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

thriftylass

nickynoo08 wrote: »

Can anyone help please? You've all inspired me and i want to start growing herbs and chillis in my kitchen on my window sil. Have only got a tiny back yard - litteraly just big enough for wheelie bin:rotfl: . Do i need anything special or can i just go right ahead n plant them (when i get them next week) i've never grown anything before in my life so be gentle:o.

I don't have a garden either and I've grown chillies, tomatoes (bushy small plants this year, not the 9 ft monster again ), herbs, salad and garlic inside (windowsill or where there was space) or am trying again this year as I started to late last year.

I got a simple propagator and those little soil chushion thingies from B&Q to start the seeds off. When they were about an inch tall I planted them in pots with standard compost. Only my tomatoes and chilies get some extra liquid food when there fruiting.

There are loads of websites out there about what else you can easily grow inside.

Thanks to those for the sprouting reminder. I've not sprouted pulses etc in ages but think I should start again as a cheap source of vitamins etc. Plus I love the taste.

2NDTIMEROUNDER

Hello to all frugal minds.

I think I will have to sadly admit defeat myself in keeping up with this post as it is growing exponentially, which is good, but not for dyslexic me By the time I get home every evening I need more than an hour to catch up and by that time I have no energy to post anything.:o

Plus the way the reply function is formulated one cannot keep a note of the previous posts that wishes to reply/add to, so for each quote of a former post wishing to be included you need to add a new post, therefore it will add to the whole problem of the massiveness of the thread.


I definitely think that it will have to be split in months the way things are going otherwise it is impossible to keep up with. I am sure NYK will make the best decision re this matter. Most probably the volume will fall off during later months but it will be way much bigger than last year s quarterly thread.

============================================================================
Spending wise I have not fallen off the wagon yet and I hope this shall continue the same way. I have been through the storage room I have most of my belongings since I had to rent out my flat and I have found massive amounts of clothes still unopened and unused. I guess that is a good thing as I will have most of my clothing needs covered for at least 2-3 years. And yes I am disgusted with my previous spending habits.:eek: Still, I am thankful though as I have finally seen the light.

Needles to say that even after one single week I have managed to start saving good money that otherwise would have vanished in thin area. What a stupid and shallow man I have been. :mad:


Plus I have started giving regularly to a couple of charities (set up direct debits). Have wanted to do this for ages but never did! Another failing of mine which will change.Sorry to have rumbled on ....Forgive me.:cool:

And last but not least a thought for us all:

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than attempting to satisfy them.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]John Stuart Mills[/FONT]

bails

Thanks Shelley, I have tried both of those but no joy. Appreciate your help though.

Good advice about opening the thread in 2 windows to be able to reply more easily purplevamp - I do this when I remember but will try to do it more.
2ndtimerounder, you can quote several posts in one post...but I can't tell you how to do it as I haven't managed it myself yet I know someone can explain it though (think SF has before) and then we can both have a go at it Thanks for the quote. Don't worry about not keeping up with the thread at the mo, the important thing is to keep up with your finances, just as you are doing :T No point beating yourself up about past spending habits, simply celebrate the new you!
EDIT: Freeing up some PM space now peeps!
EDIT: WOOOOHOOOOOO! I've just had a confirmation email to say that my Masters is definitely running this Feb (been repeatedly delayed since Sept) and best of all, this module (a third of it) is FREE! Would cost £1325!!! *insert dancing smiley please Nyk or BB* :j:T:D

wornoutmumoftwo

My DD's just been to see the midwife at the docs and she reckons the baby's small:( fundus is measuring 27cm and she said it should be 38, but i've looked online and it said it's roughly 1cm for every week preg, and she's 29 weeks

I wouldn't worry too much, if they want her back in 3 weeks it means they're looking after her and the baby.

