Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

bails

What a lovely story Janey, I too love hearing your tales. And welcome Jexybird, nice to have you onboard!:T
Everyone is so organised with Christmas :eek: I don't have to do any of the food side of things (yet) so that makes things easier but I'm struggling with what to get people on my budget this year I can't think of anything I could make that they would want and I HATE buying presents just for the sake of it (too much unnecessary carp in the world already). My dad mentioned the other day that he would like to take up sailing (neither of us can kayak anymore which was our joint activity as he's had hip replacement) and I mentioned I'd like to try it to OH a few months back so would love to get him this but how to afford it? [BB, am I being completely unrealistic in even attempting it?] I really do need to get my thinking cap on for everyone this year...
Still struggling massively here, despite all my best efforts to stay positive. I've just booked an appointment with Working Links ('helping people on health-related benefits get back into work') and am praying they have a solution to the benefits trap that my extensive research and meetings with other prefessionals haven't thrown up yet. Fingers crossed as I am losing the will to live (metaphorically speaking).

Nyk, do you have any photos of the project as I'd love to see it?
I love the chicken Lynda, I would so love some as well! One day... Marru, I couldn't watch the programme on the dogs, had a chat with my dad about it yesterday, horrendous stuff in the name of 'aesthetics' :mad:
Welcome back from hols Jamiedodger, hope you're not back early for bad reasons and had a lovely time x

lyndasharp

Frugal chickens haven't been named yet, we're considering battery related names like Duracell but haven't come up with anything suitable yet.... any suggestions welcome! They put themselves to bed in their coop last night, soooo cute :-) We've seen them eating the slugs and snails, so that's good for the plants!

Christmas: I got quite a few prezzies in the sales in January, but I've used several of them up already for birthdays so I'm going to have to start shopping again. My plan is to buy most of the presents with survey vouchers. I've also picked up a few bits from the museum shop, as we get staff discount.

Frugaldom

Back again, I need to keep reminding myself to claim the free bingo tickets!

I've been to the postie and been to collect DGD from nursery. She is now outside in garden with OH2B and she's wearing her wellies in the hope of getting into the veggie patch to dig for more potatoes! She's been wanting lunch since 11.40am, so the apple I gave her at 12 must be well gone, as she's asking for lunch again, which isn't until 1 (when DS gets his lunchbreak from work).

The sun is shining but it still poured through the night and earlier this morning, so I haven't done a washing. Typical! Postman arrived and has delivered my Mr T vouchers - £13 plus 125 extra points for stuff I always buy, so I've updated my signature.

Bails, I'll post you piccies as soon as I can.

As for the aesthetics of pure breeds, have you seen what people do to themselves, their children and each other, never mind what they do to animals? I can't even watch that, never mind what they (STILL) do to animals.

Marru

lyndasharp wrote: »

Frugal chickens haven't been named yet, we're considering battery related names like Duracell but haven't come up with anything suitable yet.... any suggestions welcome!

How about Clarabelle and Rosalee?

We are better today and for the moment sun is shining so I am heading to the post office with DD and then take The Dog for a walk. Trying to keep away from the shops.

DD has packed three of her books and is now weighing (sp?) them with my post scale and said that she wants to sell her books like I do mine. I hope I will hand over the right three books when I go to the post office today.

Need to get going now...

Have a great day everybody!!

Marru

DdraigGoch

So far it's overcast but no rain, so I'm putting my heart in my mouth and pegging out the washing. I can see it from my computer, but it takes me about 3 - 4 minutes to actually get to it, by which time it's usually sodden again. Wish us luck in wet and windy Wales :-)

Janey, I agree about you writing a book. It's just the kind of book I'd love to read. Has anyone read Chas Griffin's books? They're wonderfully funny and inspiring.

DG

whowants2brich

Hi all...

Sorry I've been a bit useless over the past weeks, I've been out and about and doing loads... But I have come up with one of the most frugal ways of living, ever!

Last week, spent 5 days travelling with business, so they paid for travel, accommodation and food etc while I was out there. Saved petrol, food etc costs at home.

Next week, going out on Monday and spending another 2 weeks on travel, everything paid for by the company. Considering I have a 45-mile return journey each way to work, that's a big saving.

Plus, I've booked the hotels/flights via quidco, with my 1% cashback credit card. AKA £150 or thereabouts of free cash as a result of travelling, as well as the lower expenses as a result.

Can't be bad, can it?

In the meantime, my OH has all but given up on our attempts to keep spends under control, and there's hardly any point in me trying this challenge if she's spending money like no tomorrow, and I'm trying to keep spends down.

She moaned at me for taking the spare tabletop oven from my parents (they weren't using it anyway) because it's a health hazard. However, it takes about 1 minute to heat up, and uses virtually no electricity (1kW) which is much better than a normal huge oven... Saves us loads of electricity, but she didn't like it (at first). But I have used it a few times, and as it heats up the lounge as well as cooking our food, I think it's going to become more used - especially in winter!

Take care all, have fun, and I'll see if I can come on and update while I'm in Germany. Anyone want anything cheap from Aldi/Lidl while I'm out there? :D:D

Frugaldom

whowants2brich wrote: »

...In the meantime, my OH has all but given up on our attempts to keep spends under control, and there's hardly any point in me trying this challenge if she's spending money like no tomorrow, and I'm trying to keep spends down.

Oh no! This can be a major source of strife. :eek: I think that doing any sort of financial challenge, especially a really strict one that involves joint finances, needs the backing of all parties involved. Are you sure you are both equally aware of exactly why you need (and want) to budget like this and how it affects each of you over the longterm? Perhaps OH can't understand why you are frugalising in the first place. Methinks there needs to be a clear cut reason for living 'like this' and a full understanding on all sides. I do know how difficult this can be, trust me. My DS spends like he has no intentions of ever saving up to get his own place and thinks it's funny when I frugalise 'too far', as he puts it. Most infuriating!

Bails, your PM box is full again. I can never manage to get any to you, so you'll need to ask Marru about 'the project'. :rotfl:

jexysbird

Hi,

Thanks for welcoming me! I'll try and keep a spending diary and will keep you updated!

lyndasharp

:eek: Just thought things were starting to settle down here.... and I get a phone call today inviting me for another job interview! I really thought I'd have no chance of getting shortlisted for this one, so I'm really shocked but happy

Only problem is it's on 1st September, I leave for Scotland on 23rd and back on 30th. Then I'll have to fly to Ireland (yes, it's Ireland again but south this time!) on 31st. That leaves me... errr... about 1.5 days to prepare for the interview, and sort out travel, accommodation etc. I really don't think I'll get this job, it's working in an amazing place http://www.museum.ie/en/intro/country-life.aspx so I bet there's loads of competition for it. It'd be a step up from my current job and almost £10k more pay, so I'm just pleased that I can get shortlisted at that level. I now have to do my best to convince them that I have the experience to handle it!

bails

Sorry Nyk, my inbox has had space for weeks, must've only been full for a few minutes tops so bad timing! Looks interesting, am I being dense though as there seems to be a road?
Well done on the interview Lynda, hope it goes well!