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

sophiesmum_2

Blairweech wrote: »

Sophies Mum - I have seen those pebbles on gauze used as doormats before...see here

Ooh another idea:T , the ones I have been given are already attached to the mesh, they are all white/greys smaller sized ones. My mum found them in gardening section of poundshop and bought me 6 squares - I had been talking to her about trying mosaics - she thought I might like to do something with these.

I my use them on frame of a large mirror I have in loft, or on top of bathroom cupboard - I think either would look quite effective ( if i did a good job with the grouting that is;) ) If [URL="file://\\i"]i[/URL] picked up a couple more sheets I could probably do both

redglass_2

Well, I finally got hold of Poundwoman's book and had a quick read of it before getting down to the day's tasks. She seems to be writing it like a diary or a bit like a novel and I agree with Kittikins there's far too much about all the free events she attends - these might be useful if you were young AND childless AND living in a vibrant city, but not necessarily otherwise. I had to laugh at her amazement at finding that own brand toiletries actually work - where's she been all these years? :rotfl:
I will read the rest of the book though I haven't found anything yet I didn't know already. There is a list of useful addresses and websites at the end, though, so that might turn out to be the most valuable part.

I went out this morning and spent £4 on bacon at the Farmers' Market but in my defence it was lovely, special stuff that would have cost twice as much at Mr S's. I also collected a whole folder of gardening mags (for info for the lotty) from a LOVELY lady, a FreeCycler. While I was there she just happened to mention that the thing on her front garden wall, waiting for any passer-by to pick it up, was an ice-cream maker. Then I found a load of stuff being offered at another door so I got a stack of firewood, plus some of those trays for organising paperwork, plus a cool box. Add in Poundwoman's book from the library and that's not a bad total for a morning and for £4 methinks. Sadly the ice cream maker had got wet outside. Can anyone tell me if it will be safe to use it if I keep it warm and/or keep it near the dehumidifier until the rain has dried out of it? I put this in red 'cos I think nobody noticed the last time I asked a question, so I'm being very pushy about it this time.

Urgh, looks like I got home just before the hailstones started...brrrrr

dND

redglass wrote: »

Sadly the ice cream maker had got wet outside. Can anyone tell me if it will be safe to use it if I keep it warm and/or keep it near the dehumidifier until the rain has dried out of it?

If it were me, I would dry it out for ages - a day or two longer than I would expect it to dry - and then give it a go. But I'd also have a second person around to switch off the electricity at the mains just in case there was a problem.

There's not that likely to be but it doesn't help to be prepared. Oh I'd also make sure that it was on something non conducting and preferably non-flammable and know what I would smother it with should it catch fire, NOT WATER :eek:

As I said, I would try it but be prepared. Good luck, home-made ice-cream is lovely.

jtb2412

A'noon fellow challengers

Thought i'd pop on while I have a cuppa and catch up a bit - t'has been a busy week !

Marru sometimes you have to just say 's*d it' to the cost of things if it's something that will make your life that much easier. I'd have done the same in your situation, some things we just don't have any control over (if we did then life would be boring ). I hope you have a good week xx

JD I do my meter readings on a Monday and last week was my first week so didn't have anything to compare it to. Will see what the result is this monday (fingers crossed !) We must sort out that coffee

SM - glad your feeling better.

looby men can be funny things (present company accepted ), you never know, he may come round to it all eventually. Glad to see you're still with us and still motivated :T Sorry to hear about the Lladro Re: the apples, how lovely of you ! I'm surprised they didn't all go too. Where do you live again? lol

andromache and ram - sometimes people just don't want to be helped, but when it all goes wrong you can sit back and know that you tried to help and it was their choice to ignore it. Your not the one who then has to deal with your conscience if things go wrong. Karma as ever, it does happen.

Sorry if I've missed anyone out

Had a pretty awful morning here (nothing to do with family), I won't bore you with the details. But feeling better now and looking forward to our Chinese Takeaway tonight :j . It's our monthly treat and something that we said we would keep on doing when taking part in this challenge. Neither of us smoke or drink (much lol) so we do have this little luxury and we decided we didn't want to change it. However, I think I might make the decision to count this in the challenge budget - I think I will be under for phone and grocery at the end of the year so can probably allow for it in the figures. I'll see how much it comes to tonight .

Been a busy morning dismantling son's bed (now been collected by fellow freecycler) and I have his computer desk being collected shortly.

Had a free sample of cereals delivered this morning for a survey I'm going to do with my DD - enough for 3 mornings for the both of us - Just have to complete a survey for each one (which I quite enjoy doing) so that's free brekkie for a few days next week :T .

