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

bails

Guys, firstly there is no Bails/Nyk situation, or Bails and anyone else! The point I wanted to make, and should've just put clearly, is that I believe everyone deserves compassion (however difficult it can be sometimes). The B word gets thrown around with the many assumptions and stereotypes that go with it, often unfairly. I have been shocked by the difference in treatment I receive, having gone from 'respectable' teacher to second class citizen in society's eyes. As a person I haven't changed, my morals and ethics are still as strong as ever, and yet I am seen in a very different light. But who are we to judge anyone's situation, which we of course can never know fully? For example, is it any better to be a working person running up many thousands of pounds worth of debt, which can then be largely written off? I personally feel that neither person is better or worse than the other; each has their own circumstances that have led to the financial situation they are in. We are all of us here trying to better our lifestyles and support each other, without judgment, and that is why I love this thread xxx

Frugaldom

EXCELLENT NEWS! Although I can't see them actually giving the full 5% increase because they'll be scared of the backlash from elsewhere. I tell you, it makes me glad I never picked politics as a specialist subject in social sciences! I couldn't get my head around geography, never mind anything else! :rotfl:

Could we have a 5% increase in ISA allowance, tax allowance and minimum hourly rate, d'ye think? Or would that mean they would need to bump up VAT and income tax as well? Next year, I aim to be an inflation buster again, as I'm not intending increasing my 4k budget. This is mainly down to the fact that I can't ask for a pay increase for fear of losing existing work and can't expect to earn a fortune in interest off savings as I don't have enough to make it worthwhile.

Off to rescue the pasta (again) and need to devise a way of incorporating the remainder of a chicken.

thriftylass

bails wrote: »

Guys, firstly there is no Bails/Nyk situation, or Bails and anyone else! The point I wanted to make, and should've just put clearly, is that I believe everyone deserves compassion (however difficult it can be sometimes). The B word gets thrown around with the many assumptions and stereotypes that go with it, often unfairly. I have been shocked by the difference in treatment I receive, having gone from 'respectable' teacher to second class citizen in society's eyes. As a person I haven't changed, my morals and ethics are still as strong as ever, and yet I am seen in a very different light. But who are we to judge anyone's situation, which we of course can never know fully? For example, is it any better to be a working person running up many thousands of pounds worth of debt, which can then be largely written off? I personally feel that neither person is better or worse than the other; each has their own circumstances that have led to the financial situation they are in. We are all of us here trying to better our lifestyles and support each other, without judgment, and that is why I love this thread xxx

Exactly, agree completely. That's what I ment to say. I apologise "Bails/Nyk situation" was too strong a term . May have to play my "english isn't my first language card here"

sophiesmum_2

Good evening frunchkins:D

Had a bad day at work today and then came home to be greeted by DD with two letters from college re - eductational trips.
Three day trip to London in December for a philosophy conference ( also taking in cinema, meals in leicester square and Grease musical) at a mere £200:eek: plus spends for shopping in covent garden:rolleyes:
Four day trip to visit Auschwitz concentration camp etc in February £370 :eek: :eek:
Whatever happened to the good old days of £7 for the safari park???

Actually the Auschwitz visit is one that I have always wanted to make myself, and I can appreciate that it will be an educational and moving experience, so out of the two am happier to fork out for that than the London trip.
DD has offered to have the London trip for Birthday and Xmas as she really wants to go.

Have decided to crack open the £2 coin savings pot and see what is in there, it is quite heavy so who knows. But either way she will have to save her own spending money.:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

trex170104

Ok thanks to a very helpful and stern message from Nyk I've tried to re-wrok my budget a bit better. I've decided as my original budget was WAY over £4000 I will also include the £10 child tax credit we get every week so my baby extras are now £1497 [rounded up to £1500 for ease], which means my overall yearly budget can be increased to £5500 so I'm going to see if I can make this work. I have also removed our life insurance as technically this is linked to my mortgage and it is essential, so that will save me a little bit too. Here goes...

