Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

Frugaldom

Marru, that's one awesome snail! My garden wouldn't stand a chance against that! LOL

I still haven't stewed the apples as there are just so many of them - has anyone come up with an ingenius way of stopping them going brown before I've got them all peeled? This would save having to stew them in tiny batches. I've got another 2 loaves proving, should be ready to go in soon, then I can get a few more biscuits baked as last lot are all gone. I'll stew some apples whilst waiting for the bread to bake. I've also got another large tub of potatoes that HS dug up tonight. Looks enough to keep us going for the next week without having to touch what's in the freezer.

I'm now making a list of things I need to further my frugal lifestyle:

Carpet sweeper
Bannister brush
Sweeping brush
Dehumidifier
Clothes airer
Large rug for the living room floor

I'm sure I'll think of loads more but, in the meantime, these are things I am looking for ar the moment and whatever they cost, I need to raise the cash to keep to my 'money neutral' promise.

Dreading reading meter tomorrow as I'll need to switch on hot water plus I have a heater on and extra oven time for baking.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Bluefleur - I haven't finalised my 2009 budget yet as I keep changing my mind about what it should include. I'll have a think about it whilst peeling the apples and then get back to you to confer, if that's OK?

Skint_Lynne

Hi,

My friend visited me at the shop today and delivered a lovely bag of veg from her garden. She has a lovely house and has her plot all organised. I got some runner beans, potatoes, courgettes and onions. Made me feef ashamed of myself, I'll really need to get my garden back on the go next year:o .

I got feedback from one of my interviews, I didn't get the job, but I am glad in a way because I got really strange feedback. This was for a welfare officer's job which involved getting the long term unemployed back into work.

We had to do a paperwork exercise, a face to face interview and a role play exercise. The paperwork was the best they had ever seen from any candidate. The interview was fine, I answered all the questions correctly and interviewed well, he then said that the role play was terrible and it was if I was talking to the other person as if they were dead???? Cheeky !!!!!!!!!! He also said that I had a drony voice??? I deal with the public every day of the week and think of myself as quite pleasant??

I actually think they have mixed their candidates up, there was a lot of them. I thought I had messed the paperwork up and that the role play went really well. And......... I don't have a drony voce, so I think it's their loss to be honest. I don't even feel bad about it, so it can't have been right. Role on Tuesday when I go for my other 2nd interview, this one has my name on it and I felt really comfortable with this company.

Hope that mollymop comes back on soon, I am worried that she will contact these Thames people and part with her money before checking them out, I've got a bad feeling about it, (I hope I am wrong, but it just seems too good to be true).

SL x

BlueFleur

SL- shame that you didn't get the job, but it sounds like it wasn't the one for you. Better to be somewhere where you are appreciated Good luck for the next one!

Thanks nyk, I was thinking about putting up what I had allowed for the year in general terms, but I wasn't sure if that was a bit cheeky As for the apples, there are two ways to stop them going brown once cut open (that I've found successful anyway). The first is to chop them into cold water, the other is to put lemon juice on them. Lemon juice has the longer lasting effect in my experience. I've also tried orange juice (I had no lemons!) and that worked well. But if you're stewing the water option could be better- not sure if adding acidic juice will effect the pectin...

Frugaldom

Thanks for that Bluefleur, I do chop them into cold water when cooking them and do the lemon juice trick when slicing them into fruit punch, I just wondered if there was a trick to preserve them longer. I've just done 2.5kg of apple stew and it's cooling in margarine tubs ready for freezing. Two loaves of bread now ready and another tray of fruit/oat biscuits but DS is in and they aren't likely to last the weekend. It reminded me that I also need some wire cooling trays as I only have the one from the grill tray; something else to add to my never-ending list.

SkintLynne, I'd stick with the 'mix up' scenario and look forward to the next interview, which sounds as though it's something you'd prefer to do anyway. Are you closing down your existing business? Was just wondering if it was anything that could be listed in the online auctions that could sell well in time for Christmas?

Next year's target figure:

I've been thinking about this because next year could be a lot tougher than this year, but I don't think the minimum wage will increase by very much and that's what I base the challenge figures on - approximately 4k for living, the rest (almost 6k) for rent & council tax/water. Depending on individual circumstances, the overall figure can be broken down as follows:

Living expenses - 4k
Rent or mortgage -
Council Tax / water -
Work related expenses -
Debt payments (if applicable) -
Regular savings -

Total for year = £we'll find out at end of 2008

The total is then deducted from your entire year's income and, with good budgetting, this won't be a negative number. In order for me to keep it a positive figure, I think I'll need to continue on 4k and just keep shaving more off to make ends meet.

Mollymop5

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

Warning about these 2 companies Mollymop, they usually only chase you if the debt is over 6 years old and therefore statute barred. Make sure everything is in writing with them, that you get receipts and that it is upfront and you won't have someone else chasing you for the same debt in a couple of months time. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, check them out on here, I think there are some threads about them and also google them. I just think it's actually unusual to get 2 letters like this in the same week. If I remember correctly, they might actually be the same company/group. Just tread very carefully before you part with any cash.

SL x

P.S. I've just searched Thames Credit on the forums here and quite a lot of people have got the same letters, I would post up the link, but I'm not sure how to do it.

