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

fizzel81

why don i live near tesco's its just under £1 for the cheapest energy saving bulb at asda

Frugaldom

I'll edit this post as I catch up with all the chatter.

mumzyof2 wrote: »

Ok ok.. so after much thought I can afford to draw out £90 a week.. Im not going to do this challenge for everything. Im going to count all DD's etc but not debt payments. Gas 15 a week and elec 10 a week will come out of the £90. Im starting this on thursday as thats when i get paid. I will try and not use my card anymore. does that sound ok?

Mumzy, if it makes it easier to understand, the original idea of the challenge was about the household budget, and what it costs to run a household, nothing complicated, just an ordinary housekeeping challenge
If someone only has £75 per week to run their home, then their challenge is about making that £75 cover those expenses. I understand that this challenge has been pulled in all directions to fit in with what everyone else wants, but it still isn't about accounts, spreadsheets and recording every penny that gets spent, it is still about living within our means so we can be debt free and afford to either buy non-essentials, save for the future or give our extra money away; however you do it, the main thing is that you do it without incurring any debts whilst clearing any that you already have without risk to health or the roof over your head.

Faceb00k group - if anyone wants to run a facebook group please feel free to do so, but I can't / won't take part, sorry.

XNatalieX - apologies, I have now added your username to the challenger list Also, t0pcashback does not have a minimum pay out, it's claimable as soon as it clears.

Fizzel - Shwartzkopf from Sem!chem, they were on offer at £1.99 each last time I was there.

Guesty, I prefer putting everything I can on plastic so it is recorded in black and white. I very seldom lift cash from the bank, (so can't save much by way of spare change) unless I am expecting coal or logs delivery. Plus, although it doesn't amount to much, any little bit of cashback at the end of the year is welcomed in my budget.

Wornoutmumoftwo - glad you like the soapnuts. The £4 bag lasted me most of 2008 and I still have loads left as I've been using up other stuff since November.

Janey, I've just finished that soap powder this week! 2 months' worth free out of that, so no complaints there.

Pipsmum, Congratulations! I hope you and baby are both well and that you didn't buy too many 1st size items; :eek: over 9lb!!

Lightbulb chatter - the Government are introducing a ban on ordinary lightbulbs, hence the reason practically everyone is giving them away - they are probably being subsidised to do so. Before spending money on them, make sure you have claimed all the free ones you can. Just google free energy saving lightbulbs and check on www.freelightbulbs.co.uk to see if you qualify for some of theirs.

FrankieM

Afternoon ,
I've managed to clean out my fridge and I've done my online shop.
I've frozen 6 'bundles' of chicken sandwich meat that I got given, my family don;t eat it on sandwiches so I'm going to have to find some inventive way of getting them in a meal.
I've also done some MS. I have other work to do too, but I'm really tired today so I'm going to make start tomorrow...

I clean a room a day too, I find it keeps me more organised...

2NDTIMEROUNDER

sophiesmum wrote: »

2ndtime rounder makes 5:D

Hear hear!!! The only soul who has remembered me...:D Sophiesmum your organisational skills are awesome. Well done! Your hard work in keeping everything so spot on,is inspirational.:T


I have been away for 2-3 days, trying to catch up. Pipsmum many congratulations to yourself and your husband! I hope the little one gives you all the happiness you can handle, and more.:)

Brighton_belle

wornoutmumof2: where did you get your soap nut sample?
masomnia - on no! - I'm going to have to get the census now: it was so thrilling to find my grandparents and other rellies on the 1901 cencus and who was living in my house - I thought it could only be released 100 after it was taken,i.e. 2011?
skintchick: forgot to say yesterday - well done on taking the decison one way or the other about not returning to work: indecision itself is very exhausting but such a big decision obviously needed time to be weighed up and it sounds like you have made the right decision for you given how unworried you feel about stuff:T Your health is so important. I've had to let go of having a career, and although that can still be tough, I have also learnt that being as well as I can is the most important thing. Look forward to hearing about what you get up to creatively.

