Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

Frugaldom

Welcome to Part 3 of 'Living on £4000 for a Year'.
(The third quarter of 2008)

You can find Part 1 here for the first quarter of 2008 and Part 2 here. This will give you an idea of how, where, when, and what this challenge is about and provide you with plenty of reading material on the subject of frugal living as you get to know the other challengers. Part 2 proved to be a particularly emotional rollercoaster ride for many and I feel honoured to have become part of something that means so much to so many. (Part 4 can now be found HERE)

Now we are entering the third quarter, or second half, of 2008 and hopefully the summer sunshine will help produce some superb vegetable and fruit crops for our wannabe self-sufficient(ish) challengees. (I have already sampled the first of my potatoes, lettuce and strawberries!)

From now until 31st December 2008, all those participating in this challenge with £4000 SHOULD have around £2000 left, but that may not be the case. Don't worry, we still have time to play catch-up. We now have until the end of September to further hone our frugal living skills and take advantage of reduced/absence of heating bills! Summer is here!
Here's to Frugaldom - good luck to all and have fun this Summer :beer:
CHALLENGER LIST

001. Nykmedia - £4000 for 3
002. Whitetigeress333 - £3920
003. Notanothergreyhair - £4000
004. Mini_huny_money - £4000
005. Penny2myname - £4000 + child benefit
006. Hypno06 - £4000
007. Impomdasp - £5000
008. Whitewing - £5300
009. LoadedIWish - £4000
010. Tigerseye - £4000
011. Oliveoyl - £4000
012. Funbrum - £4000
013. Tryingtodobetter - £5000
014. 87p - £4000
015. Cranky40 - £5000
016. Bluesteel705 - £4000
017. Chewits - £4000
018. Prudent - £5500
019. Shell37 - £4000
020. Juliejay - £5000
021. Azjh77 - £4650
022. Nicola1982 - £4000
023. Rachyp - £4000
024. Kiki - £5300
025. McSaver - £3000
026. Pollydaydream - £4000
027. Maverickangel - £4000
028. Loadedlaura - £4000
029. Kayharcombe - £4000
030. Buffythedebtslayer - £4560
031. Flowerofthewest - £4000
032. Mollymop5 - £4000 + Child Benefit
033. DdraigGoch - £4000
034. Shazrobo - £5000
035. 1274 - £4000
036. Always_amazed - £4000
037. Protogenia - £4500
038. Georgiasmum - £5200
039. Chaddee - £4000
040. Chriz1000 - £4000
041. Bigbullyweedave - £6000
042. Affordmylife - £5000
043. Liuhut - £6000
044. Cumbrianmum - £4000
045. Che75 - £4000
046. Sweetpea03 - £4900
047. Scorpio04 - £4000
048. Broke mum of three - £5200
049. Artnoble - £4000
050. Barole - £4000
051. Ephemera - £4000
052. Liloandstitch - £4000
053. LyndaSharp - £3500
054. Sassamac - £4000 + Child Benefit
055. Sue09 - £6000
056. Don't want to be in debt - £6760
057. Princess Leia - £6200
058. Saverram - £4000
059. Sashacat - £4000
060. Whiskylizzie - £4000
061. Slackster - £4000
062. Jamiedodger - £4000
063. Whitevanwoman - £4000
064. Skintwellie - £5000
065. Fairywings - £5000
066. Sos999 - £4000
067. Mumzyof2 - £5000
068. Keren29 - £4000
069. OldMcDonald - £4000 + Child Benefit
070. Mah_Jong - £3500
071. Hardup Hester - £4000
072. Miss_Pink - £4000
073. Grunnie - £4000
074. Rafiki - £4000
075. Catzine - £5000
076. Andromache - £2700 (student)
077. Doom_and_Gloom - £3000
078. Tracey04 - £4000
079. Wherediditallgo - £4000
080. Sallyrsm - £4000
081. Wornoutmumoftwo - £4000 + Child Benefit
082. Lexxi - £4000
083. NEGirl - £5000
084. Wendyw1947 - £4000
085. Truthseeker - £1500 (a teenage budget - I am most impressed!)
086. FrankieM - £4000 + Child Benefit
087. JustKeepSwimming - £4000 + Child Benefit
088. RedMel1621 - £5200
089. Blackfairykitten - £5000
090. Funkyfunkymonkey - £4000
091. Carlsberg - £4000
092. Nate123 - £4000
093. DJenks - £4000 + Child Benefit
094. Miss Empty Piggy - £4000
095. Micron - £4000
096. Hopeless_Spendthrift - £4000
097. The_Cat - £5800 inc Child Benefit
098. LilyBee - £3000 from 01/04/08
099. Carolinabirichina - £5000
100. Bails - £4000
101. Debrag - £3000
102. LittleMissClimsy - £5000
103. Gem2509 - £4000
104. LMac - £4000
105. LollopyBear - £4000
106. Slowlyfading - £4000
107. IHateDebt - £4000
108. Frugal Fox - £4000
109. Looby-Loo - £4000 + Child Benefit
110. LingoJingo - £5000 inc Child Benefit
111. Fizzel81 - £4000 + Child Benefit
112. Summertea - £4000
113. Jammiejen - £4000
114. Jay1 - £4000
115. Yoshimi2306 - £5720
116. Janey51 - £4000
117. Freyaluck - £4000
118. DJJoJoJuice - £4000 (£3836.07 from start date 15/01/08)
119. Frugalmum - £4000 (£3836.07 from start date 15/01/08)
120. Lysasparkles - £3,500 (from 16/01/08)
121. Shelovestobuystuff - £3,700
122. Angelofthenorth - £4000 (from 17/01/08)
123. Mama67 - £3661 + child benefit (from 01/02/08)
124. BigEars - £3661 (from 01/02/08)
125. Paul Varjak - £3661 plus disabled vehicle expenses (from 01/02/08)
126. Stefejb - £3661 (from 01/02/08)
127. Laurabelle - £4000 (from 20/01/08)
128. MSHAWX - £3661 (from 01/02/08)
129. Hansolo81 - £3661 (from 01/02/08)
130. Jumble-Bee - £1600 (FRUNCHKIN POWER!)
131. Nimbo - £3661 (from 01/02/08)
132. GemGems - £3661 (from 01/02/08)
133. DFW844 - £4000
134. Elantan - £80/week (from 08/02/08)
135. Marru - £3345 + nursery fees (starting 1/3/08)
136. Alli_Baba2 - £3388 (from 25/02/08)
137. SophiesMum - £3388 + child Benefit (from 25/02/08)
138. Charlies Angel - Living on under £1000 a year
139. Tigwell - £3333 (from 25/02/08)
140. Headofsteam - £2983.50 (from 01/04/08)
141. Bleufleur - £3158 (from 17/03/08)
142. All_hours - £80 per week
143. Kittikins - £3000 from 01/04/08
144. Taka - £3000 from 01/04/08
145. MrDT - £3000 from 01/04/08
146. Sukielou75 - £2678 from 01/05/08
147. Whowants2brich - £2513.66 from 15/05/08
148. Wendywitch - £2000 from 01/07/08
149. Barefootlinzi - £2000 + child benefit from 01/07/08
150. The_Cat - £2900 from 01/07/08
151. InTheRed - £3300 from 01/07/08
152. Ani*fan - awaiting confirmation
153. Smart21 - awaiting confirmation
154. Brighton Belle - £2000 from 01/07/08
155. Milliemonster - Average £76.50 per week from 10/07/08 - 31/12/08
156. EagerLearner - £3100 for 2
157. KBarty - £1850 from 01/09/08
158. OptimisticPair - £3000/yr

