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

whitewing

nykmedia wrote: »

Whitewing - I'm in training to become an old eccentric who is hooked on frugality, so I'm not expecting to have a fortune stashed in the bank for my kids to inherit. I have a savings policy with life assurance attached that's ear-tagged as a funeral plan and, if I ever have enough extra money, I would sooner share it with my children now, hoping I won't be leaving them in debt. It's then up to them if they choose to spend it wisely. The generations don't automatically follow a set pattern and parents can outlive their children, for whatever reason. After the sudden death of my 29 y-o landlord a fortnight ago, it kind of puts other things into perspective. I would hate to think of my parents scrimping, scraping and going without just so I had something to inherit. As long as they don't leave me a pile of debt then I won't miss what I never had. (This, I tell them often )
quote]

Yes, this is kind of along the lines that I am thinking...but I can't decide what amount etc I would need to have in order to be comfortable in passing some on. I guess I just don't feel at all secure at the moment.

And I would be worried about doing DS a disservice by giving him money. I wonder if he'd be better to learn to work for it himself.

sophiesmum_2

SL Even I don't keep lolly sticks in store (yet) but i did ask nicely in mcdonalds when we got our coffee and they gve me a handful of their coffee stirrer sticks gratis:D , they are longer and thinner than lolly sticks.

Sorry don't do dentistry, but pretty handy with a blackand decker drill and plastering trowel if that will help:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Skint_Lynne

Yes, the black and decker will do nicely, it will save a fortune at the dentist!!

Well, imagine asking for the stirrers, that I would never have thought of!!! They are always lying around in there. I know the lady that does the housekeeping in our local one, so I'll ask her for some. You are all really resourceful, even down to lolly sticks!!!:D

sophiesmum_2

whitewing wrote: »

Lol, that reminds me. I met the perfect-man-before-my-husband-came-along, (tall, dark and quirky - well they both are) and I can remember thinking how lovely he was. And how perfect. Far too perfect for me. And he laughed at my jokes, which meant that I could see he had fillings, which meant that he wasn't too perfect for me, after all. I've never fancied someone because of his fillings before.

But he wasn't 'the one' - someone else had got there first.

Enough of my ramblings.

Whitewing that is lovely - have to say you think quite often along the same lines as me,my mind often takes off along these sorts of tangents - i like quirky too.:rolleyes:

Paulgonnabedebtfree

nykmedia wrote: »

Hi Loopylou, your budget is looking good but I would completely remove the costs of the car, as these have no impact whatsoever on the actual cost of living. A car is either an essential for work purposes, therefore classed as a work expense, or else it's a luxury item that you pay for with your savings. You could, if you wanted, just deduct travel costs if it was essential travel, that's what I do. I don't own a car, but DS and OH each has their own and pay for them themselves. It costs OH £400 per year for tax, insurance, MOT, servicing, so that's about £1.10 per day. Petrol is between £4.30 and £4.50 per gallon, so I allow 10p per mile. If I need to go anywhere, I'll pay £1.10 plus 10p per mile I clock up from my 4k budget. A trip to mum's costs me £20.10 but I never pay the 10p :rotfl: (I'm trying to talk him into getting a more economical car, one that'll only cost a maximum £35 per year to tax and will do closer to 100 miles to the gallon )

There are different ways of doing this depending on circumstances. I'm self-employed. My work van is essential business equipment. However, as I have no need for another vehicle, it is also my private motor. For tax purposes, I offset 85% of its use against my tax bill and use 15% of it for private use. So these are the figures I will be using on my 4 grand challenge (currently in training for next year). I had wondered if the full cost of taxing and insuring it should come out of my 4 grand as they would be the same anyway - but I've decided not to do it that way. So just 15% of the running costs will be deducted from my 4 grand. I have a similar situation with landline and mobile (though different percentages). What goes on my tax return is about right so those are the figures I will stick with for the challenge.

Marru

Good evening all,

Sophiesmum - I have said it before and I am going to say it again - you are truly amazing!! And so sorry about your car!!! I got all my valves nicked when I was down in Dorset for a holiday several years ago. I went from B&B to my car one morning finding four flat tyres. Thank goodness for breakdown covers.

SL - Just go into your interview and don't even think about your tooth. If you don't do it nobody else will. Lots and lots of luck, I hope it goes well and you will get the job that is right for you.

DD is safely tucked in bed and she had fantastic day. Her dad tried to send me down to the old guilt trip many times before leaving (at half nine :mad:). At least it gave something for me to talk about with my therapist on Wednesday. I know I sound ungrateful but I just want this old pattern to stop and he doesn't seem to have any intentions of doing it and I come across as heartless B***h when I am trying to ignore it.

Anyway - it is a good drink for me while watching Celebrity and then bed. I think another day skivvying from college is in order as my throat is so sore.

Night night,

Marru

sophiesmum_2

Paul Seems a fair and logical way of working it out to me:D
By the way well done on your freecycle freezer aquisition, sounds like lots of preparations afoot in your household getting ready for this challenge:T :T :T

Marru - glad little one had a good day, stay strong ignoring the guilt trip stuff, he isn't going to change so choose to ignore it. Enjoy the drink and celebrity

Thinking of doing hot choc sachets, few choc stirrers and some mini marshmallows in a mini xmas stocking for my oldies for xmas morning - will hang on all their front doors - do you think they would be okay???? - reckon I could make them for about 50 - 60p each ( I will need 50)
I hve material I could use for stockings.

Skint_Lynne

Thanks Marru,

Hopefully I will be able to mask it, but knowing me, I will probably start talking about it:rotfl: :rotfl:

Don't let your ex make you feel guilty about anything, you are bringing up a little girl on your own, and by the sounds of it, doing a great job.

Just you take care of yourself and the wee one and never bother about him!!

sophiesmum_2

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

Thanks Marru,

Hopefully I will be able to mask it, but knowing me, I will probably start talking about it:rotfl: :rotfl:

Don't let your ex make you feel guilty about anything, you are bringing up a little girl on your own, and by the sounds of it, doing a great job.

Just you take care of yourself and the wee one and never bother about him!![/quote]

Exactly, he has no importance in your life now apart from the fact he is DD's father, and you are doing fine:A

Marru

Thank you so much!! :smileyhea

I am too [strike]drunk ill[/strike] tired to comment rationally so I shall log off and retire...


...ooooh look, I got my third star!!!!!