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

scrooge2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/4210997/Company-selling-food-past-its-best-before-date-thrives-in-economic-crisis.html

Approved Food gets a mention in the Telegraph!

Company selling food past its best-before date thrives in economic crisis

A company which specialises in selling food past its best-before date has seen a 10-fold rise in sales as shoppers hunt for bargains in the economic crisis.

Frugaldom

Raychee wrote: »

Hi.

10 days, and I've spent £66+! That does include £37 on fuel, which will last me for 2 weeks (if I work every day) and does about 420 miles, so I'm not too worried by that - it's a necessary expense. I'm paying 82.9p a litre - how does that compare to others?

Keep going all - we're doing fab!

According to the online petrolprices site, our area cheapest is 85.9p, so yours isn't bad at that. Still glad I don't neet to buy it though. :rotfl:

Just worked out fuel costs for heating/lighting and it looks like we are averaging the following:

£1 per day seasoned logs
£1 per day coal
£4.50 per day electricity

The above gives us room temperatures ranging from 13 to 17 degrees, hot water most mornings and showers for 3, plus I have my electric blanket on every night . It's a huge chunk of my budget but I [strike]can't[/strike] won't cut back any further, it's just too cold. This year, I'm also keeping a running total of all my travel, transport and delivery charges, so I can see how much I am really spending on that when compared to the cost of running a small car. I hate to think of it this way, because I am terrible when it comes to curbing spending online - if I see it, I want it and, despite always trying to get free delivery, I sometimes overlook P&P. I just count it in as part of the cost without thinking. NO MORE, it's all going on the spreadsheet in 2009.

A company which specialises in selling food past its best-before date has seen a 10-fold rise in sales [STRIKE]as shoppers hunt for bargains in the economic crisis[/STRIKE] since it got its own thread in the MSE forums.

Shouldn't that read like this?

ilovetea

Haven't posted for a couple of days but have been quite good.Bought a reduced item to but in my Christmas box,some Avon moisturiser,and today 6 HOT CROSS BUNS.50p in the c0-0p.
Still have a bit of money left ,so anything left at the end of the month is going in a pot for when some one takes me to do a "cheap" shop.
Why are all the supermarkets in the middle of nowhere:mad: .

ilovetea x

Penny2myName

I also now keep tabs on delivery charges this year. Well Have made myself a veg stew/soup style meal in SC to see me through this weekend and into beginning of week, whilst I have no kitchen. Taste a touch bland, so will have to see if I can search out where the tomato paste is or would a tin of baked beans do? It consists of, peas, potatoes, carrots, onion and turnip, plus some soup mix thrown in, so a few lentils and those white things that look like unexploded sugar puffs.

fallen_angel_shelley

P2MN- how about adding abit of curry powder

Penny2myName

Thats at the bottom of a rather large 3ft high box, so prefer not to, but good idea.

sophiesmum_2

Just put an order in with approved foods for £36 inc postage, mostly cooking sauces but a couple of treats too. A lot of these foods are available in our local cheap shops but I wouldn't be able to handle the carrying of them so having it delivered is worth it as I would have to do a lot of trips to get the amounts home.
Just got costco to do tomorrow(bacon, chicken,tea bags,etc) then think I am good for at least 6 months maybe more apart from eggs, butter and some fruit and veg bits. I still have lots of my original stockpile left,lots of xmas goodies - cakes,tins chocs,tins biscuits,alcohol, 2 freezers packed full,several kitchen cupboards full, and enough toiletries and cleaning stuff for 12 months.
Once the veggies get going in garden they will be used to freeze etc for 2nd half of year and for eating in summer, same with fruits.

In_Search_Of_Me

Done my totals and will have a nsd tomorrow which will be 3 this week now so happy with that!

Frugaldom

sophiesmum wrote: »

...I still have lots of my original stockpile left...

Same here. I was almost tempted out to town until I did my list of freezer contents; that stopped me in my tracks! I now need to do the same with cupboards to ensure I don't double up on stuff I don't need.

Going to chop up the meat from turkey leg now so I can get stock into sc tonight. So long as there's soup, DS no longer minds not having sandwiches or rolls for packed lunch. I think it was a case of 'not wanting to be different' at the start, but now I reckon his workmates are getting fed up with their boring rolls or sannies when they smell hm soup. :rotfl: I'll bet he's also happy he can just ladle it straight from slow cooker to flask, fresh made in the morning! Extra 5 mins in his bed, methinks!

SEE WHAT YOU HAVE ALL DONE TO ME?
I am becoming far more domesticated doing this challenge with like-minded company! :beer:

candygirl

I've spent far too much today in ASDA and TESCO but mananged to get a few bargs, and a gorg mobile phone out of my xmas money that has a daisy on it:D
Took DD out with me and she's so tired at the mo, and can't wait for the baby:o
BAILS hope you're feeling better hun:A