Fire Fox's Debt-Free in 2009 Diary

Fire_Fox

After a full days work (pretty much nine to five!) I have curtains and fairy lights in my living area and about six square feet of floor space in the [STRIKE]glory hole[/STRIKE] dining room/ home office/ crash space. My flat is a generous 55 square metres PLUS a big store cupboard, so why is it always untidy??

My name is Fire Fox and I am hoard-aholic.

Shoe_Gal

Well done for sticking with - I would have given up after a couple of hours

Fire_Fox

£10 from Tesco is finally payable and £38 from PlusNet has tracked on Topcashback, giving me a total of £87 to come. Also claimed a £10 Amazon voucher from Valued Opinions making £38 on account, which I am trying NOT to spend so I can run down my savings a bit!

Just bought myself a Black & Blum wine rack at £23, a Zack bottle opener £10 and a Sagaform milk jug/ sugar bowl £20 all via Amazon, clicking through for Nectar points. :cool:

Fire_Fox

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Just checked and the second quarterly reward for the Nielsen software has finally tracked on my Valued Opinions account, but says "£2 upon completion and £3 after 6 months on panel"??

Checked all my survey accounts and bizarrely I now have a £3 'Application Q3 reward' which I think is for Nielsen so nooooo clue what the above is?! Did six hours of overtime today and, after muchos nagging, Mr. Fire Fox has paid the council tax so I have duly applied for my 25% single occupancy discount. :beer:

Completed a survey for Valued Opinions worth £2.50 and my best mate has given me the heads up about a fitness job at her workplace! :j I don't hold all the qualifications they ask for but will still apply on the off chance.

Fire_Fox

Christmas shopping ... a gorgeous elm cheese board from Ecocentric to match the recipient's existing fruit bowl, £59 delivered having found a 15% discount code online! :money: Also bought myself a Blomus waiters' friend for £20.

Just discovered my last phone bill was £32, twice the usual! :mad: All sorts of reasons - gone over my texts, rung some 08 numbers and had a £5 loyalty bonus expire. Can't renegotiate my contract until February but at least I have ordered a landline so 08 numbers will be cheaper.

In the process of making 'storecupboard soup': onions, frozen sweetcorn, dried broth mix, beef bouillon paste, garlic, sherry.

Fire_Fox

I've been shortlisted for a focus group in London, paying £50 plus travel and accommodation ... keep your fingers crossed for me! :beer:

claire0788

And accommodation ! That sounds good !

Fire_Fox

It could be fun, I am known for corrupting people into getting absolutely hammered, gotta be someone else up for a night out! If not my brother lives in London ...

Back from a mega mission to both Tesco (£43 after £7 conditional spend, 160 points) and Asda (£21); I am quite amazed my kitchen cupboards haven't fallen off the wall!! Expensive items were:

Tesco Luxury cat food £3 (offer)
Feline Fayre 10 tins £5 (offer)
Extra Special frozen sausages 2 bags £3 (offer)
Four blocks healthy cheese £5 (offer)
Free range eggs x15 £2.50
Pink salmon 2 large tins £3
Pilchards 3 large tins £2
Kidney beans 5 tins £1
Chickpeas 12 tins £4 (offer)
Baked beans 10 tins £2.90
Tinned tomatoes 8 tins £2.70
Orange or lemon squash 8 bottles £3.50
Mini red wine x4 £4
Two loaves Finest bread £2 (offer)
Two multipacks healthy crisps £2.50 (offer)
Two large bags golden sultanas £7
Four packs other dried fruit £3.30

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Now at £74/£100 for the grocery challenge including the £10 on raw cat food which arrived today. I really really REALLY do not need any more than than a few bits of fruit and dairy for the rest of this month and next! Of course I still have several £5 Tesco conditional spend vouchers, so alcohol it is then!! :beer:

Bowski_1011

I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya Fire Fox but.... What's a focus group?

Fire_Fox

Errrr .... a guided brainstorming session ... errrr ...Wikipedia explains it soooo much better than I could! :rotfl:
"A focus group is a form of qualitative research in which a group of people are asked about their attitude towards a product, service, concept, advertisement, idea or packaging. Questions are asked in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members."

Meal planning with the above plus existing stocks ...
Huevos rancheros
Spanish omelette
Mixed bean curry
Cheese, spinach and mushroom lasagne
Savoury bread and butter pudding
Brocolli, cauliflower and potato bake
Sausage and lentil casserole
Thai green curry with chicken and noodles
Minestrone soup
Maybe some lentil or kidney bean pate a la Weezl74.