Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

Frugaldom

Good morning and, first, I have to say... 15 weeks until 2009? :eek:

Don't forget Martin's programme starts back tonight on Channel 5 at 7.30pm :j

I still haven't decided about the pop corn maker, am kind of hoping someone else spots it and buys it before I do. We do make popcorn in the pan because I like it with homemade toffee - YUM!

Yesterday's bread turned out lovely and soft but, alas, I tried ine loaf completely salt-free and bleugh! I don't know how people can eat such bland food. I won't be doing that again! Don't worry, I won't waste it - I always need breadcrumbs for the veggie cutlets and can season it then.

Sophiesmum, have PM'd you some info

Jumble-Bee, you are doing well with your 'Most Wanted' list. I have mine on eBid and Freecycle now. :rotfl:

Jamie, that is great about the savings! I tend to squirrel away every peanut penny I can and it soon mounts up. I can't wait to open my sealed piggy on 1st December to count the contents. Don't forget to ho via a cashback site for your new account.

Optimistic, my savings are all for a house (and DD's wedding IF she quits stropping :rolleyes: ) but the houses I am looking at actually need complete renovation (or building back up) - but that will be a seperate challenge :rotfl:

TTDB, I hope we get the vouchers! I listed some in the auctions but haven't had any interest, so perhaps the place is flooded with M&S vouchers? Unfortunatley, I live nowhere near a store. Unless... maybe there's one on the Isle of Man and I could save them until next June as that's one day trip I would like to go again! Except this time, I'll be prepared for seeing all those bikes!!! (Went this year and didn't even know it was TT time until I got there! Doh!)

Off to postie before half day closing and then I'm getting a lift into town to drop off some books at charity shop and pop into Autumn Meadows on a bargain hunt. See you all later

Brighton_belle

Whitewing - you mentioned earlier in the week that you know do 'to do lists' for your DH as well as yourself. This really inspired me to do the same for my OH. I always make lists, he doesn't and things don't get done. As part of my 'everything in a binliner for a £1' trawl at charity shop last wekeend I got a brand new wipe clean board, so I have statred a his and hers list to be updated every night with tomorrow's essential tasks. It working well for me:D . OH hasn't commented on it yet but I always give him time to cope with change.
I have also formally started a £2 savings money box and a loose change one. I like this transfer of £2 a day to an isa idea as well. Must look into that one. I love internet banking. I think I need to find a isa that pays higher interest too.
Just been offered a table and chairs by emigrating friends so off to check that out in a mo. I adore 2nd hand furniture so I but I am going to have to be very strict on myself to ensure I really need it before taking it. I'm thinking I could out it in the corner of our upstairs living space for my mosaic making.

Nyk & spohiesmum - thanks for converstaion re funeral plans - very helpful. it has prompted me to finish updating my own will and to plan to talk to OH to insist he makes one because at the mo if anything happened to him, his family would get everything but I've be left with his debts. Not good. That would be a terrible legacy to be left with given how happy we are together. These things can be hard to talk about but they are so important. Fortunately my aging parents have sorted out all this sort of thing and told us all what they want. As for utilities. My Dad has been buying eco bulbs for everywhere in the house and they've been switching suppliers etc.

Re popcorn - yes Nyk, they are a low fat snack - it's what you put on them that will either up the calories or your salt intake:D

Frugaldom

Good afternoon frunchkins (haven't used that one for a while )

I was very good when visiting town and only spent £16.42 in Somerfields bulk buying pasta, spaghetti, noodles, beans & tunned spaghetti plus picked up some more stores stuff - eggs, flour, suet. Then I dropped off some books ate the charity shop without buying anything whilst in there, then went to the pound shop to get a wire cooling rack as my grill pan won't hold a tray of cookies and 2 loaves all at the same time. I was shocked in the pound shop! Ours is actually called, 'the pound shop' but there are now items in there at £2.50 and £3.50! (The wire tray was £1.) I have updated my signature to reflect the spends and now have £51.37 to last me until 30th September so that I'm bang on target for the final quarter of the challenge. I'm sure there's only the broadband to pay between now and then, must check to see if it's come off today.

The new thread will be starting on 1st October for part 4 of the 2008 4k challenge.

Brighton belle, watch out for those £2 coins, they are really addictive! I've got to the stage that I'll probably never spend another one again in my life! Which reminds me, I got one in my change from the £ shop! Mustn't forget to add that to my sig.

whitewing

Hmmm. I've got just 80p left in my current acct, and I've suddenly thought that I'd better check my 'save the change'. Haven't been at such a low balance for a while.

