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

Janey51

Marru wrote: »

The ground outside is too wet for him to scratch it to cover his deposit, much nicer doing it inside where there is nice and dry cat litter available.:rotfl:

I have just had to fumigate the kitchen and dash to the wheelie bin in the pouring rain to get rid of the cat tray contents.
Absolutely disgusting.
I have given him a strong talking to and my best Paddington Bear Stare.

Like all men, he is now lying down looking pathetic and begging for forgiveness with sad eyes :rotfl:

cw18

nykmedia wrote: »

cw - I used to look after my DGD whilst DD worked (and tried to pay off debts), so was feeding everyone quite often. However, DD and DGD ended up moving in with us, as it was much cheaper (and easier) than her paying a full set of household bills on her own plus all the running up and down that had to be done. We'd to give up having a livingroom during that time, but she saw off her debts much quicker and was able to spend far more time with DGD. I think it is down to quality of life as a family unit; is your DD's current job exactly what she wants to be doing or is it something she feels she has to do? It doesn't sound an ideal situation to be earning less than it costs her and the kids to live (living in a constant overdraft situation), so perhaps you could ask her what she'd do if she had absolutely no debts, and see what sort of response you got. There are alternatives to every situation, we just need to look for them, and you sound like the kind of mum who would prefer to see her children happy and settled.

I'm not having them move back in unless it gets really desperate (ie. threatened with eviction) -- been there, done that, got the T-shirt, and it didn't work out. But there's a number of reasons including

1. we 'evicted' her last time so that she got higher priority on the council list. this was suggested to us by the housing people, as we were officially overcrowded, the stress levels were getting to us all, and night shifts (which DH was employed on) don't work with a toddler and a baby in the house. DH's employer had allowed him to temporarily switch to day shifts, but this meant a cut in his pay!! Obviously I couldn't do that any more, as there's only me and younger DS in a 4 bedroomed house, so she'd struggle to get another place once she got her finances under control

2. if she and the girls lived here, then if/when I register as a child-minder she wouldn't get help from Tax Credits to help pay me (even if I have another 'paying client' which is the criteria for her getting the help if she lives elsewhere) -- not allowed if they're cared for in their own home under any circumstances. So what she'd have to pay me would more than wipe out anything she saved by giving up her council house


Yes she likes her job. She always wanted to work in child-care, and works at a private nursery. The only other thing she's ever mentioned that she fancies is working with [strike]handicapped[/strike] less-abled children in a special school.


As to her outgoings being more than her incomings -- that's only because of what she spends that she doesn't need to. I'm gob-smacked at the number of clothes her girls have -- mostly bought brand new (when Next etc have sales is a biiiiiig downfall of hers) despite them not 'needing' anything. And she rarely passes anything down to the younger one as she likes them to 'match' :rolleyes:

We had chat over the summer as to what she had coming in, and my Dad (also privvy to the conversation) and I couldn't believe how much she actually gets once she adds in all her Tax Credits. We deducted all her essentials, and she should have had almost as much disposable income as I would have had running her house/family on just my (very good) salary :eek:


I already know, from chats building up to me quizzing her on all her spends next year, that she'd like to get some jobs done around the house -- hall, stairs and landing needs decorating (but none of us like heights, so it means getting someone in), some of the rest of the house need re-decorating (she and I can work together on most of that), she wants to change some carpet to laminate (due to the fact the girls grind food and play-doh into the carpet - but this is partly due to her not supervising), and she'd like to be able to afford a foreign holiday every 2 or 3 years. She also wants to learn to drive and buy/run a car -- which means more regular expenses, but would make her life much easier.

kerron7

Hi Nyk

Can't find my name in the list unless i need glasses can you put me down for 4K + child benefit please.

K xx

sophiesmum_2

Marru wrote: »

Hello,

Just waived DD off with her dad. Sent them to get her new shoes, pyjamas and some fruit . He did bring me unexpected house guest but I don't really mind as he is a dog.

Now I have all this afternoon free to do what I want and I don't know what to do with myself. Perhaps have a cup of tea with some yummy chocolate biscuits and then call my mum (free on Skype) to thank her for the parcel.

Bails - don't even think about all the things you should be doing, stay put or I will drive there, squeeze through the cat flap and sit on you!!!!!

Have very enjoyable Saturday evening where ever you are!!

