DIRTY FILTHY SATURDAY

I applied for free loft insulation and cavity wall insulation under the goverment backed scheme. Had the survey and we were eligible. That was back in July and at long last they are coming on Tuesday to do the work.

So this Saturday afternoon we went to clear the loft. Didn't think this would take long as we keep very little up there, just suitcases and boxes with Christmas decorations. O/H takes a light to check that all is clear - air turns blue, in the dark regions of the far end of the loft were old rolls of carpet, sacking with straw, wood etc. old nowspapers dated back to the 1950's. Everthing was filthy and falling apart. By the time we had finished we were filthy dirty and the hall was covered in bits everywhere. Luckily have only stripped the hall ready for decorating so no carpets etc. to worry about.

Looking forward now to the difference it will make to the warm of the house. Being an end of terrace we have a long outside wall which gets no sun so should make a difference.

Will be having slow cooker roast pork and bread and butter pudding for dinner. The smell of the pork is driving our little old adopted cat nuts!!!!

best wishes to all
wannabi frugal

Keeping warm without the heating on

This is always hard for me as I do feel the cold. In the good old days when gas was cheap ( can just about remember...), flick the switch and on it went without a thought. Today, very different, almost scared to put it on as the prices have risen so fast. We are quite lucky here in the south east as it has been quite mild but i am dreading it when it gets colder. Now it is layers of clothes and blankets over the legs in the evening.
I had a great bargain at out local bootfair on sunday. Spotted this quilted bedspread poking out of a bag. Asked the price and was delighted to be offered it  for £1.50p. The lady had even had it cleaned. Very warm and a lovely teal colour.

This is on top of the duvet and my very old hand quilted spread which my mum gave me years ago.

The quilt is a soft cream colour and hand quilted. I know some will think that I shouldn't use it as it is so old but that is what is was made for and I do treat it kindly. So when we are snuggled under all this we stay warm and toastie.

so here I am

I am taking baby steps to get the best I can for my family and make our budget stretch as far as i can. i have learnt a lot from some other blogs and here i am to show what i am doing and would love others comments and tips as i still have so much to learn. To me being frugal means getting the most you can out of your resources and still having a good  and enjoyable life. There are some things that i know would make me unhappy to give up and it would be silly of me to try.