Got given a big bunch of red & white flowers today. Yet another wedding present. It was such a lovely surprise.

Throat still hurts though but we're about to have garlic bread and pizza. mmm. yum.

BlueFleur

nykmedia wrote: »

...ate the charity shop...

I make as many typos as the next person, but this one really made me smile

I've been very good with spending- my low bank balance is a motivating factor with this! Is Martin's programme repeated at all? It is my bf's turn to use the tv and there is no way he'll switch off his video games :rolleyes:

Marru

Hello everybody,

My college turned into a nightmare today. We have had such a nice group up till now but today it was worse than a play group of 4 year olds. I was getting so irritable and annoyed and just wanted to get out. If it continues tomorrow I will tell the whole lot off. Well at least the noisiest culprits. If it still carries on I am better off just to go in for practical work and to pick up/drop off assignments.

I might get some work as a house+pet sitter. I met this nice man with two collies and he told me that he and his wife goes away a lot and they would be interested in getting me in to look after their dogs, ducks and chickens. :j:T The dogs were lovely by the way and were great help with my troublesome client. He didn't give me any trouble today at all.

I am still in a bad mood and really irritable. Early bed and hopefully tomorrow everything will look brighter. Especially as I have another mystery shop lined up for tomorrow. Not in a mood to sort out my budget now I am afraid.

Night night,

Marru

lyndasharp

Marru, hope you feel better tomorrow and that people at college are much less annoying! Good luck with the pet sitting. I used to cat sit for a friend, it was great fun and easy money, apart from one morning when the cat had been sick EVERYWHERE. That took a while to clear up...

I made an offer on the house today, but it was rejected. Going to try £83K tomorrow, fingers crossed! I'm not going any higher so if they say no then that's it.

Frugaldom

BlueFleur wrote: »

I make as many typos as the next person, but this one really made me smile

I've been very good with spending- my low bank balance is a motivating factor with this! Is Martin's programme repeated at all? It is my bf's turn to use the tv and there is no way he'll switch off his video games :rolleyes:

OOPS! I'm not really on such a tight budget as to eat the charity shop, honest :rotfl:

I think you can watch Martin's programme on the PC if you download it from the Channel 5 website. If you lived anywhere near me, I have a colour portable you could borrow. Come to think of it, if you lived that close then you'd be as well just coming here to watch the programme and we could call it frugal socialising & entertainment! :rotfl:

My Most Wanted List (updated)

[strike]Winter woolies[/strike] - £7.50 (2 x cardigans)
Carpet sweeper
Banister brush
Sweeping brush
Dehumidifier
Clothes airer
[strike]Wire cake rack[/strike] - £1
Large rug for the living room
Electric blanket
[strike]Electric steamer[/strike] - £10
Rechargable shaver
Aprons for baking

My little list of 'wants' has had 2 responses tonight, both offering aprons. I know I could make them but have nothing to make them with, so decided to risk including them in my 'wanted' ads in the hope of getting at least a couple to help cut down on the washing every time I bake Flour + me or dough + me or blender + me = :eek: Keeping fingers crossed that I can get a few more bargains and all of them will be included in my cash neutral mini challenge

Marru, I hope tomorrow is a better day than today for you.

Lynda, GOOD LUCK with the offer!

tori4

Hi there

As I have said before I am looking at starting this challenge in the new yr. I have looked at old threads etc. But how do I spend so little on Gas and Elec our current bill is £50 per mnth (I have already change supplier and capped prices etc ) and Iam sure this just covers our use.

Do we have to convert to a key card thing ?

Food and other expences I understand we just buy less or cheaper, but gas and elec seem to be a standard fee like water and C Tax. I must be missing something I think.

Hope you can help

Tori

whitewing

I got nobbled in Tesco yesterday by the eon energy salesman. I have signed up for a capped until 2010 dual fuel deal with a free energy monitor. And I have a 14 day cooling off period so I need to now look carefully at it.

Trouble is I know I am paying a lot at the moment as I am doing 'catch up' from last winter when we moved in and monthly payments were set too low. But it was a new customer deal and fixed (not sure until when but I guess around now as we've been in the house a year).

Now I know I'm being really, really thick, but I've never paid much attention to anything before provided I can afford the overall amount. How do I (easily)compare these to see which supplier I'm best off with. I'm lacking motivation as my throat is still sore and my head is aching and this is a grown up thing to do, lol.