Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

JAMIEDODGER

nykmedia wrote: »

dfw844 - I think it's just a miserable, 'down' sort of a day, so don't worry about it. It's pouring rain outside yet again, I feel completely fed-up and my cashback payment is already in the bank! I have this mad compulsion to spend out of sheer boredom and frustration and am currently eyeing up this popcorn maker that I have absolutely no need for! Despite now being debt-free, I still feel no better off. I still can't afford to rent on my own, I'm no closer to being able to afford to buy a place if I look at the overall picture with brutal honesty and I've become addicted to frugal living, so can't just book a holiday to get away for a break because I now live in fear of missing a great opportunity 'because I spent X amount on whatever', IYSWIM. It's crazy! I'm convinced that the only way to lose the feeling of resentment at living like a pauper is to have the security of your own home, but then that's not secure unless there's no debt attached to it, like a mortgage... and so the saga continues until we get our next £2 coin, piece of spare change or phenomenal bargain to cheer us up a bit.

As for electricity, do you leave the oven door open afterwards to help heat the kitchen and save the excess boiled water in flasks for dishes and hot waterbottles? :rotfl:

Great news on the free lightbulbs, whitewing. e.on and Scottish Power were doing them as well - could you get another set in OH's name?

you sound really down today nyk:( i know it can feel like a neverending road sometimes and occasionally the urge to spend gets the better of all of us!

you are an inspiration to many (myself most definately included) and your challenge a lifeline too, and not just for the tips but the community spirit.

chin up hun xx

pennib

I second that you dont need a popcorn maker. Stop looking at gadgets :rolleyes: Although think you might be on right track with a dehumidifier, we have borrowed dd and the water it sucks up is amazing.

Mollymop5

Can someone point me in the direction of where I can register my gas and electric readings to get an idea of whayt I'm using.I've seen it mentioned here but not sure where.Thanks

BlueFleur

Mollymop, nyk gave me this link http://www.i-measure.org.uk/ Think that is the one people are using.

I really want a popcorn maker as well, so I won't try to talk you out of it nyk

I'll join in with the general unhappiness today. I went to my bank to try and open a separate account as a pot for bills etc, but they told me to come back in November at the earliest. Work continues to be really busy and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at times. I'm feeling really impatient with the debt/money situation. I just want to get paid so that I have a bit more to play with. I feel like I need a week off to rest and recharge my batteries ready for the next slog!

lingojingo

taka wrote: »

:hello: I work at one of the Unis (there are 4 now I think) Feel free to PM me if you need any Edinburgh info at all!!

Oh, we hadn't realised there was more than one!
No questions at the moment, but if she gets offered a place I'll certainly PM you - thanks very much.

Nyk glad you're pleased with the electric steamer. Never tried cooking meat in mine, will be interested to see how you get on.

Whoever was asking about seeing your gas and electricity usage - I'm on an online account with Eon, and they do a thing where you can see on a graph your average monthly usage this year compared to last year. If I can remember hoe to do it I'll add a pic to show you what I mean. I input my readings once a month so i know it's accurate and am getting quite excited by the drop :rotfl:

Frugaldom

Mollymop, if you use the www.i-measure.org.uk free site then you can join the 'MoneySaving Carbon Club' on there - it's all MSE forum members

dfw844, to be honest, I spent so many years trying to become debt free that I forgot life was passing my by, then one day, the debts were gone and I still had no house. I would love to be doing this knowing that at the end of it I had the security of owning my own home, so the only way is to keep saving, keep out of debt and follow the frugalife. Until this year, nobody else has wanted to live like this, so I am delighted to have made so many new, like-minded friends. I'll keep doing the challenge until I own a house mortgage free, so we'll probably be here for a long while.

I didn't buy the pop corn maker, I baked 2 loaves and a tray of ginger & sultana cookies instead. I always have a casserole of water sitting in the oven (can't remember why, but I've always done thid when baking bread, thinks it's for humidity) and that's enough to heat a basin of water for the dishes afterwards. I was never this conscientious about electricity savings before joining the MSE forums

Lingojingo, that's an impressive looking bar chart! Congratulations on the reductions.

I am actively seeking a dehumidifier as I see this as a very economical way to help reduce dampness in the hallway where there's an old fashioned clothes pulley. I used this last winter but had to leave a heater on all the time, so that will be one less heater needed this year.

sophiesmum_2

Evening Frunchkins:D

Feeling happier now we have the arrangements in place for Andrew's funeral, which will be next Monday,as this was the first day that the church and crematorium could be booked together

Top frugal tip from todays experience is to buy a funeral pre payment plan, seriously - my parents both paid for one a couple of years ago when they were quite ill, in two years the funeral costs for same arrangements have increased by almost £600,:eek: Definately a smarter move than keeping money in the bank for funeral costs, once you pre pay they put the money into an insurance type thingy and when you die you get the arrangements you have paid for eg cars,church fees, announcements etc. This is regardless of the current costs of the funeral.So basically the longer you live after making the plan the better value you are getting for your money.

Today I went to town with mum and blew the budget on clothes for myself DD and DS :eek: but at least I now have stuff to wear that doesn't look like I am off to work. Not counting these from challenge budget though as they are only for this special occasion and not everyday use.
Tonight OH was really bad though and ordered chinese to be delivered for us all which cost £20:eek: and WILL be counted from budget, can't remember last time we did that, but it was nomnomnom, as weezl would say:D
Anyway we should have been flying off to Malta today so £20 chinese is not bad in comparison.:p

Not had chance to do my budget yet for next year but everyone elses are looking good.

lingojingo

nykmedia wrote: »

Lingojingo, that's an impressive looking bar chart! Congratulations on the reductions.

Some of it is due to not having to have the electric fire so much at the beginning of the year, as the year before we had a problem with the central heating and it was freezing in here! But most of it is from doing all the little things everyone mentions on here. I think the biggest of all is simply not leaving anything on standby!

Sophiesmum, don't worry at all about blowing the budget. We're all trying so hard to be frugal so that we can afford to splash out at important times like the one you're just going through, without it causing a major financial disaster on top. You should just do whatever feels right at the moment, you've been such an inspiration to us all through this challenge so I'm sure you'll get back on track when you're ready to.

Skint_Lynne

Hi All,

I'm back safe and sound after driving to Leeds and back today. The interview went well, so all I can do is wait and see if they want me. I should know early next week what is happening.

I was really good, no motorway stops so spent no cash, only some on petrol. I would not give these places the money anyway and the food is usually rotten, so no point really.

I am sooooooooo tired now though and my mum has asked me to pick her up from bingo. I don't mind really, but I wish it wasn't tonight.:p

I would really like to get the job, basic salary £25K, car, mobie, laptop, blackberry and all expenses paid for. That would help me out no end:T

Speak later,

SL x

Frugaldom

Sophiesmum, I know it's a difficult subject for a great many people but I have to agree with you about the funeral plans. I tried to talk to family & friends about this and they all thought I was absolutely cuckoo, so I compromised and set up a friendly society bond with life assurance connected. It isn't for much but it is tax free savings and the £15 per month have me immediate protection should the worst happen. It's enough to cover basic costs, as I know neither DD not DS have enough to cover such an event and hate to even think of leaving them in debt over something like that. (Apologies if anyone finds this subject distasteful or offensive.) Apart from that, I got enough mutual points for £30 cashback plus £15 of highstreet vouchers and it's all being paid out of my Interest Beater challenge, which is made up of tax free winnings. When I go, I'm going in real frugal style!