Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

slowlyfading

sophiesmum, i hope today has gone well. thinking about you xx

Frugaldom

Best wishes to Sophiesmum and family, I hope the day goes well and I know everyone here is thinking about you.

Brighton belle, sorry for mixing you up again, I am REALLY easily confused, honest!

Taka, just keep thinking beyond the conference to what you'll be doing afterwards, that might help. Good luck!

Bails, hope you have a good day visiting college

Jamiedodger, well done on being (or sounding? :rotfl: ) so organised!

Redglass, I like the idea of parking a tractor outside the neighbour's house, sorry, I have a very wicked sense of humour. :cool:

Woody - I fear you may be watching only the shoes that are walking along that red carpet! Don't be tempted! Put down your credit card and step away from the screen, slowly.... now turn around, and walk away... :rotfl:

MrsHayes

Hi everyone hope you are all well. Sophiesmum - thinking of you and your family today.

I'm sorry for the miserable post but I'm feeling sad this morning as I think we are going to have to rehome our small dog. He has been snapping and growling at our big dog on occasions for some time and if we didn't separate them quickly enough this would decend into a fight. We have been trying to resolve it with training and research but it doesn't seem to have made a difference. They are fine when they are on their own together outside however when they come in the house it starts. We got small dog from a friend 6 months ago and he had previously been the only dog in the house and we think that maybe he hasn't adjusted to sharing us with big dog. I think he would be happier in a home where he is the only dog as he is a lovely little man really. I have been in tears all morning as I really do not want him to go but it is making both him and big dog miserable (and us) and I do not know how he will behave when there is a baby as well. I love him to bits and just feel like we have let him down. On top of that our electric payments have doubled to £57 a month so in the last few days we have to find an extra £45 a month for gas and electric and I don't know how we are going to xxx

Frugaldom

Hi MrsHayes, I think you are doing the right thing for everyone concerned by rehoming the little dog. It sounds like little dog expects to be top dog. Marru may have some helpful advice regarding pet behaviour problems, or your local vets may be helpful if it comes to rehoming, as they should know the best way of doing so to ensure the dog finds the right kind of owner and home.

On the electricity side of things, several of us are on the meter watch using charts and forums and the website at www.i-measure.org.uk so perhaps you could start to do likewise. It means working out exactly where you are using the electricity and how much is being used, but it soon becomes second nature and you can really keep control of your spending. Your monthly direct debit won't reflect exactly how much you use at the moment, only an average over previous months. Best to make sure all meter readings are up to date and pay exactly what is due rather than overpay, or worse - underpay and end up with a hefty bill to catch up! (That's what happened to us last year).

Just been reminded I need to add my electricity meter readings to i-measure, I'd forgotten until reading your post!

MrsHayes

Thanks nyk. I have started reading the meters every month and giving our readings to make sure we stay on track. I think the problem comes from where they put our payments down to £14 a month (which wasn't enough) and we built up a deficit which they are now trying to get back (hence doubling our payments) as according to our readings we are actually using around £26 a month (which was what we were paying) We are turning everything off at the sockets, only using energy saving light bulbs, only lights on in the room we are in etc so we are trying to be conscious of what we are using it has just hit us at a bad time to be honest but I will check that site out thanks.

I think we are doing the right thing regarding little dog I just feel so sad about it and that we have failed him. He is a well behaved dog in every other way however I think you are right in that he does want to be the boss and not have to share us with big dog (who is the most placid, friendly dog ever) I thought of Marru and that she might be able to give me some advice hopefully when she is online xxx

Skint_Lynne

Hiya,

I've been reading the original thread as you know and am interested in the monitoring of the gas and leccy. How far should you go with the switching off of things?

I have totally turned off the sky and TV downstairs as I hardly use it, I head upstairs when DH is away.

I looked at all plugs that were on and switched them all off. See if I have things plugged in and the switches are down but the appliances are not in use, will there still be electricity being used? I will need to get out of the habit of leaving my TV on standby, I am a nightmare at not remembering to switch it off at night.

What about the boiler where I operate my central heating from? I usually leave the hot water button on all the time - is this a no-no? Should I totally turn the boiler off if nothing is being used?

What's the web address again for the monitoring website, I would like to get into training for the new year!!

Thanks guys,
Speak later,

SL x

Brighton_belle

I can only echo what Nyk said about the wee dog MH - true love sometimes means doing the right thing even when it's hard:grouphug: .
Nyk, I've taken the plunge and just signed up on that website i measure. Waiting for conf email as I write.
In the middle of painting the kitchen chez bb - found an unopened tin of paint that has been in attic for at least 6 years - it's a buttermilk colour and at first I thought I'd use it as an undercoat to get rid of viralent green walls before over painting in a yet unbought top coat, but to my amazement it looks really nice and the kitchen is much cosier all ready. So will use rest for the top coat. How MSE is that!
And just been offered a large book case on freecycle:j .
Really having to work hard not to spend any more on food until 1st Oct. I've planned all out meals and we have enough in with a little imagination and resourcefulness. Normally I would have just gone out and bought more but apart from fruit, which I love we should be ok. It just feel so alien to not spend. But this is my mini challenge: i have 38p left of this months grocery budget and I WILL NOT GO OVER.
I've been planning Oct's budget and it's gonna be tight as I'll only be paid for 3 weeks instead of 4 at the end of this month.
Taka - hope you are coping ok at the conference & are getting through it without threat of PA.

Janey51

Hi everyone. I am back from the Eastern Bloc and enjoying the autumn sunshine :j

I have come home to a lot of personal problems to sort out so I will be catching up with things as and when I can.

I enjoyed my break but it was very difficult not having DH with me and I had a lot of mental issues to deal with
I am seriously considering cancelling my holiday to NZ as it is so hard to be away from the security of my own home.

On a frugal note :T It was so cheap where I was staying.
Petrol is 90p/L.
Four people could have home-made soup, fresh bread and drinks for about £3.50 for all of us :eek:
A Chinese meal for 7...2 courses each plus drinks was £24 :T
And no tips expected...but we did

Fresh rolls in the supermarket were 9p.
The people were so kind and generous.

It would be a lovely place to visit again when it is hot and not 8C and raining :rotfl:

bails

Welcome back Janey! Sorry your hol was hard. Perhaps hold off cancelling NZ yet, it's still very early days in your grieving and you may feel differently about going in time. Look after yourself and just pop in when you feel up to it xx
Mrs Hayes, sorry about the dogs, it's so hard when an animal has been used to being the only pet. As BB said, sometimes the most loving thing you can do is the hardest. It's in no way your fault and you certainly aren't letting the dog down by finding it a home where it can be really happy, as well as bringing love to someone else.

whitewing

Hello all,

Got some windfall apples today so am just about to brave the manky bits and prepare them for the freezer. Had lunch at a friend's which also meant just one 'school run' trip rather than two. And DH got given some smart white shirts that my friend's husband has barely worn and doesn't need.

Some other things not going so well. However, have at least built up my emergency savings/£1K for start of next year's challenge so it's not so bad. Budgeting better does make stuff so much more manageable.

Janey, have a hug. Nice to have you back. I agree with bails about not cancelling NZ just yet. I simply can't imagine what it must be like for you to have all these 'first times without Tom'. I'm sure he's still there with you somehow.

Sophiesmum, hope all went well for Andrew.