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

Pips_Mum

:Tcongrats jennybee another 9lb 4oz frugalmite i feel your pain, literally!!!
dont like to tell you, but i am one handed typing at 04.00am:eek: due to a wide awake 2 week old, all good fun though.
i too plead insanity, trying to remember to write everything down but think i will have to just accept that my figures may be a bit haywire.
love and hugs to everyone x x x

JAMIEDODGER

congratulations Jennybee and welcome to baby JD (such a good name:D)

Managed a NSD yesterday as hoped for:) So remaining amount is still £57.17 with 7 days to go.... £8.16 per day.

Utilities and Sky still remaining to go out and the last of the pocket money.

Not sure what will be doing today as its pouring down here! Need to iron school uniform though. Off to make another cuppa now!

xnatalie81x

Got my new contract sorted through vodafone or orange, can't remember lol All i know is ordered through phones 4 u (30 tcb) and the free gift is a ps3 and 600mins and 3000 texts for £35mth! I rang them and said when does the free git come and he said it is delivered with the phone. I thought i'd have to wait! Then the guy on the phone was saying i can do it for you now and all this and i said no it's ok. He was so pushy. The when i went on tcb i realised why. He prob gets that 30 commission! Now have 40 pending in tcb wahoooooooooooo

looby-loo_2

xnatalie81x wrote: »

Got my new contract sorted through vodafone or orange, can't remember lol All i know is ordered through phones 4 u (30 tcb) and the free gift is a ps3 and 600mins and 3000 texts for £35mth! I rang them and said when does the free git come and he said it is delivered with the phone. I thought i'd have to wait! Then the guy on the phone was saying i can do it for you now and all this and i said no it's ok. He was so pushy. The when i went on tcb i realised why. He prob gets that 30 commission! Now have 40 pending in tcb wahoooooooooooo

:eek: not sure I'd want that:eek:

scrooge2008

Morning everyone!

Well, not long to the end of the month, but after a shop yesterday that WILL see me through to the end of the month, I have no more money in the budget or purse.

Instead of going overbudget, I have decided to take back a £6.00 top, to Tesco's today, and that should cover me for any small expenditure.

Nearly cracked last week. Was tempted by a Boden coat and bag in their 75% off sale. On the parcel's arrival my conscience kicked in, as I already had a similar bag and coat :eek: . I immediately returned it, saving me £115.00 :T
Just been on the newspaper thread and have got free tickets for Doubt next Tuesday.

sophiesmum_2

Good morning frunchkins:D

Had a little lie in this morning, not like me at all but didn't go to bed until late anyway. Had a good sift through OH's hidey hole last night whilst he was at work and binned lots of useless tat that he has been hoarding - he won't even notice;) , Dvd recorder is being rehomed today to fellow frunchkin so lots of decluttering going on of storage places. (which I can then fill up with stockpiled goodies:rotfl: )

General frugal aims for today;

• storecupboard lunch and tea
• reduce, reuse,recycle one item- rehome dvd recorder
• do something nice for me -
• do something nice for someone else -
• do one thing just for fun - go for swim , jacuzzi and sauna
• fitter not fatter - swimming

Todays frugal meals;

• HM seeded bread with bacon and mushrooms,OJ
• Tuna salad
• Chicken fillet with butter bean gratin and spring cabbage

Fruit and veg portions;
1 fruit, 2 pulses,4/5veggies,:D

Expenditure or additional income
Spent £3.70
No spend day planned- spent £3.70 in boots but gained £10.00 in points so worth it






Remaining target cash for first 6 months food spends - £256.84 left from budget of £400 for first six months.

Janey51

Jennybee congrats :T

Just a flying visit as going to search for treasure :rotfl:

We have snow and it's very cold again so I will be frozen.
Making soup for sustenance.
NSD today

[Deleted User]

sophiesmum wrote: »

Just put some butter beans to soak as want to make butter bean gratin for tea tomorrow

Hi sophiesmum
The gratin sounds really interesting and hopefully will taste great. Please could you post details of what goes into it (apart from the beans of course:rotfl: ) and how its made? Thanks.


Hi too to everyone who posts on this thread. It's my favourite on the whole of MSE, everyone is so supportive and helpful here. Although I'm just a 'lurker' rather than a challenge member I'm trying to put lots of your ideas and tips into practice. Keep up the good work, one and all:beer:

sophiesmum_2

Butter Bean Gratin

350g (unsoaked weight) butter beans
2 sticks celery- chopped (don't tell OH he thinks they are leeks - hates celery)
1 onion -chopped
2 good sized carrots - chopped
Small amount lazy garlic or clove garlic (optional)
1 bay leaf
1 litre water
bunch chopped parsley
75g butter
1 tbsp plain flour
300ml milk
125g grated cheese
100g breadcrumbs

Rinse beans and soak overnight
drain and set aside
Put beans,onion, garlic, celery, carrot and bay leaf in a pan with the water, bring to the boil, cover then gently simmer for 1 1/4 hours.

Using small pan,melt butter and remove from heat,stir in flour, then milk and thicken over low heat, add half the cheese, salt and pepper and the chopped parsley.

Drain beans, stir through the sauce and put in large oven proof dish, sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and rest of cheese and bake 200c for 15 minutes or until browned.:D

Sounds a bit of a faff but is easy really and tastes lovely.It is quite filling and you could have it as meal on it's own. I' m having chick with it as want to freeze a couple portions for another time.

[Deleted User]

Morning All

Congratulations JennyBee! These babies do seem to be on the bigger side, I hope mines a little bit smaller On the house front, DH is decorating as fast as he can.... lets just hope its ready in time. 2 weeks left at work, I cant wait. Starting washing baby clothes yesterday.

On the spends front, doing quite well. Making myself keep a note of things/receipts is an eye opener - It just stops me buying things! Home insurance was the best bargain, Renewal Quote came through £219.80 and excesses being put up to £200, online found similar cover for £142.63, went thru t*pcashb**k and got £51.00. Yay:j

Anyway nothing else exciting has happened. xx