2009 Budget for 2 adults and a toddler

Essentials
Buildings and Contents Insurance: £227 (maybe I can get cashback on this next year but i've just renewed it with my original supplier and knocked them down by £163 so can't complain)
Gas: £348
Electricity: £600
Home phone, virgin media and broadband: £432 (Fixed rate on the contract but this does include free calls 24/7 so I just have to make sure I don't dial any mobiles or 0870/0845 numbers - have been using saynoto0870.com)
TV Licence: £145 (have changed this to next years rates)
Two mobiles on contract: £240
Food shopping: £1200
Dentistry: £48
Contact lenses and check-ups: £250.80
Christmas: £200
Birthdays: £200
Total: £3890.80 [£109.20 remaining]

Baby extras covered by CB and CTC [£1500]
DS Trust Fund: £180
Baby extras: £300
New clothes for DS: £100
Money to take DS out in the week: £400
Money for family days out: £400
Total: £1380 [£120 remaining]

Other extras
New clothes for OH and I: £200
Holidays: £300
Cash for any extras/treats: £1440
Total: £1940 [£229.20 carried over from the other two sections, but still £1710.80 to find]

Therefore if I work with this budget I'll have to call my annual budget £5710 plus £1500 cb and ctc so a grand total of: £7210.

Well it's a start, I plan to make as much extra money as possible next year which I will use towards covering the defecit, but even by cutting our budget to this much we will be over £300 in credit from just my OH's wages every month which if we save could be £3600 over a year which is just the right amount for another ISA so I'm very happy with this.

THANKS SO MUCH NYK you really kicked me into action!

Marru

Good evening all,

I also am suffering from tooth ache. The slight nagging flared today into cruciating agony. I have number to call tomorrow morning and there is a very strong chance that I can get it sorted tomorrow. Meanwhile off to get some painkillers.

Had a very weird call today. Will get back to that later... as need to go now

cw18

sophiesmum wrote: »

Actually the Auschwitz visit is one that I have always wanted to make myself, and I can appreciate that it will be an educational and moving experience, so out of the two am happier to fork out for that than the London trip.

The Auschwitz is the one I think I'd be more likely to agree to pay for as well...... it's a very special piece of history, and I think it's important that the youngsters of today understand it all (not that I'm anywhere near old enough to have " been around" then, but it was also never covered when I was at school and I do feel we really missed out as it's more important than some of the stuff we did cover!)

Janey51

Wow :eek: What a busy little thread this has been today.

I have got my Christmas Puds steamed :j Now, I know I could buy bog standard el cheapo puds but my Christmas offerings have become staple fare in the family and I have to do them.
I , too , have been a busy bee

trex170104

You're right Janey it has been a busy thread day today. I love homemade xmas pudding, or homemade any cake tbh, I never buy the cheap shop ones I always make all my own cakes, biscuits, bread etc. That's what my mum did and she taught me well haha!! It is amazing actually how much this does save too in the long run and you know exactly what has gone into the food. Mum and I have the best recipe for mincemeat too - it came from a free leaflet from The Morning years ago but it is lush, I have to be on a major diet from now so that I can gorge over xmas, otherwise none of my clothes will fit haha!!
xx

lyndasharp

Marru, hope your tooth settles down quickly! Touch wood, I've been pretty lucky with dentist type stuff - my last checkup was 2 years ago (after not going for over 10 years) only to be told I was totally fine. At that rate I make it about another 9 years before I bother with another visit....

Good news day today as HSBC have finally decided I can have a bigger mortgage to make up for the missing Icesave deposit. The local branch were being really awkward about it over the phone, insisting I had to go in, saying i probably wouldn't be allowed the extra, they wouldn't take into account the Icesave money and generally being very annoying. One chat to their head office over lunch today, and it was all sorted out by the now very friendly mortgage advisor at the branch within 3 hours of my call, without me having to go in. :j Not that I'm too overjoyed about having a £20k bigger mortgage, but it means I can safely carry on with the purchase without being worried about my money not getting to me in time.

The Bank of Dad is visiting this weekend to have a look at the house. Hope he likes it... Though now I've got a bigger mortgage agreed I could probably pay back his help with the deposit when Icesave pay up.