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

2NDTIMEROUNDER

Hello to all.

I have managed to pick up myself by this afternoon. Thank you to everybody who have offered a kind word, it has helped immensely!

JennyBee wrote: »

:rotfl: I'm sure I'm going to need all the help I can get to take over the world so you're all safe! It's basically the plan that means I don't have to go back to work at the hell hole aka pit of despair after maternity leave. It's a combination of not spending any more money than necessary along with making money wherever possible! At the moment that's selling cards/gift wrap etc and starting going to farmers markets with chutney, jam, cakes etc. Found a recipe for lemon curd yesterday and never realised it was so easy so that's my next thing to try for!

JennyBee wrote: »

Oh...and of course selling all my worldly possessions at car boot sales!! It's really not that exciting unfortunately

Are you looking for a business partner JennyBee for the farmers markets??I am good with cooking and have financial and human capital available plus time to make it a success. Good business mind and full of ideas, as well! You are not close to Reading by any chance are you??:rotfl: I have wanted to do this for ages but its no fun doing it alone. I have tried to entice friends and family in the past to join me but they all considered it beneath them. :eek: Get back if we are living close by. I am not kidding.:D

On another front, I have put in a huge order (circa 100 pounds) with Approved Foods today mainly for stockpiling. Some of those prices and quality items plus the huge quantities involved for the price are plainly amazing. I will just need to find the space to store everything, I suspect it will be almost half a tonne.:T Thank you to the first forum member who has suggested this site.
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I have sourced this simple step by step guide on Budgeting by Maureen Callahan. I hope someone finds it useful.

Make a running list of what you spend for one month. Include these categories: food, gas, mortgage/rent, utilities, miscellaneous (entertainment, dinners out, clothing, personal care items, tuition.) Save receipts. Write down every single penny you spend.

1. Document all annual expenses. Auto insurance, home insurance, medical costs (prescriptions, doctor visits, health insurance), planned vacations, and savings. Divide these expenses by twelve. This is the amount you will need to set aside monthly for annual items.
2. Set up a basic budget worksheet. At the top of the page list monthly spendable income; that’s your gross income minus taxes and automatic payroll deductions. Underneath, line by line, list each monthly expense from steps one and two. Next, add up monthly expenses and subtract them from your spendable income. If there’s a surplus, good. Tuck it away in savings. If the balance is negative, look back to your running list and figure out where to make cuts. Three good places to cut: the food budget, annual items (travel) or the miscellaneous category.
3. Put aside money every month for savings and emergencies. If you’re paid weekly or bi-weekly stash the extra checks (it will be either two or four each year) into savings. If you’re paid monthly, allot money to savings using your budget worksheet.
4. Revise your worksheet. Expenses change and so do spending habits. Refer to your budget worksheet frequently to see where you can pinch more pennies, particularly at the supermarket. If necessary, repeat step one periodically so that you don’t lose track of where your money goes.

PLUS Supermarket Savings Tricks

Take a quick inventory of your cart before hitting the check out. Remove impulse items. Do you really need that giant bag of chips? The candy? It’s easy to pick up items you want (but don’t really need) as you wander store aisles.

SiannieLaz

Afternoon All,
just found out my exhaust is falling off and I need 4 new tyres :mad: that combined with my MOT and tax due next month means my savings have gone up the swaneee!! On the bright side, my old landlord just called me to say a blu-ray player has been delivered to my old house!! I must have won it, although I don't know why it was sent there. I've been looking them up on ebay and they sell for about £150 which will offset the car costs abit - a neutral day rather than a bad one!!!
Anyhoo, can't post from home for some reason so have a fab weekend all, and no spending :rotfl:
xxx

SmlSave

Afternoon and ((hugs)) to those who need them.

the_cat - I am in awe of your whoopsie round! I generally manage to get to Mr A's in time for the whoopsies but the onlt other place within walking distance is Mr M and I admit I'm lazy :rolleyes:
Janey51 - Congrats on the Matalan shop, I may have to pop along The fog seems to have lifted here, hope it is brighter where you are too
nykmedia - are the fruit canes in? I am kicking myself now for not picking up some cheaply in November! Let us know how they get on.
Marru, candygirl, In Search Of Me - Congrats on the NSD's!
Bail and Skint Lynne - I'm shattered too, must be something in the air. Really don't want to go to the gym tonight but I must, I must!

Well the freezer is full but the fridge is not so we'll have to go shopping soon for fresh veg. I could probably get by a few more days on the frozen veg but the selection is rather limited. Thankfully we're getting fed round a friends tomorrow night - I might make an apple pudding to take over to free up some fridge space:p

We spent a fiver on the pub yesterday - horrid flat drinks - but was nice to see all our friends.

