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

xnatalie81x

lol o well there is another botany bay in Enfield (north london ish) lol. 9lbs...... My middle one was bang on 10lb - that was no fun. But hey i went in for another one after that so like my mum says 'it can't have been bad enough to make you stop' lol.

Today i have a long list of things to do. Was up till 2 with OH whose b'day it is today and works nights - he was off last night! And then the lil monsters had me up at 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Blinkin kids!!!!

Tuesday to do list

Write to debtcare and tell em i don't want them anymore

Write to HFC with update on financial situation and new updated offer based on all my savings from here hooooooooooray

Set up standing orders for egg and mbna (need a barclays card reader or go bank before work)

Ring HMRC for balance and how much i've been paying.
Ring lloyds current and student accounts for balance on overdrafts and how much been paying

Post f&f offer to RBS

Write to NDR, even though they refused my f&f on phone gonna do it in writing. Still debating how much to offer. Can stretch to about 80% but prob offer 50% to start............ - this is still b'day money so still got running machine money

Work 3.30-5.30

Get kids to school and make son's lunch tonight (have saved 21 a mth on swopping dinner to lunch, he asked on sat to change!)

Do a bathroom inventory of what i have and estimate how long each thingy will last in case i see offers

1 load of washing

Check gas and electric usage at 8.55 am. Work out how to reduce further (day 3)

Tidy kitchen - take all clean washing upstairs and off my table

Empty dishwasher and aim today to not put anything dirty in it but to wash up in cold water.

That is enough to be getting on with

wornoutmumoftwo

Mumzy - Both my boys got held back a year (deferred) as they both have development problems so instead of starting school at 5 they start at 6.

It only happens up here in Scotland, well never heard of it happening when I lived in London, but I'm so glad they do deferrments up here, it just gives children that really need it an extra year before putting them in school and it has made such a difference to my eldest.

My eldest has Autistic Spectrum and the year he was meant to go to school he wasn't talking, wasn't playing with other children and was generally unco-operative, wanting to do his own thing all the time (own agenda they call it).

He still has these issues and goes part time to a special school for help but he is really enjoying school now, the extra year has made all the difference.

Kittikins

Hello everyone, have been AWOL for a couple of days....felt like things were getting a wee bit on top of me, both financially and emotionally (the two are definitely linked with the whole ex going bankrupt and now my washing machine is dying!), so I've been reading, enjoying the warmth that comes through the messages, knowing that when my head was back in the right place, I can jump back in

I've also spent a bit more money than I'd hoped, but I think like last time, it'll turn out to be less than I'm dreading, I do like to worry, lol.

Mumzy - I'm a skinflint, I don't see the point of themed plates, napkins, party bags etc etc - they just go in the bin! At my house, DD's party food is on Mr T Value plates with similar napkins, and for the party bag, I buy a cheap colouring book and crayons or flower seeds and a balloon, something that might last beyond the journey home. Cheap and cheerful

Going to stop moping and get on with doing!

Kittikins

FrankieM

Morning everyone,
I've not been around for few days. I've had internet issues and have been trying not too spend too much time on here so I get some stuff done!

Anyway, I hope you are all well..or at least managing to hang in there!
Congratulations to pipsmum..well done, you!!

We went to a party on saturday and I was given all the leftover food, so today I need to clean out my fridge and organise it and then do a Tesco shop. I've been sent some codes for extra points so if/when I don't need so much, I'll stock up on tins/dry goods...

I've also spent some money so I've added it to my signature...we are out for dinner tonight as well! Could be expensive but its a Birthday thing so worth it, I think!!

Anyway, I'll probably catch up later...have a good day, everyone.

strachanbe

Sure I'm repeating someone else from amongst the 109 pages here, but have you seen the following 2 books on frugal/thrifty living?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Lived-Year-Just-Pound/dp/1906593124/ref=pd_sim_b_4

and

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spend-Less-Handbook-Actually-Spending/dp/1906465142/ref=pd_sim_b_4

The only snag is using some of the £4000 to buy them - eek! Does anyone have a copy and we could pass it around (or post excerpts? I think that's legal...)?

fallen_angel_shelley

Good moring guys. Not got uni until 4pm today and it's just the one class that I have to travel in for and then make my back through the rush hour:rolleyes:, I'm going to see about changing it because i'm sure I will get feed up of doing that after a couple of weeks. My dad phoned me last night, he lives in Gran Canaria, he had been for his 3rd lot of chemo yesterday but sounded very up beat, he was telling how he hasn't been getting any post for about 3 months, the PO have been delivering it to another place a few miles down the island:mad:, so he almost had his elec cut off because he hadn't paid the bill that he hadn't got, last thing he needs at the moment.


