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

dND

cw18 wrote: »

He has always been the one of my three to be most careful with money -- and is the only one to have ever managed to save paper-round money to buy a games console -- so I'm not worried about him frittering away anything he qualifies for. It's more a case of how much it would realistically cover.....

CW, My eldest son took himself off to uni after a couple of years working so he qualified as a mature student and he's surviving well on the basic grant plus his fees are paid. While he spends a lot on computer games he's happy to cook for himself and managed to buy himself a laptop from the 'savings" he made from his grocery budget. My other son gets full grant claimed on my income which is low and he gets his fees paid. I suspect that it would be the same for your son.

They will both come out from uni with horrendous debts - Government encouraged live now, pay later - but I think my eldest will budget his way out while the other is hoping to earn more than enough to pay it off (he's training to be a lawyer :eek:)

My eldest is also using MSE, all be it to source free/cheap cinema tickets :rotfl: but he knows there is help here.

I do hope your son goes if he wants to as I know it was instrumental to my growing up and both the boys love it too. I don't know yet if my daughter wants to go but I hope she will.

Deborah

glendam

Thanks Nyk will the numbers be on the new post when it starts in 2 days. wow

Glenda

sophiesmum_2

nykmedia wrote: »

Thanks Sophiesmum, I'm quite impressed myself, as I managed to fill my 2008/9 ISA allowance from day 1 and now have the 2009/10 limit 'stoozed' into my high interest account. I haven't decided whether to continue with my CC shuffle next year. What with interest rates dropping so low and transfer rates reaching 3%, we practically need a guaranteed 4% interest for the full year just to break even after tax. It makes me wonder if it's worth my while doing, for the sake of an extra £100 per year... except I then think of what that £100 could pay, when it's completely free money! :rolleyes: I wonder what the Interest Beater amount will be for us next tax year? :rotfl: It certainly doesn't look like being 6.5% :rolleyes:

Mmm but not an awful lot of effort for £100 compared to say scratch cards or time spent on free bingo so probably still worth doing.:D

I am aiming to simplify my life a little next year so will be aiming for most of my moneysaving to be done at home. Reckon I can save more by stockpiling/frugal cooking/housekeeping than I could make doing clicks/bingo etc so will be going down that route.
Couldn't believe the increases in food prices yesterday compared to june/july when I started stockpiling.

• tinned chopped toms before 17p now 33p
• uht milk - before 39p now 54p
• bacon pieces before 99p now £1.54
• mndarins before 22p now 39p
• corned beef before 49p now £1.05:eek: and the list goes on and on,

my stores definately increasing in value better than interest rates on savings.:D

redglass_2

Just had a call from B*rcl*ycard. I thought at first the caller was phishing but in fact it was to encourage me to buy stuff on the card during the next 30 days. I'm not about to do that (because I only obtained it for a balance transfer and I'm not daft enough to spend on it too) but I was offered 2% cashback, preferential rates with various companies, entry into a prize draw for a sports car and I don't know what else if I would only use my card for purchases. A while back there was something on the MSE site about new regulations helping credit card companies to spot card tarts who just keep transferring the balance. Looks like they are now targetting us and trying to make us spend. If B'card only knew my lousy track record in prize draws! If I was the only person with a ticket I still wouldn't win... .

Frugaldom

Hi guys, just thought you would all like to see how next year's list is coming along. Don't use the numbers, as these are just for counting up how many are listed, but feel free to add your challenge into your signatures. It'll just be known as 'Live on £4000 for a Year', same as this year's, but you can all change your totals to reflect your own goals. It's in alphabetical order to make it easier to find usernames. If your name isn't on the list, but should be, let me know asap so I can add it. Likewise, if it's on there but you no longer want to take part, let me know so I can remove it.

