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

fizzel81

evening all

just popping in beore i go to bed

my neighbour brought me round some blackberrys he got woopsied in asda (plus apples, kiwi fruit and bread)

anyway do i need to soak them? dont like the idea of white wiggly things in my food and i know there comoon in blackberrys, am thinking either a pie or crumble tomorrow with them

tomorrow wont be a nsd either, showing how silly i am i was drying my hair whe i saw a grey one looking at me, 30 mins later and ive pulled over 10 of them out, thinking hair dye is now calling me anyone recomend an easy one to use at home? as much as i could go to the hairdressers last time i went it was £120 for my low lights (around 9 months ago) i dont want to spend more than a few quid

lots of watchers on my 4 remaining ebay items so fingers crossed they all go for good prices, i will then find some more bits that i really dont need

off to bed now im not great school days with getting up, also with ds stil here if i go to bed he has to go to bed

sammey90

Mumzy... they have party stuff in £land, i often see barbie or other characters, and they have a party bag kit (not sure of age suitability) at Mr M's, 8 bags of stuff for about £2 i think.

OKAY, time for a rant!!! I went to @sd@ yesterday, with 4.68, the remainder of my moneybox till payday. i didn't have a parking token (cos they'd run out last time i was there), so i paid £1 for a ticket, knowing they refund parking money. I picked up the stuff i wanted, lots of bargains, got to the till and the girl said she couldn't refund me cos my bill was £3.77 - less than £5!! Having paid £1 parking, i didn't have enough for the shopping either. the girl was really unhelpful, so in the end i said 'shove it all back then' and walked away, stopping only to get the £1 back from customer services. GRRRRRRRRR :mad: Why couldn't she have done it just this once - she could see i had a handful of 2ps

angelatgraceland

mumzyof2 wrote: »

Guesty i dont have a credit card just a debit card.

Thankyou Lynne
does anyone know of any cheap things for a childs party..like party bags etc napkins, paper plates? things for party bags.
cant believe my DD is nearly 3... I have no babies anymore..they all growing up so fast, only seems last week my son was turning 4 and now he is 4 and half!!! I wish they werelittle again

Have you tried the pound shops? Toys R Us used to be good on the stuff for the party bags but Id be careful of getting trapped into this system. I hear so many mums talking about how they hate eveyone trying to do one better than other mums. A piece of cake,some sweets and a small gift is enough-don't get caught up in it-everyone will be grateful to you as they also won't feel they have to compete!
Stickers are also a favourite at this age and are a decent price and you can split a pack between a few children. A pretty notebook or pencils or a small puzzle maybe.Fun stamps. A bracelet or necklace. Pretend mobile phone.
Can you make something? Maybe cornflake cakes or suchlike? Beanie cookies? Twinks hobnobs.

fizzel81-I think Ive tried most of them and Superdrugs own and Boots own are as good as any. Superdrug often do 2 for £5 but they are the cheapest. I always use the permanent ones. Protect your paintwork-areas from splashing when you are applying it. I find the easiest is to apply it wearing an old teeshirt and then jump in the shower to wash it off. I keep the old teeshirt for this purpose as it does get a few stains. I also keep a couple of olt towels for the same reason. Beware that first few washes could still stain towels so keep using old ones on your hair until you are certain the colour is not still leaking out.

Blackberries-I soak in cold water for about 10 mins before youe and wash and drain through a sieve a few times. Treat them gently though.

Brighton_belle

cw - I think you are right: she needs to learn her priorities now. Well done for standing back. You are a very supportive mum and this is just part of that.
I couldn't cope with a split between facebook and here as well: I'd never have a life:rotfl: .
Todays achievemnts:
Frugulfying/simplifying plans for today 12th Jan

• post 2 ebay parcels DONE
• top up shop at asda from list of needs only DONE
• final coat of paint of kitchen cabinet door & seal with PVA DONE
• Do 2nd of 9 cabinet doors.
• continue mosaic project.
• slow cooker packed lentil lunches for the rest of the month DONE
• deliver 2 full bin bags to charity shop

Too wet to get the charity bags delivered and no car for a couple of days now. We now have running water in the kitchen again: always a reminder of how lucky we are when you go without basics for a few days.
Bought wonderful lodger (who won't take any money for spending his entire weekend working on my kitchen) a small crate of guiness (on questioning his OH)-think I'll attribute this to 'house doing up' costs rather than out of my meager present budget .
Next month of course no c.Tax or water rates:j . Will immediately syphon off the extra from my salary to savings, and not fritter it away.
Lunches packed for tomorrow and HM sausage casserole & mash just taken out of freezer. So that's tomorrow's meals sorted.

purplevamp

fizzel81 wrote: »

...anyone recomend an easy one to use at home? i dont want to spend more than a few quid

Clairol Nice N Easy is a good one, so is Garnier (not sure what it's called) I've also used Boots own and that's good too. I normally buy the one that's on offer, should really choose the same one but I forget what one I had last time :rolleyes: . My sister told me that to cover grey hair really well the hair dye should be below a number 8, I use blonde one which are over an 8 and it doesn't cover it but you can't see it as it's light anyway unless you look really closely. (I'm a natural blonde but dye it slightly lighter)

wornoutmumoftwo

I have been busy spending money - I had to change my insurance as the buildings was double last year so I am in the process of getting new buildings (£45) and contents (£65). Cash back via quidco of £42 and at Tesco's £35, so all in all not too bad.

