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

Frugaldom

Hi guys, hi Skint Lynne, waved back at you as you crossed the border, welcome home.

Loopylou, I would put the savings wherever gets the best interest rate but allows you access when you need them. Mad as it may seem, I am in the process of transferring mine to €gg Money, which is a mastercard account, as none of my other accounts can meet the 4% and ISA is full for the year (also paying really rubbish interest rate). Longterm fixing is a bit dodgey, in my book, as it doesn't allow for emergencies, should they arise.

EFC I ended up doing housework and then baking - Grandma's 'hot pockets' not long out of the oven and we had some for lunch. Very nice, even just with grated cheddar cheese in the middle. Now I have the curtains ready to start sewing just as soon as I kindle the fire, as it's a bit cold & damp here today.

I'll collect the polystyrene on Monday, when I can also hand another bag of stuff into charity shop and visit hardwear store to get more cup hooks for the continuing panty, larder & kitchen project (PLK). Then I'll have 12 days left until 28th, when the project HAS to be finished to let me move on to the livestock project. All going well, eggs could start hatching on 5th March and the new brooder needs to be completed by then.

Planning to try and feed everyone from freezer for the next week or two as it needs defrosting. Easier said than done with pie & soup making plus I'll now have some 'hot pockets' to stick in there, too. Maybe I should make a polystyrene cool box and just pop the food in there for a couple of hours until freezer defrosts? Hmm...

Blairweech

Hello all!

Marru - Unfortunately, the undercurrents have all passed me by, but do stay!

Natalie - Have you tried Ebay or a wanted on Freecycle for a tortilla press? It seems as though it would be another kitchen gadget destined for the back of the cupboard, which someone is desperate to get rid of?

SianneLaz - Well done on the new job! Try posting a new thread on Old Style about your problems with food/diet/budget, I am sure they will be able to help you out with new ideas

Well, in bad news...I have a council tax summons :mad: Despite having until the end of March to pay my CT, they have still isssued me with a summons. It is not a problem paying it, but the £80 court costs will have to come out of the 4k. So that is my profit share from work wiped out.

I am pretty fed up atm. Am considering moving back in my parents, have discussed a 'business idea' with my Mum, and she seems to like it, but need to do more research first. I have also been looking at a smallholding course at Oxford College (distance learning)...it is only £345 so I will probably go for that sometime soon...or maybe I should leave it until I am closer to my dream?

On good news...I have a dinner date next Saturday

sophiesmum_2

mama67 wrote: »

Sm where di you get one from as Dh has said he will get me one for my birthday which is at the end of the month.

This is the link marru sent me

http://www.coolchile.co.uk/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=1&Category_Code=D9

I searched site for tortilla press - and then 5kg bag masa harina

sophiesmum_2

andromache wrote: »

sophiesmum, I love how as soon as you hear about a new kitchen gadget you buy it straight away hope you enjoy the press!

For kitchen research purposes only;) ,I love all things cooking/ kitchen related but anything that doesn't earn its keep gets hoofed. Have just rehomed my unused electric steamer to a friend just setting up home on her own - never got used as I prefer my stainless steel hob top version - much more efficient - that one was an unwanted gift:o
I don't have too many gadgets
just - all singing and dancing food processor/blender, stick blender, toastie maker, toaster, george foreman,dehydrator, breadmaker,omelette maker (another gift destined to be rehomed - don't bother!) 2 slowcookers:rolleyes: ,sausage maker/mincer,easiyo,sprouter, and a remoska:D

Like shaz I would love a pressure canner but would have to import - and have been thinking about a slicing machine - for meats/HM bread etc. Anyone recommend a decent one??

angelatgraceland

Deleted_User wrote: »

Hello all... Happy Valentines Day to you all! :happyhear

After my waffly post before I have sat down and worked thru some figures and its looks like after including DH's income (after tax etc) and including £20 a week Child Benefit & I included £12 a week possible Tax Credits (thats what the estimate was when I put our figures into calculator on HMRC site), it looks like we'll have £63 left over every month!

