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

candygirl

BAILS I hope I didn't worry you with my tales of woe:o My system was basically kaputt after 20 years on the pill, and it was hereditary as my Mum also had endo.I'm sure you'll be fine hun.My mate's just had her first baby at 41!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

cw18

sophiesmum wrote: »

Minimum 6 months and Iexpect to still have stuff left at the end of that time.:o Tip for whoopsy buying freezer fillers - don't go for the overpackaged processed meal type whoopsies they take up lots of storage space and generally only do one meal. Opt for the packs of meat/joints/fish if you can get them which will make several meals and take up less room in freezer.:rolleyes:

And if I buy a joint in one of those huuuuge (for the size of the joint) "blister packs", I remove it from the pack, wrap in cling film, wrap in foil, and mark the the outside of the parcel as to what it is. (I either find a way of attaching the 'ticket' from the original packing, or write the details on using an indelible marker).

skint_chick

Lilo I hope all your treatment goes well and you have a speedy recovery - I'm still waiting to hear if I'm ok after laser treatment I've got another smear in March to check my cells again - it's the waiting that makes me nervous.

Bails Congratulations - what are you doing to celebrate?

fizzel I think you are amazing paying off your debts by yourself and you're doing a really good job of tackling them and I'm really impressed!

We're in the process of trying for kids - OH has been to get his swimmers tested as we've been trying for 18months and nothings happening and I'm really worrying about it as my weight is affecting my hormone levels and the more I worry the more I eat!! I'm 31 and by the end of this year I'll be in a financial and emotional place where I'm more than ready. The cervical cancer panic is worrying me too - can't win!

Had to buy heating oil at £186 and paid for new gutters so another £190! I've just been quoted £400 for 2 new double radiators and had budgeted for about £250-300 so that'll have to wait for a while. Doing a mystery shop for free petrol tomorrow and then only one food one next week so I have more creative time on my hands. I think if I had to go back to work full time now I would panic I enjoy having a bit more spare time and a lot less stress. Money and status aren't as important as finding out who I am and what I really want from life. Looking forward to spending the weekend with my family - and I never thought I would say that!

Brighton_belle

Afternoon all. Marru, thanks for tip re bringing bails into the partnership:D . Wouldn't want to distract her energies from her true calling of teaching though, (no no, nothing to do with not wanting to split the money 3 ways instead of 2:rotfl:).
Great to hear you feel up and running with the simplifying life plan:T . Is there anyway you can stick this up somewhere to refer to everyday, so that it influences every decision you take, you know the sort of thing: ooh suddenly had this idea and could do this this and that: then you check and see if it is in keeping your 'life simplifying' and in line with what you have decided should be your priorities as per your life plan goals?
I know how easy it can be to get bogged down in daily 'stuff' and a regular look at the bigger picture (soaring with the seagulls I call it) can help keep the right perspective on things/ help choice making easier and make sure you are truely heading in the direction you want to go.

Lilo - very sorry to hear you news and thank goodness it was picked up.
whitewing - woohoo, jogging. Well done you:T . Youare making the perfect start and not expecting too much of yourself too soon.
fizzel - great job with the debt busting. I admire the fact you have realised your ex isn't fulfilling his commitments to the debt or his children and you are just getting on with getting your own life straight:T
mumzy - I think that is a sensible desicion re the party. She's only 3. She won't miss it if she wasn't expecting it. When she is 4 or 5 you will have had another year at this budgeting in your belt and may be able to do something when she is old enough to appreciate it. When they are that little, mum's have an amazing ability to make anything a little different a great special treat, so I am sure what you are planning will be lovely.
Janey - it was wonderful to hear you have such a good laugh. Look forward to hearing of your treasure trove:D
bails - great news re the masters. Let me know if 'willing yourself better' works won't you:rotfl: coz I've clearly been going wrong somewhere:D .


Was very good today, resisted making any personal stationary purchases from Viking catelogue when I put in an order at work (I'm in charge of stationary at work:D ). Oh and 1st Radio Times under the '£1 for 12 weeks' offer has arrived .


Prescriptions are funny things. My colleague who has an income of £80,000 & a 4-5 bed hse has free prescriptions because of a thyroid problem and I'm on under 10k and sleep in my sitting room so I can rent out a room to make ends meet and have to pay £100 a year (prepay cert) to cover my essential prescriptions that I am literally crippled without .

bails

Not at all Candygirl, it's nothing anyone's said, just the topic itself - you know what it's like when you start thinking worst case scenario about anything... I'm fine though, honestly and am happy with the plan we have. For us it would have been unreasonable for me to expect OH to 'sign up' to something so big before he was ready and luckily I don't feel broody at all so this is a happy compromise More to the point, I need the time to get my own head around it :rotfl:

candygirl

BAILS If i'd known then what I know now............i'd still have had my DD, even though she is a demnading moomoo at times, and just can't wait for her to have the baby then I can steal it;) :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Marru

Brighton_belle wrote: »

Is there anyway you can stick this up somewhere to refer to everyday, so that it influences every decision you take, you know the sort of thing: ooh suddenly had this idea and could do this this and that: then you check and see if it is in keeping your 'life simplifying' and in line with what you have decided should be your priorities as per your life plan goals?

Oh yes I have. It is orginal Bails (signed) and I will cellotape it on the wall. And in 25 years I will flog it in eb@y and that pays for my retirement.

:rotfl:lol at the demanding moomoo, what is it with daughters...

lingojingo

sophiesmum wrote: »

Woo Hoo have finished my qype stuff, :rotfl: mind think I have reviewed everything except my mums shed.:rolleyes:

I reviewed a tiny hairdresser's salon not much bigger than my Mum's shed :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

MrDT

virgin vouchers

Rob_Hinchcliffe_-_Qype_Community_Manager wrote:

Just to clear up the issue about using the virgin voucher online…
The Virgin Voucher can be used against a number of companies with an online presence including Virgin Wines, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Vie, Virgin Atlantic to name a few. If you do want to use your voucher with one of these companies, you can simply call the company in question to make your booking and then post of the Virgin Voucher to them at the advised address to make your payment.

Looks like I won't have to try selling it on ebay then

Shame Virgin don't make this clear. I guess there's money to be made from unclaimed vouchers - make them unusable for lots of people, hope they won't think to sell the vouchers, and wait for them to expire...

I'm terribly cynical at times.

Oh well, best get some more reviews done at the weekend then!

sophiesmum_2

Good afternoon frunchkins:D
Just having a catch up whilst watching the inauguration on the box.

General frugal aims for today;

• storecupboard meals
• reduce, reuse,recycle one item- another bag of foil for gude dogs, bottles to bottlebank in lunch hour
• do something nice for me - long soak in bath later with candles
• do something nice for someone else- make DD's favourite for tea
• do one thing just for fun -
• fitter not fatter - walk to bottle bank at lunchtime,chair based exercise class with oldies

Todays frugal meals;

• fruit smoothie made with frozen fruit
• Cheese and tomato toasties, OJ
• Chicken chasseur with wholegrain rice

Fruit and veg portions;
3 fruit, 0 pulses, 3 veggies,:D

Expenditure or additional income
No spend day





Remaining target cash for first 6 months food spends - £260.34 left from budget of £400 for first six months.