No 'to do' list today: having a day off as a busy first day back at work, and have to pop out early evening and have an early start tomorrow with a return to my mosaic class.

One quick question: now I have a draining board (:j )in the kitchen I am a little stuck what to use as a dish drainer, as they are all so small and only seem to take plates and cups - what about pots and pans? Don't want one with with built in drip tray, as have used one for 6 yrs and the water doesn't drain and it all gets very manke. Ideas anyone. The best I have found online is a 3 tiered one for £17.

shaz_mum_of__2

Afternoon

Went to Mr T on way home from Uni and bought 2 doz tins chick peas at 23 p each and a dozen cartons pomegranite juice at 26 p each also stocked up on the value sunflower spread and washpowder so big spends and an almost healthy stock cupboard

Are ther any good deals on tinned toms at the min ?/ have a booker card but not sure its worth a look not been for over a year anyone been recently?

Fizzel any chance of more details about the shampoo buy ie is it a national offer and can someone show me the way to the boots thread i really must get my head round it all.

Hubby late home again so leftovers all round for tea (and no cooking)

Dnd - how did you find your house

Shaz

skint_chick

Have spent a fortune on my car -£285.80:eek: :eek: but that should do me car wise for almost 2years hopefully as I get free servicing. Got my postage of friends baby present covered by doing mystery shop on Post Office so I now have some stamps stashed away too.

Went to local tile shop to ask if I could have the broken ones so they're going to keep them for me - also thought I might go to charity shops and pick up some old crockery. Have been very inspired by seeing mosaics all weekend to start a project asap and have been thinking up designs already. Don't want to overdo it but really want to start papier mache and chicken wire sculptures again too. But have restrained myself and started skeching ideas instead.

Feeling quite good that from monthly budget of £333 I've spent less than £150 and have tons of food in freezer and cupboards.

Shaz - Herbal Essences will be on offer everywhere coz they have re-designed the packaging and product range in line with the US and have just relaunched it - free samples are here
http://www.herbal-essences.co.uk/ i got mine yesterday after waiting a couple of weeks - they're just little sachets but handy for weekends/holidays.

BrightonBelle thanks for your support it's so hard to know what to do when I might not be able to get another job and it really is the end of my career after several years working my way to the top but I feel like a huge weight has lifted. Not sure OH is happy about me being at home more but he'll learn!

scrooge2008

Skint_chick, I've gone from a Senior Manager at an American Finance Company to a Lollypop Lady at my son's school, with a couple of cleaning jobs and i've never been happier. Huge weight off my shoulder too!! Once you get over caring what other people think and reclaim your life, it feels great.

bails

Sorry, I also wanted to congratulate you on making a tough decision Skint_Chick, but one that ultimately seems right as you feel so relieved. I hope you ahve a wonderful year of opportunities.
Candy, sorry I did see you asking about going to India but didn't see you asking where! We're not sure yet - India itself isn't a certainty but that's where we're aiming for as it would be a fantastic location for the things I want to pursue in the 6 months. Our ideal scenario would be in Sikkim or definitely in the Himalayas but it will all depend on the placement OH finds himself.
Hey Seren, another one over to the 4k, even if only briefly Thanks to you and Trex for your help, I didn't explain myself well enough but I was looking for the salary amount. Thanks for the website, will have a look (it's a possibility for OH - we bumped into his uni tutor the other day and she asked him to reconsider again. She was more than a little surprised to see us hand in hand with a 4-year old :rotfl:)

Right, off to have another bath as back playing up again then lots to do tonight. Looking forward to being abe to have a finances day next week when I'm not teaching.
Ooh, and I finally got paid today :T my first 'pay cheque' in three and a half years :j:j

shaz_mum_of__2

bails wrote: »

Ooh, and I finally got paid today :T my first 'pay cheque' in three and a half years :j:j

Way to go ............................don't spend it all in one shop:rotfl: