Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

sophiesmum_2

Lynda Love the picture of the chook, I am so jealous but hoping to get some next year once lottie is up and running.I will try and rehome some ex batts too if possible, they deserve to have a bit of freedom and care.
Poor little chick, at least she will be having a better quality of life from now on, we can keep this as her "before" picture and in a couple of months time you can post a new pic and I'll bet she won't look like the same chicken:D
Hope you will give us updates on how they are settling in;)

jexysbird

Hi,

I've used MSE for last year or so and read the forums, but only joined the forum in the last few weeks, its great to be able to give tips to other people and read everyone else's!

We want to be able to pay off the mortgage within next 2 years, so this challenge sounds really good. I'd obviously have to start half-way through - i'll work it out tomorrow, then I can start it properly in January 09! It will give me a taster as to whether we could do it for a full year!!

sophiesmum_2

Hi jexysbird,
Looking at Nyks sig I think there are 133 days left in the challenge, so if you divide the £4000 by 366 and then multiply that by 133 that should give you what to aim for til the end of the year.

We are always open to new frugal tips
Welcome to the thread.

Marru

sophiesmum wrote: »

Hi jexysbird,
Looking at Nyks sig I think there are 133 days left in the challenge, so if you divide the £4000 by 352 and then multiply that by 133 that should give you what to aim for til the end of the year.

We are always open to new frugal tips
Welcome to the thread.

Oi! I think you are cheating by having two weeks shorter year than the rest of us...:rotfl:

Don't mind me. And welcome from me too.

DD is tucked to bed and is fine, not eating properly thou. Everything I offer is: "I don't like it". She was feeling tad hot earlier so abandoned taking her out for a walk so The Dog missed out. I have had lovely soak and my eyes are not feeling gritty at the moment which is lovely feeling.

NSD as Bails treated us with yummy biscuits so didn't need to venture to the shops. My diet has gone out of the window and so has the exercise regime so I need to start again in September. Also starting my placement work, which is mucking out stables and chasing bunnies, should help.

I am going to watch the programme about pedigree dogs from BBC iPlayer that was shown yesterday. I have seen quite a strong comments amongst the animal people about it so I want to see it myself (I was watching Maestro ). I hope I will not be a) crying b) ranting and raving after watching it.

Chickens: After seeing that picture I am even more determined to get my own place with chicken. How I am going to do it I really don't know. (Perhaps tiny plot of land with mobile home?)

Christmas: Everybody are getting second hand books from me like last year. For my Mum (who can't read English) I have couple of cat ornaments that I got for 20p from DD's preschool's table top sale (of which I had donated to them without knowing it, doh!) DD is only one that I will make more of an effort but I think I can find something perfect for her from eBid. I don't do Christmas food but I do go to the shop on Christmas eve on lunch time to grab the best bargains. I might get a small tree this year. Must get the cards sent this time. I bought a pack last year but never managed to send them.

Will start my programme now and then head to bed.

Night night all,

Marru

sophiesmum_2

oops Well spotted Marru, have reinstated the missing weeks:rotfl: My head is full of cotton wool at the moment:rolleyes:

Marru

Marru wrote: »

I am going to watch the programme about pedigree dogs from BBC iPlayer that was shown yesterday. I have seen quite a strong comments amongst the animal people about it so I want to see it myself (I was watching Maestro ). I hope I will not be a) crying b) ranting and raving after watching it.

Almost cried and can't rant or rave as I am in absolute shock... I sort of knew some of it but never really considered the seriousness of it all. Oh... I can feel rant coming. I better log off now then. Here is the link to the programme if you are hot in animal welfare, not to be watched before or during a meal...

looby-loo_2

Woohoo! chickens! You are so lucky - I have the hen house the wood and the netting but still no run so no chooks yet. :rolleyes: Let us know how they do.

I have found a free range farm selling 60 eggs for £3 - can that be right?? It's a little way but still worth the petrol every so often. Does anyone know how long they keep?

