Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

taka

:shhh: ... shuffles in with head hanging hoping no-one will notice she's been missing since MAY... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkk!!...

I've given up trying to catch up... its been too long... sorry... but I'm so sorry to hear some of you are having hard times at the moment (special hugs to those who need them especially to Janey )

Today is the 1st time I've logged on since 31st May :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: I've been pootling along not paying as much attention to money as I should have been. I paid off my loan in May (taken out to pay for flat repairs. It was getting me down/stressing me out having the loan hanging over me so I decided to save for it instead) so I'm debt free but still have a barely useable bathroom. :undecided

I have managed to save some money but I have still spent to much (~£400 too much according to my budget plans I think )

Can I rejoin?? Pppppppllllllleeeeeaaaaasssssseeeeeee???? I promise to be good... :A

sophiesmum_2

Good evening frunchkins:D

Been having terrible trouble with broadband today, it was taking 6 minutes to change threads/pages:eek: I nearly died of frustration. Now working at dial up speed but at least it is tolerable.

Marru - glad you are feeling better today, hope the Dog is okay and you can get some treatment for piggy.

Bails - If you can ,manage it go for the swim, steam, jacuzzi membership - it is so relaxing. Some days i don't feel like going but always feel so refreshed (and clean:rotfl: ) after a good swim in chlorine, steam clean and simmer in the jacuzzi:D .

SF- Sorry about the interview,suppose it saves you wasting your time knowing that they already have it sorted.:mad: Still stinks though.

Frugal pony has had a chest infection this week so vet bill £110 on its way for his meds, as usual just short of the excess on the pony insurance which is £115. One day we will actually use the insurance DD is paying almost £500 a year for:rolleyes: :rolleyes: We have two cars insured for less than that:o Not a good week all round people or pets wise .

Janey51

A little lost sheep comes back into the fold....hello taka :hello:
It's getting near the cold dark winter days so we need all the frugalites we can get to snuggle up and keep warm.

SF something better must be on its way so panic not

sophiesmum hope frugal pony is feeling better.

I am off to Manchester tomorrow with DS1 and DIL.
DS1 is 35 tomorrow. :eek:
How did he get so big and sensible when I wasn't looking?

Went to see Mama Mia this afternoon which was fantastic. Bought some popcorn from the £1 shop before I went because I'm not paying the prices in the cinema. Had to tell some obnoxious teenagers to shut up.
Now, that's something I wouldn't have done a couple of month's ago.
Since DH died I have very little patience with the prats in this world.

slowlyfading

sophiesmum wrote: »

SF- Sorry about the interview,suppose it saves you wasting your time knowing that they already have it sorted.:mad: Still stinks though.

It is frustrating because I've been going through the process since the beginning of July!

Janey51 wrote: »

SF something better must be on its way so panic not

I sure hope so!

Mollymop5

Well done Janey.Teenage prats need a good telling sometimes.I love Mamma Mia and would love to see it again.Definately buying dvd on release.
i'm back from my little caravan in the muddy field.The rain got the better of me.We were making such a mess of the grass to and from our caravans that we felt guilty as it's our parents land and came home.........to sunshine.We're only 5 miles away but the sun came out and shone for the rest of the day.
Poor step dad is fed up with this weather as he cut his hay the day before the rain came and it's rained everyday since and now that hay is ruined! /When is this weather going to improve? He still has 3 fields of hay to cut, dry and get baled.Is this going to happen? he won't be a happy bunny if he has to buy Hay this winter thats for sure

I could say I've been good with money but I haven't.We've had a couple of takeaways and erm some alcohol to improve our evenings in the damp.I've lost sight of this months grocery budget but could have a good guess if I looked at my bank statement.

I'm taking the kids away for 6 days to a Haven holiday camp not far from me but far enough to say we've had a holiday.We looked at 6 days from 30th of August and the price was £349 per caravan.Not bad until I found that 4 days from 1st sept was only £109.That meant we were paying £240 for extra 2 nghts.i wasn't paying that so told the kids we were just going for the 4 nights.They were happy at that then 2 days later an offer online was for 2 nights from 30th August for £106.I booked that holiday too so that we could have our origional 6 nights.
The original holiday of 30th August for 6 nights was still showing at £349 but I'd managed to get it for £215!!!! I was so pleased.I also booked via Quidco and got 5% discount which tracked and validated immedately.
Thanks to MSE I'm getting good at hunting out bargains and it goes to show always look around and make sure you're getting a good deal.

