A Year of Saving

We're eleven months in with our savings year and it's been incredibly difficult. We haven't used the credit card since March (we had to buy tickets) but we've paid it off. Being credit free is a serious challenge. But it is making me into a much more money conscience person - which is a good thing.

What is the most difficult is seeing something I want, not need, but not buying it because I do not have the cash. another reason is not wanting to spend good money on something I do not need. It's cut down my impulse buying considerably.

I've also become a huge fan of the pound shop and charity shops. I've had some great finds at both of these. I belong to a women's social club and I've bought many things from other members who've advertised on our website. I've even sold a bunch of things through it and eBay.

Another thing that has changed dramatically for me is cleaning. I never cleaned. I hated it. I had a housecleaner who came once a week and cost a fortunre. I cut that expense out and just got down to it. I have different rooms/tasks for each day of the week. Here's a small sample:

Monday: clean bathroom and kitchen counters: mop both floors. Do all laundry
Tuesday: vaccum entire flat and dust all shelves in lounge, clean kitchen appliances
Wednesday: Clean bedrooms and wipe down all bedroom furniture
Thursday: Walk house cleaning fingerprints off everything vaccum entire flat
Friday: Windows and mirrors! mop kitchen and bathroom.
Saturday: relax
Sunday: maintenance on whatever needs doing.

It really works for me. And I have developed a love of cleaning. Well, maybe not a love, but the feeling of really going at something and making it sparkle is truly satisfying. I attack my oven (cooker) with toothbrushes, microcloths, toothpicks and scrub brushes. It gleams! I really love that. Before I never even noticed if it was clean or not!

My next battle is organisation. I need to wrangle the toys in this place. They are out of control. Any tips?

Easy, Fast, Cheap and Low-Fat Fettucinni Alfredo

I found this recipe a few months ago online but I can't find the original post to give credit. Sorry about that. However, this recipe has made my life much, much happier. It's for rich creamy fettucini alfredo - the kids love it, my husband loves it and most of all, it's really low in fat. As an added bonus - it's really easy and cheap.

You need a blender or food processor (or a strong arm for whisking) but other than that, it's a snap.

Guiltless Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:
2 C low-fat milk
1/3 C ) low fat cream cheese (soft cheese like Philadelphia cream cheese)
2-3 T flour
1 t salt
1 T butter
3 garlic cloves
1 C grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:
Place milk, cream cheese, flour, and salt in a blender/food processor and blend until smooth.  This is key! If you skip the sauce can come out grainy or chunky.

In a non-stick sauce pan, melt butter on med-high heat and add garlic. Let the garlic saute for about 30 seconds, you don’t want to burn it.

Then add milk mixture to the pan. Stir constantly for about 3 or 4 minutes or until it just comes to a simmer. Keep stirring and let it cook for a few minutes more. It should be much thicker now.
When it’s nice and thickened remove the pan from the heat. Add the cheese, stir it up and then cover immediately. Let stand for at least 10 minutes before using. It will continue to thicken upon standing. Also, if you have leftovers in the fridge, the sauce will thicken almost into a solid. Just re-heat and add a little milk and it will be back to normal again.

I like to add sliced ham and peas to the mix before I pour over pasta.

It is a serious crowd pleaser.

Also, you can use it for the following:

-Over pasta (obviously)
-As a dip for breadsticks, crackers, vegetable crudite
-As a sauce on pizza
-Mix it with pesto for a creamy pesto sauce (YUMMY)
-Mix it with marinara for a creamy marinara sauce

Its' really versatile. Give it a go and let me know your thoughts.

Bad Blogger

I've been an awful blogger! Awful. I wanted to document this year of frugality and have failed miserably. Part of the reason is Al wasn't in school. I've got him in nursery now which frees up some of my time - finally. So I thought I could get back into the blog.

I'm sure I've lost all my followers but if you're still interested, let me know. I'll get back on track this week! Have much to share!

Great no-sew scarves you can make today without buying anything!

I saw this scarf on Pinterest which is my new obsession. Honestly, I look at this site and pick things I love, pin them on a board and then go revisit to dream and bask in their loveliness! It calms me and inspires. I've picked out my dream home and I'm in the process of picking the perfect rooms to go inside. I'll probably never own it, but I'm certainly having fun with it.

Regardless, I digress. I saw this scarf and wanted it. Then I noticed the url below for The DIY Dish - a great website I am now also addicted to! It's all crafty things that I love.

I watched the video on how to make this scarf and two other scarves without sewing, without buying anything. It takes seconds, is simple and I'm totally charmed. Here is the video to learn how to create this and other scarves from old T-shirts!! WITHOUT sewing - you could make one, or two, or three today. They make great gifts and are just beautiful

Here's another version that I'm making. I have to buy the little pom=pom rick-rack but then I'm golden. I already have fabric glue so The blue one is currently drying and waiting for me to wear it!

Try it and let me know what you think.

Little Effort - BIG payoff

It was time to buy bunk beds for the kids. I had to get rid of the toddler bed for Carol and the baby cot for Al. He is 2 1/2 and was itching for a big-boy bed. They share a room, which is not large so bunks were really my only option.