Marru

Marru I could come down and sit on her - she definately won't be moving anywhere then:rotfl: no way i could fit through the cat flap though:eek: :eek:

Bails - saw some of those magnetic maps online - think they are great and love the little magnetic "pins" you can get to attach cord to and plan your routes.I agree it is lovely having something you really would appreciate rather than lots of things you aren't bothered about.Hence why I got a sausage maker the other xmas from OH:rotfl:

Went to town had my free coffee and free parking, used two £5 vouchers in whs from signing OH up for their privilege club. :mad: Whs had put the price of frugal cookbook up £5 in past week, but they had included it in 3 for £30 book offer and friend was buying 2 books for pressies - we put them together and used voucher for £5 off £20 spend and split savings so friend saved £10 and I got my book for £5:D ,I also treated myself to the River cottage cookbook used another £5 voucher and got that for £5 so £25 of books for me for £10:j

Went to woolies which was almost empty :eek: . only spent 50p on something I saw that I thought would be okay for someone. Went to boots and used points for 10x roll on deodorants £6.90, and 4 x cotton buds £2.20 to add to stockpile for next year:D i love free stuff.
Spent £2 on market on veggies including more broccoli so I can make stilton soup again tomorrow lunchtime.

Need to go and update sig now to include spends:rolleyes: not long to go now, and only have a £14. life insurannce debit to be paid end of month apart from that rest of cash is unallocated at moment :j and no urgent need for anything, and still have some cash on asda card too which will be used for stockpiling purposes:D

JennyBee_2

Hmmm...just been reading through the posts and I don't know if I'm doing this right or wrong....

I based it on things that we were able to cut back on rather than the things that we can't....i.e. we pay my parents a fixed amount of rent and utilities a month as we live next door to them in a 'granny annex'. So all electric, water, gas etc is covered in that. Additionally, I have a loan that is a fixed amount a month and we have a credit card to pay off which we have worked out to be a fixed amount a month. I really don't want to reduce those payments as it will just mean dragging it out for longer. Therefore, I thought if I focus on things that we can cut down on (food, petrol, extra bits and pieces etc) then we'll still be getting the benefits of it.

Am I doing it all wrong? I haven't included holidays in there as OH puts away a bit each month towards that and we don't go out for meals or to the cinema etc. God - how boring are we! I'm only 27 and we hardly seem to leave the house!!!!!

help!

ps. Mrs MC sorry for getting you in trouble At least I've got the variety now so can go and look it up

cw18

rent wouldn't normally be included -- so if the utilities are in your rent, then I'd say to ignore those too.

debt payments also aren't included, so the loan and credit card are ignored.

cars are/aren't included, depending on whether you need it to get to/from work or just for leisure. as I no longer work (and didn't use it to get to/from work anyway) I'd have included mine even if it wasn't doing an "all-in" version of the challenge

Frugaldom

Just been updating the challenger list, and this is what I have, so far, for 2009. It's in alphabetical order to make it easier for spotting names etc, as it may get a bit confusing for anyone using their challenger numbers when new names get added. I haven't included challenge amounts as I think this is more about budgeting to see how much 4k covers in our own lifestyles. It might be fun to just add everything up as we go along, via the spending diaries, and then have regular updates. I realise that many of the names may have fallen by the wayside, but they are all dfw members who set out to change their spending habits in a bid to improve on their own financial situations, so I have left all the names in until such times as someone requests deletion. That makes it fair for anyone who may have temporarily lost their Internet connection etc.

If your name isn't on the following list, please pm me so I can get it added. Thanks

