Live on £4000 for a year - part 4 (Oct - Dec 2008)

cw18

I haven't had the email for weeks !!! It was arriving fine, but now nothing......

No idea what I've done to upset Martin either

Frugaldom

Just out of interest, would anyone here take the 10% pay cut if an employer sent a memo to ask? (A current 'Martin's Blog' debate.) I'm a bit bamboozled as to why anyone would be happy with that when the 'boss' (or line managers or whatever) didn't have the decency to discuss it on a personal basis. Or is it just me being naive about how some businesses really work these days? I'd have made a paper plane out the memo, I think. :rotfl:

OK, I'm off to get a hot drink, catch you all tomorrow if I don't go into hibernation through the night.

whitewing

A memo would give all employees the same info at the same time in theory. I imagine in reality, everyone would be told and given the memo. It's hard facts in writing at a time when it would be very difficult to remember exactly what was said.

In the company I used to work for, most staff seemed to have big debts compared to their salary, so I am guessing they would take the cut rather than be out of a job.

Also, it's quite likely that some companies would tweak the wording so people didn't realise the full extent of the cut in reality.

cw18

not without a Union meeting/briefing or a briefing memo from them. As they negotiate our pay rises, the management would have to have good justification for the Union to recommend an acceptance of it

sophiesmum_2

Well I didn't manage a no spend day today as I popped to town after work and bought a fleecy xmas cushion cover from the £1 shop, then I had a frugal brainwave and went back for another. Matched up the colours in primark with one of their £2 fleeces and did some frugal altering. few hours later and I now have a lovely fleecy xmas cushion (found spare cushion to stuff it with) and an appliqued xmas fleecy blanket. For the grand total of £4, will be basis for xmas eve hamper for a certain little monkey;) .
£1 cushion cover;
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/sophiesmum_photos/SP_A0151-1.jpg
zig zag stitch to applique(on sewing machine)
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/sophiesmum_photos/SP_A0153.jpg
cushion and throw:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/sophiesmum_photos/SP_A0152.jpg

I am having lots of fun with these frugal pressies:D

whitewing

Sophiesmum,

Please would you come and live with me for a month? Preferably before next year's challenge starts. I need super-training.

cw18

never mind coming and training me..... can I just give you a list of who I need pressies for (with ages and likes/dislikes) along with a small amount of cash -- and you can just bob them each something stunning in the post as each birthday/christmas approaches

sophiesmum_2

whitewing wrote: »

Sophiesmum,

Please would you come and live with me for a month? Preferably before next year's challenge starts. I need super-training.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
I think it must be in my genes whitewing, i come from a long line of frugal, creative women.Actually I am a bit of a let down to them as for some reason I never inherited the knitting/crocheting gene, but I can do most other stuff:p Just the men in our family who are useless:rotfl:
When I look at stuff in shops/catalogues etc I always think - how could I make that? and if I see something cheap I immediately think what I could make with it?

sophiesmum_2

cw18 wrote: »

never mind coming and training me..... can I just give you a list of who I need pressies for (with ages and likes/dislikes) along with a small amount of cash -- and you can just bob them each something stunning in the post as each birthday/christmas approaches

It really isn't hard, just takes a bit of planning. Once I got the pressies for last xmas out the way I decided what themes I was doing for everyone for this year - which meant when the sales were on i could buy stuff specifically aimed at different people on my list. Sometimes you see daft bits of things in sales that would be useless on their own but if you have a theme they may fit in well with what you are doing.
It helps to uderstand the retail seasons too-After xmas sales are good for gift sets, cards and paper and chocs - if you want to give chocs at Valentines day or Easter;) At the end of summer you can always get the gardening stuff and beach towels, suncream, garden toys , barbeque and picnic stuff reduced - which is great if you want to do an xmas hamper with a gardening theme or maybe a straw bag filled with beach towels, novel,sun cream etc for someone who always goes away abroad.
I am already planning my next xmas plan of attack:rotfl:

andromache_2

Hi everyone!

It's been a busy few days here - I'd forgotten quite how much work uni is Am having major career dilemmas as well; should be speaking to a careers advisor soon so hopefully I will get some idea of what I want to do!

The cushion and throw are lovely, sophiesmum My mum is amazing at sewing - she made my school uniform and dresses and fancy dress outfits when I was little, and she made all the curtains in our house - and I wish I'd insisted on her teaching me as I wish I could do that kind of thing. I'm not bad at embroidery and stuff though. Maybe I'll get her to do a few sessions on the sewing machine with me as some mother-daughter bonding time over christmas :cool:

Is the national express £5 off for the national express coach or the train, nykmedia? Either way I'm pretty sure I could use it, if it covers tickets to and from Durham as well as Scotland... Would obviously pay postage if it's a postable thing. It's very nice of you to offer

Ohh and congrats on the opportunity to go abroad, bails, very exciting! When I read your post about getting fed up with your DLA form and wanting chocolate this morning I was... getting fed up with my essay and eating chocolate...

Speaking of which, good luck with your motivation for losing weight, whitewing. don't feel 'disgusted' at yourself though! it's a bit of a strong reaction to just being a bit overweight! I find when I get disgusted with myself over being unhealthy and fat I end up just eating comfort food to make myself feel better so it's not constructive either. just focus on eating healthily to improve your health and the amount of energy you have. good luck with it

A xxx