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

Annie021063

I have seen about approved foods and was wondering whether it is worth the postage, do you really save?
Thanks

sammey90

Gill - while I was at my mum's at Christmas, her father-in-law (89) received a letter saying that his direct debit payments were going to be increased to £286 a month!!! No one lives there!! (FIL has moved in with Mum and DH!!) when mum's DH phoned to complain, they offered to reduce it to £100, but he told them to get stuffed.

Masomnia

Good post Skint Lynne.

For me it's just about not wasting money. Why pay 80p for chopped tomatoes that are just as good as the 20p ones? That kind of thing. Part of it's about the environment too, if using less electricity is good for our planet and saves money, then great! I really believe in the value of compounding interest too, a pound saved now and wisely saved/invested is worth a lot more in the future.

So I benefit and so will my future family, if I'm lucky enough to have one.

Frugaldom

Annie021063 wrote: »

I have seen about approved foods and was wondering whether it is worth the postage, do you really save?
Thanks

Depends on what, how much and why you buy, I guess, as it isn't a bargain if you wouldn't normally need it or use it. So far, it's the only food related company that delivers to my area and I have no discount stores nearby.
I'm doing a second order after doing a trial one before Christmas. It's mainly sauces, cereal bars and crisps for DS' packed lunches, but I'm including some jars, tins & washing up liquid and will split the cost over the number of months the stuff lasts me. I count postage & packaging into my transport costs, as I don't own a car, so don't mind paying for that.

Watched both the 'frugal' programmes on TV tonight, was quite amused by the Yorkshire farmer slicing huge slabs of steak for Saturday dinners and was a tad jealous of the wife getting a chainsaw for Christmas. :rotfl: Mr construction worker was funny, I'd have loved to know the whole story of what he and his OH did spend their money on, or else see his bank statement as evidence that his tightwad ways were to enable savings - did I read somewhere that they are getting married soon? Something about a £500 budget? Possibly mixing this up with another story, £500 to get married sounds a lot for Britain's tightest person. :rotfl:

candygirl

NYK I didn't see the prog but saw the tight yorks bloke in the paper, and yea he is getting wed.The woman must be bonkers:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

angelatgraceland

sammey90 wrote: »

Gill - while I was at my mum's at Christmas, her father-in-law (89) received a letter saying that his direct debit payments were going to be increased to £286 a month!!! No one lives there!! (FIL has moved in with Mum and DH!!) when mum's DH phoned to complain, they offered to reduce it to £100, but he told them to get stuffed.

Good on him! We were discussing this very thing at work the other day. Was it by any chance Scottish Power?

Anyone know if ~I can watch tonight programmes on any internet channels anywhere? I missed most of it being on here! Daft-cos it was on in the background and DH was watching it!

purplevamp

Well after watching the whole of the tight person programme, I was a little disappointed as I didn't think they were really that tight, except the farmer who only bought his wife 1 xmas present - a chainsaw:eek: . The whoopsie woman was quite mad, did disagree with the loo paper rationing. And how sad was it that the welsh man didn't live with his partner and child? They would save a lot more with just one rent/mortgage and bills, nothing is worth not living with the ones you love if you can.

Back on track - I spent £4.30 on the bus fares again today, but it wasn't until my DH came back from his brothers after "borrowing" my saver ticket that I found out the first bus driver had given me a single ticket not a day saver, but he had charged me for a full ticket :mad: . I'd been on 4 buses plus DH on 1 bus, and he was just about to get a bus home when he noticed and had to pay £1.80. Hopefully a NSD tomorrow. Off to do scratchcard now and last cup of tea before hitting the pillow!!

cw18

I'm with Scottish Power -- have been since May 2002 -- and have never had a problem with them and my direct debits.

I've actually phoned a few times after watching my meters (or due to changes in home occupation) and asked them to drop it -- and they've done so quite happily.

The first time this happened I made some comment about "is it really as easy as asking?" and was told that (within reason) it was -- but only because I'm on the on-line tarriff, which means I have to submit actual readings at least every 13 weeks so my accounts are pretty up to date.

The last time I called was in the second half of November. They'd tried to drop my Direct Debit during the Summer, and I'd actually phoned and asked them to leave it where it was as I expected to use a lot more gas over the winter keeping the house [strike]hot[/strike] warm enough for DH. So after he passed away I phoned and asked if it was possible to reduce it after all. The chap looked at my account and said that going on the previous 12 months use they could take it down to £62/month -- but given the change in circumstances I obviously wasn't looking at using as much (had to keep the house warm enough for DH last Winter too), so there was 'room' for me to negotiate a payment lower than that. He seemed surprised I didn't push for below £60, but as I said to him that's a nice round number I can remember -- and I can always call and ask to drop it again in April if I'm still well/even more in credit at that point

Used to have major problems with BG and Norweb pushing up the Direct Debits for our last house every year though


Although I've used price comparison sites for my energy a couple of times, I've always been very relieved to find I'm already on the lowest tariff for me. I'd actually go as far as to say it would have to be a hefty saving to make me move, as good customer services/friendly call centres are important to me (even though I'm trying to cut back on expenses wherever possible).

fallen_angel_shelley

Just seen an ad on t.v, the daily mail have got an offer on from tomorrow for free food from MrM, I'm sure it was token type thing and they are giving away 2 different items, didn't say what the items are wish I lived near a MrM

angelatgraceland

Wow! Thanks! Im planning to shop at Mr M tomorrow anyway. Must remember Daily Mail! Re Scottish power-the people I know wouldnt be on the online tarriff. One of them didnt want her payments to go up and changed from DD to quarterly now. Crazy! So she will have a huge winter bill to pay. Ive just left mine alone(EDF)as I know that over a period of time it will be adjusted correctly-different if changed circumstances but Id rather be in credit than owing them loads.