Please let me know if your details need updated on the above list, thank you.

Adding in this link to hundreds of recipes as I think it's a great thread - thanks to Rosieben.
Adding in this link to nutrition and diet info, an excellent thread - thanks to Weezl74.

Durng the last quarter of 2008 we are also doing a challenge to raise/save an extra £1000 so we can get ahead of the game in 2009. To avoid confusion, this has been split into a seperate challenge and can be found here - Make £1000 in 100 Days before 2009

sophiesmum_2

Woo Hoo lovely new thread:j :j :j

Nyk did you get wendywitch???

Just worked out my budget and I am quite happy, I have £2136.17 left in the pot and £72.04 in my contingency fund for the stockpile challenge. I have a house FULL of food, a garden full of potential food, all my xmas pressies sorted (-money neutral), and a new allotment and chickens to look forward to. Life is Good. as Jumble Bee says "Frunchkin Power":j :j :j

looby-loo_2

Had to post as I'm always running late - never been (nearly) first before.

Had a final planting fling on the lotty this evening which I hope will reward me in the autumn.

Good Luck!

Frugaldom

Hi frunchkins!

Isn't this exciting? A brand new thread and the fact that we are now half way through the challenge! :T Well done to everyone who is still with us! I hope part 3 will be fun, memorable and successful for all.

LoobyLoo - I have a load of chillies, more lettuce, cauliflower, beetroot and err... something else ready to plant out soon and plan on doing this next weekend if the weather stays dry.

Wendywitch has now been added and I'll await confirmation that I have the correct total.

I hope everyone's gardens are doing well and that their grocery budgets will reflect their success. I will be keeping an exact list of all items purchased as I accepted the sophiesmum challenge of bulk buying and adapted it to suit. I'm instantly cheating by eating party leftovers this week, but every penny counts with DD's wedding in early planning stages for next year.

JAMIEDODGER

morning

its finally here!!! the 1st of july!!!

my total is 2k plus CB which works out at...£3467.70 or £577.95 per month, or £18.84 per day:)

i have checked my online banking and my car insurance has come out, £37.66 so i am off the starting block already!! I will be doing 2 grocery shops today to take advantage of the NOTW vouchers.:T

off to update total in my little £4k challenge book!!

sophiesmum_2

Good luck jamie:j

FunBrum

:T YIPPEE!:T THE LAST STRETCH IN SIGHT

I'm really excited about the next few months. I'm feeling healthier than I have in yonks and I am doing just what I want at this moment in time.

