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

cw18

Nyk -- Fantastic news about the house



Not got my M&S voucher yet, and TBH had totally forgotten about it :eek: There should be one winging it's way to my DD as well


I signed up at the local library today -- something I've just "never gotten around to", and have borrowed three cookery books. So I'll be having a good look through those and [STRIKE]scanning in[/STRIKE] noting down any that look worth trying.

Then I called into the TSB (the only bank in our 'town') to see what accounts they have on offer. Expected to have to make an appt to get all the details I wanted, but only had to wait 10 mins while one of the ladies finished processing a money wire (chaps) for someone. They seem to have what I'm after in terms of accounts (with the added bonus that my hubby and parents bank there, so we could move money between us very quickly), but I'm still wary of putting everything into one place. The lady really seemed to understand where I was coming from, and didn't pressure me to sign up for anything today -- which I wouldn't have done 'cos I don't have the money for another 7 or 8 weeks, and I need to work out how long I can safely tie some of it up for (I'd like some in that kind of account, as it stops me spending it with a 'what the heck' attitude -- which is me through and through!)

Had considered NS&I, but can't help feeling that's just like lending my money to the failing banks (the government need to borrow the rescue money from somewhere), but it does appear to be the safest due to it being government backed I will check what they currently have to offer, but don't expect to find what I want. (Just had a play with Martin's premium bond calculator, and have to admit that as I really don't care about making much/any interest on the money for now I'm seriously tempted to shove a few grand in those -- I could win enough to never have money problems again, plus the money isn't too easy to withdraw whilst still being able to get at it if needed !!!)

Need to head up to the next town in the next few days and check out the banks there. If memory serves me right they have Abbey Nat (I was with N&P prior to take over, had problems with Abbey Nat so left, and haven't touched them since they were taken over again -- need to check if they have the same 'first £xxx from another country' as the Iceland bank before I even consider them!), Halifax, and Bank of Scotland. Not totally convinced about any of those!!


Want to sit down in the next week or so and work out our (as exact as possible) budget for next year. Whilst this won't be able to take into account increases in coucil tax, home insurance, car expenses and other such unfathomables, it should hopefully give me a clearer picture of how I'm going to run on this challenge -- as well as how much of the redundancy pay I want to shove out of easy reach for how long.

bails

Yae, happy news on our thread, that's what we like to see! :j Really fab news about the house Nyk, so pleased for you and what a relief! Can we see a pic of this one?
Good news here is that I went back into school today - no kids til next week but lovely to be amongst 'colleagues'; I love my cats but the conversation can be a bit limited :rotfl:I'm teaching GCSE which'll be hard but a boost to my confidence after so long out.
Off to the vets later :eek: hope it's not too expensive. Little one is getting chipped today too and then in for speying next week so more money; ah well, they're worth it! I feel in a great mood today, despite being knackered; hope it lasts and the sleep monster doesn't put in an appearance

dfw844

Nyk - Great news!! See that's what we were all waiting for. And then, with Bails going back to school, two bits of good news come along at once!

Thanks for the advice on the electric blanket. I didn't think they used a lot, but I wasn't sure... Anything is better than putting the heating on though. My electricity direct debit has been put up again you see :eek: I am now paying THREE TIMES as much per month as I was when I moved in in 2005 and that was before I even became frugal and cared about what I was using!

Thanks for the advice MrsMc unfortunately I'm with Eon but I'm sure someone from this thread will be sending off for a free monitor thanks to you. I have seen them in Aldi for about £7. Might get one and when I've noted down what each of my appliances use sell it on ebay (they are very expensive on there!).

thriftylass

I'll follow cw18 and sign up for my local library today, same here, sth I wanted to do but haven't gotten round to yet. I bought my last couple of books second hand but I'm through them too quickly to justify paying any money.

On my way to my first spending free day.

Nyk, good luck with the house, that's great news.

taka

:j :j :beer: :j :j Yeah... good news today!!

I'm so glad you've found somewhere else to live Nyk! Is it far away? Is it likely to lower your utility bills for 2009? Will you have a proper tennency this time?

I'm happy for you Bails - I hope it goes well and isn't too tiring.

I'm feeling a huge amount more positive today. There is no point in worrying about what could happen - I can only do my best and can only control so much. I need to get on with living now and not worry (and catastrophise (is that a word?)) so much... :rolleyes: Thanks for all your kind comments.

By the way Lidl is supposed to have plug in energy usage meter things in as of today for £6.99. I'm going to go try get one after work if my parents haven't got it before then. Split 3 ways (me/parents/brother) its only £2.33 each which I think will be worthwhile.

dfw844

Thanks taka I thought it was aldi, that would have been a wasted trip! Seen them on the lidl website, they're a bargain compared to other places I've seen them. Now just need to find a lidl nearby... I'll see if there's a store locator on the website.

Come on Nyk we're all desperate for more details on the house? Is there a garden is my main question - that greenhouse is moving too!

MrDT

Good afternoon ladies :wave:

Apologies for neglecting you all, I haven't been checking in anywhere near as much as I should these past few months... Oh well, I don't suppose it much matters as I'm well aware that I'll be failing the challenge this year lol - I have a whopping £262.84 remaining from my 9 month £3k target. Never gonna happen haha!

Still, I'll keep checking in every once in a while, and may well play along again next year (albeit with a higher target). I still record all my spends, which is a good habit to have I reckon, so that'll help me set a realistic target for 2009

Though I'll be failing this challenge (I'll be sure to post the day I go bust!) I'm pleased to say I've overperformed in my savings challenge for 2008 so on the whole I'm really pleased!

Good luck to all of you who'll see this through to the end of the year. I'll be watching

taka

dfw844 wrote: »

Thanks taka I thought it was aldi, that would have been a wasted trip! Seen them on the lidl website, they're a bargain compared to other places I've seen them. Now just need to find a lidl nearby... I'll see if there's a store locator on the website. !

I'm sure I read somewhere on MSE that Aldi has them too but I can't remember when that was... maybe a couple of weeks ago? May be worth a call if Aldi is closer to you? My nearest Aldi is a 2.5 hr round trip away by bus so I've never set foot in it so didn't pay attention...

dfw844 wrote: »

Come on Nyk we're all desperate for more details on the house? Is there a garden is my main question - that greenhouse is moving too!

Ohhh good point!! I hope it has lots of lovely growing room and you can move in in plenty of time to get what you need underway for next year...

:hello: MrDT - don't wory I'm pretty sure I'll go over too - possibly already as I didn't track stuff in the 2.5 months I went AWOL from MSE. I'm clinging to the fact that I've spent a heck of a lot less than I could have/would have previously. At least we tried... :rolleyes:

cw18

dfw844 wrote: »

Thanks taka I thought it was aldi, that would have been a wasted trip!

I think Aldi had them a couple of weeks ago -- ours still has some left

sophiesmum_2

:j :j :j Congratulations on the house Nyk:j :j :j