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

angelatgraceland

I was good today and went for a free swim using a Kellogs voucher-did 30 lengths so I'm very pleased with myself. Popped into Waitrose for some more jellies and cream as I've run out and used some vouchers. Popped into healthfood shop for some supplements-that was nearly a tenner but will last a month at least.
DD has been selling her unwanted clothes via facebook I think-a free way of doing it! I need to tot up my spending tonight as it's end of the week. I bought some more vouchers via *bay which I know I can use. My freezer will barely close so no bulk-cooking for a while. No waste this week as anything not eaten at the end of the day has got frozen quickly-partly the reason for it being so full-plus all the chickens I bought yesterday.
It's basically grab whatever takes your fancy for tea tonight as we are using up the party food.
I had chicken salad though-I will buy some bacon tomorrow and cook the breasts wrapped in it. I may also by some sundried tomatoes and some mushrooms to go with it. Still got some lamb left-altho DH said he didnt like lamb he still had some yesterday and decl;ared it was nice! Strange man-I never can work out what he likes in truth. He does however devour chicken!
Sophiesmum-I will be watching your frugal menus closely! I must use up my blue cheese sprinkled on salad-there is a little left which could otherwise get wasted. Best place Ive found for nice bags of salad is Co-op. When it gets a bit warmer I will start my sprouting.

kittiej

I hope you come back Marru because just as others have said your presence will be missed.

I think that everyone's challenge is unique to them.

So what if you don't live on 4k, a lot of people are using a larger budget than that, it is the consideration you give to how you actually spend your money and if you end up in a better position than you would have previously then that has only got to be a good thing surely?

I hope you reconsider.

Masomnia

Hi Marru, I just want to echo what everyone else has said, we're all here to achieve our own goals and support each other with that. I don't have any debt except my student debt, and I won't be paying that off any sooner than I need to.

My budget deficit after this week is a horrifying -£188.83, so basically I need to rebudget as something isn't working. If I came in £10 under each week I'd have it balanced by June. Hmm!

Be fine

Sorry I haven't posted much recently, I've been quite busy at uni, and I want to make an effort with this thread.

cw18

angelatgraceland wrote: »

I was good today and went for a free swim using a Kellogs voucher-did 30 lengths so I'm very pleased with myself

Well done :T It's a looooong time since I could manage that much !!!

Spotted a sign on the outside of our swimming pool yesterday -- and it looks like I could be taking it up again from April. Our Council has a Lifestyle card (£1.50/yr) which currently gives free swimming for children and over 60's, but from 1st April they're extending it to everyone

I'd prefer to do the 'Ladies Only' sessions, but it looks like there's still a charge for them (£1.90 instead of £2.95) -- and it's only the 'Casual Swim' and 'Early Bird' sessions that are free.

The 'Early Bird' is 7:30-8:30am on a Wednesday (but I have my GDs from 7:20 or 7:50 depending on DD's shift).

'Casual Swim' is
12-1pm Monday thru Friday (have younger GD on a Monday, so that one's out)
4-5:30pm Monday (have GDs until 5 or 5:30)
6:30-7:30pm on a Tuesday (younger DS gets home from college around 6pm and we eat around 6:15)
5:30-6:30pm on a Thursday (again an issue as GDs may not leave until 5:30 and we normally eat at 6:15pm)
plus a session on Saturday and Sunday that are historically heaving !!


So it looks like the Tuesday thru Friday lunch time sessions are the ones I need to check out




Elder DS turned up just after 2pm -- no apology for not directly letting me know he was coming home on leave, just a half-hearted one that he's a day later than he'd said in the message via his older sister (he stopped off with a friend further down south last night). He's home until 21st, so I've got 8 days of cooking for 3.....

Tonight was already planned (and greeted with appreciation by both boys), one night will be the 2 portion tub of curry for the lads and the liver & onion for me (think I'll pull them out now for tomorrow), and I'm going to have a bash at h/m Enchilladas one night (younger son actually asked if we can have these while elder son is home - as I've point blank refused to buy the packs for just 2 of us, but have been prepared to when there's 3 of us here :rolleyes2 ). So that just leaves me another 5 days - and I'm debating pulling out the smaller beef joint for Sunday, which leaves 4. I did think I was going to have to go shopping for main meal ingredients if elder DS landed, but having sorted the freezers yesterday I think I'm OK from stock :j I might need some more frozen peas/sweetcorn/mixed veg and oven chips -- but I already knew I was going to have to get some of those this month (and possibly this week), so that's fine.

