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

lyndasharp

I'm trying to figure out a start date - it depends on how much holiday I've got left in my current job, as National Trust would like me to start a bit earlier than my months notice. Might have to take some days as holiday so I can finish sooner, or do a few days at NT in December, but not officially leave my current job until the new year.

the_cat

:T :T :T :T fantastic news lyndasharp - well done:T :T :T :T
In the current gloom it's lovely to hear some good news!

Today will be spent on frugal cleaning and reorganising the kitchen cupboards to make more room for my stockpile. I have written a big 'stock wish list' so will take it with me and tick stuff off. I will get enough things to make up to £40 on my weekly visits to MrS and MrM (collecting/spending vouchers in each shop). If I am lucky I will have a big enough stock of things for the first 3-6 months of next year at least of certain things and just have to buy fresh stuff which will help the challenge.

Dithered a bit about spending so much in advance but 10% saving minimum off shopping is more than I could get by paying that money into my mortgage account:beer:

Cat

redglass_2

Go, Lynda! :dance:
Taka, I would give it a try - they can surely tell if the mop hasn't been used? You could phone up in advance and explain about the shredded receipt, that might mean a bit less frazzle at the customer service desk (if they pass on the info, that is). I think if you pay by card they have a record of your purchases, anyway, or it might be recorded on your Tesco loyalty card.

Off soon to buy tiles for the mould-infested grotto (with the emphasis on 'grot') which is shortly to be transformed into a presentable bathroom. Alas, all the ones I really like cost about 10 times more than I can afford, so it's 'what's on offer at B&Q?' rather than the Italian marble that my fine breeding naturally demands..:cool: Still, anything has to be better than what's in there right now! :eek: :rotfl:

JAMIEDODGER

well done lynda on the job!!!:)

Marru - they are so cute, i would love one but dont think the cats would like it much!

spending for november is going well, although i seem to have nearly spent all of my grocery challenge money this month:D, i have spent less in other catagories. Im not stockpiling yet but will be once january comes and im back in this challenge properly:):T

this month i have at long last sorted out my contents insurance so thats £42 already coming in the money neutral 2009 challenge :jas will be paying out from quidco in january. piggy points have been slow this year so will be studying pigsback thread trying to find ways to increase points and get my voucher. I dont think I will get enough points to collect voucher 2008 though, so will probably be 2009.:rolleyes:

Like a few others mentioned on here, i have stopped ebaying personal stuff. I am saving anything to sell in my shed for a spree of car boots in the summer months:) Im hoping money from car boots will enable me to do xmas 2009 money neutral:D

Only just over a month and I will be joining you guys properly!!!:rotfl:

Janey51

Sorry Frugal Friends for neglecting you all
I am still popping in and out but seem very lacking in energy and motivation at the moment.
I think I am getting too worried about Christmas without DH and even though I have made plans, part of me wants to be here in case he decides to come back :rolleyes:
I know I'm being silly but I really do believe he will be trying to contact me and I want to be here even though he will be quite capable of speaking to me wherever I am in the world when he is ready.

I bet you all think I'm going nuts now but grief is a strange creature. I find it lies quietly in a corner for a while and then jumps out and gets you by the throat when you are not expecting it :sad:

I have spent almost nothing over the past week which is good :T But I am off to Manchester tomorrow and I am going to buy myself some new clothes as I really am starting to look a little frayed around the edges

I do apologise for not commenting on people's posts and I hope everyone is doing OK although hugs to Marru.

cw18

Congrats on the job Lynda :T

Ooo Janey..... I can't believe you're going to come slumming it in my neck of the woods

bails

Oh Janey :grouphug: I certainly don't think you're going nuts and DH will be able to visit you wherever you are. I'm sure he'd much rather you were surrounded by those you love and not sitting alone in your big house xxx I am so sorry for the loss you feel, it breaks my heart xxx

the_cat

(((((hugs Janey)))))))

I am lucky enough not to really know what it feels like to lose someone so close. I can only imagine how hard it must be, especially at family times such as Christmas.:(

Whenever your DH decides to, he will be coming for YOU, not a place. He will choose the right moment and be with you WHEREVER you are. He certainly wouldn't want to be looking down on you unhappy and alone at Christmas.
Having said all that, only you can truly decide what feels right for you. If that means changing your plans, then go ahead. Just take some time in making your decision.

:grouphug:

sophiesmum_2

Hi frunchkins,

Lynda - congratulations on the job:j :j :j - Just been reading on another thread and someone had their ice save money credited to their linked bank today, wondered if you had heard anything about yours.? You are on a roll at the moment with the good news:j .

Marru and Janey - (((hugs :heartpuls :heartpuls )))

Have read everyone's posts and can't remember now what everyone said:o
No posts from me yesterday as I was suffering from a hangover after being led astray by my oldies on Saturday night's party:o , thank goodness I feel normal again today;)

Nyk - really envious of your new garden areas:j :j sounds like this house is going to be very good for your frugal lifestyle.

thriftylass

Lynda, congratulations on the job :j

Janey, I don't think you're nuts either, my granny and two close friends we lost in the last two years still spend christmas with us where ever we are. If you feel like it spend christmas with loved ones and he'll find you.

I had a rather frugal evening already. Since I'll be on holiday for a week soon I used up all the stuff we had left in the fridge. I made potato, leek and bacon soup for the freezer, flapjacks (covered in milk chocolate that i wrongly bought, always use dark for baking) and roast chicken pieces for my dinner are in the oven, mmhhhhhh. And I made pastry filling for pastries to take with me to the airport.