Live on £4000 for a Year, 2009 Challenge, part 1

purplevamp

Happy New Year everyone! Since the beginning of the year I've had 2 NSDs, nearly 3 but the gas/elec and tv licence DDs came out and DH insisted he went to Mr S today for a few bits, I tried really hard not to let him go, but it'll save us going during the week, and we're off to a family wedding in 10 days, so it'll just tide us over. He spent £32.06, so I let him off . My Mum popped round with some frozen bits as she's got a new freezer and was decluttering. An unopened apple strudel roll and some pain au chocolat were some of the goodies :j . I've planted some more chillies as my last lot grew really well. I've also got some broad beans taking over the kitchen, they're about 2ft now :eek: . Does anyone know if you have to "pinch them off" like you do with tomatoes or do you leave them to get on with it? Also I heard they like the frost, is this true?? I'm reluctant to put them outside in case they die. Any advice would be greatly received.

savingfortravel

Bails-Trying to send PM SFT

sophiesmum_2

Good afternoon frunchkins:D

Well the carrots are no more;)

Huge vat of lentil and carrot soup simmering away on hob, 2 dozen carrot muffins in freezer, 6 meal sized bags of blanched chopped carrots in freezer, and slowcooker simmering away with 6.5 litres of stew - (lots of carrots,ham stock, rice, diced ham from xmas,dried onions and dried peppers -done in dehydrator over summer.) and remoska is on with BB's sweet treat recipe;) . Just shredded some carrots and tossed with chickpeas in vinaigrette dressing to have with tuna pasta salad for tea.

DD also nabbed a few for frugal pony and cw took some home last night so not bad for £1:j

Haven't tackled the sprouts yet but intend to make a start later.

No bargains at costco this morning - used £1 coupon from passport off box of satsumas so they only cost £1.99, that's all though.

Have been swimming and also for a walk through woods (my fun thing for today) so that is my fitter not fatter contribution for today.

sammey90

Just finished working on my 4k/Yr Budget, which is going to be 4500, cos I'm a bit soft!!

Most of my bills etc go straight out of the bank (cos i'm a bit forgetful!), and I will take out cash at the beginning of the month for other stuff, and once it's gone, it's gone!

I've worked out that as well as the regular debt payments, I have a nice lump of £150 each month that I can use to reduce debts, so that's £1800 for the year on top of regular payments.

Question : Am I better to pay £150 off one debt per month, each in turn, or spread it around?

Thanks, Sarah x

cw18

Re: freezing onions. I just chop and bag. Haven't had a problem with them smell so far, and I've been doing this about 4 months now I'd never fry them first, as I dry fry all my meat and rely on the fat coming out of the meat to cook the onions.....


Re: Stick blenders. I had one some years ago (pretty certain it was a Braun) and couldn't do a thing with it Gave it to my SIL when hers gave up the ghost, and manage much better with a proper blender these days. As long as I remember to strip and clean it as soon as I finish using it I'm more than happy to stick with this method

sophiesmum_2

sammey90 wrote: »

Just finished working on my 4k/Yr Budget, which is going to be 4500, cos I'm a bit soft!!

Most of my bills etc go straight out of the bank (cos i'm a bit forgetful!), and I will take out cash at the beginning of the month for other stuff, and once it's gone, it's gone!

I've worked out that as well as the regular debt payments, I have a nice lump of £150 each month that I can use to reduce debts, so that's £1800 for the year on top of regular payments.

Question : Am I better to pay £150 off one debt per month, each in turn, or spread it around?

Thanks, Sarah x

I would pay it off the one with the highest interest first, then work on the others.
Unless you have smaller debts which could be eliminated with a payment in which case that would give you a psychological boost

LollopyBear

Went to B&Q earlier to get some carpet tiles for the bathroom. We had £50 worth of vouchers leftover as a wedding gift from 2007. The tiles came to £41ish, then we got a carpet joiner and some new secateurs (I'd completely busted mine) so total spend was £2.68.

Then popped to Mr Ts to get bits for dinner and some more bread flour - £4.21. (Still haven't started menu planning but DH is very keen on sorting all the food shopping/cooking etc. once I'm back at work).

Also stopped off at the train station to get my monthly season ticket for tomorrow so I didn't get caught in the huge queues as all the communters renew their tickets. I knew that they were going up by at least 6% but it turned out to be 10% :eek! From £82.30 to £90.30.

Hi Andromache, I forgot that you were in Cambridge I do sympathise about the lack in the town centre, but I'm still super glad that Mill Road is Mr Ts free!

Skint_chick - your pizza sounds very yummy. I hadn't thought about using a ciabatta base for pizza before.

Bails and all others who are sickly - I hope you feel better soon!

cw18

sammey90 wrote: »

Question : Am I better to pay £150 off one debt per month, each in turn, or spread it around?

Thanks, Sarah x

Find out which is the most expensive (highest interest rate) and keep paying extra to that one until its cleared -- then move on to the highest of the remaining ones

Marru

bails wrote: »

(why is there no smiley for praying? :rotfl:)...

Masomnia

I agree with Sophie's mum, you'll pay it off faster if you tackle the one with the highest APR first.

On watering down milk, I plan to start doing that this year! I live with five other guys, so as you can imagine we get through a fair amount. Sixteen pints in four days I think may be the record. We go communal on it too... and some of us do use it more than others, though those who use it most buy more. Anyway, I think I'll start just doing it 1:10 and work up from there, and not tell anyone It'll be interesting to see if they notice!