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

slowlyfading

Good evening everyone! :hello:

Yesterday I travelled to Leeds to see their christmas production - it was Peter Pan the musical! I went with my mum and we had a great time. We were meant to be going on the train, but when we looked yesterday morning it had been replaced by a bus and took twice the time :eek: so we drove instead - I drove there and she drove back. We went to a noodle place for tea, and the only thing I paid for was the petrol! So it was a great day out yesterday, and that's why I wasn't online yesterday.

Today I was at work so its been a NSD. Had fish with a tomato sauce for tea with veg which was lovely and healthy! just watching tv and chilling out

I've read the thread through and it seems like everyone is doing well

sf xx

sophiesmum_2

glodh1973 wrote: »

hi all,
bought some reduced cooked southern fried chicken from asda today and was wondering if it can be frozen as it says do not reheat.

also made a big pan of chicken and sweetcorn soup was just wondering how long that will last in fridge or wether i will need too get it used tonight im new too this frugal living lol

would love too join the challenge but going too get used too frugaling first

glo

Re the soup -
I usually do the three day rule with chicken so would either freeze it before then or use it within 3 days.

Re the southern fried chick - if it says do not reheat it is likely to have already been frozen at some point so I would keep in fridge, eat cold and not freeze.

Don't forget babysteps - just do a little at a time to change to new ways - it will soon fall into place:D

mumzyof2

does anyone know the site where i can get those washballs from?

I have a new washing machine coming on wednesday as my old one is not washing my clothes and not spinning properly..think it needs just taking to a repairman.. but? my mum insisted she got me a new one. Only 3 yrs old too.

What is costco?

does anyone know what i can make with lamb steaks in the slow cooker?

Marru

Hello!!

I am back and while I was away you managed to fill 9 pages. So it will take awhile for me to catch up with you. I had fantastic weekend and learned so much. Now I just need to put all of it in practise. DD had also fantastic time so thank you so much for Bails and her OH. Plus when I came back they fed me yummy food so I didn't have to come home to start digging into my freezer. :smileyhea

I need to go now and sort out how much I spent and update signature before going to bed. Back tomorrow to catch up more.

I hope everybody has had a good weekend.

Marru

sophiesmum_2

slowlyfading wrote: »

Good evening everyone! :hello:

Yesterday I travelled to Leeds to see their christmas production - it was Peter Pan the musical! I went with my mum and we had a great time. We were meant to be going on the train, but when we looked yesterday morning it had been replaced by a bus and took twice the time :eek: so we drove instead - I drove there and she drove back. We went to a noodle place for tea, and the only thing I paid for was the petrol! So it was a great day out yesterday, and that's why I wasn't online yesterday.

Today I was at work so its been a NSD. Had fish with a tomato sauce for tea with veg which was lovely and healthy! just watching tv and chilling out



I've read the thread through and it seems like everyone is doing well

sf xx

Glad you had a good day out with your mum and things are happier between you now:D

slowlyfading

sophiesmum wrote: »

Glad you had a good day out with your mum and things are happier between you now:D

Thanks me too, I think that the day out was a great help though xx

save-a-holic

cw18 wrote: »

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).

I'm with EON at the moment. When I noticed 6 months ago that the account was falling into arrears I phoned to have the direct debit upped from £80 to £100 but they wouldn't let me and said they'd up it to £182 instead!!! If I hadn't phoned they would never have upped it themselves, so I thought that was a bit 'rich'. Anyway, the account is now well in credit (about £250) and when I queried this they've dropped the direct debit down to £156.

I've gone onto a price comparison site and based on energy consumption alone we can save £255 a year by switching to EDF, which we've requested and are now waiting for all of the paperwork.

EON prices are higher than others and I didn't rate their customer service at all. :mad:

fizzel81

sophiesmum wrote: »

Fizzel - what i did was to sit down and make a list of all the non perishable foods that I used on regular basis,then a list of meals that I made regularly and worked on both until I had lots of stuff in I knew would be used over a period of time. Off the top of my head mine has - dried goods - pasta, rice, couscous, peas, bens, lentils, seeds, nuts, barley, bulgar wheat, tapioca,pudding rice etc
tea, coffee, sugar, honey, syrup, marmalade, jam. marmite, sweetener, dried milk, chutney,
bread flour all types,, self raising and plain flour,olive oil, salt, stock cubes,herbs, spices, gelatine,jelly, dessert mix, blancmange, merringue nests, pizza base mix,
tins - kidney beans,tinned fruits, evaporated and condensed milk, salmon, tuna, sardines, few soups, baked beans, lots of tinned toms, beans and sausage, salad dressings and mayonnaise, pickled stuff, pesto,lasagne, olives,capers,, chocs, biscuits, sweets, rice cakes, cans of pop for DD college, OJ cartons. uht milk, baking stuff - toppings, icing sugar, dried fruit, porridge oats, muesli, curry sauces, sweet n sour, chilli sauces, vinegars, etc

I would stick with the stuff you use most regularly first and build up from there.:D

wow thank you sophiesmum, there is a few items there i wouldnt use but there is things they i would like to try, get etc

ive got 4 items listed on ebay, debateing the wii, ive never used it only my brother has ive pictured it but not listed it, i can either use what i sell towards debts or im now thinking storecupboard is the way to go hehe

once ive cleared this little list will sort out some more as they say pennies make £££s

Skint_Lynne

Hiya,

My freezer is pretty full just now, some main meals, soup, bread, rolls etc. I was wondering how long is it actually okay to keep stuff in there for? As you know, I am thinking of investing in a small chest freezer, especially as my dad wants me to take over their food shopping for a while as well. I was thinking it's okay for 1-2 months??? I was going to start emptying it just now (and mum's as well), and start filling them again when near empty. What do you all think??

sophiesmum_2

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

Hiya,

My freezer is pretty full just now, some main meals, soup, bread, rolls etc. I was wondering how long is it actually okay to keep stuff in there for? As you know, I am thinking of investing in a small chest freezer, especially as my dad wants me to take over their food shopping for a while as well. I was thinking it's okay for 1-2 months??? I was going to start emptying it just now (and mum's as well), and start filling them again when near empty. What do you all think??

The chicken fillets we bought today had a freeze until 2010 date on them and the pork joint we had for out tea tonight has been in there at least 12 months and was still as moist as the day it was bought.

This is from a food safety site;

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/Focus_On_Freezing/index.asp#18


Freezer Storage Chart (0 °F)
Note: Freezer storage is for quality only. Frozen foods remain safe indefinitely.

Item Months
Bacon and Sausage1 to 2
Casseroles2 to 3
Egg whites or egg substitutes 12
Frozen Dinners and Entrees3 to 4
Gravy, meat or poultry 2 to 3
Ham, Hotdogs and Lunchmeats 1 to 2
Meat, uncooked roasts 4 to 12
Meat, uncooked steaks or chops 4 to 12
Meat, uncooked ground 3 to 4
Meat, cooked 2 to 3
Poultry, uncooked whole 12
Poultry, uncooked parts 9
Poultry, uncooked giblets 3 to 4
Poultry, cooked 4
Soups and Stews2 to 3
Wild game, uncooked8 to 12