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

sophiesmum_2

angelatgraceland wrote: »

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!

http://www.channel4.com/tv-listings/

http://www.itv.com/CatchUp/Video/default.html?ViewType=5&Filter=33385

2NDTIMEROUNDER

Morning to everybody. Another day had dawned, another day to try to do better than yesterday but within our limits and limitations.

JennyBee that is a real shame we are so far. You are very right that finding like minded people who are honest to boot is the most tough thing. A UK take over is very tempting at this time; price has fallen dramatically! :eek: :rolleyes: At least you have managed to spread the word and decide to give a try. I wish you all the best in your attempt, have fun and the financial rewards will follow! Go for it and let us keep each other in mind, we might move in closer the future, one never knows what the future holds....:D

Tryingtodobetter re shares buying.1. Be very careful what companies you buy right now. 2.Diversify your portfolio.3.Always invest money you can afford to lose. 4.Take a long term view to investing in shares, at least 8-10 years. 5.Invest an amount monthly so that you buy at different prices and therefore minimise somewhat the risk.6.Dont invest in companies solely based on dividend payments, these returns can vanish pretty quickly if the share prices falls. 7. The biggest enemies of an investor are greed and fear. Avoid these at all costs.
If you decide to proceed send me a private message, I can give you some reputable sites you can use to research and buy shares. Good luck and be careful.

Marru in my mind I have answered most of the questions that are bothering me at times. Most of us at least, know what we should do to be better in ourselves. The tough part however is to be able to find the strength/time/ability to put these in practise.


SkintLynne you are doing the right thing trying to offer yourself a better future, have a financial cushion for retirement and your later days. Who gives a toss about the tag that people places on us? Frugal, tight or whatever, so what? As long as we are at ease and content with this way of life that is the end of. People are very fast in attaching labels on people so let us ignore the sirens luring us away from living life this way.


Annie021063 the Approved Foods postage charge is definitely worth it, the National postage at least. Provided of course that your order is at least 40-50 pounds which is not unreasonable since you can treat this shop as stock piling. You wont be going back every week. Or do as nykmedia has said she is doing. Get together with another household or more, if you can, share the postage and do a bigger shop for both of you.


Masomnia you have cracked it! Compound interest is the way to go. Bravo and keep it up.:T

Here it comes...:D

Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.
John Wesley (1703-1791)

Have a nice one everybody.

JAMIEDODGER

Typical! Saturday morning, no school run and I wake up at 5.05am!!! Kids are all still fast asleep, for how long though I dont know:)

Doing really well so far this month on challenge, 591.60 per month / 31 days in January = £19.08 per day x nine days = £171.72. I have spent £104.25:D

I may spend a little this evening on a takeaway as have a friend round, but sunday should be a NSD:T

Planning on digging out some stuff to ebay this weekend...hopefully should get me some cash to put in my money neutral xmas fund, which with the cash-back I have already made is looking quite healthy considering it is only 10 days into the year!!!:D

Today will be a mix of washing/Ironing and cooking:) Will be making up a chilli and spaghetti bolognaise and maybe baking some cakes for kids lunchboxes next week, possibly some twinks too!!

Will be taking my meter readings shortly for i-measure, will be interesting to see if usage has gone up or down this week....

scrooge2008

For anyone needing to stock up on beauty products.....

My make-up bag is too small and looking a bit manky and I needed a few bits and pieces. Beauty Counter Direct is a great site. I used this site with freebie codes from MSE forum and got an Elizabeth Arden eye pencil, eye shadow and blusher, make-up bag and toiletry bag for the princely sum of £8.95 including postage and packing. Used them before and they are really efficient, products are great.

Also in the Sun today, you can get a token for 4 free tickets to Beverley Hills Chihuahua, showing next Tuesday at 4.30 pm, at most Odeon Cinema's. Will be going with my son and 'treating' a friend and her son. Worth looking at the Newspaper thread today as a good crop of offers in the papers this weekend.

wornoutmumoftwo

Tryingtodobetter re shares buying.1. Be very careful what companies you buy right now. 2.Diversify your portfolio.3.Always invest money you can afford to lose. 4.Take a long term view to investing in shares, at least 8-10 years. 5.Invest an amount monthly so that you buy at different prices and therefore minimise somewhat the risk.6.Dont invest in companies solely based on dividend payments, these returns can vanish pretty quickly if the share prices falls. 7. The biggest enemies of an investor are greed and fear. Avoid these at all costs.
If you decide to proceed send me a private message, I can give you some reputable sites you can use to research and buy shares. Good luck and be careful.

Hi, Haven't read the original post but I started buying shares in the middle of last year.

Haven't done well at all, in fact I think I would have more satisfaction if I'd drawn the money out of my bank and thrown it down the drain!:mad: (I had Bradford and Bingley and Woolies - not a lot but they were still mine, for a while anyway).

Seriously though, I am still buying shares, I have a monthly portfolio with the RBS and pay in £25 a month, trades cost £1.50 as they bulk buy in one go ona a set day each month. I started buying shares because I want something for the future (really long term 20+ years), I'm really spending about £5 a week on them and if I make bad choices it isn't really the end of the world.

broke_mum_of_three

I am doing really well this week, think it is because I still have a lot in the house from Christmas and I dont have to buy much.
Although I have to go into town today and have my eye on a lamp for my family room that I spotted before Christmas that I would like, if I remember it was only £7. If I can resist other temptations at the shops I think I will buy it, if it is still there that is.

grandma247

I have a link for a downloadable book that helps explain what happened re:the credit crunch. It is only available FREE till 15th January. It is American but since that is where it all started that is a good thing.
http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081119_tows_bookdownload

xnatalie81x

I spent a lot of last night planning and wiriting up my debts and living on 8000 year became a goal for me. There is me, partner and 3 kids under 5 at home and a dog and i have written budget as described!

In case any one is interested.
yeras incoming: 21,214
yrs rent: 8,700
yrs water: 336
Debt payments: 4,600 (plus any i have left-over)
health and meds for kids: 120

Disposable income - 8,534

So in theory if i live on 8,000 i will have 534 left at the end of the year which i will use most of to pay off any debts.
My spending budget for the yr

Toiletries: 156
Laundry/cleaning: 156
Groceries: 3,120 (60wk)
Miscell: 100

Electricity: 800
Gas: 800
Internet/sky: 250
Mobile: 480
Home phone: 150
TV licence: 145
Clothing/footwear: 200 (uniforms)
Pet ins: 160
Car tax: 180
Mot: 50
Car insurance: 650
Other: 603

fallen_angel_shelley

Morning frugalers. not got any spends pland for today, but I do need to go to altrincham to take some trainers back to n£xt that I got in the sale, just need to make sure I don't go in anyother shops 'for just a quick look':rolleyes:. I had a big argument with DS yesterday and ended up sat here in tears most of the night, he went and spent the night at his dads to give us abit of space. E0n never called me back yesterday, so i'm gona give them a bell before I go out, talking of going out, it is -4 here so think I might wait and see if it warms up before I venture out, don't fancy standing at the bus stop frezzing.

Thats all for now folks, take care and watch that spending.

Shelley x

Skint_Lynne

Hi everyone,

Re: the free food at Mr M - the offer is in the daily record in Scotland, so I suspect it will be in the Mirror in England and not in the Daily Mail.

HTH. xx