There were big expenses as mentioned during the month
- New hot water tank and all the work involved
- Fog light glass repair on car
- Car Serviced
- New Passport
The only small frugal-ing was................
- Used my small Tesco voucher to buy a raffle prize ready for the village over 60's meal.
- Eating beetroot from the garden everyday.
- Reading library books for free
- Didn't use tumble drier all month (can't remember the last time I did use it)
- Peppers, courgettes and mange tout peas from freezer
- Used my one home grown squash to form the base of a pan full of veg curry. Made 5 meals to put in freezer..
- Won chocolate orange at WI, put away for Christmas.
- Picked up twigs and sticks from meadow for kindling wood
- Ordered wild bird feed when they were doing a special offer and got free suet pellets
- Made more chutney using free apples from a "Help yourself to windfalls" box outside a house in the village
- And another batch of chutney using beetroot from the garden and apples as above.
- Got things for 2 hampers from car-boot sale
- Also chocolate teddies for 5 hampers
- Clothes from charity shop
- Christmas presents for Grandchildren from Charity shop and boot sale.
Haven't mentioned this lately but I'm still getting rid of stuff
OUT in November went 2 pairs of curtains - they'd already moved house twice so instead of putting them back in the airing cupboard after the new hot water tank was fitted they went into a bag for the charity shop along with a few more books.
OUT of the workshop went the two chainsaws and things that go with chainsaws and several clamps. They went home with Col's brother.
OUT to a fundraiser for the doctors surgery went some books
OUT to the charity shop went some shirts and jeans of Colins
OUT of the meadow went the old caravan. The kitchen man said he could tidy it up to use it and knew someone who could re-upholster the mouse-eaten seating. (it would have cost me £425 to send it for scrap and was no longer suitable to sell as it had deteriorated badly over the last few years).
OUT to an auction house went some jewellery that has been passed onto me over the years. Some will go into their regular monthly jewellery auction and one piece kept back for their specialist auction next year. It was all too chunky for me to wear so I thought might as well sell and buy another plain ring or I might get myself a watch that winds.(Battery watches always stop on me!)
ALMOST OUT went the jigsaw puzzles plus kitchen utensils from the caravan (into the car boot box under the stairs)
I'm very pleased at how I've got on with Christmas Day and Christmas present shopping, lots done so no panic next month, although there are things I want to do in the kitchen but the kitchen man has been here all week and at the rate he goes will be here for most of next week too......everything is double or treble fixed.........it seems to go on forever......I feel sorry for the person in the future who wants to remove this kitchen. It WILL be done eventually I know.
Thank you for all the comments about the cushion...........I hope everyone realised that I wasn't being at all serious!
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Those cards are beautiful, how inventive to use an unwanted top! It must be so frustrating having the work being done so slowly, and being in upheaval whilst it's all done, all you can do is keep telling yourself it will be worth it in the end. When our landlord arranged for new central heating to be fitted throughout the whole house, it took a fortnight. I was grateful that it was being done and we didn't have to pay for it, but oh boy the mess, and dust, and dirty fingerprints everywhere! It drove me bonkers every day.
ReplyDeleteThe kitchen man is such a fusspot and worrier.
DeleteA person walking down the footpath is "A possible burgler". People walking dogs across the field footpaths are "Possible Hare Coursing". And he panics if the workshop door outside is left open, even if he is backwards and forwards there cutting worktops etc.
He's quite right. I woke up the other Sunday and police were here on quad bikes: hare coursers up from Essex. Garage and shed doors open: travellers slow down or call in for a snoop, see what you've got, and burglars quietly "walk" in.
DeleteWell done on upcycling the top into lovely cards. I wondered what had happened to the caravan as I noticed it in a photo you posted some time ago. You’ve done a lot in November and are very well ahead in your preparations for Christmas. Very wet here today so need to spend time indoors doing some sorting out of Christmas things.
ReplyDeleteWe bought it very cheaply off ebay when we were still at the smallholding before we knew just how serious Col's illness was. I was horrified to find mice had got in and eaten some of the covers and ruined a sleeping bag that should have come out last winter but what with hospital trips and illness it just got forgot
DeleteThat's a good list of small frugal things Sue.
ReplyDeleteThe cards look lovely.
Hugs-x-
Thank you
DeleteMy response was kind of tongue in cheek too. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love those cards. They're beautiful. I also love your list of little frugalities - they all add up, don't they?
xx
I think most people realised I was light hearted but I forget that others take everything so seriously
DeleteI love a super organized November, it always leads to a simpler December.
