Saturday 31 December 2011

FRUGAL PLANNING FOR 2012


Well almost 2012 and I have decided not to make New Year resolutions that I will never be able to keep, instead I am making plans that I am determined to follow in order to reach my goal.

  1. Continue with my £35 a week food/cleaning/pet food budget.
  2. Plan a meal menu for each week with a view to being flexible if a bargain comes along.
  3. Not waste anything - food, clothes etc.
  4. Recycle, repair where ever possible
  5. Keep a small notebook in my bag with lists, measurements of items required for home so no buying without first a check if it is the right thing or size that i need.
  6. Keep monitoring gas and electric comsumption and using only when necessary.
If I can keep to these simple plans then I should be able to reach my goal of being debt free by the end of 2012.
I hope some of you will join me on my journey over the next year and help me stay on course
Happy New Year to everyone from wannabe frugal

Friday 30 December 2011

JUST COULDN'T LEAVE THIS BEHIND!!!!


I love handbags and they are my little weakness. Although I have loads i just can't resist. I had to make a promise to myself not to spend on any NEW bags but I  still find a bargain from time to time either at boot fairs or charity shops. I bought this little 1960's evening bag in a charity shop today for £1.
This summmer there were so many handbags at the local bootfair that I was spoilt for choice. I did stay strong and only bought at a maximum price of £1, in really good condition, vintage and if I was sure I would use it.
I tend to stick to quite simple clothes, (as I am only 5' tall and a size 10) and ring the changes with bold jewellery and bags. It is sometimes an item that I have found for pennies that attracts the most attention.
Tomorrow i will go through my list of things to do in 2012, if i write them here it will help keep on plan.
bye bye for today wannabe frugal

Monday 26 December 2011

DIDN'T MEAN TO BUY BUT I DID!!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Day, now it is Boxing Day and we needed to get out of the house and have some frest air. The weather has been so mild.
Had a brish walk and then O/H discovered that there were newspapers today so we walked back through the town. Amazed how many shops were open as ours is a small town and usually the shops don't open till the 27th.  Decided to pop into "The Works" for a quick look see and found this beautiful photo album for 99p. I have some beautiful family photos dating back to late victorian times and have wanted an album for the best of them and this is perfect. I will post the album again when i have filled with some of the photos.

best wishes to all wannabe frugal

Friday 23 December 2011

SIMPLE EASY SUPPER


Made an easy toad in the hole made with 4 sausages and baked beans tonight and the quiche i should have made yesterday with the left over gammon and a few muchrooms added.

We will have this tomorrow with a salad so not too heavy or rich before Christmas Day.

Went into town for a look around and while in the supermarket picking up a small french stick i ended up at the till behind a lady with piles of shopping, she spent over a hundred pounds and turned to me and said she had already spent £200 there yesterday. I was gobsmacked, to make it worse she said they were not going to be at home for Christmas Day. Over £300 and going to some else for the big day. You have to wonder how much was going to be wasted!!!! £300 would last me for over 2 months.
Hope everyone is ready for the big day and has it all planned as it will make it less stressful.
Back soon best wishes wannabe frugal

Thursday 22 December 2011

BUTTERFLIES IN DECEMBER ?



The bulbs are poking through, the seagulls look like they are pairing up and today a butterfly flitting around the garden.In  December!!
The weather today has been glorious, blue skies and sunshine with temperatures in double figures. It seems crazy with Christmas just 3 days away and to top it all a butterfly in the garden.

It's been hard to get in the Christmas mood but the shopping is done and the presents wrapped and I have been very good and not overspent and hopefully will not have any waste after Christmas. Planning in advance has helped to keep the cost down - a list with items ticked off to remind me when i went shopping.
See you soon wannabe frugal

Wednesday 21 December 2011

MY VERSION OF BOGOF

Hello again sorry to have been away so long but just had too may family and work commitments .
This is my version of BOGOF -  These huge gammon steaks are on offer at Aldi down from £1.99 to £1.49 (by now you will have noticed that i am an Aldi girl). They are so large that i will get two meals for two persons from them. I will cut about a third from each and tonight we will have the larger portion with saute potatoes, peas and carrots with cheese sauce. tomorrow will either be penne made with pesto and the remaining ham diced and muchrooms and or a cabonara of if I feel really good a ham and muchroom quiche where there will be enough for lunch the day after. So at least two for one and maybe even three.
Well off to cook now
Best wishes wannabe frugal