I know you cant plan so far ahead but if things stay similar to what they are now, I think we'll be able to cope, either with me going back to work in the office 2 days a week OR getting a possible evening cleaning job. If I could earn £150-£200 a month we'd be okay. If the mortgage stays the same but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. So for now I'm going to save as much as my SMP as I can and keep it as a cushion, would you put it in my Cash ISA or esavings account?

Thanks for listening to me everyone, hope everyones doing okay.

xx

A lot of people seem to be getting lucky with Premium bonds lately so you could do that also.

Well I totted up my spends and Im still on track for the year with a bit to spare so if I keep going like this I will be fine.
This is probably my most expensive month and Ive just got TV licence through. I am not counting bills for this challenge though as I know what they are and what they are likely to be in the future(within reason).
Ive just been to Waitrose for a few things which I find difficult to get elsewhere. They seem to be cheaper than Somerfield lately! They now have a meat/fish offer on-3 packs for a tenner so I got that. Also bought the valentines brunch of smoked salmon trimmings,orange juice and FR eggs for a fiver. Their Sacla sauces are about 50p less than Somerfields. I bought 2 of their own make light pesto which is lower carb than any of the others. Got some sundried toms in olive oil and some ginger in a jar shredded. These things will just make my menus more interesting. Used up all of my Lurpack vouchers too-saved about £5 with vouchers. So another total to add to my spends of £40. Lots more vouchers coming my way as Ive bought 3 lots off ebay-yes-I went a bit mad there!

candygirl

Hi everyone:hello:
Haven't been posting much lately but have been doing my totals still, and i'm doing ok:j :j
Have been helping DD move, she is now 14 doors away from me, and the baby's due in 6 weeks:T :T
Hope everyone's ok:A

Sarah147

Evening all, hope you are enjoying your day. Snow has melted a lot here but still have not left the house (as leaving the house = needless spending!) Instead I have been keeping busy.

I made a load of healthy flapjacks this afternoon to bring to work (will stop me buying crisps from the shop!) and have been decluttering the house. Done quite a bit. Got two huge bags full ready for the charity shop plus numerous sacks of rubbish, stuff to be recyled etc and a bulging box of stuff to ebay, will start to take photos and load some of the stuff on there tomorrow as I can't be bothered doing it today. Well, every little helps as they say

DdraigGoch

Well, what with funerals, sorting out estates, chasing all over the countryside and now possibly having to replace a computer, my Chinese New Year start for the £4K is going to have to be moved to May Day!!! So, I'm hopelessly out of synch but I'll give it a go from then as I haven't a hope until May ....

ps [edited in] Thanks for asking, NYK, it was fine on Wednesday - dead computer is why I didn't sign in to tell you! No results yet, obviously, but fairly confident all is ok.

hugs to them as need/want them, thumbs up to the good things and raspberries to those who are causing problems to members of our little nation of Frugonia!

redglass_2

nykmedia wrote: »

Thoughts on this, please - Redglass, and anyone else in the st00zing game, d'you think €gg may be trying to attract our 'borrowed' money?

Haven't been paying as much attention as I should, Nyk, but from what you say it looks that way. I've practically given up stoozing. I won't add any more to my stooze pot and will probably pay off the whole thing once this 0% balance transfer expires. If you have a small amount stoozed, like me, then once you've paid the 2.5% balance transfer fee it only takes a couple of slips to completely wipe out any gains. I have noticed some dirty tricks such as taking an unbelievably long time to operate a DD, or refusing to accept phone payment by debit card. You ring up to pay and whoops! You're going to be late on this one! And then you lose your 0% for that whole month. I'm turning my attention to stockpiling, which seems a safer system at least until interest rates rise again.

purplevamp

Evening everyone, going to have a lovely valentines chinese later tonight, first takeaway this year, which for us is very good. I've spent today making a lovely chocolate birthday for DS1 for tomorrow. He's b/day is Monday but everyone is round tomorrow and he's going to be out with his mates so we won't have a chance to cut it :rolleyes: .