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

Marru

Hello all,

Talking about postmen bringing joy and happiness. As I didn't go to college today I came straight home after walking the dog and as I was just getting in a posman in his van arrived to bring me a parcel. Talking about perfect timings. My Fairy Godmother had sent me a lovely, lovely gift. I didn't know I squeek but I did squeek from delight when opening it. In the parcel there was: stuff for candle lit bath, foot treatment, PJs, fleece blanket, DVD and chocolate!!! Bliss. (And also something for DD to occupy herself) So next Tuesday when I am all mucky and tired I shall treat myself with all this lovely stuff. Dear Fairy Godmother, I will send you an email later today to thank properly!!! :smileyhea

I have now managed to put together a new todo list. It has 37 items on it :eek: but as they are prioritised if I feel I need a nap then I have promised myself to drop everything and have a sleep.

So off I go now to tackle my list. I hope sun is shining where you are!

Marru

whitewing

We had our Will Aid meeting with the solicitor today, which went very well ie that they were really professional and lovely I took along some typed notes where we thought we'd thought things through. It's surprising what you don't think of though. We'll await our first draft.

cw and Janey, hope I haven't increased your pain with these comments. Big hugs to you guys.

nyk, I don't think I ever wished you good fortune in your new home, so 'good fortune and lots of love and happiness in your new home'. When reading the posts, I tend to nod along in agreement with most of them and don't always put my comments down.

I have a massive To Do list (in my head; too scared to write it). There never seems to be enough time, but I keep reminding myself that lots of things from a number of years are coming together, before we are decluttered/simplified enough to move forward on an organised basis.

Had to laugh at a quote I saw yesterday, which summed me up exactly: I am only organised because I'm too lazy not to be, or something.

andromache_2

Thanks very much for the heads-up, cheryl; just got an e-mail from my mum asking what on earth the special delivery letter was for and whether she should forward it :rotfl:

Nearly the weekend I'm seeing OH after a 3-week gap so I'm happy

((hugs)) to anyone who needs them.

cw18

whitewing wrote: »

cw and Janey, hope I haven't increased your pain with these comments. Big hugs to you guys.

Not a problem to me at all -- I wish more people made them.

My DH didn't see the need, but I made it qute clear I was having one to protect the kids (only my youngest is his, and as he was born before our marriage and we never applied to add the date of wedding to his birth certificate even he doesn't have an automatic right to DH's estate). After not speaking to me for 48 hours (guess he thought I didn't trust him to not then leave the kids penniless) he had a moan at a bloke at his favoured watering hole -- and his mate told him exactly what he thought of DH's treatment of me over the issue. A very sheepish DH then came home and asked me to make a joint appt for the making of wills.

whitewing

cw18 wrote: »

Not a problem to me at all -- I wish more people made them.

My DH didn't see the need, but I made it qute clear I was having one to protect the kids (only my youngest is his, and as he was born before our marriage and we never applied to add the date of wedding to his birth certificate even he doesn't have an automatic right to DH's estate). After not speaking to me for 48 hours (guess he thought I didn't trust him to not then leave the kids penniless) he had a moan at a bloke at his favoured watering hole -- and his mate told him exactly what he thought of DH's treatment of me over the issue. A very sheepish DH then came home and asked me to make a joint appt for the making of wills.

My DS is not DH's, although DH has parental responsibility. I was told by the solicitor that most husbands and wives leave everything to each other, and then trust that the other makes provision for the children upon their death. We decided to do that in the end as we don't really have wordly goods at the moment. But I guess we may have to have another discussion if we ever pay off our mortgage or do anything that we are striving towards. I think it's a whole new concept for me as current budgeting is about surviving to make ends meet and try to make sure DS gets a good education and is able to support himself in adult life.

Friends of mine (in their sixties) were saying that they weren't sure what they were going to do with their house etc as their children wouldn't need the money, both having flourishing careers. I'm sure they wouldn't say no anyway but my goodness - can't imagine having that kind of dilemma.

taka

cw18 wrote: »

For those of you who applied for an on-line quote from AXA Healthcare (as per Nyk's heads-up on 22nd Oct), be prepared to have to sign for some mail !!