Am I allowed to offset the cashback against the cost when it comes through? I guess I am as it's extra money earned isn't it?

I actually thought I'd got it through morethan but although I applied for buildings to get the free contents it turns out they don't like flats and only gave me contents - which I think is a bit naughty, it's only when I got the documents through I'd realised what they'd done. According to the man I spoke to there would have been a little red x telling me they couldn't do buildings :mad:, needless to say I canceled that in protest of being conned!


Anyway, next visit was M&S, I was after school trousers and they had a 3for2 on schoolwear so I got 6 pairs of trousers - 3 for my 5 year old and 3 for my six year old which I am going to keep by until the new school term in August when the wee man starts big school. (OMG, I'm getting organised this year - buying uniform 8 months early:eek:).

Saved about £7.45 less postage so grand saving of about £3, (just under £3 a pair).

Mumzy, I know what you mean about them growing up fast, my youngest is starting school in August when he'll be nearly six (he's on a deferred year), but he's the baby.....I'll have to get a JOB!

Parties here where I live are all held in the local indoor softplay (which costs a packet - £5.50 a head!)

I've seen parents give out invites to EVERY single child, we're talking 30+ kids x £5.50 a head = :eek:

I think a party at home is more personal, when they're young they tend to occupy themselves although I always have party games in reserve just in case.

Last but not least, I got the soapnut sample I ordered new years day (yes, I spent money on the one day of the year that should have been a NSD), and I am hooked, they really do work.:rotfl:

angelatgraceland

purplevamp wrote: »

Clairol Nice N Easy is a good one, so is Garnier (not sure what it's called) I've also used Boots own and that's good too. I normally buy the one that's on offer, should really choose the same one but I forget what one I had last time :rolleyes: . My sister told me that to cover grey hair really well the hair dye should be below a number 8, I use blonde one which are over an 8 and it doesn't cover it but you can't see it as it's light anyway unless you look really closely. (I'm a natural blonde but dye it slightly lighter)

To remember what you bought tear off the boxtop which has make colour and shade no and pop it into your bathroom cabinet. On the back-write where you bought it, the date, and the cost.

I also use soapnts and also ecoballs. Otherwise I use tesco value powder,lidl liquid wash and lidl dishwasher poder-no fancy tablets for w/m or d/w.

mumzyof2

I will have a look at our local poundshop and also make some cornflake cakes as have all the ingredients in. Its only going to be a few kids that i know. My friend may bake my DD cake like she did for my DS instead of giving her a present. I will ask tomorrow.

I forgot to say that i need to unplug my washer tomorrow and drain it ready for the new one coming on wednesday. never unplugged a washer and it looks like it has a silver thing on (thats keeping the drainage pipe) in place..god knows what that is.
Cant wait for my new washer as my clothes aint washing and not spinning.

wornout.. This might sound silly but what does deferredmean? My son is in infant and i have to admit im lost when he is at school now.. but good of the break.

Forgot to mention that i was looking at botany bay play area (near where i live) and its like up to £8.99 per head min is 10 kids. Cant afford that so having it at home. Think im going to do some crispy cakes for the party bags and some mini toy and a baloon or something like that. and hopefully my firend will make her birthday cake..may do some sandwhiches...or just have cake and drinks. and some party games.

deffo going to cross stitch now so good night all xxx

looby-loo_2

Here it is:j :j

http://www.aidanjreed.co.uk/07,0,0,0,712678,17735,00.htm

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

sophiesmum_2

Good evening frunchkins:D

Had a busy day today, have manager to train this week so brain has been fatigued from going through lots of policies and procedures and work pc programmes. Then after work had to take my dad for a hospital visit so another 4 1/2 hours fatigue with that, managed to get tea a little after 9pm tonight and it has taken me a couple of hours to chill.
I don't do facebook either.

General frugal aims for today;

• plate up meals for OH and DD using yesterdays pork , veg from freezer and one for me for when I get home from hospital
• reduce, reuse,recycle one item - erm.......
• do something nice for me - spent £1.50 on a smoothie from machine in hospital:eek: :eek:
• do something nice for someone else- go to hospital with my dad
• do one thing just for fun - too tired
• fitter not fatter - lots of pushing wheelchair and lugging it in and out of car:o not much else

Todays frugal menu:

• muesli with chopped banana
• houmous,& beansprouts in pitta bread, satsuma
• roast pork,broccoli, butternut squash (all from freezer)

Fruit and veg portions;
2 fruit, 1 pulses, 3 veggies,:D

Expenditure or additional income
spent £1.50 at hospital

Remaining target cash for first 6 months food spends - £263.54 left from budget of £400.
spent £1.50
Remaining budget £262.04