Wednesday 2 January 2019

Was it a Frugal December? Will it be a Low Spend January?

I shall be having a low spend January but was it possible to have a frugal December including Christmas spending?...........Well it might have been if I hadn't had to pay out the remainder of the money for the new kitchen!  Everyone who's seen all the new kitchen units say they look lovely to which I reply "so they should for the amount of faffing about that was done to install them".

So herewith, as requested, kitchen photos...............



 and the sink bit that was done a couple of months earlier (which now has tiles at each end - luckily just enough in the garage to finish things off properly)

And of course my lovely range (Cylinder gas with electric ignition) which was the first bit of the kitchen done in April 2017

As you can see my kitchen is annoying with 4 doors but plenty of floor space but I've had worse and it works and there is no way to change it without blocking a door or massive rebuilding.

  So the only frugal things I can think of........

 Reading free library books all month.
Grandchildren's Christmas Pressies from Car Boot sales and charity shops   (it won't be many years until all they'll want is computer games or things that have to be bought new, so it's 2nd hand until then)
Still eating beetroot from the garden
Free dinner at the over 60's meal.

Then there was the Spending to Save..............I bought another 20 swim voucher, which takes the price of my weekly swim down to £1.78p each time.

and the Spending when there was no choice...................................Negotiated car insurance down to the same price as last year instead of the £40 more on the new quote. It was surprisingly easy - made me wonder how low they would go if I really pleaded?
 Paid Electric bill which was lower than the same quarter last year

And just Spending...........
  • WI membership
  • Had to buy a new microwave - bare metal in the old one, where the lining  had gone eventually made sparks fly. I was hoping it would hang on until the January Sales but didn't want it to blow up over Christmas! 
  • The final payment of the new kitchen. 
  • 500 litres of heating oil and the Watchman remote sensor actually worked for a while to tell me the tank is now full for winter.
There are no utility bills due in January. I'll need diesel for the car and some food and cat food and not a lot else.................she says falling about laughing!


BUT  there was more getting rid in December
OUT............. some unwanted Christmas Decorations to the charity shop
OUT..............a few books and CDs to Ziffit £14 worth
OUT............some old tatty Christmas tinsel to burn on the bonfire later
OUT........... A coat of Colin's to the charity shop
OUT..............another of Col's coats and a Christmas Jumper to his brother
OUT...........More books to the charity shop
OUT.......    some  tools from the workshop and a welder which belonged to him anyway to Col's brother.
Almost OUT .......few more things into the car-boot box under the stairs


And finally............. thank heavens my horrible cold has more or less gone so I can stop laying around watching too many Poirot and old war films and finish getting the house back to normal and start my jigsaw puzzle.

Thank you to everyone for comments yesterday.

Back Soon
Sue



45 comments:

  1. Well, the new kitchen DOES look lovely. You'll remember that it looks lovely for a lot longer than you'll remember the faffing.

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    1. I think the kitchen man has made a very bad lasting impression!

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  2. That is a beautiful looking kitchen - well designed to use all the available wall and floor space to your advantage.
    Speaking from experience, I have to agree with the lovely look lasting longer than the pain of the installation - then wondering how you coped with the old one when you see the 'old cabinets' being put to use in the garage as overflow storage. And not being able to get as much in them as in the new ones lol.
    Happy New Year to you and your family Sue from a very warm down under!

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    1. The 4 doors are a problem but any alternative would mean some sort of huge rebuild - no way!

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  3. It is an absolutely lovely kitchen and as for that range - wow is all I can say. You'll forget the hassle in time, I agree, but the loveliness will remain and give you joy each time you walk in. I still feel a similar emotion and my extension, etc, is swell over ten years old now.
    And the oil situation must warm your heart as well as your fingers and toes!
    xx

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  4. Your kitchen in really nice so lovely and clean looking.
    I enjoy Poitot. I am pleased your cold has gone I wish mine would hurry up and go.

    Hazel c uk

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    1. It's much better than the very old dark wood and easier to wipe down too

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  5. I know you have sad reasons for your sort out, but I do love a good sort out. I have a huge box of half used craft stuff ready to go to a local school. I should look at my fabric mountain, but it would be a waste of time, as I would just put it all back.