Thanks for your concerns I've read alot of negativity about these companies too.I have nothing but nice things to say about them though.I acknowledged all my debts when I became unable t pay them in full and they were passed to debt companies.I sought help from the citizens advice who managed to contact everyone initially and set up small monthly payments.This was 5 years ago.interest was stopped and my debts were just that.Every year the companies wrote to me and asked for an update on my financial position.As nothing had changed they continued to accept my small payments of £2.50 per month with no contact in between.I paid by standing order and I have been really happy with our relationship.I know the debts are mine they were never allowed to get over 6 years as I acknowledged them all the way along.I know alot of people think if they can just dodge letters and not return any correspondance for 6 years then they can say the debt is statutary barred but this isn't me.My debts were built up from stupidity and naivity when I was young and it has been my mission to pay them off as best I can which is why I have been saving hard and offering reduced full and final settlement figures.No one has ever offered to reduce them this much.

My plan is to eat from the freezer and cupboards ( and parents lol)
I'm going to sell as much as possible on ebay and offer my services for babysitting, cleaning, dog walking and anything else possible.i need to be carefull though as I'm only allowed to earn an extra £20 per week on top of my benefits and already do this with my cleaning job.Even if I can just pay these 2 debts off before the next offer comes in I will be happy.

Thanks for all your ideas.I will be looking to you all for support over the next few months.You're great!!!!!!

Mollymop5

Marru we have a giant African snail the kids love it.We feed it cucumber and lettuce as we discovered these were it's favourite.It likes cuttlefish to make it's shell hard.You should hear it at night grating on the cuttlefish it's so loud and quite scary if you don't know what it is.
My mum initially had 2................... now she has 11.some of these are leaving soon to go into schools.I think they're great pets

Skint_Lynne

Mollymop5 wrote: »

Thanks for your concerns I've read alot of negativity about these companies too.I have nothing but nice things to say about them though.I acknowledged all my debts when I became unable t pay them in full and they were passed to debt companies.I sought help from the citizens advice who managed to contact everyone initially and set up small monthly payments.This was 5 years ago.interest was stopped and my debts were just that.Every year the companies wrote to me and asked for an update on my financial position.As nothing had changed they continued to accept my small payments of £2.50 per month with no contact in between.I paid by standing order and I have been really happy with our relationship.I know the debts are mine they were never allowed to get over 6 years as I acknowledged them all the way along.I know alot of people think if they can just dodge letters and not return any correspondance for 6 years then they can say the debt is statutary barred but this isn't me.My debts were built up from stupidity and naivity when I was young and it has been my mission to pay them off as best I can which is why I have been saving hard and offering reduced full and final settlement figures.No one has ever offered to reduce them this much.

My plan is to each from the freezer and cupboards ( and parents lol)
I'm going to sell as much as possible on ebay and offer my services for babysitting, cleaning, dog walking and anything else possible.i need to be carefull though as I'm only allowed to earn an extra £20 per week on top of my benefits and already do this with my cleaning job.Even if I can just pay these 2 debts off before the next offer comes in I will be happy.

Thanks for all your ideas.I will be looking to you all for support over the next few months.You're great!!!!!!

That's fine Mollymop,

You have been dealing with them for sometime then and are comfortable to pay them obviously. If you can't make their deadlines, I would call them and ask for an extension. You seem to have a good relationship anyway so I think that they would wait a wee while longer. Just make sure you have everything in writing in case you need it later. Good for you, hope it all works out.

SL x

whitewing

Mollymop,

I think you are really lovely.

Marru,

Yuk. I would never hold a snail like that.

Everyone else,

Good morning. Happy frugalling.

Skint_Lynne

nykmedia wrote: »

SkintLynne, I'd stick with the 'mix up' scenario and look forward to the next interview, which sounds as though it's something you'd prefer to do anyway. Are you closing down your existing business? Was just wondering if it was anything that could be listed in the online auctions that could sell well in time for Christmas?

Hi Nyk,

It's really strange about that interview, as I said, I don't even feel bothered, I think a guy like that would be a nightmare to work for. I'm looking forward to the next one, I'm not sure whether to drive down or get the train, I'll decide and get the train booked tomorrow if I decide to go that way.

I'm going to keep my business going for now, my sister and aunt will look after the shop whilst I am working. I'll try and sell it on after Christmas if I can.

See you later,

SL x

Prudent

nykmedia wrote: »

Good morning - Mollymop you are right - this is a 'cost of living' challenge, so only covers the basic costs to live. We exclude rent/mortgage/council tax because these are all dependent on individual circumstances, as is anything associated with debts, work or 'luxuries'.

Food
Cleaning products
Laundry products
Toiletries
Electricity
Gas
Fuel - oil, coal, logs etc
Telephone
Internet access
Mobiles
Household insurance
TV licence
Essential clothing & footwear
Gifts
Essential household items & basic repairs

The above is roughly what I include in the £4000 (+ child benefit if you have kids) and anything over the 4k is channelled into paying off debt, personal savings or spending on luxury items, holidays, cars etc. If you have children and work then any associated costs such as travel, child care, lunches etc are work related.

Hope this helps.

I got it well wrong this year and included absolutely evrything apart from union membership, work travel and council tax. Going to read more carefully next year :rotfl:

My total is sig is therefore way over what it really would be for the challenge. I added it using my bank account not spread sheets, and use mainly cash, so not really sure how it all broke down. I am still sticking with the principle and hanging in for next year.