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

lingojingo

Whitewing - so sorry to hear of your redundancy, but amazed at your positive thinking! Enjoy your time with your friend, and fingers crossed it'll all work out for you.

Janey - thanks for another lovely memory of your Mum. I already felt I almost knew Tom from your hilarious posts earlier in the year and now I'm getting a real picture of a fun-loving Mum too.

Janey51

Thanks lingojingo.

Back again.
Did anyone hear the discussion about the possible milk shortage because so many dairy farmers are going out of business and we are importing more milk? Apparently milk doesn't travel well and the quality is affected.
The spokesman was saying he couldn't rule out the possibility of empty shelves.

Because of where I live, I always have a stock of dried and UHT milk. I'm tempted to get more but it's a knee jerk reaction really.
Hope it isn't more scaremongering.

sophiesmum_2

(((hugs :heartpuls :heartpuls ))) Whitewing, so sorry to hear your news. I think there will be many more redundancies in the current climate but it's bad news when it is personal to yourself.
Good to see you being so positive about coping, and I am glad that you now have your OH to help you with it all.
Take care - and keep posting even if it is only to see how gnat bottom frugal you can get now the chips are down:D

cw18

((hugs)) for Janey -- sounds like you're having a "bumpy" couple of days. Wish I lived close enough to bob over and try and help you sort that saw out (can't be a million miles off my circular saw, which I use with gay abandon whenever the need arises in the midst of a spot of DIY -- all of which I do in our house!)

((hugs)) for whitewing too. keep your chin up, and remember you're not the only one going through this ATM -- there are loads of us all over the place getting redundancy notices.

I have 6 more weeks in paid employment then I'm joining you -- but "unfortunately" (!) I do qualify for a good payout. Problem is that due to my health (and even more so DH's) there's no way I'll get a job in the foreseeable -- so I've decided the best option is to remove the stress of applying for things and stay home as DH's registered carer for now. But this means we have to live off my redundancy pay until it whittles down to a certain level (first in full, and then partially) -- and I'll have to keep accounts of every single penny I/we spend during this time to prove to the Benefits Agencies that we're only spending it on essentials (currently looks like I'll have to keep detailed accounts for the best part of 5 years!).

Whilst I understand why this is needed (and would be the first to scream if someone spent thousands on a round the world trip and then claimed full benefits), I can't help the feeling I sometimes get that I've worked in this job for 10 years and am now being pushed out with nothing to show for it...... which isn't a feeling I'd have had if I could walk into another job and use my payout to treat us to a few days away and then clear loads of debts !!!

I obviously don't know your full situation/income etc., but do make sure you get anything you're entitled to. If you paid enough stamp last year you ARE entitled to the Contributions Based Job Seekers Allowance for the first 6 months -- and this is just short of £48/week. Don't let them fob you off on this (like they did my DH 8 years ago -- though we fought and managed to get it back dated about 18 months later!), as if you've paid the correct level of NI in the previous tax year, then this one is NOT based on any other income coming into the house!!! (You will have to attend meetings/apply for jobs/attend interviews though, otherwise they can stop it earlier).

But if you can get it, then 26 weeks of JSA is almost £1250 -- not to be sneezed at !!

The_Shiner

I hope this challenge will happen again in 2009 as I would like to give it my best shot. Even if I don't make the 4 grand level, I'm sure that the attempt will save me a lot of unnecessary spending.
Things aren't so clearcut with me as I'm self-employed. I have a van which is mostly used for business and part personal use. Same with landline and mobile (contract will be ditched for PAYG). I will use the same proportions as I do when assessing my tax bill as those proportions are about right. As far as repaying debt goes, I can't possibly include that in the 4 grand as I would end up on a minus figure (hence my need to reduce spending), and would rapidly waste away from malnutrition. However, to be fair on this, from Jan 1st I will only use a credit card if there is absolutely no other choice and I will include repayment of any NEW debt in the figure (hopefully a big fat ZERO). Obviously anything that is 100% a business item can't be included nor can my tax and NI bills which are paid half yearly and quarterly respectively.
So I suppose I am left with gas, electricity, food, general household items, the personal percentage of repairs and running costs of my vehicle and the personal percentages of my land and mobile phones and a holiday. I should also include the service charges on my flat. Not sure what to do if any big ticket (capital) items aredone though. I seem to be very well stocked up on clothing so that should be OK. If someone dies or gets married I may need a new suit but if my weight loss program works as I wish it too, I may be able to fit into one of my old ones (so long as they don't marry or die to early in the year) :-) . There will be the odd birthday and of course Christmas '09. While I'm on the subject, one way of saving money might be to join the Jehovah's Witnesses because they don't do Christmases and birthdays (just joking - honestly) though the savings might be spent on books and magazines.
I don't have facilities to grow my own food as I'm in a flat. Any time spent on an allotment would be better spent earning more money so I guess that's out too.
I thought about starting this early and trying it on £333.33 a month for November and December. However, I've decided to use those two months to get in training and change some longstanding bad habits instead.
Well done everyone and thanks for the posts.

PS. Is there going to be an inflation allowance for 2009 (the REAL number - not the rubbish spouted by the powers that be)? :-) .
See. I haven't even started yet and I'm trying to move the goalposts. :-)

Skint_Lynne

Hi Shiner,

I think the amount of money equates to what someone receives in a year if they are on benefits. Their rent and council tax get paid by the government as well, so this isn't included in the challenge.

Nyk will be along soon to explain exactly how it all works.

Welcome aboard:beer:

SL x

slowlyfading

Nyk, congrats on the house! :j :j
whitewing, (((HUGS))) sorry to hear about that, keep your chin up xx
I'm having a NSD today - we're getting a fridge/freezer delivered today so I'm just sat about waiting. They said it would be after 2PM, so now its just a waiting game! I'm at work at 4PM though, so hopefully it'll be before that!

Skint_Lynne

Where is everyone today? It's pretty nasty outside so I think I'll try and tidy up in this pigsty. I've got my to do list prepared and am ticking this off as I go along. I'll really need to decide on where I'm going to keep my stockpile stuff as I have a kitchen roll mountain in the middle of my living room floor:p. It looks good, not!!

Whitewing, I am sorry that you have been made redundant, I'm sure something will turn up soon. I'm jobhunting myself, and it has been fruitless so far. I do know that I will get something that suits me eventually, I'll just keep on trying!!

Janey, I am enjoying reading about your mum, she is a great character, just remember that she is still in there somewhere, her true self will shine through sometime.

Will look forward to catching up with you all later.

SL x

taka

Whitewing - ((((hugs)))) I am so sorry... I hope you have a welcome break with your friend and manage to find something soon on your return.

Janey - ((((hugs)))) I am really enjoying reading about your mum! She sounds so vibrant a personality in your descriptions

The Shiner - welcome to the frugal madhouse!! :cool:

Slowlyfading - :hello: I hope your fridge/freezer has arrived...

slowlyfading

It has - just! Now have to wait for 2 hours before I can plug it in! I bet I have to chuck away half the food ah well, it looks snazzy