ReplyDeleteMy December job list is shorter but I need my kitchen!
DeleteThose cards are beautiful, what a great way to recycle an unwanted garment.
ReplyDeleteI was pleased they looked useable
DeleteVery inventive way to reuse the unwanted top. It feels good when you can recycle or let go of things that someone else can. xcx
ReplyDeleteIt was all the wrong shape for me so I'm glad it wasn't completely wasted
DeleteYour cards are pretty. It's a lovely day just put some washing on the line. Going to have a short walk before I have a coffee (don't want to wait before it rain)
ReplyDeleteHazel c uk
We've had a nice bright day today - a huge improvement on yesterday
DeleteWow, well done for all the things which have gone 'out' this month. I keep trying to do similar but it is sporadic.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to get things out of the way if they are no longer needed. I shall have enough for a boot sale by next summer
DeleteHard to balance so many big spends with the frugal ones, but I think you did an excellent job of making the most of things you had control over. Impressed with your 'shirt' cards--would never have thought of it.
ReplyDeleteAt least the big spends were all payments that made things better
DeleteHave you considered wiring a book on how to be frugal? You are an expert.
ReplyDeleteshould be writing not wiring! oops
DeleteI would never have the patience for writing a book
DeleteBrilliant use of that charity shop top that didn't suit you. It looks good as card 'filling' ☺
ReplyDeleteI have enough to make two more cards as well
DeleteI love your birthday cards--what a great idea. Stopping my from another friend's blog (coffeeontheporchwith me). It sounds to me like you have been very thrifty indeed. I'll be back--enjoyed this read so much.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog and I'm glad pleased you enjoyed it, I'll pop over to visit your blog now
DeleteI used to find that we went through watch batteries faster than you could blink, but a few years ago I discovered that Timpson do watch batteries and if you pay a little more - usually about 50% more than the cost of a single battery - they will change the batteries for life. I have been back and had several changed and there is never a quibble and in fact the batteries also seem to last longer than whatever we had before too so it is a win all round. Not advertising, just something I found that it thought might be useful if you don't find a winding watch instead of a battery one.
ReplyDeleteBatteries just stop working on me - not the battery - but too much static in me! ( or something weird)
DeleteI love the use of the fabric in the cards! I am a fabric hound but not new fabric, usually something I find in a thrift store piece of clothing. This gives me one more way to use up the things that aren't suitable as clothing.
ReplyDeleteI think you did very well with the spending, considered overall. Some months are going to be like that when you have unexpected expenses. I admire your decluttering momentum!
I have lots more to clear from Col's workshop in spring too
DeleteLove how you utilised the top to make the cards, great idea. You've done really well with Christmas. I can't even begin to think about it yet. I will be one of those mad people running around this year. I'm normally done by now.
ReplyDeleteYou are just "slightly" busy with your new place so I'm not surprised about the delay in getting going with Christmas!
DeleteThose birthday cards are super Sue - I would much rather get a home made card - it shows such thought.
ReplyDeleteI hope someone will like them when I send them next year
DeleteGood way to get rid of items. I'm decluttering a lot lately. Too much junk. Why is kitchen man taking so long to get kitchen done? Just curious.
ReplyDeleteI put together a bag of goodies for my son's family in an insulated bag for Christmas. I snatched your idea...and there's a jar of plum jam I made this summer too. They can use the bag while shopping and put lunch in there when they're out and about. Maybe cookies too. I'm almost done with gift buying. Got my Christmas cards. Take care!
The kitchen man is a one man business, a perfectionist and a worrier. I'm just so glad I'm not paying him by the hour! I'm sure the kitchen will be absolutely perfect when he's finished and so well fixed that no one will ever be able to remove it.
DeleteIts good to reuse things and declutter. Very satisfying. I hope you find a wind up watch as I couldn't find one at a reasonable price a few years ago. Only antique types.
ReplyDeleteI like the repurposing of the top - lucky recipient they are gorgeous. It occurs to me that no matter how frugal one tries to be the savings are never as much as the amounts you have to pay out for certain necessary jobs or purchases. However good try on the balancing out and on shifting the clutter... any more and you would have had to hire Pickfords to collect!
ReplyDeleteMy best bargain of the month was actually on the 1st. Sainsburys had evidently bought in too many pumpkins for people to carve for Halloween, so, on the 1st they were selling them for 5p each. I regret only buying a couple, as I know I could gave made lots of different things with them! Could not face lugging any more home though!
ReplyDeleteThe cards are lovely.
ReplyDeleteOur November was not as frugal as I would like it to be, and I doubt that December will be much better.
God bless.