Enough of my prattle anyway.You can tell I've been in a caravan all week eh LOL.

lyndasharp

nykmedia wrote: »

Hello again, can you believe that the sun is STILL shining and we have had no rain today?

I hope it stays dry! I'm heading in your direction on Saturday for a week of walking in the highlands, and I really really want it to be sunny!!!!! It's been horrible here, stood in a car park in Bristol in the pouring rain all morning (at least I get paid for it).

On the good news side, the two ex battery hens arrived this evening and seem very sweet. Rabbit wanted to go and say hello but we're keeping them separate for now. Will post pics of the new arrivals soon :j

Edit: just noticed that sounds a little dodgy. I was supervising some archives being moved out of one shipping container into a new shipping container, not just hanging around in a car park for the fun of it....

bails

Sorry to hear about the poorly pets - they cost an arm and a leg but we'd never be without them! Speaking of which, here comes the kitten with her bum in my face :eek::rotfl:
Welcome back Taka! :hello:
It is good that the 'what to include' chat has come up again, as I'm just having a rethink about what I include as it seems to have got a bit muddled. I've been counting gas, elec, phone and broadband, TV licence, mobile, travel (except car, for same reasons as BB), groceries, house maintenance (but not improvements as there's a lot of that!), clothes, presents, pet costs and some entertainment (DVD dd and cinema). I think that's it I definitely don't include all things specific to my medical condition (normal meds I count), holidays and other entertainment (any eating out etc). It is a little tricky as some of the essentials aren't joint expenses eg clothes but OH doesn't really buy any anyway. I'm keeping track of all spends and will have targets to beat next year
Hm, if they're not from you Marru then maybe it was OH...
Ooh, I went to see Mamma Mia with my mum, it was fun! Nice to see you Mollymop! Well done on the holiday bargain. Weather is meant to improve here on Friday, hope it's the same for everyone.

DdraigGoch

Well, since we're stuck with October's weather, I thought it was about time to raise the spectre of Christmas Yet To Come. Yes, it's that awful time where you look at the budget and go, "HOW many days?! and you want WHAT for Christmas....:eek::rotfl::rotfl:You'll be lucky! :rolleyes:" if only to ourselves!

I've been lurking on the various Get Ready For Christmas threads and it's cheered me up no end :j[and yes, I know, you did need me to sorry ] So, out with the sewing machine and the good old scrap bag again. What's everyone going to do for a Frugal Christmas this year? I'm thinking of making up a "hamper" in a handmade - sounds so much better than home made, doncha know? - shopping bag, and then onto the [bulky!] fleece presents. Anyone with me?

DG

Frugaldom

lyndasharp wrote: »

It's been horrible here, stood in a car park in Bristol in the pouring rain all morning (at least I get paid for it).
...

Edit: just noticed that sounds a little dodgy. I was supervising some archives being moved out of one shipping container into a new shipping container, not just hanging around in a car park for the fun of it....

Thanks for clarifying that - I had visions of you draped over Betsy Belle whilst tempting passers by to book a wedding! Honest, that's all I thought you were doing! :rotfl: :rotfl:

Bails - of course the flowers must have been from OH, it's his way of saying... well, anything really, we all know how much males like talking to females when it's a real conversation :rotfl:

Taka - welcome back, oh prodigal one! We love welcoming anyone back to the frugal fold. :T

Sophiesmum, hope (not so) frugal pony gets better soon.

Lyndasharp - I'm still jealous of the new hens, can't wait to see a piccie of them

Mollymop, I hope your dad gets the hay in, I was thinking about that last week because of the lack of tractors driving about... haven't noticed any bales in fields yet. In fact, I haven't noticed anything going on recently! :eek: I really am getting senile!

Janey, did you make it to Ladies' Day at the races? Sorry, I meant to ask sooner and then forgot - it's my senility. Enjoy Manchester!

Off to stick a washing on now that it's cheap rate, hopefully it will be dry tomorrow to let me get it hung out. I'll also have to dig potatoes and try to get some weeding done. DGD can help if she's here after nursery. Catch you all tomorrow.

taka

:jThank you!! :j

I hope everyones animals get better...

Hmmmm haven't really thought too much about Xmas yet... I had kinda hoped to have summer 1st :rolleyes: :rotfl: I think some people will get some jewellery (silver jewellery making is my hobby) and possibly some soap if I ever manage to find caustic soda for sale anywhere and my soapmaking attempts turn out ok! :eek: I'd love to try soapmaking anyway but if I manage to produce something safe to use by xmas that would be even better!