stuff needed for work though Christian, it's not fun you are there for is it?! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted February 2, 2009 Author Share Posted February 2, 2009 christian, that totally doesnt count. it was emergency purchasing. you would have been in a right mess if you hadn't purchased anything. (and probably very smelly ) just step right back on the wagon (was paris nice? - just a shame you were on your own eh?) cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted February 2, 2009 Author Share Posted February 2, 2009 right, I have a quandry I want a leather biker jacket. but im not willing to pay for one (well, mega-bucks anyway) so, ive seen one in a charity shop (nice leather, £15, but slightly too big and a mans jacket) so, I dont need it, but I like it. please tell me that it will look rubbish, cos ive been in the shop 3 times and looked at it now (im hoping that it will be gone next time I look, but its usually still there ) HEEEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPPP cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I am going to be not very helpful and say that I think men's biker's jackets can look very sexy on women and you should just get it (I suspect that is what you wanted to hear!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Anyway it isn't new is it? I just ordered something new on Ebay but it was a roundabout saving - it's a clothes airer to hang over the Aga - we are already "aga ironing" so saving leccie on the iron (well the aga is on anyway...) but this is to further the Aga drying and ironing - our hope is that we can get rid of the dryer (which only gets used in winter) and STOP sharing a freezer - if Mum lost the dryer she could have a freezer in her kitchen. I SWEAR that one day I will kill that woman over the freezer. its FULL OF BREAD!!!!! There is brown bread, chicken bread, old rolls, another couple of brown bread loaves oh and some more chicken bread - do you get the picture?????? In my kitchen I have a chest freezer and there is hardly any room in it for me to put food. Oh and did I mention that NONE of the bread is mine????? There is one ball of dough in there that I made today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Well, apart from my emergency clothing purchases above, I am doing quite well. I haven't spent a penny on anything apart from food and fuel, since 1st January. Lucky really as I am poor as a church mouse at present. I am making 40+ wedding favours for OH's sister's wedding in July and will have to get some fabric and bits for that, but am really pleased with myself. I need to find some decent charity shops locally to root around for bits and bobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 You are all doing sooo well I bought my first 'new' thing since 1st Jan, a set of wine glasses, we were down to one glass only and that's no fun, so replaced them with a set from Sainsburys. I did look in the charity shops but couldn't find ones I really liked. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 One wine glass - what did you do, take it in turns? I think I'd classify that as 'essential', Tessa. A bit like gin being an essential food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 I had some essential purchases for hospital such as slippers, nighties and dressing gown as mine were needing replaced over the year anyway and will be used up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 I bought a Lock & Lock cake store - using my John Lewis vouchers I've bought a few bits for my forthcoming party - All Ebay and all within what I made selling stuff. There also seems to be a large shiney new freezer in my kitchen BUT Mum bought it to save us killing each other - was her decision to take the old one as the new one takes up less floorspace and allows me to have a table in the kitchen - to utilize the Aga heat. THEN I got a lovely table and chairs from freecycle!!! I'm spending less than my allowed £20 per week spending money (not food bills etc) AND managing to keep my new years resolution to get at least 1 beauty treatment a month. Mind you the Essex nails need infilling every 3 weeks - but I'm managing to do that out of my weekly spending money. On top of that the money is finally flowing my way again - I signed contracts with a new tenant today so I'm only paying one mortgage now. I might even claw out of my overdraft in a few months!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 What a relief that must be Penguinmad! And well done on all your bargains, I'm not having such a frugal time of it, but most of my spending has been on the new walkin run or ACS equipment for my upcoming courses, so not frittery really ! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 end of month 2 (nearly) i'm really glad that Im doing this ive bought a candle making kit and a soda stream and thats all and Ive really reduced the amount of shopping that ive bought, and ive only had one magazine (kev bought me ) i am actually embarrased to say that im finding things that I bought last year - that I dont remember buying I found a pair of jeans and a dress thats not including the pair of boots that I bought the year before that Ive not worn yet so - its no surprise that im coping with this scarily well cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Looking good Cathy You actually sound as you are enjoying it Well apart from the new wine glasses I have bought a new pair of Cloggies for my gardening/chickenkeeping duties as my old ones fell apart. So I am doing ok. How is everybody else getting on? Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 oooh Cathy - is it one of those funky new soda streams?? I saw them the other day and quite fancied one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Apart from all my chook run stuff & stock for my silver courses, I think the only thing I've bought for myself is a new pair of joggers from Tesco which were the princely sum of £3.50, the others had shrunk to ankle swingers - not a good look! Am very glad my Nan gave me the money which has covered these bits of fairly major expenditure. Once I get the fees in from the students, I'll put that money away into a "rainy-day" fund rather than leaving it in my current account to get lost. We are buying lots of "slow-cookerable" meat which can be stretched over several meals, and I try to buy in the local farm shops rather than supermarkets. My friends think I'm turning into a hermit I spend so much time with my chooks, possibly true, it also means I don't spend so much money Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Well done Cathy and Sha! Apart from my 'emergency purchases' in Paris when the snow hit and I was stuck there, I have bought a book from Green metropolis using the money already in my account AND NOTHING ELSE!! Really pleased with myself. It is difficult at times, especially when it comes to books, but I am managing My current account is still no looking that healthy, but it would have looked much worse if I have been spending. A couple more months and it will look much better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggmayo Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Christian, If you're struggling with not making book purchases there are some great website where you can swap your old books for ones that other people have. It's a bit like having an on-line library. It just costs you the postage to send them off to their new home and you get posted other books in return. We use www.readitswapit.co.uk. Good luck with your quest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Thanks eggmayo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I was doing really well and then......... brought a piano OH always wanted one and my friend is in dire straits and selling stuff, so in a round about way it dosn't count Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted March 5, 2009 Author Share Posted March 5, 2009 erm, doesnt that make it second hand therefore not new therefore - no guilt wow a piano, i would love a piano (cant play but would still love one ) cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 On the subject of second hand books, keep an eye out for book sales. I happen to know there's one near Colchester ( in a village called Stratford St Mary) on Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
