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

Blairweech

Marru - Sorry to 'learn from your mistakes' as it were, but I think I will pop into Trago on the way home tomorrow and get another key cut for my car, as I only have the one!

Nyk - :rolleyes: Trust you to notice that . I totally fell in love with that bed and when I fell out with the ex and moved out on my own, I no longer had to compromise on my choice. So, I slept on an airbed for a few months, saved up and bought it (don't worry, I got cashback!). It is worth every penny (That plus my mattress was almost £1000)

Well, my brother's girlfriend's little girl (5) has just been here, and I made the mistake of leaving my bedroom door open while I was downstairs for a while...(can you guess what's coming)...she has jumped on the bed almost to the point of going through it, squirted half a bottle of my perfume on herself, and what make up is not on her face/clothes is on the carpet. Oh, and [strike]cuddled[/strike] strangled the cat. Sigh.

Skint_Lynne

Good evening,

Not much to report today, I am in the house after dropping mum at bingo, and I've started my laundry. I do it every fortnight now to save on time/electricity/soap powder. It's easy to do it this way as I am on my own. When DH is here it is on nearly every day, he changes about 3-4 times.:rolleyes:

I haven't spent much, just got my weekly petrol and a couple of token things. I looked in Asda for the chopped tomatoes, but no sign of them. I'll have a look on the website to see if the offer is on there, then I can have another look in the shop. This is my treatnight, a can of gin and tonic and frazzles. Cheaper than a takeaway or a night out I guess.:D I'll need to get a move on with qype, I'll try and have it finished on time, I'll get there in the end.

I'm off to have a look at the crafting/prezzie threads. Will check back later. xx

mumzyof2

Evening everyone

Keeping it short because my keyboard isnt working properly ..or im typing to fast!

Just want to say thanks to sophiesmum for the printer and thanks to everyone who has pm'ed me about my english course

Been to Zoom Zone tody with some friends and kids had a wonderful time but spent £19.03!! It was £7.50 to get in on top of bus fare and drinks, crisps etc.

mumzyof2

[quote=Skint Lynne;18043763

I'm off to have a look at the crafting/prezzie threads. Will check back later. xx[/quote]

Can you tell me where the thread is please?

Brighton_belle

ooh shaz, I'm a secret gibbs :smileyhea fan too.

The day has been a write off for me with another (essential meds induced) migraine. Pain finelly gone but just washed out, so relaxing my checking over my accounts:D . For the challenge I have spent in Jan as follows:
food: 158.44
essential hsehold (loos rolls, bin liners, repairs etc):£25.37
toiletries: 1.60 (includes some bulk buys of soap at 14p for 3 bars)
sundries: 7.80
non work buses: 10.30
internet/tv/phones: 39.85
utilities: 52.50
Total £326.01

So to not go above my £333 monthly average that leaves me £6.99 to tie me over until 1st Feb. I will watch this very carefully. I will need to spend this on 1 more bus & some fruit.
Nyk, thanks again for the reminder re being under monthly averages not mean you have money to splash about. I hope to improve as the months go by at getting below average as often as poss to allow for the unexpected.
Really pleased with my food budget this month. Long way to go to match nyk and sm but know I am doing well for me, with limited energies amd we enjoy what we eat. Will give this more attention on due course, but need to do it in spurts.
My accounts system seems to be working well and giving me the info I want but I want to be able to break down the categories better, like hsehold spending so I can see exactly what is being bought so will alter that. Having the a&l account for bills is really improving my bills budgeting ,as it is totally separate. Very proud of myself that I now put away £15 a month towards decembers Building Ins one off bill.
Once my kitchen work is paid for, my next target is to save £1000 this year to add to my emergency fund ISA. I work in the financial sector so can't be sure my job is safe and need a bigger cushion. This months pay will be down £100+ because I had a week off sick, so will need to be extra cautious in Feb with spends.
My reasons for doing this challenge is to maximise my quality of life on a low income and remain debt free.

sophiesmum_2

Good evening frunchkins:D
Today has been a good day, feeling more my usual self and managed to get through everything on my list. OH gone to work, DD gone to work (waitressing job) so on my lonesome in house again:j :j . No TV on (OH's idea of fun) No blaring MTV from DD's bedroom just peace and quiet:D

Just put some butter beans to soak as want to make butter bean gratin for tea tomorrow, need to put some more mung beans in sprouter for later in week,and then do menu plan for coming week now I have my new veggies to work in. After that going to sand down top of my chunky pine coffee table and re wax it , can't do this when DD is here as it sets her asthma off.


Enjoy the rest of the evening everyone:D

Skint_Lynne

mumzyof2 wrote: »

Can you tell me where the thread is please?

Mumzy,

it is called crafting for christmas 2009, lets begin again. It is in the special occasions and celebrations board. I don't know how to do the link thingy, if you know how to do it, could you tell me please?

I've started looking there as I would like to knit my wee nephew some toys for next christmas. There's loads of brilliant ideas on the thread, both crafting and cooking. It's worth a look. xx

sophiesmum_2

mumzyof2 wrote: »

Can you tell me where the thread is please?

Lots of stuff on the special occasions and celebrations board:D

sophiesmum_2

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

Mumzy,

it is called crafting for christmas 2009, lets begin again. It is in the special occasions and celebrations board. I don't know how to do the link thingy, if you know how to do it, could you tell me please?

I've started looking there as I would like to knit my wee nephew some toys for next christmas. There's loads of brilliant ideas on the thread, both crafting and cooking. It's worth a look. xx

This is the forum
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?s=&daysprune=&f=101
SL
Just open thread you want, right click on address bar at top of screen and copy, then paste into your post.

savingfortravel

Hi Everyone!!

So proud that I've read every post this month so far.

Been feeling a little rough today..slept in this morning..I so needed it and haven't been out..just school prep and watching a dvd. OH went to Tesco..picked up a few bits and used a MOC to cover most of the cost of a pack of Smoked Salmon to go towards our treat tea next Saturday. Also got the Daily Express because get free telly mag, can use the MOCs in Tesco (about £1.20) and we are sending off for the free haircut.

But I wonder if someone could help me with this...
Have just bought a cheap new mobile phone using quidco, so should get cashback and paying for it using Mecca Bingo win.

Anyway I've gone for Orange network so I can take advantage of Orange Wednesday film deals BUT...i have a question (I can't remember who it is on here who's used this deal before, sorry) does the text ticket come back on your mobile phone and can it be used for any film showing that Wednesday?
Thanks
SFT