Postman was here 10-15 mins ago with my £10 M&S Voucher -- they've shelled out for Special Delivery :eek:

Oooooooh! Thank-you! So thats what my mystery special delivery letter I need to go collect is I was going to leave it till Sat to pick it up but there is a 20% off day today only in M&S and there is a store open late today (till 11-30pm :eek: ) a few stops further on the bus from the sorting office! I think I'll go have a look after work...

Thats cheered me up a bit... I've just worked out that I'm the only one in my group at work who is not going to a conference in Jan. I thought it was only the more senior bods going but no... just not me. I feel like I have a sign on my forehead saying "ignore me" or "doormat". Gahhhhhhhhh!

Have a nice holiday thrifty!

Hi SF :hello: Glad you had a nice time!

the_cat

cha97michelle wrote: »

I am purchasing some things now deliberately that are for use next year. one example is i just purchased a 12 month supply of flea stuff for my moggies. should i take that from next years budget seems though i am not actually playing at the moment? I'm thinking yes, or otherwise i am cheating before i start.

I'm doing this too and in the spirit of keeping things simple I am not going to deduct from next year's total. My thinking is that throughout next year I also want to take advantage of special offers for 2010 if I see them and will count the spend on them in the challenge. It should therefore even itself out. It might not be what everyone thinks but I don't want to focus so much on the 'challenge' that I avoid spending on stuff which I know will save me money overall.

.........plus I'm too lazy to mess about with the figures:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Have had a good couple of days. Picked up lots of really good whoopsies yesterday including enough meat/fish for about a fortnight (for £6.50:D )and today have made cakes which will last until next week.
Also picked up my M&S voucher. Really pleased that a few people managed to bag one.

Frugaldom

Good afternoon, hugs to all who need them, welcome backs to those who have been awat and congratulations to all who got their free vouchers - mine arrived today along with another two free energysaver lightbulbs, courtesy of Carboncreditz. :j

We've almost finished emptying old house and filling new house, now in the process of changing contact details everywhere - again! :rolleyes: Still, at least this may be the last time in a while as even winning the £million on the premium bonds wouldn't tempt me into another housemove in the foreseeable future!

There's a howling gale here at the moment, I really don't hold out much hope for a plastic greenhouse lasting a winter here, but the house seems wind and water tight and is very cosy. The log fire is a great benefit, especially whilst it's burning free fuel. It isn't benefitting the budget, though, as I keep grabbing special offers and BOGOFs whenever I get near the Co-op!! :eek: I've come back this afternoon with 4 blocks of cheese, 6 pints of milk and 2 tubs of buttery spread, despite having several tubs of spread already in the freezer! :rolleyes: I MUST STOP SPENDING!! In my defence, the groceries should have come to £14.45 but they totalled only £8.42, which I'll now go and add into my escalating grocery total.

Umm... I may also have found a puppy! Not sure yet, but was chatting to one of my old neighbours and they were telling me about someone's lurcher !!!!! that 'got caught' by another neighbour's labrador and they now have 6 puppies. They have found homes for the first 4, but I'm waiting to hear if they need a good home for any of the others. Maybe I'll get a baby lurchador for Christmas, even although I'd have liked a labradoodle or a Jack Shihtz. OK, the last one is only because I love the name and almost fell about laughing when I heard they were being bred intentionally. (Jack Russell Terrier x Shih Tzu. :rotfl:

Catch up with you all soon, off to update signature again.

lingojingo

the_cat wrote: »

OOH - so that's what the card from the Post Office was for yesterday. Will go and collect it later then!

OOh, I got one of those yesterday, wondered what it was
Having it sent to village post office tomorrow as i can't get to the sorting office during the incredibly short opening hours - will cost 50p, but not bad to get £10

Marru

OOOOHHH, a Lurchador!!!! That would be definitely my favourite breed!!! Take it Nyk please and let us see some pics!!!!