Also had a full bottle of washing liquid with built in fabric conditioner sent through too (again for another survey) so a week's worth of free washing :j . Now if I can get a few more of these then i'll be laughing

I think i've got about £50 left of this month's money (not including the chinese, i've already got the money for that) so should be on track come February. I like February because it's a short month (even though we don't see the benefit of it until March due to paydates) but I won't have as many days in which to spend money :rolleyes: :rotfl:

Right i'm off to do some more tidying/cleaning/cooking/washing/ironing ....... on second thoughts maybe i'll just sit down with another cuppa Have a great weekend everyone xxx

sophiesmum_2

redglass wrote: »

Well, I finally got hold of Poundwoman's book and had a quick read of it before getting down to the day's tasks. She seems to be writing it like a diary or a bit like a novel and I agree with Kittikins there's far too much about all the free events she attends - these might be useful if you were young AND childless AND living in a vibrant city, but not necessarily otherwise. I had to laugh at her amazement at finding that own brand toiletries actually work - where's she been all these years? :rotfl:
I will read the rest of the book though I haven't found anything yet I didn't know already. There is a list of useful addresses and websites at the end, though, so that might turn out to be the most valuable part.

I went out this morning and spent £4 on bacon at the Farmers' Market but in my defence it was lovely, special stuff that would have cost twice as much at Mr S's. I also collected a whole folder of gardening mags (for info for the lotty) from a LOVELY lady, a FreeCycler. While I was there she just happened to mention that the thing on her front garden wall, waiting for any passer-by to pick it up, was an ice-cream maker. Then I found a load of stuff being offered at another door so I got a stack of firewood, plus some of those trays for organising paperwork, plus a cool box. Add in Poundwoman's book from the library and that's not a bad total for a morning and for £4 methinks. Sadly the ice cream maker had got wet outside. Can anyone tell me if it will be safe to use it if I keep it warm and/or keep it near the dehumidifier until the rain has dried out of it? I put this in red 'cos I think nobody noticed the last time I asked a question, so I'm being very pushy about it this time.

Urgh, looks like I got home just before the hailstones started...brrrrr

good haul of bargains Redglass:T :T :T

Re the ice cream maker - do you have one of the electric circuit boards with trip switches on? If you have I would chance drying it out for a number of days in a warm place and then try plugging it in, if it has developed a fault it should trip the circuit immediately - if so dispose of it immediately.
If you don't have one of the cut out circuit boards then I would be wary of plugging it in even after a few days drying out.

shaz_mum_of__2

Had a quite lazy day in readiness for MIL's big move (from kent to across the road from us) hubby is down there packing and the removal men arrive wednesday.

Spent £10 in nett0 and 10 in £f@rm stores and got 6 big bags of stuff including 10 packs of seeds for 19p pack at Nett0 some veg some flowers but had a good selection for anyone who has none already

Got meatball casserole in the s/c and popping a chick chasseur on once finished with leftover chicken to freeze for later in week

Feeling a bit drained after yesterdays fiasco so may have a lie down

redglass thanks for the rminder ....i have some organic veg mags to freecycle.............i would leave the icecream maker in a warm dry place for a week then plug in and see , not very techie sorry


Shaz

Skint_Lynne

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

Had a quite lazy day in readiness for MIL's big move (from kent to across the road from us) hubby is down there packing and the removal men arrive wednesday.

Spent £10 in nett0 and 10 in £f@rm stores and got 6 big bags of stuff including 10 packs of seeds for 19p pack at Nett0 some veg some flowers but had a good selection for anyone who has none already

Got meatball casserole in the s/c and popping a chick chasseur on once finished with leftover chicken to freeze for later in week

Feeling a bit drained after yesterdays fiasco so may have a lie down

redglass thanks for the rminder ....i have some organic veg mags to freecycle.............i would leave the icecream maker in a warm dry place for a week then plug in and see , not very techie sorry


Shaz

Good luck with the move shaz,

My mum had collected more than 20 years worth of clutter, what a nightmare. If they ever move again though, it should be much easier. You've done the right thing sending DH down to pack, that means you don't need to sort through anything, smart thinking:T :T

redglass_2

sophiesmum wrote: »

do you have one of the electric circuit boards with trip switches on? If you have I would chance drying it out for a number of days in a warm place and then try plugging it in, if it has developed a fault it should trip the circuit immediately - if so dispose of it immediately.

I do have one of these circuit boards, yes! Thanks to everyone that has suggested ideas so far.

glendam

When my Mum died nearly 4 years ago she had been in her house for 56 years. My sister and I spent 6 weeks emptying it,with a mixture of laughs, memories and tears. it was however pre my involvement with freecycle alot of her furniture went to skip.
But looking through drawers of clutter gave us many a laugh, and brought back many happy memories so much so that I still have a box of her clutter.
I am waffling now.
on the back of this I did set up our local freecycle group.

Glenda

bails

jtb2412 wrote: »

sometimes you have to just say 's*d it' to the cost of things if it's something that will make your life that much easier. I'd have done the same in your situation, some things we just don't have any control over (if we did then life would be boring ). I hope you have a good week xx

I'm sorry I know this is well meant but I don't agree with this advice. 1) Having a roof over your head is more important than having a car and 2) saying 'sod it' when you are in debt is completely nonsensical.

I do however entirely agree with this:

sometimes people just don't want to be helped, but when it all goes wrong you can sit back and know that you tried to help and it was their choice to ignore it. Your not the one who then has to deal with your conscience if things go wrong. Karma as ever, it does happen.

Shaz, really sorry to hear about your son, hope he's doing okay xx

I may be away for a few days; I hope you are all okay and I'll be back to post my end of month figures x