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

Pips_Mum

Hello All and thanks for the congrats.:T
We are well and enjoying being a 3.

Had 3 NSDs in hospital but have to say we seem to have done nothing but spend since we got home!! So many things we had forgot:eek:

Will sit and update my spending diary and signature soon and will kepp popping on here to keep motivated x x x

purplevamp

wornoutmumoftwo wrote: »

And then of course there's the school uniform... (Shame they can't have a normal uniform of plain jumper and a shirt - no theyhave polo's & jumper with the school badge on them)

Are you sure they can't have plain ones but in the right colour? DD and DS2's school sell the badged polo shirts, but I just get the plain ones as they wear them under their sweatshirt/cardi and no-one would see the badge. Also they sometimes wear plain sweatshirts/cardis as they are always spilling something down their tops, usually on a Monday :rolleyes: .

angelatgraceland wrote: »

Saw that ad on for Park hampers again today-no way would I chance that-whats wrong with a savings account?

I've been with Park for 13 years now, but I only get the vouchers. They cost the face value and no more (eg £10 voucher costs £10), they also pay me £1 per year I've been with them and commission (but only on orders over a certain amount). I don't get their food hampers though as they are such a waste of money, did it once when I first joined but never again.

NSD today, made a turkey pie for dinner tonight, just needs to go in oven. My new sewing machine came today :j . I'm a bit apprehensive about using it but will watch the DVD that comes with it, go through stages of :eek: , , :huh:, :wall: and before I use it.

sophiesmum_2

mk_wotsit wrote: »

Thought I'd scour the ground for dropped money today while I was on my post round. Didn't find a bean ... saw plenty of red rubber bands that I must have dropped previously though!

Our postie drops red and blue bands around our corridors and in car park - the oldies pick them up for me -they are great for putting on the paper tops for marmalades I sell for fundraising here;)

Sarah147

Congratulations Pipsmum :T


Just logging on briefly as I am going out swimming in a bit, it's the "ladies only" evening so we don't have to worry about how fat/thin we look in our swimming costumes and can just paddle along to our hearts content :rotfl: not been swimming for years (they are currently refurbishing our local pool) and I am not looking forward to that first splash, why are pools so bloomin freezing?! Still, I have a brand new swimming cossie so I best use it. Will no doubt have a couple of verucas tomorrow!

Anyway, low spend here, just my usual can of pop and bag of crisps for 75p, I am trying to cut this out but it is VERY hard, the temptation is overwhelming, plus is an excuse to leave work for a bit and get some fresh air when going to the shop. Free lunch as the girls were doing pasta for the mothers and baby group, it was yummy! Swimming will cost £3.70. Laughable really as the Government keep saying they want everyone to get fit and healthy, yet all the leisure facilities are so expensive.

Hope you all enjoy your evenings.

serendisglair

bails wrote: »

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:)

Well done on the pay day Bails,
I completed my phd in 2007 and by the end of that I was on approx 12k don't forget its tax free as your OH will be a student again. It goes up every year so it will probably be a bit more now. the jobs.ac.uk is a popular one for uni jobs/studentships also check out his uni home page or go straight through his tutor to find out whats being offered and whats around....one word of advice...most are based on 3 yrs but save up! as it can take up to 4 to complete as a seasoned ms-er though I doubt you need that advice. You definately need a fair chunk of self motivation to get you through on time.
will shut up and carry on stalking you on the other thread now

cw18

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

CW
http://www.bakerscomplete.co.uk/complete/products/adult.asp
http://www.bakerscomplete.co.uk/complete/products/adult_gravybites_popup1.asp
http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/shelves/Dog_Food_in_Tesco.html

not sure if that helps any

Shaz

Thanks

Just checked, and I was right. Even the sensitive one "Contains EC permitted colourants, antioxidants and preservatives." Make them a total no-go for the Dalmatian.

Have discovered that Wagg seems to be without these though, so I may try swapping him onto that by introducing it slowly from late April (easier to get hold of, and the large sacks at PetsAH look to be even cheaper than the one he's on now !!!)


Feeling a bit "yucky" today, but no idea why. I was in bed before 11pm last night (unheard of for me), struggled to get up at 6:30am, have had an hour plus during the day today, and already feel ready to hit the sack New CSI at 9pm, so am fighting the urge to turn in until that's finished though :rolleyes2

Marru

Hello!

And congratulations to Pips Mum from me too

I finally had that important meeting with our head of department and we agreed that I drop one level meaning I will drop three subjects. This means that the hours I need to spend in college will actually half as on top of the three subjects I have three other sessions I won't need to attend, at least not regurlarly. So now I only need a job. Will go hunting tomorrow so fingers crossed.

I had to go to the shop today while tired and hungry and somehow three packets of biscuits ended up into my basket. Ok - two were half priced and then the cheese biscuit one is for DD's snacks. The whole point going to the shop was to withdraw money for nursery and then I forgot to give it to them. Doh.

Bails, hope you will be feeling better soon!!! Well done on getting your first payment :T

Need to go now to get DD to bed and I think I deserve a bath after mucking out horses and bunnies all day (with some jaffa cakes ).

Have a relaxing evening everybody,

Marru

wornoutmumoftwo

Originally Posted by wornoutmumoftwo
And then of course there's the school uniform... (Shame they can't have a normal uniform of plain jumper and a shirt - no theyhave polo's & jumper with the school badge on them)
Are you sure they can't have plain ones but in the right colour? DD and DS2's school sell the badged polo shirts, but I just get the plain ones as they wear them under their sweatshirt/cardi and no-one would see the badge. Also they sometimes wear plain sweatshirts/cardis as they are always spilling something down their tops, usually on a Monday :rolleyes: .

Hi, They're polo shirts are a sort of gold colour, very unique. One of the ones I got my son is covered in pen/paint (they don't use washable at school or nursery I've noticed), but as it's winter and he's wearing a jumper noone can see that, will have to replace it in the summer though.

cw18

Marru - pleased to hear you seem to have sorted out your course so you can continue in some format :T

xnatalie81x

Tuesday to do list

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

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

Set up standing orders for egg and mbna (need a barclays card reader or go bank before work) - Not done as still cannot find a pinsentry and no time to go to bank as working

Ring HMRC for balance and how much i've been paying. - Not done, ran out of time

Ring lloyds current and student accounts for balance on overdrafts and how much been paying - DONE

Post f&f offer to RBS - DONE

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 - DONE

Work 3.30-5.30 -= LOVE MY PART-TIME JOB!!!!!!

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!) - DONE, tuna mayo pittas with a yog pk value crisps and an apple

Do a bathroom inventory of what i have and estimate how long each thingy will last in case i see offers - DONE and did the same with dishwasher tabs -3mths worth and washing powder - 2mths worth)

1 load of washing - DONE

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

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

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