Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

mama67

sophiesmum wrote: »

Good morning everyone,
OH and I have decided to cancel our holiday whilst bro is so ill, we should have been going to Malta again on the 16th but to be honest I would not be able to enjoy it as I would only be worrying about him all the time. Will have a look at the insurance later and see what it says about cancellations but it doesn't really matter as it was a bargain hol anyway.

Whitewing - DS may have forgotten his coat "accidentally on purpose" - many secondary schools do not have any storage facilities for coats so kids have to lug them around all day and it is "gay"(*substitute whatever word is in at moment*) to take a coat anyway.My DD has refused to take a coat for the past 5 years for these reasons.
Apple crumble also calling here if I get time as have been given a big bag of baking apples this morning.Might take one round for parents later, or an apple pie that they can dish up to bro's visitors.

BB and Janey - Another vote for the hysterectomy method of frugalising monthlies:D Had mine in November last year and have saved a fortune since.

It is absolutely freezing here today too, doubt if I would get thermals to fit my vicar of dibley figure but heating is going back on tonight that's for sure;)

We have the same prob here with coats as well, DS1 will only take a kagoule/rainjacket type coat so he can "shove" it in his backpack.

His school has changed from sweatshirts and polo shirts to blazers and ties and proper shirts he came home last night saying how the blazers made everyone look like "right planks".

We also had to pay £24 for the blazer (school emblem is stitched into it rather than a badge) and £4.50 for a clip-on tie.

BlueFleur

Yay for getting the official nyk seal of approval

It has been one whole week and my bf and I have stuck to the food plan we had. The test tonight will be going to the supermarket and only buying in a frugal way again. I think I'm leaving him at home to make it easier We've both really enjoyed eating home cooked meals, instead of microwaved bits from Mr S or Mr T. It just shows that not everything about being a dfw is bad :money:


mama67 I really feel for all the parents out there at this time of year. One of the people I work with has just spent £100 on school shoes!

lingojingo

mama67 wrote: »

We have the same prob here with coats as well, DS1 will only take a kagoule/rainjacket type coat so he can "shove" it in his backpack.

It's even worse with girls, as they wouldn't be seen dead in anything that could be stuffed into a bag! Since starting college last year, where there isn't a uniform, DD won't wear a skirt longer than about 6 inches, whatever the weather! (wish I still had the legs though:rotfl:)

bails

BlueFleur wrote: »

It just shows that not everything about being a dfw is bad :money:

:T This is so true! When I had to give up my (pretty well paid) job for health reasons, I worried endlessly about how I was going to manage. Being on here has meant that not only has it been a lot easier, it's also been a lot of fun sometimes and I've made some great friends too :j Even when it gets really tough, knowing there is support on here makes all the difference. Into the bargain we now live a much healthier, organic and environmentally-friendly lifestyle too, which has always been important to me. Being an animal lover, one of the best things this challenge has given me is the ability to extend my 'family' with 2 more cats and soak up the extra cost with ease Their affection and companionship while I'm stuck at home is priceless.

I know it's a bit early to start reflecting on the year, but what about one thing the challenge has given you so far?

whitewing

Morning All,

I have redeemed my nectar points for Sainsbury's discount coupons (which I believe can be used against fuel, which is good), and have a full bottle of new Lenor Touch Effects fabric conditioner on its way. (Have to do a survey to see if you qualify).

Have also spent £40 yesterday at play.com (via nectar for more points) on DH's Xmas presents. This was well within budget, but unfortunately not within the correct timings. I should have waited until the next credit arrives in my bank acct, so am going to have to jiggle things about. I swear I could easily get thro piles of money at the moment. Even though it would all be on things we'd value and at good deals, it is still money we don't have readily available.

We took all the Xmas presents that we have collated over the year so far down off the wardrobe last night to look through. I have raided it for birthday presents through the year, so have less for some people than I thought. Still within a sensible limit, but again I want to sort it all out now, when I don't have the available funds to avoid raiding savings.

MrsHayes, I would like to say to you that as a parent I have long given up hope of ever doing anything 'properly'. Frugalmite will love you whether you stay at home, he goes to grandparents, nursery or whatever. He will feel surrounded by love whatever decisions you make. If your heart tells you to work 4 days a week, then do this. You will find a way around it financially (whether that's through cutting spending, having money you hadn't realised you were entitled too, etc etc). Frugalmite will love you and need you even if you have nothing. Of all the children I have seen, the ones who are happiest are the ones whose parents talk to them, and listen to them.