Bunks are expensive. Ikea seemed like it was going to be my only option but I didn't like any of the beds. I had to have rails on top and bottom bunks on all four sides. Al is still a little guy and not used to sleeping in a bed at all - I was worried he'd fall out or get wedged between the mattress and the wall (hey, I'm a mom - I'm paranoid).

We went and priced bunks around town - astronomical. But I saw a bunk set I really, really loved at John Lewis. The price tag: £875 without mattresses (they are startling expensive as well £80+) and not including shipping. No way was I going to pay that. I looked at the name brand, wrote down the model number and went home.

I googled it and found out who the manufacturer was - they are out of Poland. So I emailed to see if they sell the beds, perhaps under a different brand name than the John Lewis version and they do. They have an online store on eBay.

I went to the eBay store and there were the same bunks WITH foam mattresses for £270 INCLUDING shipping. They came with a 2 year warranty and a guarantee that they would take them back if damaged, etc. We ordered them. They came, it took Eddie a little while to assemble them. The kids were in heaven. They look amazing and everyone is very, very happy.

So instead of shelling out over £1,000 for a set of new, quality, good looking bunks, I got them under a third of the price at £270. Just because I did a little research (which cost nothing).

What do you think? Aren't they lovely  - they are not our actual bunks but the exact same - including the two drawers underneath.

Using Vouchers

I've been doing some saving at Tesco lately that I'm really thrilled about. First I joined and received a club points card. Good move on my part. They've started sending me vouchers that are hand chosen (well, I'm sure it's computer chosen) for me. They send vouchers for money off or extra points for products I use often. I like that.

Last week my favourite crisps went on offer: Walkers Sensations - 99p a bag. They are usually £1.89 a bag. Tesco had sent me a voucher for £1 off if I bought two. So I saved the voucher for a while until the crisps went on offer last week. I bought two bags for 98p - each were 99p but with my £1 off voucher they only cost me the mere 98p. What a great savings! I normally never buy them anymore because it's an indulgence, but this was worth it.

This week I got the circular out of the Sunday paper and made my list. I had vouchers for 35p off Philadelphia cream cheese - they are currently on sale for £1.16 - so I'm buying it. Carol loves soft cheese and jam sandwiches. I also have saving vouchers for butter, beans and chocolate eggs. I have several points coupons for an extra 200 points plus I have a double points coupons for one transaction. If I play my cards right I should save £11 and receive 460 points.

With the points I have already accumulated thus far I will buy three entry tickets to Legoland - which we are going to next week. So entry will be free (X is under 3 so he goes free).

I think I'm starting to get the hang of this! I'm delighted in saving so much and it's actually an interesting challenge for me. I've got to spend more time following up with other bloggers to see how they are faring.

I understand that if I head to the butcher this Sunday I should find some great bargains as they try to get rid of the overstock. I'm guessing lamb in various cuts should be at the ready. I'm heading there at 4pm right before they close to check it out.

Any other hints?

Spring Cleaning

I've been on the go for the past month which included a trip back to the US by myself. It was heavenly and I bought the ticket with miles. It was a much needed shot in the arm.

But I'm back now and trying to reorganize my life. Since this is the first spring in over three years that I haven't had an impending house move, I've decided to settle in a little. First thing - clean everything from top to bottom. I started with the bathroom - ick. Loathesome job, but someone has to do it. The rest will come later this week.

We decided to stay put over the term break and redo the kids room as well as the bathroom. The bathroom has left me in a state of dismay since we moved it. There is NOTHING wrong with it - I just find it dull - ugly, putty coloured walls, old-grandpa-esque tub, horrible, clunky wash basin and the huge, unattractive cabinet that houses the boiler. It's all old, icky and just not pretty and posh enough for Her Majesty (that being me).

In order to fund this I wrote an article for a magazine here in the UK - it paid enough to buy the paint. And I sold our double buggy, the buggy board, some of my fancy Tory Burch shoes, a few designer handbags I have absolutely no use for anymore and a few other odds and ends. that was enough to buy bunk beds for the kids (new ones, not second hand - I'm not keen on buying used beds), rugs, a plant, baskets and lamps. A lot is coming from Ikea, but I have picked up the bath rug from Sainsbury's using my Nectar points and lamps from Argos.

I have to say it is really nice to just get rid of things I hang onto for no discernible reason.I do not work in an office anymore so I don't need 24 handbags. I don't need the many, many fancy shoes either. So I'm gearing up for another round of eBay sales to fund our two day trips. One trip is to Brighton for the day, the other is to Windsor for an over night.

Mind you, this is all 'found' money and not coming out of our strict budget. The groceries are still a major effort and I've been watching the Discovery Channel show Extreme Couponing. This is NOT helping me. The people on that show are mad - but they are effective. There are two things that are prohibitive from utilizing their methods: the UK does not do coupons/vouchers like the US and I do not buy many prepackaged goods like instant mashed potatoes, packaged noodle/rice mixtures and such. I like things fresh (which does not help the money situation as organic = £££)

However, I press on.