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

lyndasharp

My landlady managed to get someone to fix the boiler last night, so hot water this morning :beer: A really nice guy who only charged £40 for an hours work! He couldn't find a leak, though he did unblock one of the pipes, so if that wasn't the reason for the boiler being soaking wet he'll have to come out and take another look.

Frugaldom

Good morning,

Glad you all enjoyed your fireworks parties and good news or fingers crossed on boiler repair Lynda. Bails, the land up here is getting cheaper by the week for cob house building but it rains a lot, so might eventually wash away the house.

I just realised that we are now within the final 8 weeks of the challenge! :eek: If we are working it to the average weekly budget in advance, then we should have about £612 left to see us through until 2009, but that just doesn't sound like very much money these days! Until now, I hadn't even thought of breaking that down into each category! Now I have a new task for today, as I need to find out exactly how it is REALLY going.

Last night I baked an apple sponge in my new mini oven. It worked a treat but also produced some amount of heat whilst it was on - these are not insulated, so I reckon I could keep a pot of tea very warm on top whilst roasting a chicken or baking a loaf! But overall, I like my 'new toy'. It'll work just fine in combination with the 2-ring hot plate, microwave, slow cooker and steamer until such times as we get around to obtaining a cooker for the new house. (Mini oven/grill was a gift from a friend who rescued it.)

Off to work out my actual week to week progress and then I'll report back.

taka

Hello all

Sorry I've been rather silent for the last few days - I've been super busy at work so barely time to catch up let alone post anything!

((((hugs)))) to anyone who needs them! :grouphug: There seems to have been all sorts of ups and downs going on. Sorry for not replying individually - If I do that then I'll never get the 1001 things I need to do today done either :doh:

Exciting news... I've finally been able to make a faster payment thingy for the first time :j How cool it that - logged out of bank account 1 after sending it, logged into account 2 and it was showing in available balance already :j

PS anyone else with an A+L account - How confusing are their balances? I moved money from my current ac to my saving ac as well as the above money this morning. In my current ac my balance was one amount, my available balance something else and the balance showing in the transactions list bit was something else again :eek: I'm glad I have a tally elsewhere or it'd get very confusing

PPS Has anyone "gone digital" today with the 1st digital TV switchover?

redglass_2

taka wrote: »

anyone else with an A+L account - How confusing are their balances? I moved money from my current ac to my saving ac as well as the above money this morning. In my current ac my balance was one amount, my available balance something else and the balance showing in the transactions list bit was something else again :eek: I'm glad I have a tally elsewhere or it'd get very confusing /quote]

Hi Taka, the answer to your question is 'about as confusing as major brain surgery'. They are maddening. Usually I check if any direct debits are about to go out and then just take the lowest 'balance' as the right one, to play it safe.... Well, folks, I'm off to apply for a new balance transfer card, wish me luck...

(Edited to say: Victory...! :j)

Penny2myName

You dont HAVE to have the drawers in a drawer freezer do you? Just been cleaning mine out (had it defrosting whilst on holiday) and found a chicken fillet under one of the drawers. But was thinking whilst cleaning it, I have much more room, without the drawers in it, so would be able to store more stuff. Just keep the bottom drawer for the bags of veg etc.

Basic question, Can I get away with not having the drawers??

Skint_Lynne

I don't see why the drawers are essential Penny. Are there shelves between the drawers to balance stuff onto?

As long as the door is closed I think that is good enough.

SL x

Penny2myName

Yeap there is shelves well sort of shelves, look like mini radiators but give out horridly cold temperatures;)

redglass_2

I think the drawers are just for convenience, so if they don't suit you, you can take them out.

Ooh, just saw your last post. The mini radiators might have coolant gas in them. It is very dangerous to breathe that stuff, so if taking the drawers out exposes the 'radiators' to damage maybe it's not such a good idea.

Editing again! (This is getting silly.) Or do you mean just detachable shelf bits?

Penny2myName

Thanks redglass, jsut had a closer look, and they have two inch wide plastic prongs over them, but rest is the radiator look. Looks Like I had best stick with the baskets for now.

thriftylass

Penny2myName wrote: »

Thanks redglass, jsut had a closer look, and they have two inch wide plastic prongs over them, but rest is the radiator look. Looks Like I had best stick with the baskets for now.

If you could get hold of perspex (or similar plastic sheets) and cut it to size and use as shelves. I think if you really need the space you could use them to protect the cooling metal grills from damage.