Both my boys were 5lb, (tiddlers being the technical hospital term the midwives used), I always had a problem in pregnancy so I was fortunate in that they kept a close eye on me. And if they are worried the baby is small you will proberly find regular scans to keep an eye and more care and attention than if she was carrying the correct sized baby.

sophiesmum_2

Bails - your pm box is full up :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Good afternoon frunchkins:D

Just a quick visit whilst on my lunchbreak, down again at two to do the chair based exercise class with oldies. Chicken house and run arrived this morning:( need to decide what I am going to do with it now currently in two huge boxes stacked in office:rolleyes:


General frugal aims for today;

• more sorting and organising in office
• make a loaf in breadmaker
• make a batch of yoghurt
• reduce, reuse,recycle - been saving all foil over xmas from parties etc - now have carrier bag full to go for guide dogs collection locally.
• do something nice for me - ate last four thorntons chocs.
• do something nice for someone else-organised some paid leave for one of my domestics who is going through bad time family wise.
• try and make time for swim tonight

Todays frugal menu:

• 2 x satsumas and handful seeds and nuts
• batch cooked split pea and ham soup, houmous and sprouts on HM seeded bread
• batch cooked shepherds pie, carrots, sprouts, runner beans all from freezer

Fruit and veg portions;
2 fruit, 1 pulses, 5 veggies,:D

Expenditure or additional income
No spend day planned.

HH62

I am back from Lidl and the farm shop. So much for my £30 limit...spent £50.49 in Lidl and £2.74 at the farm shop. Haven't added into spending diary yet so not sure how I'm doing for the month but I know it's not good...:mad:

I did stock up a lot in Lidl but I actually find Aldi to be a lot cheaper these days. So I think I'll be sticking to Aldi from now on.
I do tend to spread my grocery shopping out over Lidl/Aldi, Mr T, and ..um...Waitrose and M & S....I know what I like from each place and buy accordingly.

Got a nice chilli con carne bubbling away on the hob - I added chick peas to it, like Jamie does in Ministry.Also chucked in a couple of handfuls of lentils. I'm hoping to get a lot of portions out of it and I'll freeze them.

Marru

Hello,

I said I won't be back until tomorrow but here I am. I am sooo proud of myself. I was going to the shop and really really wanted some comfort food i.e. chocolate. But I bought some freshly baked babs and ham to go with my lunch soup and it was yummy and much better for me than chocolate. Cost a bit more but on the other hand I still have plenty left :j.

To do multiple quotations in same post:

Open the thread in two windows. One to read and one to reply. Then when you want to quote, press quote button in the read window, copy and paste quote to the reply window, go back to the read window, press arrow to previous page and ta da you can carry on reading and can go back to the other window to comment. Repeat when necessary.

boring_beige

Thank you Sophies mum and Brighton belle for answering my question.
Thanks to Frizzel81, you reminded me to charge my phone.
I don't know if anyone is interest but in MrM i was spotted some duvets.
king size 13.5 tog labeled 10.99
double 13.5 tog labeled 9.99 but there was a post saying 8.99
single 13.5 tog according to the leaflet at the till 6.82
they didn't have the single i wanted, prehaps next week if i'm really lucky.
I really have to go and make my biscuits now.

Vixstar

Just a quick one...BAILS the site is www.knittingforums.co.uk They should be able to tell you whether the jumper is feltable and how to felt it.

Brighton_belle

General frugal/simplifying aims for today;(copyright SM:D )

• Batch cook huge cottage pie in remoska to freeze portions
• Clear/declutter project table
• start on next mosaic project - been finding it difficult to get on with this as a priority
• Fill bag for charity shop

Old smeg oven has been taken by a delighted freecyler, so everyone's happy:D
Two other freecycle items to go today:j .
4 items up on ebay:j

Sprouting seeds: I use an old cafetierre to do mine - after initial soak, tip upside down so mesh/ sieve bit filters out the water, then lies on its side on kitchen windowsill. Works really well for mixed sprouting. Easy way to try it all out if you haven't tried it before.

I totally agree with general posting suggestions incl editing posts etc, plus working at keeping the warmth & support that makes this a great place to be.
Grandma - genius re the woolly jumper thing. Bails is making a good guineapig:D .
Sorry no suggestions re C bails - a horrid horrid condition:(

OH has just really suprised me - the sweetie is a bit of a negative doom & gloom merchant but has just suggested we need to make an effort this year to search out little symbols of hope in life to offset the difficult year it is looking to be (general economic forcast plus he's unemployed at 50 & it's not looking good so far). So I've willing agreed (I was doing it already but I want to help him do so) and will work at us both keeping to this.