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

thriftylass

nykmedia wrote: »

PPS: I repaired the clothes pulley with new rope and makeshift poles but need to buy new ones, as the wood I've used is slightly too short and I'm scared the whole lot falls on my head, as it's hanging above the kitchen sink. :rolleyes: Can anyone remember the handy 'old-style' website that sold stuff like that? It's the site that sells carbolic soap.

Not sure how far you are from Dundee, but there is an old fashioned hard ware store that still sells clothes pulley replacement bits. There might be one near you too. I bought my rope there, the places I've seen on the internet where all really expensive.

Or try here But I think they only sell whole pulleys. That might be the website you meant.

P.S. just noticed I'm too late with the advice

Marru

Good evening everybody,

As it is Tuesday this is yet again one of my mucky, filthy, stinky days. I have had a bath so situation is in control. Also Tuesday is my day off from all work so I am chilling out with Celebrity and after that bed calls as there will be lots to catch up tomorrow.

I got the babysitter for Thursday so I will be off for the skittles night. Very exciting and should be very frugal as well.

I have also been naughty and went to chippy as I was so hungry despite having plenty of nice food at home. But it will stretch for tomorrow and I promised myself that if I get food from chippy I need to take packed lunches to college for the rest of the week. That should claw back this slip up.

Sophiesmum recently asked question about simplifying life. She found that stock piling has been helping her. The best thing that helps me is to throw stuff in the SL every Sunday and then use that as the base for all the meals for the week. It is such a relief to know that I can very quickly get food during the week with minimal cooking. It would be interesting to find out about the rest of you what would be the one single thing helping to simplify life.

Logging off for the day. Night night everybody.

Marru

Brighton_belle

wow, so that's a very rare doggy then CW.
Marru - thanks for reminding us about sm's question. I think what helps me simplify life is good storage. If everything has a home then it's easy to keep organised and clutter leaves me feeling weighed down. It seems to be an endless battle, but I think we are slowly winning. We have a bedsitting room that is about 11ft x 16ft(into alcoves): we make up our bed everynight. We have a single room that's 9ft x 11ft that has our wardrobe and various shelving units in every spare bit if wall space and a small desk for OH in it and a small attic (but I had a massive access opening made). We share an open plan 9ft x 11 ft area with our 2 lodgers that is where we all dry clothes and has a dining table/comfy chair and shelves in the chimney breast alcove: I think I can create more shelving space in the 2nd alcove. Then we have a gally kitchen & a bathroom.
The other simplifying thing for me is meal planning - have a 2 week rolling programme and it takes alot of the thinking effort out for me and means we generally eat well and with variety.
Thanks for the crossed fingers Nyk. I'll let you know about the discounts if he gets it! (Now why can't h apply for a job with B&Q:D )

thriftylass

To answer that question too. The one thing (well two really) that simplified my life is/are meal plans and getting the food ordered online. I make a rough 1st week meal plan on which I base my two-weekly online shop (main stuff, might still need to get the odd fresh veg/fruit/milk top up). Online I can control my spending more, no impulse buys, I can see special offers better and I can use money off vouchers found online, so I always get at least the delivery charge back. Although I have to admit I loose out on reductions that is outweight by the other benefits. And the second week I strech out what we have left or what I batch cooked in the first week. That definitely brought our food bill down, I'm more creative with the dishes and we have less emergency take aways because I don't always have to cook from scatch, so don't have the excuse of not having time or can't be bothered. Plus since joining here I haven't bought work lunches at work because I prepare them in the first week or take left overs that are too small for two (I still get sth at work as a treat, but that happens once a month at most).

purplevamp

Evening ladies! I'm sitting here with my 3rd cold of the year, after just getting over one about 6 weeks ago. I have actually managed to sort out some of my front room and it looks so much better for a having a tidy-up. I just need to tackle the corner where the Christmas tree will go, but that's for another day.

Well I have to say this site is a bad influence on me . I've just ordered some cello cones for snowman soup and some clear cello bags for individual gingerbread men for 60 (yes, 60) children - 2 classes :eek: . I haven't made that many since the late 90's for my oldest sons class and that was only 30.

CW - hope you are feeling a little better, your dog is gorgeous, he looks very fit and well.

BB - good luck for your DH and the interview.

Janey51

CW I am so so sorry to hear of the death of your husband. Please add my hugs and thoughts to everyone else's on this forum.
I know how much the wonderful people who post on here did for me when my own DH died just a short time ago.
At the moment you are probably totally shell shocked and you will have so much to think about.
But someone will always be here to share your grief with.

Take care and don't stop coming back.

Janey51

nykmedia wrote: »

Hi CW - yes, I am fed-up flitting backwards and forwards between 2 houses but have resorted to doing an entire wash of all sorts together at 30 degrees and hoping for the best. I don't think DS has sporred the pink streak on his white top yet. :eek: Maybe I could promise him a new dog from the SPCA shelter and he'll overlook my little, accidental, faux pas? :rotfl:

Oh memories, memories.
Both my sons are colour blind. I inadvertantly put a red sock in with a white jumper which came out of the wash a delicate shade of pink. DS couldn't see what colour it was so I sent him to school in it

whitewing

My DS is colourblind too. His pictures from school always have purple skies. He's also red/green colour blind, which apparently would make it easier for him to spot a camouflaged soldier hiding in a bush.

DS tried out his new electric blanket last night. He is thrilled with it. I went in this morning to get him up and snuck in myself. He had to come on three times before I could drag myself out of it. Definitely a great buy.

Yes, I think my £20 SAD light is helping. I have moved it to the bedroom and have it on for half an hour before I get out of bed. I feel much better and more into a proper routine. Anyway, for £20 even if it only has a pyschosomatic effect I still think it's worth it.

My improving mood could also however be due to taking high levels of Vitamin C. I have suffered dreadfully with heavy, long periods (which I am sure are partly due to my weight, although they've always been awful even when I was within normal weight range). I heard that taking high levels of vit C regularly helps, and it certainly has reduced the amount and length of my period. Cost of tablets is mitigated by saving on sanitary products. Now, I have not sought medical advice on this myself (MIL was told by a doctor friend of hers) and I couldn't find too much online about this, so am not recommending it without you looking into it yourselves in great detail. I have lost a little bit of weight so the effects may have come from the weight loss.

Right, I'm off to check online banking.

DH has finally gotten around to making his list of clothes that he needs (he's looking scruffy round the edges lately). So we have bought his work trousers that work will refund for him today, hopefully.

So today's tip from me for a simple life is 'lists'. Categorise your spending and then make lists and stick to them. Having listed clothes DH requires (x number of trousers, x poloneck jumpers, x button up smart shirts etc), we've been able to prioritise and assign some to people to get him for Xmas.

redglass_2

CW, I wasn't around yesterday and have just found your posts. I'm so sorry and will be holding you in my thoughts. What a beautiful photo you posted; I hope the dog helps to cheer you a little as he certainly warmed my heart.

Whitewing, you are probably spot on with the vitamin C. Italian peasant women used to eat lots of oranges as a cure for heavy periods. It's more effective if you also eat plenty of the pith from the fruit as this strengthens the little blood vessels in the womb.

Edited to add: to simplify life, don't be tempted to cram in so much that you are skimping on sleep. It only makes everything twice as difficult and complicated because you're so tired. Get the sleep!

Skint_Lynne

I got the sleep last nite, I didn't set my alarm and woke up at 10 o'clock.:eek:
That's unhear of, but I must have needed it. Now am going to tackle my paperwork.

Speak later,