LJ - I hate to think of how many skirts your daughter could make out of one of mine, lol! Ah, those were the (draughty) days. I used to wear the most colourful tights I could!

Oh yes, and 1 last achievement, after nagging since the start of the challenge but no recent reminders, yesterday, DH made pasta sauce entirely from scratch. Hopefully we are at the start of a 'no more pre-made pasta sauce' campaign. (You should see the washing up, lol)

MrsHayes

Morning everyone ANother rainy day here. Apparantly someoneI work with reckons yesterday was meant to be the best of the weather and a storms brewing for the weekend! Can see I will be spending most of it snuggled up with the dogs on the sofa (but atleast this will prevent me from spendng any money!)

Bails - Thanks, I think its important to be grateful for the little things. I am sorely tempted by the sky+ box as we have wanted one for ages but couldn't justify the money. I will have a think about that one.

Janey - Living hot water bottles are definitely the best :T When I came back from the toilet this morning my big dog had totally taken my place in bed so I squashed in next to him and had a snuggle it was lovely

Marru - Thanks, I think having money towards our childcare will work out better for us than the vouchers for that reason. It is just all so confusing and I think my brain has gt worse since being pregnant. Yesterday I couldn't remember my phone number or my bank card pin :cool:

Nyk - I think I am kind of swaying more towards this challenge being old style (nearly wrote old school!) than dfw. I seem to spend most of my time on the OS forum. We couldn't include our mortgage in the challenge though as we are paying over £7000 a year! I am tryingto get our living costs down between now and next year though so we can include as much as possible next year.

So didn't spend any money yesterday apart from out of the DIY budget (£3 on gripper rods, £3 on undercoat, £25 on underlay and £58 on carpet) all from the last £90 of the baby's room budget. So came in wih a pound to spare! The baby's room is almost done apart from the wall colour as we have to wait for my scan on the 6th of Oct to hopefully find out the sex. I have £10 put aside for wall paint though. The baby's room used to be our bathroom and has required total renovation however my Dh has done it all himself which has saved us lots of money and where I work also has a hardware shop so we have got discount on everything. Dh's brother is a carpet fitter so he is doing the flooring cheap for us too

No plans for the weekend really as I think the weather is going to be horrible. Dh is working Saturday again fo some more money (this time for the van as the wheel bearing has gone) so it will be me and the hounds again. Probably just housework and baking! Have a good one everyone xx

MrsHayes

Ps. Whitewing what a lovely post thank you so much xxx

whitewing

MrsHayes, you may as well wave goodbye to your brain forever now. I knew mine was going when I put two weetabix into the mug on top of the teabag when I was pregnant, and it has never recovered. It's better now I'm forgetful, I can read a book more than once, and rediscover things that I have mislaid.

Your eyesight will also go (I used to have to stop every bus that went by so I could check the number, in case it was mine). But that will come back eventually.

Anyway, I just popped on her as I am happy. Just checked my bank balance and found that my DD's totalling £190 have actually already come out for this month so I have been able to afford DH's presents, and everything else that is due. (I have more money in my acct than usual as I am waiting for someone to pay in a large cheque that I have written). So I got muddled. Happy, happy day.

MrsHayes

Whitewing - My spelling and typing have also totally gone. I keep reading things I have posted and finding lots of mistakes in them! My eye sight is bad as it is (I wear contacts or else I can see very little) so god help me if I get any worse! Atleast you have found a positive side to the forgetfulness I am using pregnancy as an excuse when I forget to do things at work ;-)

Glad you are having a happy day its always good when things like that happen. I got all excited last week as we seemed to have more money than usual but we had got paid early which I wasn't expecting! Still got the £60 tax rebate this month which was a very pleasant surprise. Hope the rest of your day goes well too xx

Post tripple checked for spelling/gramatical/typing errors!

bails

I love nice surprises like that Whitewing! :T

You sound very organised with Little Bean's room Mrs Hayes, well done! And bargains, that's what we like to hear

Hm, I'm not sure what to do as, of course, the weather is awful but the plasterers are here so I am trapped in my lounge :rolleyes: I had to move all their stuff so I could have a shower and use the loo but there was no way I could get back to my bedroom to get dressed :eek: Luckily my disorganisation paid off for once as I managed to scrape together an outfit from dry washing that hasn't been put away yet. I did think for a while I may have to do a Charlie Dimmock but luckily found a bra too :rotfl:
Toying with the idea of making some Twinks which I haven't done for ages but then once I've given some to the plasterers I'll probably just sit here and munch the rest I don't want to go out and get wet but I don't want to stay here either