One Year Living Frugally

Tesco got me again!

2009-03-08T12:44:00.004Z

A much needed catch up post.

Tesco got me on Friday, I printed out a shopping list from My Supermarket and the shopping came to £35.30 an amount of money that was once 'a few bits' is now my main shop's value. i allowed an extra fiver for reduced veg. After I finished my shop came to £52 49 and I had switched to even cheaper stuff as I went round such as buying value strawberry jam instead of normal tesco jam because I couldn't find it on My supermarket. I had walked to Tesco to save money on a bus or taxi (I don't drive) and got a taxi back. As I unloaded my shopping my neighbour was coming out of her house and said 'if I'd known you were going to Tesco I would have given you a lift.' Typical.

At least I'm sticking to meal plans now. All that cheap veg went into yesterdays chicken stew and todays chicken and mystery veg soup.

We've finished off the freee Cadbury chocolate I won in the Cadbury Carnival competition and last weeks freebies included carrot and tomato seeds, a sachet of L'Oreal face cream and a BBC Good Food mag.

No 7 Bargains and Free Food

2009-01-24T11:47:00.007Z

My first Graze box was FREE and I got another half price. Fab healthy snacks delivered.

Picked up a load of reduced food in Co-Op total shop £14.49

Used two £5 No. 7 vouchers in Boots and got Quick Thinking wipes and Mineral Perfection Blusher plus some 75% off xmas cards for £6.14 plus a FREE No. 7 blusher brush and compact mirror set.

After many emails and much waiting my competition win - Rise and Fall of a Domestic Diva has arrived worth £6.99

Free Educational Resources

2009-01-19T13:59:00.002Z

Together with child development expert Dr Carol Cooper and leading education advisor Godfrey Hall, iChild has produced FREE printable activities that cover child development and education from birth to 11 years! These are perfect for keeping your kids busy and are both fun and educational! Their Free Educational Activities cover subjects from the National Curriculum and so can be used in nurseries and schools as well as at home. Simply click on the relevant age tabs on the site and you will be able to see how each activity benefits your child. iChild also has more Free Fun Activities and things to do, that will keep your kids busy and allow you to spend rewarding time with your child. Plus, each week they will be adding more new activities.

No Spend Day

2009-01-18T21:53:00.009Z

Today is a no spend day. I managed to last the whole day including going to work without spending one single penny.

Reviewed a new Real Ale for Dooyoo

Members write reviews about products and services they've used. The dooyoo Community rates these reviews so that consumers can easily access the best advice about a product. dooyoo rewards members with dooyooMiles, which can be converted into cash, Amazon.co.uk vouchers or a charitable donation.

J made a huge pan of chilli while I was at work, bulked out with lots of veg and lentils. Tastes great.

money off coupon

2009-01-17T22:09:00.001Z

30p Money Off Coupon - Daily Mail

More goodies

2009-01-17T13:42:00.004Z

Wins: Oxford softline diary £16.69 (Picture left)

Freebies: Olay 7 Effects 7ml sample worth £2.60

Tips from work: £1.35

Signed up for some deals for free Ipoints, did a couple of surveys for Valued Opinions and Toluna

Watershed

2009-01-15T18:22:00.004Z

I know 2009 is already underway, I should have started this blog on the 1st but I have been a bit busy getting the hang of this frugal living thing. I have been making notes on my savings and spends and I was a little slow in realising while I am writing on paper I could be blogging my results.

Today was a big day, spending wise. I got through nearly £60 but I believe I did well with my money. Here's the breakdown.

Bus fare to town and back: £4.20 (me and R)
Tesco Metro: £8.95 includes 8 energy saving lightbulbs on offer - 5 for 40p and reduced to half price pork chops and turkey mince.
M&S Dine In: £10
Argos: Uncharted - Drake's Fortune PS3 Game £9.19 reduced from £39.99 - I used a £10 gift card I got before xmas plus sale reduction.
Market - fruit and veg: £3
Clarks - Shoes for R: £10 reduced from £36
Burger King -Lunch for R FREE with luncheon vouchers from Pinecone Research.
Game: Reconditioned PS2 Game £7.99

The checkout girl in Tesco did a bit of a double take when she totalled up my shopping. The light bulbs had been scanning at £0.98 so the sub total was a lot higher than the £8.95 total. I smiled.

Got home to find a winning email in my inbox. I have won a roasting set. Le Creuset goodies, olive oil and rooster veg.

Had half price pork chops, free jacket potatoes (previous veg win) and M&S salad for dinner.

R's FREE Lego mag arrived through the post today.

The LEGO Agents are ready to take your kids on a secret mission this Summer!
Check out their exciting new comic in the new issue of LEGO Magazine, plus:
Discover the truth about troll in a new LEGO Castle feature! Roar with LEGO
Racers into a fun and exciting activity! Build a Dino and you could win a LEGO
set of your choice! Check out the ALL NEW Alien Commander of the MT-61 Crystal
Reaper from Mars Mission. Don’t get the LEGO Club magazine yet?

Sign up for FREE!