We have been aiming to fit our old kitchen units into the 'garage' to make a utility room. Last night the plumber rang to say he could come today - so after about 6 trips to B&Q it's nearly all done! Just half a day next week. I didn't even have time to emulsion the walls but I can do that afterwards. Luckily it was 10% off on Wednesday at B&Q so I chose and DH paid. On the last trip I waited in the line whilst he went off to look at tools. It was my turn and I gave in his over 60 discount card expecting to have to wait for DH - but no! they took it without question!!:o Really made [STRIKE]my[/STRIKE] his day.

I agree with the comments on the dog programme - quite amazing to see how breeds have changed over the decades.

Welcome jexeybird, it's a great feeling to have the mortgage done and dusted, good luck with your challenge.

marru sorry about your mum, all that travelling is wearing but we have to do it don't we? Both DH and I have did it for our fathers and although it is hard we look back and feel it was worthwhile.

Sophiesmum - those beans and tomatoes!!! wow! I've picked but a handful, well done. Are the tomatoes outside?

Janey51

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!

Well Nyk I did make it to the races but I found the crowds too much (7,500) and had to come away after a couple of hours. I did win £7.50 which has gone into the holiday terramundi :j

Manchester was excellent. Went to the Trafford Centre. I've never been before and felt like a country bumpkin. I managed to get a new duvet cover and pillow cases for my soon to be decorated bedroom. And I bought a couple of thick jumpers for the coming winter and a pair of thick fleecy joggers. Spent £60 altogether which I thought was a bargain.

:xmastree: I already have most of my presents..and they are wrapped and ready to go.
Christmas will be hard this year without DH.
He always made it so special. He used to do a big garland over the fireplace with fresh greenery. And he cooked Christmas dinner
The first year we were together I told him I had never had an Advent calendar. Every morning from Dec 1, I came downstairs to a little present on the mantlepiece. Everything from a Thornton's chocolate to a miniature perfume bottle.

JAMIEDODGER

back from hols early, will try and find receipts and all today and update totals from the last week or so, was doing really well, but not so sure now...

Frugaldom

jexysbird wrote: »

Hi,

I've used MSE for last year or so and read the forums, but only joined the forum in the last few weeks, its great to be able to give tips to other people and read everyone else's!

We want to be able to pay off the mortgage within next 2 years, so this challenge sounds really good. I'd obviously have to start half-way through - i'll work it out tomorrow, then I can start it properly in January 09! It will give me a taster as to whether we could do it for a full year!!

Hi Jexysbird, you are very welcome to join in for the latter part of this challenge with a view to beginning properly in 2009. As we are so far into this year, it may be a little unfair to start on a percentage as the overall total is allowing for major bills spread out over an entire year, so it's probably best that you simply record all spends somewhere like www.spendingdiary.com from now until December 31st and then start afresh on 1st January 2009 with a fair idea of what's all involved. We each have our own lists of things this amount includes, depending on our own circumstances. Good luck and we'll all be looking forward to hearing how you are getting on Congratulations on 'making the move' to join us here! :beer:

Janey, you sound so organised with your pressies - and all wrapped too? :eek: Tom always sounds like such a great person - I love the bit about the advent calendar & the garland along the mantelpiece. I know it's all been said before, but I really do wish you would consider writing that book. If for no commercial reason, it would make a wonderful reminder for family in years to come, possibly more so that diaries. Apart from that, you could end up with a bestseller on your hands! I read loads of pre-release stuff & proof copies and honestly, your stories are far more interesting, moving and entertaining than most of what I read! I guess that's why this forum makes more compelling reading than some of the work I've had to churn through.

Jamiedodger, I hope you enjoyed hols!

Must dash now - can't forget to collect DGD from nursery and need to get to post office before that... and I have work that MUST be completed today, so DGD is going to be most annoyed that she can't have undivided attention whilst here!