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

savingfortravel

Cat-I agree with you. 4 other properties for sale along the lane in fact. Interestingly all the bigger properties aren't. Its the small, 1 bed ones. Don't know how relevant that is. Did ask why the couple were moving and they said because they want to start a family which seems reasonable.
Part of me thinks perhaps the reason why it was such a good deal is because of the road maybe we wouldn't have been able to afford it otherwise. Prices may go up slightly when its accepted in the area. But yes the rural qualities diminish.
There is a pub in the hamlet and I'm wondering whether OH and I should have a sneaky pint in there and get the opinion of the landlord/landlady..they are usually reliable sources of info.
SFT

skint_chick

SFT - your house has only be on the market for a nanosecond so I don't think you should worry about this until you've had some viewings/it's been a few weeks and nothing has happened - you may have nothing to worry about.

The road issue doesn't sound great though - I would def go for the pint in the local and sound out some opinions. You should prob do some investigating about the volume of traffic that will be using the road too - and how far away from your new place the road will physically be - then find a road of similar traffic volumes and measure that distance away and see how much noise you will hear. Local newspapers can usually be read online too and they should have some more info on the impact of the roads.

Having a very moneysaving day but getting frustrated as my ipod won't update and has now frozen :mad: but on the plus side have my frugal chickens cooking for dinner/ work lunches. Going to the park afer food to feed the ducks bird seed and get some free exercise.

cw18

SFT - I'd personally be more worried about new housing than the road. If they're bringing an 'A' road up to the village, then that implies there must be enough traffic into and out of the village to justify it. And (to me) the probably reason for this would be plans for new estates going up.

When we moved into our last house we had a field (often with cows in it) at the end of our garden. By the time we moved out (10 years later) it had been taken over for building - and the estate was almost complete. This wasn't in the pipeline when we bought (no planning applications in) though we could see it happening eventually - but it was the only property in the village with large enough bedrooms and kitchen that we could afford

Frugaldom

Hi fruguys & frugals,

Appropriate responses of good luck, commiserations, birthday celebrations, cheers and 'OH NO!' wherever you see fit, I have just caught up with the posts and apologies if I don't respond individually. I think there's a minute-munching monster livfes in my house and it just doesn't leave me enough hours in the day to do everything I mean to do.

SFT, if it is any help, the end of our drive leads onto a busy A road and it was upgraded to keep the heavy traffic out of the surrounding villages and small towns by means of by-passing. Stay calm and give the local planning officer a call tomorrow then try to locate the local councillor and nearest community councillor, as they are always a great source of information. The local pub will depend entirely on how small and tight knit the community is, will you recognise potential neighbours who may have 'helping with the sale of a friend's house' as their top priority. The 'A' road could be a blessing in disguise. Is the (hopeful) new cottage on a 'B' road or is it on an unnamed lane? Could it be a potential shortcut for extra traffic? Before doing anything, get a map and get an aerial view, then decide how to proceed. Fingers crossed for you.

I have had a VERY interesting day! We went to collect the 'well-rotted manure' from nearby location and low & behold, a family of fellow frugallers, but they put us all to shame! :eek: They have a few acres of land, a derelict building with planning and are doing the whole self-sufficiency thing, including power! And, I got to see my very first 'real' yurt where the family had lived for a few years. The guy was really welcoming and offered to show us around, explaining about their wind turbine and their solar panels, they've sunk a well for their water and are in process of preparing their massive veggie garden. I was amazed! They even had their own woodland, so all their heating, cooking, hot water was via woodburner using their own fuel! I am truly shocked at how little electricity they use, having only 400w maximum to run at any one time. :eek: I told him about all you guys and our frugal online communikty but they don't often get online owing to prioritising their electricity needs elsewhere. I am in awe of those who get this far and feel quite lucky to have seen a real yurt and spoken to someone who had lived in one whilst rearing a family. Couldn't wait to tell you guys here. :rotfl:

shaz_mum_of__2

Nyk sounds great

are they part of your lets scheme

Thers isn't one around here and i am tempted to start one as part of my "community work" for my degree