1. 1274
2. 87p
3. Affordmylife
4. All_hours
5. Alli_Baba2
6. Always_amazed
7. Andromache
8. Angelofthenorth
9. Ani*fan
10. Artnoble
11. Azjh77
12. Bails
13. Barefootlinzi
14. Barole
15. Bigbullyweedave
16. BigEars
17. Blackfairykitten
18. Blairweech
19. Bleufleur
20. Blissfullydebtfreewannabe
21. Bluesteel705
22. Brighton Belle
23. Broke mum of three
24. Buffythedebtslayer
25. Candygirl
26. Carlsberg
27. CarolBee
28. Carolinabirichina
29. Catzine
30. Cha97Michelle
31. Chaddee
32. Charlies Angel
33. Che75
34. Chewits
35. Chriz1000
36. Cornishinfens
37. Cranky40
38. Cumbrianmum
39. CW18
40. DdraigGoch
41. Debrag
42. DFW844
43. Djenks
44. DJJoJoJuice
45. Don't want to be in debt
46. Doom_and_Gloom
47. EagerLearner
48. Elantan
49. Ephemera
50. Fairywings
51. Findingmyfeet
52. Fizzel81
53. Flowerofthewest
54. FrankieM
55. Freyaluck
56. Frugal Fox
57. Frugalmum
58. Funbrum
59. Funkyfunkymonkey
60. Gem2509
61. GemGems
62. Georgiasmum
63. Grunnie
64. Hansolo81
65. Hardup Hester
66. Headofsteam
67. Hopeless_Spendthrift
68. Hypno06
69. IGiveUp
70. IHateDebt
71. Impomdasp
72. InTheRed
73. Jamiedodger
74. Jammiejen
75. Janey51
76. Jay1
77. JennyBee
78. Juliejay
79. Jumble-Bee
80. Junglegirl
81. JustKeepSwimming
82. Kayharcombe
83. Kayleighj
84. Kbarty
85. Keren29
86. Kerron7
87. Kiki
88. Kittikins
89. Laurabelle
90. Lexxi
91. Lilac_Lady
92. Liloandstitch
93. LilyBee
94. LingoJingo
95. Little_Miss_Moneysaver
96. LittleMissClimsy
97. Liuhut
98. Lmac
99. LoadedIWish
100. Loadedlaura
101. LollopyBear
102. Looby-Loo
103. Deleted_User
104. LyndaSharp
105. Lysasparkles
106. Macwah97
107. Mah_Jong
108. Mama67
109. Marru
110. Maverickangel
111. McSaver
112. Micron
113. Milliemonster
114. Mini_huny_money
115. Miss Empty Piggy
116. Miss_Pink
117. MK Wotsit
118. Mollymop5
119. MrDT
120. Mrsmcawber
121. MSHAWX
122. Mumzyof2
123. Nate123
124. NEGirl
125. Nicola1982
126. Nimbo
127. Notanothergreyhair
128. Nykmedia
129. OldMcDonald
130. Oliveoyl
131. OptimisticPair
132. Paul Varjak
133. Paulgonnabedebtfree
134. Penny2myname
135. Pollydaydream
136. Princess Leia
137. Protogenia
138. Prudent
139. Purplevamp
140. Rachyp
141. Rafiki
142. RebekahR
143. Redglass
144. RedMel1621
145. Sallyrsm
146. Sam79
147. Sashacat
148. Sassamac
149. Saverram
150. Savingfortravel
151. Scorpio04
152. Shaz_mum_of_2
153. Shazrobo
154. Shell37
155. Shelovestobuystuff
156. SiannieLaz
157. Skint Lynne
158. Skintwellie
159. Slackster
160. Slowlyfading
161. Smart21
162. SmlSave
163. SophiesMum
164. Sos999
165. Stefejb
166. Sue09
167. Sukielou75
168. Summertea
169. Sweetpea03
170. Taka
171. The_Cat
172. ThriftyLass
173. Tigerseye
174. Tigwell
175. Tracey04
176. Trex170104
177. Truthseeker
178. Tryingtodobetter
179. Twinkle_Star
180. Wendyw1947
181. Wendywitch
182. Wherediditallgo
183. Whiskylizzie
184. Whitetigeress333
185. Whitevanwoman
186. Whitewing
187. Whowants2brich
188. Wornoutmumoftwo
189. Yoshimi2306
190. Zelie

cw18

Wow!! Almost 200 of us !!!!


If/when we get more join in are you just going to add them to the bottom, or might our numbers change again before the new thread starts up? (Just wondering whether I can add mine to my signature now or not )

Penny2myName

Hi Jenny
As you utilities are a fixed amount that you cant cut back on, you can always class your petrol as am 'energy' source if you want. Sure there is someone else that doesn't pay utilities too, But you are correct in the fact its about cutting down on day to day living expenses which we are in control off. Such as taking a pack up to work instead of eating out etc (we still need to eat one way or another)
Guess the other way is to calculate how much goes to your parent's for utilities, and subtract that from your equation, then just stick to food and other basic daily stuff. Debt repayments are NOT added into the £4k by most of us. After all, many of us are doing this so we can over pay on our debts.

Penny

Frugaldom

JennyBee, you didn't get anyone in trouble, please don't worry And your budget is fine, the challenge is about making small, gradual changes so that we can aim for debt free, stress free lifestyles with enough left over to afford those little extras. I'm not including totals in next year's challenge, so you can budget however best suits you and join in the conversations any time. (Grocery challenge is also a great thread, as it helps you focus on what you are buying, how, where and when, plus there are greenfinger threads for plenty of hints and tips about homegrowing that we also share on here.) The 4k 'frugal family' is a great group of people who will be here to support you no matter how you fix your budget.