A friend was telling me last night that thay picked up a load of the frozen party food that MrT was selling at christmas and is now reduced.


Just watching GMTV and :money: was on taliking to a woman who is trying to reduce her out goings, she said she spends £600 a month on food for 4 people:eek: she could do with getting on the GC.


To do list
Shower and have breakfast
Change appoinment for front door to be fixed, forgot I have to go see my study skill tutor tomorrow.
Do washing-up.
Finish essay- has to be in by friday.
Go PO on way to uni.
Pick up some fruit from stall at uni.
Look for a better savings account.


Andromache- I know what you meen about essay deadlines, one min your given a new essay and think I have weeks to do that and then before you know it you only have afew days. I just don't think it's fair being given them to hand in on your 1st week back after christmas, after all we like to have a relax over the hols as well.

I do have a A&L savings account that pays 4% but if you withdraw form it you lose all interest for that month, but I am going to have a look and see what else I can find.


Quote:
Originally Posted by sophiesmum
Don't know if it has already been posted but pipsmum has had her baby on Friday - baby Aidan weighed in a bit over 9lbs:eek: , first frubaby of the year:j :j :j

9lbs 41/2 ounces to be precise

WOW 9 lbs congrattulations Pipsmum.

Thats it for now, gona finish my brew and then get showerd and dressed. Hope everyone has a good day.

Shelley x

shaz_mum_of__2

congrats to pips mum.......my hairdresser had a 14lb 1oz baby with hair and teeth!!!

Mumzy i do plain whit plates with charachter napkins from poundland/homebargains girls more popular than boys round here though


Must get off

Shaz

shorelines

Just checking in. Still within budget but have been hit hard by birthdays and a hen night... Trying to remember what I've spent on a hen night was a bit difficult but I'm off alcohol so rounds are cheaper!

Frugal things this month
* stockpiled some cheap covent garden soups from sainsburys - only two flavours but I can use them for a 95p lunch. My workplace doesn't have a microwave so thermos flasks all the way.
* changed phone contract which should save me £156 a year.
* will take my friend out at his favourite place with a 2 for 1 voucher
* have resisted buying lots of things in the sales and especially from crafting websites that members keep posting! Although I did splurge in paperchase - they have some lovely thick christmas wrapping paper - too good to wrap in, so will use for christmas crafts instead
* due to lack of space in the kitchen over, finding that an outside larder (ok a recycling box!) keeps the vegetables fresher and lasting longer so they don't go off
* sorting out lots of cds to sell on ebay and being very strict with it. Also with clothes I haven't worn for a year

My only consistent downfall seems to be lunch at work. I use the time to catch up with friends and they always like to eat lunch out.

Other than that I'm enjoying updating my spreadsheet with spends and it's already an eye opener.

Congrats to pipsmum. I was a heavy baby, I used to give my mum backache! :rotfl:

carolbee

xnatalie81x wrote: »

ooooooooooo botany bay - you live near me - so not every one on here is from up north then

I am looking for a house near the Kent Botany Bay, on the Palm Bay estate to be exact, I live a bit further up the coast at the mo, at the place known for its oysters, we are not alone!

xnatalie81x

I have just counted my recycling (sad lol) and i have 60 items! for 2 weeks (i just put it out for my council to take. However, i live a 5min drive from a tesco that gives you points for your recycling, and i do my shopping online so have decided that from tomorrow (recyling come) i am going to start doing my weekly shop there and take my 30 items per week, giving me 7 tesco points extra per week. Would that equate to 7p per week then.......... as that would be 28p per month and £3.36 a year lol. That is quite a bit of food shopping lol

Will also save on delivery charge (which i don't always pay for thanks to voucher codes) which is about 3.50 week (minus some weeks i get £5 off - say 10 weeks out of the year they actually work) So save £15 1.50x10 as delivery only 3.50. However will save on 42 weeks when i won't pay the 3.50, just about 50p in petrol! Which is £126!!! Total saving by change £129.36 - 15.00 = 114.36:)