Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

Marru

Today: :j

Frugalism: NSD :T

Now:

See you tomorrow!

Marru

PS If I can't get cremated with all the animal bodies sent from vets then at least I would like to be scattered somewhere nice. No fuss and minimum cost me hopes.

sophiesmum_2

nykmedia wrote: »

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!

Sounds interesting, will have to look into that as an extra savings thingy:D is it for a set term?

lyndasharp

sophiesmum, my Nana has organised her funeral in advance. She's got all the church service booked, chosen the hymns, chosen her coffin, and it's all paid for in advance. I presume the interest on the money pays for increased costs for the funeral directors, as I hope she'll be around for a few years yet. My Mum died suddenly 3 years ago and it was difficult as we didn't really know what she wanted, only that she'd always said she'd prefer a green burial, so we were at least able to do that for her. I think planning and paying for everything in advance is really the best way for the relatives to know that you are getting what you wanted. I'd quite like to be in something like this after I die http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_Worlds - but then maybe I'm just strange ;-)

Saw really nice house today... dilemma time, to offer or not to offer. Leasehold for about 90 years, with £60 pcm service charge and no garden. On the plus side, very very cheap as it's a repo, and a £35k mortgage is cheaper than my rent for a room. Similar places sell for £110k+, this one has just had an offer of £83k... And there's some exciting boxes of stuff in the garage, which comes with the house. Of course it may turn out to be junk, but who knows there might be treasure hidden in them ;-)

System

lyndasharp wrote: »

I'd quite like to be in something like this after I die http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_Worlds - but then maybe I'm just strange ;-)

And there's some exciting boxes of stuff in the garage, which comes with the house. Of course it may turn out to be junk, but who knows there might be treasure hidden in them ;-)

ew, yes you are strange! mind you, is it odd that i want to be cremated, and instead of being scattered just put in the wheelie bin?

oh i am sooooo the type to be influenced by mystery boxes (hence my mystery pictureless ebay coat) buy it buy it buy it! :j:D

just made an impulse ebay buy, a girly wind up radio with a built in mobile charger for £4 inc p&p, going to start my xmas bundle with it (i gather up bargains and then get reimbursed for them for part of my xmas present from my parents)

ps last full day of having a giant finger tomorrow!

Frugaldom

sophiesmum wrote: »

Sounds interesting, will have to look into that as an extra savings thingy:D is it for a set term?

Friendly societies seem to get bad press on here because they are not the best investments, but I don't see mine as an investment, I see it as peace of mind. I pay £15 per month for 10 years, (total £1800), it's tax free savings and it has life assurance of around £1500 built in from the outset. I can increase this amount to £25 per month if I choose. I think it's a better deal than life insurance because this one pays back a lumpsum at the end of the 10 years, should you not have needed it before that. Not so with life insurance, I'm told.

Edited in: Did you all spot the front page MSE link for the £5 M&S voucher? It's in this week's newsletter, I've already got my free quote from Direct Line, but I won't be taking them up on it! Phew! 20% more expensive than current one and no cashback? You gotta be kidding me, right? But I'll accept the free voucher if it arrives.

JumbleBee - Nice find! But I still think that popcorn maker for £6.50 inc P&P looks reeeeally tempting. Is popcorn a low fat snack?

sophiesmum_2

Nyk you don't need a popcorn maker just a big pan with a lid on, a little oil and some pop corn kernels. Just heat pan, add a little oil, chuck in some kernels put lid on and wait, after a couple mins you will hear the corn popping, when it stops popping lift lid and you have a pan full of popcorn - low fat snack unless you smoother it with butter;) Had a popcorn maker many years ago and used it once!

Going to sign up to mutualpoints - would you get any points for referring me? Just thought i would mention it before I register.

Optimisticpair

redglass wrote: »

Nyk, I must be one of the saddest people on earth but my heart actually speeded up at the idea of just having the £4k and putting everything else into the bank - it's scary/exciting stuff, is that! No safety net! :eek::eek::eek: Add in a stooze pot and you could really have an impressive result. The only thing is, I think I'm going to need some building work done, which will probably wreck all financial plans. :mad: I'm about to PM you. I notice the smileys are turned off again.....

We are determined and yes, it's a buzz but I am going to have the same problem - our next house needs some work doing. We should be in there in mid October.

JAMIEDODGER

morning:)

I spent all yesterday evening doing and redoing this budget to make it work. In the end I realised I was adding in internet access and petrol, without both, I couldnt work, so I have taken these out of the budget.

I think it is much more doable now:) Im still hoping to manage a money neutral xmas next year, which would ease the budget somewhat!

Yesterday I paid in £18 to my savings account, which will be where I am going to save the £577.95 needed to cover one months challenge in advance. I will eventually open a new current account to put this money in and will use that for the 2009 challenge:) I would be really scared to do an all in challenge, so I am just sticking to this one for now!

System

my most wanted list...

-wellies - cracked and bought these recently - from a SHOP! but did use a voucher...
-wellie socks - dunno where to get these cheap
-wind up radio/mobile thingy - got off ebay last night
-clothes rail - for carbooting - getting one from someone at work next week
-thermal vests - saw some black strappy ones on ebay, might crack and get them as they werent too grannyish
- wooly tights, proper thick ones like leggings, like 5 year old girls wear - not sure if such a thing even exists for growed ups, but i want some!
-electricity monitor - to play with and tut
- some extra pillows

sure there is more, but thats all i can think of right now

tryingtodobetter

Morning Everyone

I've not been on much as I have been busy painting the kitchen and DS2's room with paint that I got from the Focus voucher offer (I managed to get 3 pots) Just filled in my directline quote to get my MS voucher, like Nyk i will not be taking it as we got our contents insurance free this year using Quidco, so hopefully I can do the same next year

I have updated my total spends for August which was rather alot, I blame the school holidays and all that blasted rain we had. It looks as though I won't make the £4k as I had hoped but I will definatley make the £5k that I first thought.

R.e. the popcorn maker discussion I have one (christmas pressie 2 years ago) and it is great, no oil needed which means lower in fat and no burnt bits on the bottom of the pan either. It makes a great lunch box filler instead of crisps and is a lot cheaper too, a bag of kernals for 69p from Mr T's lasts ages.

Hope everyone has a good day :j :j

Edit: Oh yeah forgot to say I have been doing the 'payment a day challenge' I have been transferring £2 a day into my ISA, it's a great way to save a little extra on top of what I save a month and I don't miss such a small amount each day.