Shaz

savingfortravel

CW18 and Skint-Chick-Thanks for your advice. x

Nyk-Kept thinking of Mongolia during your post..it was the yurt..wow how inspiring and wonderful for you to meet such like minded people.
Thanks for your message..as always full of wisdom...
Our 'cottage' forms part of a 300 year old terrace..its very pretty but we could never afford a detached property in the South East...just didn't want to mislead anyone..down here anything old, with original, exposed, beams, is a cottage (estate agent speak). We loved it.
OH will be the hot line to the Planning officer/County council tomorrow and follow up any other leads. Yes you are probably right about the Pub Land Lord and the situation is not beyond hope, its just changed..and with that are of course lots of pros..I am a control freak on my finances that's all (like a non-smoker, after being very wasteful with money in my younger days) and I want to have all the details at my finger tips but nothing in the housing market is certain and sometimes the biggest risks provide the biggest rewards..etc..So want to give up school in next few years/or go on more regular adventures so my work-life balance is better. Definitely got to live for today..
Our city bungalow is not on the market yet, probably won't be until mid week, I just want to put it up for a competitive price for the initial interest..I think we've got a good price in mind..

SFT

Lesley_Gaye

nykmedia wrote: »

Hi fruguys & frugals,

I have had a VERY interesting day! We went to collect the 'well-rotted manure' from nearby location and low & behold, a family of fellow frugallers, but they put us all to shame! :eek: They have a few acres of land, a derelict building with planning and are doing the whole self-sufficiency thing, including power! And, I got to see my very first 'real' yurt where the family had lived for a few years. The guy was really welcoming and offered to show us around, explaining about their wind turbine and their solar panels, they've sunk a well for their water and are in process of preparing their massive veggie garden. I was amazed! They even had their own woodland, so all their heating, cooking, hot water was via woodburner using their own fuel! I am truly shocked at how little electricity they use, having only 400w maximum to run at any one time. :eek: I told him about all you guys and our frugal online communikty but they don't often get online owing to prioritising their electricity needs elsewhere. I am in awe of those who get this far and feel quite lucky to have seen a real yurt and spoken to someone who had lived in one whilst rearing a family. Couldn't wait to tell you guys here. :rotfl:

Oh My! It makes me want to rush out and do lots more things! I would love to be somewhere I could generate electricity. Not sure I would be happy completely without my pc tho. Alright temporarily, but all the time? I picked up some Home Farmer and other similar magazines from a Freecycler and spent the entire evening yesterday with my nose buried firmly in them and dreaming of doing the same

I investigated the Lets scheme for where I live, but the nearest one is miles away. Would love to take part in a scheme, but don't want to have the job of setting one up and running it. Am hoping someone else might at some point!!

bails

Hi everyone! I'm really sorry, I've almost caught up except for the last page and now I have to go without replying to anyone as we're off to a wedding and I really need to get ready!
Just to say, the puppy is here :j:j:j and is lying at my feet She's absolutely beautiful, terrified of everything but settling in really well already (we picked her up yesterday at 3pm).
Just quickly, I'm slo glad you had a lovey time with your dad on his birthday SM and I echo what everyone's said about the little things being what matter.
SFT, I see there's some trouble with the house but desperately short of time to find out what - really sorry to hear that, hope you can resolve it.

Right, really got to go but hugs to everyone and I will reply to peeps tomorrow and have a proper catch up then with photos of pup xx

grandma247

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

Good morning,
I suppose if I added a teaspoon of baking powder, that would do the trick. Does anybody have any tips for this sort of thing?

Its ages since I made scones but I used 2 tsp of baking powder per 8oz of flour. 3 if using wholemeal flour. even if it is sr flour. Also scones need only the lightest handling so they rise well. don't work the dough like bread just mix, flatten on a board to the depth you want and cut out. I hope this is helpful

Blairweech

Nyk - that sounds great, it is so interesting the people you meet on Freecycle

Well, things are going quite well here - have to update my spending diary in a minute. Spent today chilling out at home, I made a cake and am having sausage and mash for dinner Was meant to be meeting a friend but he had to babysit, so...

Had a dinner date last night Went quite well

Have sold another book on Amazon (hooray!) Pleased that my stuff is going down, maybe I will be able to reclaim my spare room now

My Mum has said she has an idea for something for both of us to do, which sounds very intriguing...