2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

Janey51 · 14 February 2008 at 8:16AM

The reason DH is trotting our words of wisdom is because he bought "The Book of Lists" in a charity shop last week. Only 99p :j

He also announced that old Will was the first to use the word Moonbeam.
There are many more.....

When you are trying to watch CSI, your interest tends to wane :rolleyes:

whitewing · 14 February 2008 at 8:41AM

Happy, happy Valentine's Day, Fruguys and Frugals!

I got such a cool home made card from OH this morning. It's very cleverly designed, I am most impressed (makes mine look like something I cobbled together in 5 minutes).

Have a wonderful day, everyone. Love you all lots and lots xxxxxxx

whitewing · 14 February 2008 at 9:11AM

The trouble with this frugalling is that it is inspiring. DS has been sitting in a little happy glow this morning as OH and I exchanged cards (don't be jealous any singletons out there, I had six very lonely years before OH came along).

So since my last post, we have made THREE valentine cards for DS to take to school for special ladies. He's so pleased with himself!

whitewing · 14 February 2008 at 10:24AM

Made a special effort today as it's Valentine's Day to make an overpayment on my mortage (part of one of my other challenges).

That, I think, says more about my commitment to my family than any bunch of roses or champagne could do.

whitewing · 14 February 2008 at 10:24AM

Is anyone else there?

Burlesque_Babe · 14 February 2008 at 10:29AM

£2.26 for me today on the Call Me Elizabeth book for 1p plus postage from ebay and a second hand travel scrabble for my holiday.

I have a very nasty Tesco related thud to hit my account, probably tomorrow. I'll confess to that when it happens!!

Watered down my bottle of fabric conditioner this morning by 1/3 to make it last longer and also poured some of the washing liquid back in the bottle as I'd put a bit too much in the ball. normally I would have just shoved the ball in, but I put a quarter back, no point in wasting what I don't need!

whitewing · 14 February 2008 at 12:36PM

Was expecting a parcel today (work stuff) so when the doorbell and the knocker went, I went to the door..and got a valentine's day surprise....

my friend's mum to tell me that my friend's husband died unexpectedly last night. In his late thirties. A loud, loveable, huggable guy with a spark in his eye who was in no way a perfect man, but who was perfect for my pal.

Just wanted to let you know. Don't want this thread clogged up with sympathy messages (feeling guilty anyway as I haven't been in close contact with my friend for ages, altho we have the kind of friendship that we can start off where we left off last). Do want to remind you all to give your gentlemen and gentleladies an extra special cuddle today. And remind you that the goals of this challenge ARE important.

Because of this challenge, I won't be spending £30 on a credit card on a bunch of flowers she wouldn't need (how do you buy sympathy flowers for a friend on Valentine's Day anyway). But I am able to draw out £100 from my savings and send it off, with OH's blessings. Will also be making a card and am just about to write a letter. Without this challenge, it would have been difficult to know how best to help without feeling that the money-side of things has to be considered. Now I am clear about what is and isn't within the realms of possibility. Thank you all for that. Keep up the very good work.

Frugaldom · 14 February 2008 at 12:42PM

Happy Frugaltine's Day!

It's another glorious sunny day here and I've been out to the post office (work related) and didn't take any detours or spend anything! :T Re: the 'leccy tart', I may be a 'card tart' but I'm no tart in the leccy department, I'm extremely loyal and am still with the same supplier I've always had. Trouble is, in private rented accommodation, I've never been able to change suppliers because the supply is never in my name! Still, even I am surprised that the oil-filled electric heaters cost less to run than the storage heaters. It's handy to know for the future.

How's everyone doing with their Billy Cans? I keep delaying admitting to the big 'test' of Will Power, but am going to bite the bullet and let you all in on it. (Call me stupid if you like

) Billy Can is for more than just chucking a few notes and spare change into, he actually tests my resolve. It's simple to try this yourself... I confess to only having done this once before starting this 2008 challenge.
Make sure you know your budget and take a look at where you spend on unneccesary items. (Mine was cigarettes). If you smoke, drink, indulge in sweets & cakes etc then it's easy to see where it goes, otherwise look at everything you spend that isn't 100% absolutely essential and look at what you throw out every day, even excess food packaging. I'm sure we can all muster a wasted £5 worth from somewhere. Put a £5 note in your Billy Can for a full day... mine was from cigarettes, remember... then consider this... Could you burn it? :eek: Could you physically shred that £5 note and set it alight? I AM NOT SUGGESTING YOU ACTUALLY DO THIS, just think about it... could you do it? Burning it is the exact same as spending it on excess. THIS is why your Billy Can must be a tin can... I actually burned the fiver and the feeling of seeing money go up in flames was enough to convince me that I had to save it. Except I don't save my money, I now rescue it! :rotfl: Only problem is, I can see that in some places I am, once again, being wasteful... I should never have watched Wife Swap!

It's made me think even more about every single thing that gets binned - all waste is like burning money. Heeeeeeeeelp.... my frugalism is verging on total obsession and I think I may be in need of professional help... anyone?

sashacat · 14 February 2008 at 3:08PM

I am also very careful about waste and rescue a lot of stuff for reuse....eg I rescue everyone's egg shells and save them in a bucket and when I have a lot I crush them and spread them around my veggie plants to stop the slugs as slugs and snails won't/can't walk over the crushed shells as they are too gritty.

I also save toilet roll holders to plant my seeds in...especially veggie seeds as when you are transplanting them into the ground you can put the lot in plant pot( well toilet roll holder) and all. This saves disturbing the roots and the plant's growth isn't "checked" when it's finally planted out. Also I save yougart pots to use as little plant pots when I am planting on my cabbage seeds and the like.

The little plastic dishes from things like grapes which my OH wastes his money on I rescue and use to grow mustard and cress or as seed trays.
I even make vegetable stock from clean vegetable peelings...after which I put them in the compost bin. I put a plastic bag in the freezer and everytime I peel veggies I add any clean, undamaged peelings to it and when I have enough I defrost it pour over the water from cooking my veggies (which I have also saved in a big container in the freezer) ,boil it all up and it makes great stock for soups and stews...especially for me as I am a vegetarian

sashacat · 14 February 2008 at 3:10PM

ps I am not doing too badly this month but I am already overspent but only because I have had to pay £72 for rents for my allotments and for seed potatoes and onion sets...I may decide not to count this but I reckoned that I should count it as my allotments feed me for the year so it's really like a grocery spend!

2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

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