Doing the rounds to save money.

I've come up with a brilliant idea, I'm going to paint my bike red! Why is that a brilliant idea? Well I reckon if it looks different from every other bike, and is customised to suit my personality, a bit whacky, a fun bike to ride, pretty pretty girly, then no one will want to pinch it. Ha ha, there is method in my madness.

I have contacted all my local friends by phone and text, and finally I have located half a tin of red gloss paint that Bob does not need. So thank you Bob for my freebie paint. I'll post the before and after pics so you can drool with envy. I can assure you that you will all want one.

Talking of before and after, take a look at the sidebar, I have found a great blog to read, called Better After. A very talented young lady transforms ordinary household objects into something special. Lots of ideas there, thank you Lindsey.

While I was out collecting the paint I called in a couple of places as I was passing, to make the journey worthwhile. It was only the other end of town so not so far. Three charity shops later and I purchased five small crochet hooks for £1, I've been looking for them for ages. Then I went a bit mad, my tummy was rumbling so I had a bag of chips from an award winning fish and chip shop, at a cost of £1.30. Well they were nice, and this is a rare treat for me to eat fried food. Good grief, I could have bought a whole bag of spuds for that, now I'm feeling annoyed for caving in.

Also, as I was passing Lidl, I thought I had better take a look at the shop that everyone seems to be raving about. I have to confess though that I didn't think the prices were very cheap. I did however manage to spend £8.16p, and the bulk of that was a case of Cider. Twelve cans for £6.99, which is cheaper than buying them in four packs. They will last me at least six weeks though, I drink very little alcohol, it's more of a treat for me.

I also bought two packets of seeds for 29p each, spinach and lettuce. I consider these an investment, hopefully they will save me loads of dosh. Finally I bought a bag of 10 good size onions,(1kg)for 59p, I love oniopns, they are very usefull for chopping up and adding to all kinds of dishes.

We have a newly refurbished Sainsbury's here, which happens to be just up the road from Lidl. They have almost doubled their floorspace, so it was worth a look in. They have been advertising the grand reopening with bargains galore. Well they might be bargains to some people but I can't see how DVD's, books, and CD's are a must have priority item to buy.

I spent £2.58 in there, on a big bag of Basics potatoes, Basics fruit scones, Basics custard powder, and own brand soya milk. I wanted some yoghurts but as they were more expensive than Tesco's I gave them a miss. I bought two tins of Basics rice pudding instead, so for 34p I have the equivelant of six pots of yoghurt. Simple. If something costs too much look for a just as good alternative. I could always open a cheap tin of fruit to add to the rice pud, and I have got the same as a Muller Rice, for a lot less.

Altogether I spent £13.04. The fridge is looking a bit bare, but I am determined to get my spending down a bit more by eating what I already have, so I can afford my Scotland trip. Bye the way, I have started a list at the bottom, of every penny I spend during April, if you haven't already noticed it. I don't need to itemise it, it's the total that's important.

I have just had a letter through from Severn Trent Water, remember when I said I had queried their bill. It seems a nice little windfall is coming my way. Why was I so thick that I hadn't noticed I was overpaying? It just goes to show that you really have to be on the ball. The bills get more complicated, years ago people paid everything without batting an eyelid, now everyone is out to diddle you and things get lost in the system. I'm sure there must be a lot of underpayments as well as over, no wonder the country is in a mess. Toodle pip, I'm off outside.