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

Frugaldom

Good afternoon frunchkin friends

Masomnia, sorry to read about your gran.

It's cold and wet here today so there won't be anything getting done in the garden and I'm really glad that we got the greenhouse moved yesterday. I've been speculating on the whole supermarket 'mysterious disappearance of the cheap stuff' scenario and have decided that I need to make a huge effort to succeed in the stockpiling this year, as we may run out of cheaper alternatives soon. If I prioritise the stockpile whilst taking advantage of any offers, then I might beat this so-called recession in 2009 but what happens next, when all the prices have doubled? :eek:

I'm thinking along the lines of toiletries, cleaning & laundry products, tin foil, cling film and anything else that will practically last forever, like salt, vinegar, cooking oil, sugar. Whilst thinking about how best to tackle this serious possibility of 'no more cheap food', it made me think about the BSE and the Foot & Mouth crises, when families were stuck at home with no access to the outside world other than what they had in store or what neighbours could leave at their gates. So... I am going to treat my home-growing and stockpiling much more seriously from now on, but I just KNOW that my friends and family will consider this the final stage in my pursuit of [STRIKE]madness[/STRIKE] eccentricity. :rotfl: I will get the chickens/quail so we always have eggs, I will grow whatever I can squeeze into this garden and I will stack my cupboards full to overflowing with longterm 'investment come inflation beating' items. Am I mad? Do I care if I am? :rotfl: I'm STILL calling it eccentricity because in a weird sort of a way, as soon as I've used enough of the items equivalent to the price I paid, I'm technically living off the interest without the money being in the bank. Wacky way of thinking, or what?

Bails - Madagascar makes me think of lovebirds. I used to have several varieties of them, although I never got around to keeping Madagascars (My livestock/pet/equine/birdkeeping went way beyond stopping at poultry and game, hence the reason I need to be very careful not to end up going back down the road of every penny going there to the exclusion of almost everything else.:o )

sophiesmum_2

Glad you are having a really upbeat day Bails:j , I might have go at some of the covered notebooks for gifts too. Asda had some really soft lambswool sweaters in pastel colours a while ago for about £5 - reckon you could get 2 large and 2 small notebooks covered out of the body of each sweater and perhaps a few more smaller ones using the sleeves opened up - will have to see if they still have them. So would work out quite cheap overall.

Film show starts at 1pm just having quick break before sorting everyone out
Recycling - have started to sve the rolls now from toilet paper - great for sowing runner beans/broad beans etc, then just transplant whole tube with seedling in, Also need to save a few empty plastic lemonade bottles from oldies - cut longways in half make great little cloches for seedlings, (slugproof;) ), then as plants get bigger cut another bottle in half shortways for two larger single plant covers:D Pity you can't cut lambrusco bottles in half as oldies have gone through about 30 bottles over xmas - large ones!!
Still looking for a way to reuse the net bags that sprouts and carrots were in - may use to keep birds off my fruit bushes, or save to store potatoes in later in year, or may stuff with (nitbone)comfret leaves and soak in water to make a fertiliser liquid - have a huge batch of comfret in grounds.

Better make tracks downstairs:rolleyes: catch up with you all later:D

fizzel81

Hugs Kittikins, i think we all have binging days i know i do

Jd any update on the frozen pipes?

ive so far managed to change the boys bedding, hoover and clean my computer desk out, the ironing is still nagging me but my head is not in it today.

any ideas on passing on a desktop pc? i have my brothers now so still have my old one cluttring up its too good to throw but im reluctant to freecycle as im not having much luck recently with it

JAMIEDODGER

hi guys.... just an update, was one pipe that was frozen the outside tap and it had blocked the pipe to the cold water tap in the kitchen, phoned my HA and a man came round and fixed it...all sorted now thank goodness!:D

wornoutmumoftwo

any ideas on passing on a desktop pc? i have my brothers now so still have my old one cluttring up its too good to throw but im reluctant to freecycle as im not having much luck recently with it

I know you don't like freecycle but my old pc went to a playgroup/after school group who were desperate for one.

angelatgraceland

Trying to actually plan our tea today! Got out some chicken legs to defrost and have the veggies in the steamer ready to put on tonight. Just need to peel some spuds-maybe DS can do that for me! Also thawing out some frozen apple which we had from our tree earlier in the year. Will do a nice crumble. Put the milk I bought yesterday in the freezer as its 1pt bottles so will be really useful when I run out. Also got 2 reduced 2pt goats milk cartons frozen last week-DH looked cockled when I told him to put them in the freezer. I need to fins ways of buying larger amounts/cheaper rice and pulses this year as Im using more and more. Paid for our bees yesterday in full. I hate dealing with new companies though as Im always worried we will lose our money. Approved Foods still shut down-hope my order is safe(and my money)with them. I may actually give the no a ring tomorrow-no date on there as to when they reopen-just "after" the new year. Maybe Im just panicking? No idea as Ive never dealt with them befoe. Now off to cancel Asda order which I no longer need.
Don't be put off of Freeecycle by a couple of bad experiences. Specify what type of group you would like your pc to go to? Always allow 24 hours to gather replies rather than give to the first grabber-not everyone can get online easily. Ask them to include a landline no if they really want it-it stops the timewasters. Any rude replies-just delete.Those are the guidelins I send to my members!

bails

Glad your pipes are sorted now JD (knew there was something I forgot to mention earlier!)
Maybe a charity for a developing country Fizzel? Be sure to wipe everything off the hard drive first though, so none of your details get passed on.

Debating between being a sensible girl and having lunch/getting a rest before my lesson or grabbing a bite and heading to charity shop...I know, but I'm excited! Great spot SM, will keep that in mind if the charity shops don't yield anything x (and thanks for PM, much appreciated xx)
Echo Angel's guidelines and plea not to be put off Freecycle - there may be a small number of people who mistreat the system/are rude but the majority have great intentions.

grandma247

Nykmedia cooking oils and fats do not keep that long about a year at most as they go rancid.
I have thought about the cheap food problem and am just going to keep buying when I see bargains but rotating the stock so the oldest gets used first and if it get too expensive then I will buy less or do without.

Marru

Bails,

If you stay put for now and then go to the charity shop tomorrow you can get company. I have promised DD some Bob the Builder videos. And then afterwards we can sort out your spreadsheet.

Have seen careers advicer and next point of call is my tutor, I will see her shortly so will come back later for proper post.

Marru

Edited: Just got THIS and it made me laugh so thought sharing it with you. Please note I do not want to start a religious debate about this.

redglass_2

FrankieM wrote: »

I found a link to a site about small houses, I've not read through it yet but its really reminded me that my house is big 'enough'.

Hi FrankieM,
haven't caught up with all the posts yet, so maybe you've already posted details, but if not, please can you tell me where to find that site?

Fizzel, while I admire your stockpiling (I do as much as I can) and don't want to rain on your parade, just be a bit careful with the olive oil as it doesn't last forever and goes weird tasting. If you've got enough for more than a year then it might be a good idea to share some of it out with friends.