Sarah147

Evening all

Weather is terrible here (N E England) and all yesterdays heavy snow is turning to ice, I have nearly fallen over numerous times and am terrified when out and about when it is like this. I am, therefore, resolving not to leave the house until it thaws! So I suspect it could be a very DFW weekend Tomorrows local football match has already been postponed so there is no reason to leave the house really. What a perfect excuse to get around to all those jobs I have been putting off for far too long. The decluttering... the eBay selling... the baking multi portions of things... the getting stuff bagged for the charity shop... the writting endless lists.... :rotfl:

Going to have a nice evening in this evening and eat yummy chocolates (a present from a friend) and watch Groundhog Day on ITV3 at 10pm. I love Bill Murray.

redglass_2

Marru, please don't go. I repeat what everyone has said, we would all miss you.

And now.....stop shoving, you lot, I have SOLE OCCUPANCY of the doghouse for the next six months! I've just paid for my woodshed (£300 :eek: but actually quite a good deal considering what was done - it is custom-made to fit my garden and provides a much bigger space than if I'd bought a shed for the same amount).

Then... today has shaped up to be the best Friday 13th ever . I discovered that I have an important interview next week and if it goes right I will achieve an ambition I have had for nearly a decade. Not only that, but I seem after [strike]years[/strike] decades of solitude to have attracted a BF (not sure how, but who cares?). Sorry, but both of these new developments WILL mean expenditure on clothes. And meals. Booking my place in the doghouse now.... unless I decide to treat it all as luxuries? In my defence, I'm not in debt and if the interview goes well, it will bring me quite a lot of money, so I'm investing a sprat to catch a mackerel. As for clothes for going out with BF, well....;)

sophiesmum_2

Managed to get the tortilla press ordered for OH and bulk pack of masa flour for making the tortillas - have told OH he is having it for valentines - but it won't arrive till next week sometime. Budget now £33 lighter after postage costs but have decided to take it out of the extra money I have made so far (£152.43 )so it won't impact on my £4000:D ,

Need to add another tally to my spreadsheet and daily post.;)

Total extra income- £152.43 / Spent from this - £33./ Balance - £119.43


cw - my gym often has bring a friend weekends - next time there is one I will let you know you could come have a swim, sauna, jacuzzi even use gym if you want - all for free

cw18

sm - thanks for the offer, but not my scene. I can't use a sauna -- tried it twice about 4 years apart, and after just a few minutes I was gasping for breath (haven't shown any other 'signs' of asthma but it is in the family, and I know asthmatics are advised against using them). Wouldn't dare use a gym without strict supervision since the major flare-up of my back problem either


Would be interested in hearing how people get on with tortilla presses though DS isn't a lover of bread (apart from batons/french sticks or expensive milk roll -- or h/m as long as it's straight out of the bread maker!), but does eat pittas and has been known to eat 'wraps' the once in a blue moon I've managed to get some cheaply. It's something I could put on the Christmas list my parents ask for around October, and they wouldn't think it odd as I've had a fridge, a deep fat fryer and a pasta machine off them in the past -- as well as putting money from them towards a new tumble-dryer :rolleyes2

grandma247

NYK i have just logged on. I dont think it matters too much I used the yeast for my breadmaker and if you make it by hand it says just knead and put in the bread tin so I just used the dough straight away. I do not think it matters with the hot pockets it is more important with breads you are going to slice.
some fillings we came up with when I asked the family to brainstorm ideas were chilli,onions in butter, corned beef hash, cheese with anything, beans, beans and sausage, hot dogs and onions. and some I can't remember just now. They will make great non messy picnic food.

Frugaldom

Redglass, this is for all your good news --->

Ddraig, how are you doing, how did you get on with appointment on Wednesday?

Sophiesmum, I have an extra 5 columns running alongside my 4k budget spreadsheet - 'misc' spends followed by cashback, vouchers, winnings, interest & eBid sales. I am hoping to make all spends (misc) over and above my 4k housekeeping budget money neutral. So far, it's £250.15 income/£173.17 spent, giving me a 'savings pot' of £76.98 Longterm, I want my entire budget to be money neutral so I can bank my monthly work earnings. I think I'll need to get past DD's wedding costs before attempting that, though.