Monthly Archives: January 2009

Something to fall back on

Posted on January 29, 2009 by piperterrett

Watching the news over the past few days, I’ve found it hard to raise a smile. The litany of job losses is disturbing – 2,500 jobs to go at Corus, 750 at Ulster Bank, and Barratts and Priceless Shoes have … Continue reading →

Posted in frugal activities | 5 Comments

Chickens, Hugh, Tesco and the Credit Crunch Too

Posted on January 27, 2009 by piperterrett

Did you see Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Chickens, Hugh and Tesco Too last night? The Channel Four programme documented Hugh’s campaign, which began last year, to improve conditions for supermarket chickens. As we keep our own hens, Lexi and Molly, I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and drink | 41 Comments

Cowboys and Gunslingers: The struggle to find workmen

Posted on January 22, 2009 by piperterrett

They say we will all remember where we were when Obama was inaugurated as President of the United States. Well, I was in deepest darkest Essex, getting my tyre replaced which, while not quite as historic or glamorous, was still … Continue reading →

Posted in Moneysaving tips | 22 Comments

Unexpected costs are everywhere!

Posted on January 20, 2009 by piperterrett

Is it me or is it typical that when you’re watching every penny like a hawk, extra expenses appear from nowhere to jinx your attempts to save cash? First of all, there’s the car. One of the electronic keys isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting | 7 Comments

Does Charity Begin (and End) at Home?

Posted on January 15, 2009 by piperterrett

Like many people out there, I’m going through my personal and household spending this week to see where DJ and I can shed a few extra pounds. Every six months or so I review our budget anyway, but it seemed … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting | 22 Comments

Subterranean Hospital Car Park Blues

Posted on January 13, 2009 by piperterrett

How was your weekend? Mine was…interesting. DJ went to Wales to visit his Mum and yours truly was left to her own devices. I didn’t think there was too much mischief I could get into, but that was my first … Continue reading →

Posted in Frugal travel | 11 Comments

The Novice Vegetable Grower

Posted on January 9, 2009 by piperterrett

I never thought this would happen, but over Christmas one of the things I found myself doing a lot of was browsing vegetable catalogues. Ten years ago if you’d told my 22 year old self that that’s what I would … Continue reading →

Posted in Food from the garden | 5 Comments

Frugal Resolutions

Posted on January 7, 2009 by piperterrett

Have you made any financial New Year’s resolutions yet this year? With a feeling of trepidation I went back to my entry this time last year to remind me of the resolutions I set myself in 2008, and whether I … Continue reading →

Posted in Budgeting | 6 Comments

Train operators should play fair

Posted on January 5, 2009 by piperterrett

Happy New Year! Today being our first working day of 2009, DJ and I were shocked to find snow covering our part of glorious Essex. In fact, DJ was just about to go to work before we realised! It was … Continue reading →

Posted in Frugal travel | 18 Comments