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

thriftylass

Doh, BF came home late today and I hadn't prepared any dinner to give him a choice (usually have sth. prepared as I'm home a lot earlier). For time reasons and due to indecision we just got take away. At least I didn't pay . So to avoid this happening again (usually didn't think twice about it but now I got this budget I want to stick to) I decided to make a meal plan for the rest of the week with stuff we already have in the house, run it past BF and get it "approved" .

Do any of you use meal plans, I guess so, otherwise it must be too hard to stick to the budget. Sorry stupid question, but do you make them before you go shopping? I usually just buy roughly the same stuff and see what I can make out of it without wasting any.

thriftylass

Sorry me again, forget my last question about the meal plans, just found this fabulous thread about them with loads of hints and tips - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=346932

Skint_Lynne

sophiesmum wrote: »

Went to costco this afternoon for my oldies but picked a couple of things up for my stockpile too using contingency money.
Princes OJ was on offer 12 1 litre cartons for £5.04 inc vat so bought 2 lots and kleenex velvet kitchen rolls were half price - just over £6 for 10 two packs - bargain, and will keep me going for ages.
I only ever buy toilet rolls and kitchen rolls when they are on bulk offer at costco and have also been holding out waiting for the OJ as that is on offer regularly too.
Will change my sig later.:D

Hi Sophiesmum,

Were the kitchen rolls in the blue passport book or was the offer in store? I might go tomorrow night and get some as it works out at 30p a roll, and for the good stuff as well. I'm also going to try their own brand washing powder. I bought it many years ago and it lasted over a year, it was very good, nice fresh smell and got things looking bright. I drink a lot of orange juice, usually go for the chiller cabinet stuff, but Princes is a good make, so will have a look at that whilst I am there.

speak soon,
your costco buddy SL x

Edit: Just looked in the book and saw them both there. i am going to go up tomorrow. SL x

Skint_Lynne

I didn't spend any money today, had a quiet one, am going to bed shortly.

I read an article in the express about a couple who collected recycable stuff, eg cans and bottles and took it to their local tesco, where there was a recyle bin that you collected clubcard points from, I think it was a point per item or something. They ended up with business class flights from USA thanks to the untidy neighbours etc as they went and collected all the cans for 3 months and got the points, then got airmiles from clubcard deals.

I was into overdrive then, had myself emptying my mum's recycle bin and going begging at my uncle's pub for the old cans, I was in recycle heaven.

I was brought down to earth with a bump when I discovered that these machines are only at 26 stores in ENGLAND, there's not any up here yet. I called their customer service department and the guy is going to come back and let me know when they are branching out into Scotland.

Look at the greener living website at the Tesco.com mainsite guys if you are interested, as you know the deals quadruple your actual clubcard points.

i collect these annually to spend on my shopping, but if I thought I could end up with a good holiday by collecting cans and emptying into a recycle bin, then I would be up for it.

Speak soon,

SL x

Skint_Lynne

I am forgetful, should not be posting 3 times in a row, very naughty!!! I got my gas bill in today, I pay by dd and am 135.00 in credit, they are putting my dd up to 38.00 from 24.00. I think I'll just let them do it though, because of the hikes, what do you think folks?

SL x

cw18

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

Look at the greener living website at the Tesco.com mainsite guys if you are interested, as you know the deals quadruple your actual clubcard points.

Can't find anything about this scheme

Not sure they'd do it round us anyway, as our local council is currently rolling out doorstep collections of tins/cans/glass/plastic milk cartons/clean yoghurt and margarine tubs

sophiesmum_2

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

Hi Sophiesmum,

Were the kitchen rolls in the blue passport book or was the offer in store? I might go tomorrow night and get some as it works out at 30p a roll, and for the good stuff as well. I'm also going to try their own brand washing powder. I bought it many years ago and it lasted over a year, it was very good, nice fresh smell and got things looking bright. I drink a lot of orange juice, usually go for the chiller cabinet stuff, but Princes is a good make, so will have a look at that whilst I am there.

speak soon,
your costco buddy SL x

Edit: Just looked in the book and saw them both there. i am going to go up tomorrow. SL x

The costco washing powder is good and great value for money, most of the kirkland stuff is good, so worth trying out a few things:D

cw18

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

I am forgetful, should not be posting 3 times in a row, very naughty!!! I got my gas bill in today, I pay by dd and am 135.00 in credit, they are putting my dd up to 38.00 from 24.00. I think I'll just let them do it though, because of the hikes, what do you think folks?

SL x

for me it would depend on a number of factors....

1. what was your position at the start of the year? have you used up part of a credit balance, have your recovered from a debit balance, or have you held pretty steady?

2. what's your useage been over the year, and what are they estimating you'll use in the next year? are these much the same or is there a huge difference that you can't explain?

3. are you on a fixed price contract? if you are, then you should be able to work out what they expect you to use this next year (calculated from expected usage and fixed price)

4. if not on a fixed price, could you get a good deal on one now? haven't seen the current recommendations (not read in detail 'cos we already are), but is Martin suggesting it would still be a good idea to swap to one?

sophiesmum_2

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

I am forgetful, should not be posting 3 times in a row, very naughty!!! I got my gas bill in today, I pay by dd and am 135.00 in credit, they are putting my dd up to 38.00 from 24.00. I think I'll just let them do it though, because of the hikes, what do you think folks?

SL x

I'm with cw on this depends on lots of things:rolleyes: However the one thing I would do is contact them and ask them to send you a cheque for the amount you' re currently in credit by, if you are worried about being short with the next bill stash it in the bank - better you having the interest on your money than the energy company:D
Just think how much they are making gaining the interest on everyones credit balances :mad:

Skint_Lynne

cw18 wrote: »

for me it would depend on a number of factors....

1. what was your position at the start of the year? have you used up part of a credit balance, have your recovered from a debit balance, or have you held pretty steady? it has been steady.

2. what's your useage been over the year, and what are they estimating you'll use in the next year? are these much the same or is there a huge difference that you can't explain? I have no idea, I just phoned in the meter reading. I've not yet started taking meter readings with the gas and have just dabbled with the leccy, have started switching things off etc.

3. are you on a fixed price contract? if you are, then you should be able to work out what they expect you to use this next year (calculated from expected usage and fixed price) I'll need to look at the bill, I must admit, I've no idea, its called gas sign online 6.

4. if not on a fixed price, could you get a good deal on one now? haven't seen the current recommendations (not read in detail 'cos we already are), but is Martin suggesting it would still be a good idea to swap to one?

I switched from BG to Npower last year, so don't know if I can switch yet. I've just fished the bill from the car, just glanced at it this morning, I actually have a £156.83 credit which they are giving me back, paying into my bank account and then putting the dd up to £38.00. They have estimated that I will use £446.62 worth of gas in the next 12 months. Will need to look into all this more and report back.