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

lilac_lady

Didn't go shopping yesterday after all. I couldn't find the combination that unlocks my purse.... I'm going to Mr A's tonight after 5pm to see if I can get some whoopsies. Wonder how many other MSE=ers will be there too? Perhaps we should have badges so that we recognise each other and don't start fighting over whoopsies in the aisles?.........

Frugaldom

Hi guys, apologies for double posting but it's only way I have any chance of keeping up inbetween work etc

Just spent a tenner signing up to $un B!ng0 to get £20 cashback from oily hand. It seemed like too good an offer to miss as the chance of doubling my money is something I like, especially without too much of a gamble. The £12.50 cashback from Butl!ns site has cleared, so I should be able to make it to minimum amount for payment if $un tracks. It also gave me free £10 to play with, so an extra chance of winning. They have free bingo but you need a code from newspaper, which I don't get. Might be handy for anyone who is saving the holiday vouchers, though

Sausage casserole that cooked overnight in sc looks fine to me, if a bit much for 3 of us. I'm guessing now that, instead of making space in the freezer, I am actually going to refill thar freezer gap with extra portions of casserole! :rotfl: I like this meal planning game already! I did add a tin of mixed pulses rather than baked beans because hiding them in things is the only way I can get the others to eat them. :cool:

Planning on a long walk later to collect extra sticks for fire as it is so cold here. Was in for cuppa with neighbour this morning and coalman told her prices going up again, so I may bite the bullet and top up the coal bunker this month rather than waiting until it's empty. Hmm... trouble is that I want to move it along a bit to make space for the tool store to go in that corner :rolleyes: I'm guessing that I need to get that done sooner rather than later and will phone the coalman to see when prices are due to change. Sounds like garden work needs fitting in today rather than housework.

Skint_Lynne

lilac_lady wrote: »

Didn't go shopping yesterday after all. I couldn't find the combination that unlocks my purse.... I'm going to Mr A's tonight after 5pm to see if I can get some whoopsies. Wonder how many other MSE=ers will be there too? Perhaps we should have badges so that we recognise each other and don't start fighting over whoopsies in the aisles?.........

It can be a dangerous mission, whoopsie hunting. I have actually been pushed out of the way in the early days, but I'm working on it. I have found if you chat to fellow whoopsie hunters, it can break the ice a bit.:p I got some nice cheeses last week and a load of puff pastry at the weekend. I saw 4 pints of organic milk last night for 10p, but I don't use a lot of milk, so no use to me unfortunately. I still need to practice a fair bit, but I'm getting there. Be careful in your quest, I wish you success!!!

Frugaldom

Agreeing with SL, I've been pushed out of the way and verbally abused (to put it mildly :eek: ) in my quest for the best bargains - both times by pensioners who seemed to reckon that their needs were greater than mine. At least that's what I construed from their colourful verbalisation of the situation. :rotfl: Perhaps it's best not to try bargain hunting on pension payment days as it is turning into a dangerous sport in some places.

mumzyof2

I just got back from town - adams had shut down already!

Drew £50 out of bank and got loads of meat from market for £20 spent £2 on a top from peacocks. £3.30 on a taxi. But the rest in my sealed pot and have £15 left. So spent £35 today.
Im counting in my sealed pot money as at end of year il then deduct total from my overall spends this year.

HH62

Well I'm back - I spent £4.20 on my bus fare and £21.17 in Aldi on food mostly, but also I did buy a bottle of wine Looks like a nice shiraz and was £4.49 so by Aldi standards it was fairly pricey !!

I also indulged my stationery thing and bought a pack of 3 Spiral Notebooks - for writing my lists in

I went into Iceland, for the first time in about twenty years, but didn't buy anything. Made notes of some prices to compare to Mr T - the frozen veg certainly looks cheaper, as does the tuna, but I don't buy very many ready meals so I'm not sure if Iceland will be worth a regular visit...off to check Mr T's website to do price comparisons.

Just wondering if any of you keep a price notebook? I've heard about this idea and never got round to doing it...

Just checked my stats for the month so far - budget £600/Spent £260.64/Remaining £339.36. Still got a lot of DD's to come out yet, and it's only the 6th of the month ...eeek :eek:

Just remembered I got a spare key cut too - so that was £3.50..need to redo my figures.
New figure Remaining £331.66 - forgot to add bus fare to above...MUST get a spreadsheet sorted asap.

findingmyfeet

hi all,
well had to go shopping this morning but was armed with list and menu plan. Bought exactly what i needed (first time ever) and stocked up on branston beans- on offer 4 pack 75p in MrM. Promised myself a magazine if i could stay under £50- got my mag as amazingly spent £38.00(and a few pence but cant recall exact figure without the receipt). I am so chuffed with that. I had allowed £50 at the supermarket and upto £15 at the butchers. After my mag i still have over £14 left and only maybe friut to get at the weekend. Good start for me.
In town also bought a food flask for ds to take soups for lunch at college and about half the seeds i need ready for planting over the next month or two. Lots of wilkinsons own brand seeds are 50p a pack, so will get the other half i need next week and veggies look out here i come! lol.
Paid everything out for the week, food, busfares, seeds, xmas savings etc only need a lottery ticket now and keep away from town as much as possible to avoid temptation.

sophiesmum_2

Had confirmation from my area manager and I am not allowed to have my chickens, more flippin red tape and H & S "guidelines" from head office after the avian flu thing:mad: :mad: :mad: ...... pah!!!!

Feeling really , really fed up now. The chicken run I ordered is due to be delivered this week - so now either need to sell it on or maybe keep it for future use. We have recently had a change to our work contracts which mens we could live out if we wished with a small increase in salary....... feel so fed up I have been looking for houses to rent locally.... I found one nearby for £450 month which would be okay and it allows pets etc too.... OH doesn't like the idea but I am getting fed up of having limitations put on my leisure time/lifestyle by living here even though the accomodation etc is a good perk to my job

Not a happy bunny today at all, off to do my chair based exercse class with the oldies but feeling very grumpy . Will post again later when I have chilled out a bit.

findingmyfeet

ah sophiesmum- you sound real disappointed. hope you can find a solution some how. is there anywhere nearby you could use/rent or anyone with a spot of space on an allotment or something. We have lots of space but loads of trouble with foxes, last lot of chickens ripped apart even though we had real good fencing. so now we dont have any. hugs to you.

Frugaldom

Oh, Sophiesmum, that is so RUBBISH! I can perfectly understand how you must be feeling as it's such a let down after all the anticipation and excitement. Could you keep them at your allotment?