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    1. A fabric mountain is something I don't have and many less of a book mountain than 4 years ago

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  6. I love the new kitchen because I'm a white girl, I like the clean look of white. You have just reminded me to put a load of jigsaws in the car for the charity shop, there's nothing I like more than a good clear out.
    Happy new year to you and yours.
    Briony
    x

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    1. And Happy New Year to you too. The doors are nearer cream than white really. I still haven't got my puzzle started

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  7. I think your kitchen is gorgeous too. We are just embarking on sorting ours out and ours really is so tiny it is hard to fit just the basics in. My main concern is about who will be fitting it and whether they will be a pain!
    Happy New Year and a healthy and wealthy one. x

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    1. Don't worry, I don't think there's anyone in the world who could be such a fuss-pot and worrier as the man who did mine!

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  8. I can almost visualize you going through the house--tidying things up-- getting things in order. The kitchen is grand, especially love that gorgeous range.

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    1. I love the new units and a smooth easy clean work tops

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  9. Your kitchen looks smashing! A frugal December - definitely not but January is looking better (apart from needing a new kettle and toaster) :(

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    1. At least Kettles and toasters are at the lower end of the expense scale

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  10. Lovely new kitchen, and the range cooker, how nice! What brand is it, Sue?

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    1. It's a Rangemaster.Part of Aga company. Runs from gas cylinder for hobs and oven and electric for ignition and a hot plate

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  11. Love the kitchen, I love the splashes of red.

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    1. Most of the red bits were brought here from the smallholding as we had the kitchen done there in 2011 and had the same colours and luckily the tiles that were here had some red ones so I was able to keep the red

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  12. Since I lost the farmer I have not done a jig saw - he was the jig saw fanatic, but suddenly, reading this, I am beginning to miss having one around.

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    1. I opened a box and found the last person who did it had helpfully put all the straight edges in a separate bag - handy!

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    2. Ooh ... I like it when they do that 🙂

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  13. Your kitchen looks beautiful I think!

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  14. I really like your kitchen! So bright and airy. I’ve always loved wood countertops, what we call butcher block here in America.

    I’m glad that your head cold is finally gone.

    Happy New Year!

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    1. They are not real wood which needs looking after properly but wood effect called "Beech Parquet" which only needs wiping.
      Cold is lingering and has took away all my energy.

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  15. I didn't do too well spend wise other the holidays. I am going to try to better Christmas 2019. I am having a low spend month this month. I have written myself a budget I'd like to stick too but we shall see. I am going to really try. I would like to save more money. We are hoping to have a few small holidays (and my yearly visit to Mum). I realise that we (well, mainly I) spend a lot of money of useless little things so I am going to try to keep track. I am going to write things down and see where things actually go. Well, that's enough blathering on lol. I do have a plan!

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  16. Your kitchen looks great. I love white cabinets as they give the kitchen a light look. I hope the final traces of your cold go away soon.

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  17. The kitchen is lovely, hope you can forget all the trauma in time. Glad you're feeling better now.

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    1. PS, I keep meaning to say I love your new header photo.

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  18. Beautiful kitchen. I am hoping we can get something done with ours this next year.
    Hugs-x-

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  19. Kitchen looks gorgeous. Arilx

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  20. What a nice and bright kitchen you have.

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  21. I'd say the kitchen was worth all the faffing about.:) Very nice especially your range. Major envy here. Hope your cold is over soon.

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  22. It looks lovely and I'm sure you are going to enjoy the space. Wishing you all the best for 2019.

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  23. Happy New Year you bargain swimmer you xxx

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  24. The kitchen looks wonderful, that colour combination always looks great, so peaceful and energizing.
    Good luck and motivation for your clearing out.....sooo good when it is all sorted and gone, the more you get done the more you feel that less 'stuff' is a very good way to live.
    I'm having a 3rd sweep through my wardrobe!
    Thank you for the daily chatty catch up, I read every one but don't comment much.

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  25. Your kitchen is great! We live in Canada but have the same AGA but the smaller model. Love it and use it every day! Enjoy your new space! Chy

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  26. Our kitchen is the size of an airplane pantry. Economy class. I have major kitchen envy welling up here. Great looking room! M.

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  27. I really like your kitchen, I think I'm like you in that I would be remembering the fitter and the hassle he caused for ever!!

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  28. Enjoy your new kitchen (hope the faffing memories slip away soon). It really is lovely. I'm very envious!

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  29. I love your new kitchen. It's so bright and clean and cheery! Hopefully it will be like childbirth and you'll forget everything except the end product :)

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