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. DND
46. Don't want to be in debt
47. Doom_and_Gloom
48. EagerLearner
49. Elantan
50. Ephemera
51. Fairywings
52. Findingmyfeet
53. Fizzel81
54. Flowerofthewest
55. FrankieM
56. Freyaluck
57. Frugal Fox
58. Frugalmum
59. Funbrum
60. Funkyfunkymonkey
61. Gem2509
62. GemGems
63. Georgiasmum
64. GlendaM
65. Grandma247
66. Grunnie
67. Hansolo81
68. Hardup Hester
69. Headofsteam
70. HH62
71. Hopeless_Spendthrift
72. Hypno06
73. IGiveUp
74. IHateDebt
75. Impomdasp
76. InTheRed
77. Jamiedodger
78. Jammiejen
79. Janey51
80. Jay1
81. JennyBee
82. Juliejay
83. Jumble-Bee
84. Junglegirl
85. JustKeepSwimming
86. Kayharcombe
87. Kayleighj
88. Kbarty
89. Keren29
90. Kerron7
91. Kiki
92. Kittikins
93. Laurabelle
94. Lexxi
95. Lilac_Lady
96. Liloandstitch
97. LilyBee
98. LingoJingo
99. Little_Miss_Moneysaver
100. LittleMissClimsy
101. Liuhut
102. Lmac
103. LoadedIWish
104. Loadedlaura
105. LollopyBear
106. Looby-Loo
107. Deleted_User
108. LyndaSharp
109. Lysasparkles
110. Macwah97
111. Mah_Jong
112. Mama67
113. Marru
114. Masomnia
115. Maverickangel
116. McSaver
117. Micron
118. Milliemonster
119. Mini_huny_money
120. Miss Empty Piggy
121. Miss_Pink
122. MK Wotsit
123. Mollymop5
124. MrDT
125. Mrsmcawber
126. MSHAWX
127. Mumzyof2
128. Nate123
129. NEGirl
130. Nicola1982
131. Nimbo
132. Notanothergreyhair
133. Nykmedia
134. OldMcDonald
135. Oliveoyl
136. OptimisticPair
137. Paul Varjak
138. Paulgonnabedebtfree
139. Penny2myname
140. Pollydaydream
141. Princess Leia
142. Protogenia
143. Prudent
144. Purplevamp
145. Rachyp
146. Rafiki
147. RebekahR
148. Redglass
149. RedMel1621
150. Sallyrsm
151. Sam79
152. Sashacat
153. Sassamac
154. Saverram
155. Savingfortravel
156. Scorpio04
157. Shaz_mum_of_2
158. Shazrobo
159. Shell37
160. Shelovestobuystuff
161. Shorelines
162. SiannieLaz
163. Skint Lynne
164. Skintwellie
165. Slackster
166. Slowlyfading
167. Smart21
168. SmlSave
169. SophiesMum
170. Sos999
171. Stefejb
172. Sue09
173. Sukielou75
174. Summertea
175. Sweetpea03
176. Taka
177. The_Cat
178. ThriftyLass
179. Tigerseye
180. Tigwell
181. Tracey04
182. Trex170104
183. Truthseeker
184. Tryingtodobetter
185. Twinkle_Star
186. Wendyw1947
187. Wendywitch
188. Wherediditallgo
189. Whiskylizzie
190. Whitetigeress333
191. Whitevanwoman
192. Whitewing
193. Whowants2brich
194. Wornoutmumoftwo
195. Yoshimi2306
196. Zelie

shaz_mum_of__2

sophiesmum wrote: »

Mmm but not an awful lot of effort for £100 compared to say scratch cards or time spent on free bingo so probably still worth doing.:D

I am aiming to simplify my life a little next year so will be aiming for most of my moneysaving to be done at home. Reckon I can save more by stockpiling/frugal cooking/housekeeping than I could make doing clicks/bingo etc so will be going down that route.
Couldn't believe the increases in food prices yesterday compared to june/july when I started stockpiling.

• tinned chopped toms before 17p now 33p
• uht milk - before 39p now 54p
• bacon pieces before 99p now £1.54
• mndarins before 22p now 39p
• corned beef before 49p now £1.05:eek: and the list goes on and on,

my stores definately increasing in value better than interest rates on savings.:D

This is my feeling too i think my stockpile saves me money when i "shop from home" i wish i could buy uht milk.........................yeuch:rotfl: would prevent nipping to corner shop for milk and bananas...

I bought 2 cases of la doria mandarins recenrly for 11p a tin they are now 35p :eek:
but i dont need any the rest of the year

I am also stocking up on canned drinks while on offer otherwise i will buy one anyway at uni and its a quid a can

Looking forward to the new start and new budget been tracking spending this month and probably spent more than i think i do but gotta start somewhere!!

Shaz

Frugaldom

redglass wrote: »

Just had a call from B*rcl*ycard. I thought at first the caller was phishing but in fact it was to encourage me to buy stuff on the card during the next 30 days. I'm not about to do that (because I only obtained it for a balance transfer and I'm not daft enough to spend on it too) but I was offered 2% cashback, preferential rates with various companies, entry into a prize draw for a sports car and I don't know what else if I would only use my card for purchases. A while back there was something on the MSE site about new regulations helping credit card companies to spot card tarts who just keep transferring the balance. Looks like they are now targetting us and trying to make us spend. If B'card only knew my lousy track record in prize draws! If I was the only person with a ticket I still wouldn't win... .

Hi Redglass, my name is NYK and I am a card tart. I have had 2 cards each increase available credits by £750 recently but both are [strike]stoozed to max[/strike] already maxed out on 0% balance transfers on the original limits, which is a shame, as that could have been an extra £1 per week for nothing without tying up the cash for a full 12 months. :rolleyes: I'm currently putting everything onto my cashback nest egg money card, which is still currently paying 4% on credit balances, whereas my bank current account is paying a ridiculous 0.1% AER and appears to have lost its free £100 overdraft! How ridiculous is that! Needless to say, this account is only used for free banking for direct debits and automated bill payments.

taka

Happy Birthday Skint Lynne
:bdaycake:

Sorry its late - I tried to update zonealarm yesterday and now my home computer is having issues...

slowlyfading

I'll own up as well - I loved all the Enid Blyton books when I was "younger" (Being 22, I still like them ) i'm going to search for them later!

cw18

slowlyfading wrote: »

I'll own up as well - I loved all the Enid Blyton books when I was "younger" (Being 22, I still like them ) i'm going to search for them later!

You're younger than my DD

She's 25 (and 13 days!), but she never got into Enid Blyton Can't say she was really much of a reader of anything though.... and even now it's magazines if anything :eek: