Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

sophiesmum_2

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

Hi,

I went to costco tonight with my sisters. It's one of their birthdays on Saturday (21st) so the other one wanted to order a cake. I had a look around at the stuff you can buy in bulk, ie, toilet rolls, washing powder, softner etc. I remembered buying a tub of washing powder from there years ago and it lasted me a year. They have a similar one there just now, just over a tenner and you should get around 400 washes from it, not bad at all!!

The toilet rolls work out around 32p each and am not sure about the kitchen rolls, I would need to buy 48 toilet rolls though, I'd just store them in my back cupboard or throw some of them up into the loft.

I will go back and take the calculator and pen/paper with me next time to make sure it is worthwhile. Do any of you buy stuff in bulk?

I'll also really need to get my presents sorted out and see what I still need to get for Christmas.

I've started checking my countdown list off though, so am pleased about that.

Hi SL,
If you are going to get the toilet rolls and kitchen rolls from costco wait for on of their offers. Usually two or three times a year they have them on BOGOF or buy t rolls and get k rolls free etc. The offers are usually in the passports they send through post to members, I think there is one due soon on paper goods.
Best buys there for me - paper goods, bacon, birthday cakes, rice, herbs, spices, tea bags, meat, pure Oj when it's on offer, and they do some lovely gifts this time of year. I have a trade card so can go any time and always go in morning as that is when you get plied with free coffee and muffins:D


Couldn't relax tonight as I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with going back to work, my head is still full of cotton wool, and I don't like not being in control:o Anyway decided to destress by doing some stuff in kitchen - always works for me:p Used my foraged blackberries and gifted apples to make 12lbs of blackberry and apple jam, and two blackberry and apple pies. Feeling less stressed now but OH thinks I m barking jam making and baking at 1 am.:D

bobbie78

Hi,

Would it be ok if I sneak in to your challenge? I seem to have gone back to my evil starbucks / smoking / sandwich shop lunching ways etc as an excuse for working so much lately but all I'm doing is spending all the extra I'm making on all this over time on crutches to keep me at work. :rolleyes:

So I think if I have this challenge to focus on maybe that will stop me thinking oh well with the overtime I deserve an extra coffee/beer/holiday.... and focus again on getting my debts/house paid for while I can.

So if it is 76.50 a week and monday is week 40 of this year so just 12 weeks till next year - gosh I didn't realise it was that quick - would mean I get £918 for the rest of the year. :eek: Wow that doesn't sound much and that isn't even thinking about Christmas pressys and things, but that is going to have to count as a non-essential cheat spend for this I think and then next year do the whole challenge properly if I can.

So, must stop saying so, So if you don't mind me playing along unoffically I think for now just to find my feet a bit with the basics of spending diaries etc again then hopefully next year I can really get a big chuck of the house paid for and try and stop it getting in to negative equitiy.

I do have one cheat though as I'm looking at getting a life membership at the national trust, as inspired in a way but the woman who lived on a pound a day. The money for that would have to come out of savings but would be used a lot for "free" entertainment for the next few years so not sure how I can count that and it be fair unless I put the yearly fee I wouldn't be paying into savings and that will also help show how quick the lifetime membership pays for itself - if it even does.

Oh one other question if the teacher who lived on a pound a day added in money she found in the street, does that mean I could subsides the money with things like tesco clubcard deals etc or is that not really living on 4k then?

Janey51

:eek:

nykmedia wrote: »

Ooh, I could have chickens and one of those giant rabbits if we moved out into the country! And no neighbours lighting smelly bonfires when my washing was hanging out and nobody cursing every second word from across the fence and no boy racers and cheaper rent and a log fire to heat the water and.. hmm... :think:

And power cuts and humungous spiders and moles and slugs and walk half a mile with the wheelie bin.
Not to mention...loads of visitors who eat a lot, petrol price doubling, no mobile reception :j Sheep in the garden, miles to the nearest shop, no snow ploughs, no mains gas, flies, sheep ticks, dead jackdaws in your chimney, mice coming in for the winter, rats, slightest breeze and telephone lines come down so no internet :eek:

Pretty good really :rotfl: :T

sophiesmum_2

Janey51 wrote: »

:eek:


And power cuts and humungous spiders and moles and slugs and walk half a mile with the wheelie bin.
Not to mention...loads of visitors who eat a lot, petrol price doubling, no mobile reception :j Sheep in the garden, miles to the nearest shop, no snow ploughs, no mains gas, flies, sheep ticks, dead jackdaws in your chimney, mice coming in for the winter, rats, slightest breeze and telephone lines come down so no internet :eek:

Pretty good really :rotfl: :T

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Sounds good to me apart from the rats bit:eek: :eek:

Morning Janey:D Any news about your mums placement yet??

Janey51

Hello Skint Lynne. I don't think I have said "Hi" yet but welcome to a great bunch of people.
Not everything I post is about moneysaving but it is always playing away in the back of my mind and this challenge has taught me a lot.
My DH died 3 months ago and it has made me realise how unimportant "stuff" is.
And my Mum is suffering from dementia and is going into care. But, sitting with her has taught me a lot as well.
All she wants me to do is hold her hand and be with her.
And, if you take away all the "stuff" we surround ourselves with..that's what life is all about really.

Friends, family and having people who care about how you are and want to be with you because you are "you" and not because you have "stuff".

whitewing

We spent yesterday putting our windfall apples and our blackberries in the freezer. sophiesmum, I am going to have to make pies rather than crumble now I have seen your picture. I hate making pastry but love eating it. I suppose I could make jam tarts too. Mmmmmm. won't be doing it today though.

Janey, your post made me laugh. Bet you get glorious sunsets though!

New challengees: having new people join throughout the year has been one of the things that has unexpectedly spurred me on with the challenge. This year has been a great learning experience for me, but next year I will be doing things differently. For example, this year I have learnt that for my family it is best to have a present budget per person and ask them what they want within budget. It saves me to do it this way than by trying to get stuff I think they'd like by bulk buying in the sales. Next year, I am also trying to have more money 'up front'. I will try to have the first quarter's expenses 'up front' and also somehow set aside stuff (eg Xmas funds) separately. Not sure how this will work, as I need to 'see' the money as transactions in my online statements. eg I have one savings acct now that has £30 for my aunt's bday present and £80 for DS' birthday. I can only remember what it's for if I see the £80 and £30 on the stmt.

Respecting other people's viewpoints: I agree that I also like the variety of opinions on this challenge within a very supportive environment. I have an unwritten rule that if I am waxing lyrical on a contentious subject, I try to keep it to 2 paragraphs max per post so I don't wind too many people up!

Hello everybody. I never ignore anyone's post (apart from the fact that I can't use my thanks button), but I can't always remember what I want to comment on. You are all inspirational on your daily journeys!

Janey51

sophiesmum oh deep joy.
Found out yesterday that Mum has got a place in the fantastic home I wanted her to go in. It's just been awarded a 5 Star Excellent rating following the latest inspection in August.
She will have to share initially but will have the first available single room that comes up.
I feel so lucky.
I know she will be really unhappy at first but at least she will never have to move again as the home look after their residents for the rest of their lives.

Thanks for asking.

Penny2myName

There is atleast 158 people on this challenge as well as a few lurkers, from all walks and generations of life. This means its bound to have a real stew pot of differing opinions, but the main thing is, its also a community within itself, offering not just financial hints and tips, but also lots of emotional support for one and all when needed. And that is what I so love about this thread.
I love hearing about every ones life, even though I dont post as often as others.
Looking forward to doing this challenge again next year, but need to work my budget out differently next year I think.

sophiesmum_2

Janey51 wrote: »

sophiesmum oh deep joy.
Found out yesterday that Mum has got a place in the fantastic home I wanted her to go in. It's just been awarded a 5 Star Excellent rating following the latest inspection in August.
She will have to share initially but will have the first available single room that comes up.
I feel so lucky.
I know she will be really unhappy at first but at least she will never have to move again as the home look after their residents for the rest of their lives.

Thanks for asking.

Great news Janey , I am so happy for you, and your mum:D
The quality of care in a person's remaining years can make so much difference to their lives, and also to the peace of mind of their loved ones. I'm so glad that you have been given a place somewhere where you know your mum will be happy.
Take care. X

whitewing

Janey, that's brilliant news about your mum. I don't know of anyone who didn't resist going into a home, but all have loved it once they have got used to the change. DH's grandfather started playing his mouth organ again, and joined a little group of musicians. He would have never had such a good social life if he'd stayed in his little flat.