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

fizzel81

stardrops is a cleaning solution for around 80p a bottle go's a very long way and its very good for cleaning most things, ideal when used with mircofibre cloths

Frugaldom

Good afternoon to all and welcome newbies. I have now added your names to the list and hope you have fun throughout 2009, be it good or bad.

I've just received my trial order from Approved Food cash & carry and what a complete mess the box was! It had been bashed to pieces and was barely held together by the 'rescue mission' tape applied by DHL, so am guessing that Christmas or thereabouts is not a good time for transporting anything that's easily squashed. It was also unfortunate that the items that got bashed were tins, which means I now need to find a use for a whole pile of kidney beans (2.4kg drained weight) rather than keep the bashed tins. I'm thinking a massive pot of chilli and then decant it into various tubs for freezing but has anyone else got any other ideas? The other bashed tins were chicken & sweetcorn soup, but at 6 tins for £1, this works out cheaper than cat food for 'Bagpuss', our feral feline night visitor and Mr Hedgehog, who loves soup. :rotfl: Also in the order, enough chocolate covered marzipan eggs and assorted chocolates & toffees to make all my Easter pressies next year plus enough Lloyd Grossman sauces to last the entire year. I'm wondering if these can be frozen in their sachets?

Outside, the logstore, the mini tool store and the potting shelf have all been built and the bargain tarpaulin as groundsheet for the greenhouse has arrived but it has started raining, so no hope of getting out to dig anything else just yet.

[STRIKE]Off to attempt making some mincemeat for the Christmas pies now [/STRIKE]- wish me luck! Baking is not one of my strong points but I plan to keep practicing throughout 2009.

Back again - No I'm not - I haven't got a tray to make individial pastry cases, nor do I have any brandy, brown or demarara sugar and last, but not least, 3 weeks spare before using it. :rotfl: Improvisation needed - let's get ceative and see what i DO have in stock. Hmm... watch this space

SmlSave

In the SW count, I'm in Swindon, which I think just about comes under south west!

I'm in Swindon too! :T

I will, truely, get myself in gear and post my budget. I have a rough one mocked up which comes to £4500 excluding mortgage, car, tax, water, holidays, DIY and the wedding; but I do need to seriously sit down with my spreadsheet and work out 2008's mean average on all things.

Hello to everyone :beer:

nonstepfordwife

Hi,

Have spent 2008 trying to get debt free (with varying success). Just found your 2008 challenge which led me here. Really want to sign up to living on £4000 for 2009. So here I am!
Need to do some sums but sign me up please!

SiannieLaz

Ta loads Fizz, will keep my eye out for it!

fizzel81

SiannieLaz wrote: »

Ta loads Fizz, will keep my eye out for it!

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=354039&highlight=stardrops linky for you

MRSMCAWBER

Nyk

Are you contacting Approved foods to complain? its their responsibility to pack the goods well enough to arrive in tact?

I have been around a couple of garden centres today -my birthday treat to myself :rotfl: and the veggie seeds are now coming back out :j a sure sign xmas is nearly over ...I have seen a couple of lovely poly carb cold frames that I might be having at the end of the month by way of the rest of my xmas pressy from hubby
I also nipped into the NAAFI this morning and hijacked another 10 litres of whole milk @ 50c for 2litres -they are now wedged in the freezer -I reckon January should be a realy low spend month on the grocery front :j plus I will be €100 up to start with as hubby owes me it
right off to do some more knitting
Only a few days left until we start 2009 folks :T

Pips_Mum

:bdaycake:Happy Birthday MRSMCAWBER:bdaycake:

the_cat

Nyk - there have been a couple of people mention problems on the thread about approved foods packaging. Defo email the guy running it as he has had glowing praise for sorting out the problems/refunding without any arguments.

Re the kidney beans - could you just freeze them 'as is' rather than making a chilli? Most of us are short of time at the moment so extra cooking is not exactly welcome. I'm pretty sure they would be ok (although someone on here will know for definate - my guess is sophiesmum or MrsMc will know!!!!!)

sophiesmum_2

Nyk - drain them bag them and freeze them then just use what you need as and when - they will be fine. I soak and cook a huge batch of beans at a time then freeze till needed:D