Mr. S has raised his prices sooooo high, I decided enough was enough. Corned beef had risen from £0.79-£1.18:eek: Can you believe it, among other items. So yesturday we went armed with a list and our nectar points...not exactly the SAS but 'Urban Warfare'....although I did have to send OH back into the house to remove his balaclarva! Whats he like? I let him stay in his 'all black' gear even though he resembled the man from the Milk Tray advert, but you can't win 'em all.

Anyhoo. In my basket I had 10 pkts 8p noodles.....These are great with tuna and sweetcorn or peas mixed in, or to add to a stir-fry, so we always have them in stock.
4 jars of Basics pasta sauce....always use it in pasta dishes.
3 tins ot tomatos and a jar of curry sauce....great for left-over chicken and a quick meal.
OH had 3 pkts spaghetti. 3 tins toms. 1 jar each of curry sauce and sweet and sour. 4 tins pork meatballs. OH and DS love these on a bead of spaghetti and again are quick and easy.
My bill came to exactly £2.50 and OH was £2.52. So in effect paid for by Nectar.:rotfl: I wont be encourageing the big-wigs anymore with their rip-off prices. I shop at local family shops anyway, so not a hardship.

My road tax is due today so that is £66 for me this week, but at least my petrol is down since I gave up work. I will be waiting in today as I am having the back boiler serviced. At least its a beautiful day and will spend most of it in the garden.:D

moanymoany

[quote=sophiesmum;12132103]Woo Hoo lovely new thread:j :j :j

Nyk did you get wendywitch???

Just worked out my budget and I am quite happy, I have £2136.17 left in the pot and £72.04 in my contingency fund for the stockpile challenge. I have a house FULL of food, a garden full of potential food, all my xmas pressies sorted (-money neutral), and a new allotment and chickens to look forward to. Life is Good. as Jumble Bee says "Frunchkin Power":j :j :j[/quote]

Sophiesmum, how do you do the budgeting? Do you keep the £4k separate and keep a strict record of everything you spend. I am really interested to find out.

My strict spending control has gone to pieces this year as we did our house up and sold it (whew) and then a family bereavement which made me take my eye off the ball!

moanymoany

[quote=sophiesmum;12132103]Woo Hoo lovely new thread:j :j :j

Nyk did you get wendywitch???

Just worked out my budget and I am quite happy, I have £2136.17 left in the pot and £72.04 in my contingency fund for the stockpile challenge. I have a house FULL of food, a garden full of potential food, all my xmas pressies sorted (-money neutral), and a new allotment and chickens to look forward to. Life is Good. as Jumble Bee says "Frunchkin Power":j :j :j[/quote]

Sophiesmum, how do you do the budgeting? Do you keep the £4k separate and keep a strict record of everything you spend. I am really interested to find out.

My strict spending control has gone to pieces this year as we did our house up and sold it (whew) and then a family bereavement which made me take my eye off the ball! So I am struggling to get it back on and where I was very confident before I now need a bit of help.

sophiesmum_2

Good morning Frunchkins,:D
Frugal plans for today:

• Need to make another loaf, OH's favourite at the moment is wholemeal with linseeds and he is eating it as fast as I can make it.
• Also hoping to get in greenhouse at lunchtime and do some sorting out, have lots of strawberries ready to pick too:D .Hope the sunshine lasts until 4pm when I finish work.
• I have another pigsback voucher to order on OH's account - think I will get another M&S one:D
• Aiming for another no spend day.
• Need to sort out a birthday pressie and card for my niece from my stash.
• Need to draw up some aims/challenges to set myself for the next part of challenge.

Have a good day everyone. Funbrum - love the urban guerilla image:rotfl: you got good value from your nectar points:T

sophiesmum_2

moanymoany wrote: »

[quote=sophiesmum;12132103]Woo Hoo lovely new thread:j :j :j

Nyk did you get wendywitch???

Just worked out my budget and I am quite happy, I have £2136.17 left in the pot and £72.04 in my contingency fund for the stockpile challenge. I have a house FULL of food, a garden full of potential food, all my xmas pressies sorted (-money neutral), and a new allotment and chickens to look forward to. Life is Good. as Jumble Bee says "Frunchkin Power":j :j :j

Sophiesmum, how do you do the budgeting? Do you keep the £4k separate and keep a strict record of everything you spend. I am really interested to find out.

My strict spending control has gone to pieces this year as we did our house up and sold it (whew) and then a family bereavement which made me take my eye off the ball! So I am struggling to get it back on and where I was very confident before I now need a bit of help. [/quote]

I just keep strict control of what we spend, check my banking daily ( okay several times a day:o )keep receipts, and write everything down. Then I adjust my totals as soon as it is spent. I have spreadsheets for my budgets/savings etc and use the online spending diary to keep track.
DD has the family allowance and has to see to her own bits and pieces so I don't have to keep track of her spending, I just concentrate on the £4000 - well actually I was £3388 as I only started on 25th Feb;)
The stockpile contingency fund has already been deducted from my £4000 figure and is to pick up any bargains or things like eggs which I cannot store.