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

sophiesmum_2

Thanks everyone, have chilled out a bit now about the chooks. Very disppointed as had set my heart on having some but worse things happen i suppose. The allotment share I was supposed to be having with the decking guy still hasn't worked out, he keeps sying he will get it sorted but then goes and dumps lots of old flags and stuff there whilst he is doing jobs so think I will just tell him to forget it, although that site does allow chickens.
Think I will put my name down on the other local lottie sites and see what comes up, I may get my chooks yet .
Having negotiations with OH about the flat versus house thing.
Currently have flat, utilities provided as part of salary, could now move to open market renting and would get about £2,500 extra salary which is obviously not going to cover rent/utilities/ commute costs etc , but would give us more privacy, more "off duty" time and I could even look for a different job possibly within social services with better pay.

Suppose it is all about getting the work/life balance sorted, no point killing myself in another job just to pay for accommodation which I will never be there to enjoy.
Also need to remind myself that I can have the "good Life" wherever I live, it is more a philosophy of how to live my life. Okay so I can't have chickens but I can still enjoy my veggie growing, baking, preserving , batch cooking,stockpiling and simplifying my life whether I' m living here or in the countryside in a house. In fact i can probably enjoy it more as I don't have to worry about rent, electricity costs etc, and we can save more here towards our life in the sun for the same reasons;)

Note to self ...... stop feeling disappointed and sorry for yourself and get on with it!!!!!!!!:o

purplevamp

:j Well done the_cat, your DS will be pleased with that!

I've had a very easy day today, got up about 10.30am (day off), made breakfast and found DH asleep on the sofa, after dropping the children off at school. So i woke him up and shared my toast and tea. I ordered some bus tickets online as it'll save me 60p per day. Also ordered some more "free" return address labels from [EMAIL="V!sta@pr!nt"]V!stapr!nt[/EMAIL]. My old ones have nearly run out and they were in my maiden name, which I've been tippexing out :rotfl: . Had to pay my Littlew00ds bill today, minimum payment was £68.84 :eek: , but I don't get charged interest and I get commission, won't be buying anything (hopefully) this year.

Whilst DH was picking kiddies up from school I listened to my cosmic ordering CD (no sniggering in the back please ). I do think it works, but I've only tried small orders. I also use a chakra clearing cd a couple of times a week before bed, this really helps me relax and sleep better.

Penny2myName

Been a shopping at H0meba$e today ready for after all work on house is done. Got paper for Hall/Stairs/Landing (hope 5 rolls is enough) and Kitchen.

Decorating
Original price/Sale price
Dulux Kitchen 2.5L Soft Stone £18.99 £9.48
HomeBase Flawless Tester pots Pebble £1.49 (for my room)
HomeBase Flawless Tester pots Pebble Beach £1.49(for my room)
HomeBase Flawless Tester pots Bubblegum £1.49(for daughter's room)
HomeBase Flawless Tester pots Jazzberry £1.49(for daughter's room)
Graham & Brown 'Lois' Blue/silver £12.99 £0.50p
Graham & Brown 'Lois' Blue/silver £12.99 £0.50p
Graham & Brown 'Lois' Blue/silver £12.99 £0.50p
Graham & Brown 'Lois' Blue/silver £12.99 £0.50p
Graham & Brown 'Lois' Blue/silver £12.99 £0.50p
Crown Wall coverings Chocolate £7.99 £0.50p
Damask Wall Art £6.99 £0.99 (for daughter's bedroom)
Total £104.88/£19.43

purplevamp

Penny2myName wrote: »

Total £104.88/£19.43

:T That is such a great bargain, well done :T

That's one reason why I don't decorate, the price. And also as I'm trying to save up for a house, I resent spending my money on someone elses house.

candygirl

Hi everyone:hello:
Have had another NSD today, and have pasta bake for tea with HM bread:p
Have been avoiding calls from MBNA again today as they know my situation and have had the letter from CCCS:mad: :mad:
Also went to see my best mates prem baby, he was born in oct and was 2lbs but is now 5lbs and soooo cute:A :A He slept on my chest for ages, must've thought he was on a waterbed:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Just chilling and watching tv tonight:D

taka

Argh... I've just managed to catch up and its time to go! :rolleyes: This working lark is really getting in the way of MSE time :rotfl:

Sorry the chickens aren't possible SM

Nothing much to report here - low spends only but busy and about to get very busy at work so if you don't hear from me for days I'll be about 100 pages back and will have to catch up at the weekend, (possibly for the whole weekend at the rate everyone is posting)! :rolleyes: :rotfl:

Off to see my parents! :T

Frugaldom

Well done, Penny2myname, that sounds like a great day's shopping with all those bargains. I'm not even sure where our nearest H0mebase is, probably about 50 miles from here.

Sausage & bean stew went down a treat and I have enough left to put 2 portions into the freezer.

Greenhouse has now been moved, which means it will have as much full sun as possible during summer, we just need to hope it doesn't blow away before then

Sophiesmum, I would really, really think long and hard before considering renting elsewhere as there are plenty of landlords that leave a lot to be desired, to say the least. With your primary aim being that 100k for Malta, you'd need to rehome the chickens anyway. Perhaps it's a sign! Maybe your Maltese experience could be closer than you think?

cw18

SM - possibly also worth pointing out that just 'cos a place allows pets doesn't mean they'd allow chickens. I own my house, but still can't have chickens -- the deeds state that we're not allowed livestock of any description on the property.

FrankieM

Well dinner is done. It didn't look like slop on a plate but no one wanted seconds, so I guess that's my lunch sorted for a couple of days...does anyone know if I can freeze bubble and squeak? Its made out of defrosted veggies?
Still working my way through the washing and getting children through showers.

Mrs McCawber:How are you doing your weight loss? I really need to get somw weight off but I'm tired of paying for weight loss clubs I don't stick to and prescriptive diets that feel like hard work. I want something easy and normal, if that makes any sense....

LollopyBear

slowlyfading wrote: »

Thanks for your response! What do you teach? I've never heard of that site, but I'll have a browse

I do warn you that it is nearly as addictive as MSE! But lots of information, jobs etc. there.

I teach English and Media studies at secondary school.

HTH!

I spent £1.50 today on a sandwich at the station I'm slightly ashamed as I was meaning to make my own and was in such a tired fog this morning that I couldn't face making anything. Last night I got carried away with sorting Girl Guides stuff out (next week I'm changing from assistant guider with one unit to guider-in-charge at another unit) and ran out of time for making food.