We're off to see wedding venues this weekend - wish us luck!

Hope you all have a good weekend.

skintwellie

Hi fellow fruglers!

Big hugs to all that need them and congrats to all those keeping in budget:j .
Went to the doctor today and have been signed off sick for another month:eek: :eek: :eek: . Managing to feed 3 of us (sometimes 4) plus 2 large dogs and 2 cats on SSP is almost impossible. We are an all electric house and it costs £35.00 - £40.00 per week!!! on the prepayment meter.

Have been to Bank of Dad:o again! to see us through until I can return to work.

Have spent today entering loads of comps, batch cooking for the freezer and putting in my second order with Approved Foods.

The post brought another comp win (meal out to the value of £50 at a local restaurant) and my free box from Graze which was very nice and extremely healthy. Next weeks box is half price (£1.49) and then I will cancel it.

Have sold two books on Amazon - the money is going in my Christmas Market fund as my sister and I are determined to go to the German Christmas markets this year.

Have a good (frugal) day everyone.

sewbocushions

Hi Everyone, well done so far. I'm really struggling. I've only got £26 for food for the rest of the month and I've spent double my (£17.21) for 'other' things already! My problem is that i've re-joined Slimming World as I have LOADS of weight to lose and I don't know how to feed myself on their suggested food plus the 2 kids on £26 a week! Have any of you done the 4K challenge and stuck to SW at the same time - can it be done? Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated.
Love Bo xx

candygirl

SEWBOCUSHIONS I vaguely recall making a pastryless quiche on SW with eggs, cottage cheese and onions, but can't find the recipe

dND

I've come to the conclusion I'm losing it. I was really good and kept to only farm and house stuff on my trip to the shops but but the shop no longer had the shower unit I wanted. In my mind the 10% off voucher was linked to the shower unit; no shower unit so I forgot to use the voucher. Anyone got a spare brain out there?

The shop didn't have all the things I need so I'll go to another branch tomorrow and I will remember to use it this time :rotfl:

I hope everyone's had a good day today.
Deborah

JennyBee_2

2NDTIMEROUNDER wrote: »

Are you looking for a business partner JennyBee for the farmers markets??I am good with cooking and have financial and human capital available plus time to make it a success. Good business mind and full of ideas, as well! You are not close to Reading by any chance are you??:rotfl: I have wanted to do this for ages but its no fun doing it alone. I have tried to entice friends and family in the past to join me but they all considered it beneath them. :eek: Get back if we are living close by. I am not kidding.:D

I would love to but am in the wilds of Somerset so a bit far unfortunately...although....we could join forces and start a UK takeover bid I know what you mean about people thinking it's beneath them. I personally love anything HM and would much rather get a hamper of good local produce than some rubbish bought from a shop (I don't mean to sound ungrateful but I have enough "stuff" already!) I'm a foodie person and would treat myself to that before anything electronic or gadgety!

I managed to convert a couple of colleagues at work before Christmas I think... they were all making fudge, little christmas puds, chocolate covered stem ginger etc for hampers. Luckily I managed to sell them some chutney before they made it themselves!! Now I'm on maternity leave I'm determined to try and make a go of it properly. At least just for a bit of extra money

Half the battle is finding like minded people...

tryingtodobetter

DH just gone out to get me something for my birthday tomorrow, I steered him in the direction of stationary as (I love it) it will come in handy for Uni and all my frugal plans once I finish Uni.

Does anyone on here know anything about buying shares? Fed up with the interest rates being so carp and thought I might buy a few shares to try my luck.

Hugs, congrats and well dones to all that need them.

TTDB.x.

savingfortravel

Thanks for the wonderful lemur pictures Skint-Chick.. they are so cute!!

Aims for today

• Positive Mental Attitude -A bit of a downer towards end of the day..but lemurs cheered me up. Going to my Murder Evening soon..am a bit tired but hopefully I find energy.
• F not F-Exercise Bike/Sit Ups/Arm Lifts -All done
• F not F-More fruit and Veg -Salad for lunch. Baked beans for snack tea..do they count as veg??
• F not F-Non Choc Day No. 6-Oh it was so close when I felt down..the chocolates were calling me from the staff room so I put one in my pocket. Its still there... Aren't you proud of me!!!

Looking forward to catching up with you all tomorrow. Can't decide whether to have Saturday or Sunday off (from school work.. so much to do). What do you all think?

Take care SFT