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

angelatgraceland

I spent some money this week but it is last years spends so Im not counting it. Got a new bike for dd from Argos which was supposed to be for Xmas gone. It has to go back though. The front wheel does not fit the forks-the spindle is about 2 inches too narrow! So another is on its way. So much for new! Also paid for 2 years worth of first day covers a friend gets for us-that was a LOT of money! Again-not this years spends. I will however calculate the monthly amount for this and include it in my "excluded" list. Although excluded from this challenge Im still keeping account af ALL spends as I will need to later on. Otherwise-not been out(except DS trip to JC) and have had a frustrating day with nowt to show for it.

andromache_2

Ahh sarah, you got me all excited for the free chocolate, but it turns out that my town isn't included. Sigh. Sounds like you're doing really well, anyway

purplevamp

Mine is :j Thank you Sarah

sophiesmum_2

Nyk - A while ago you were talking about trying to cut the cost of lighting fires - eg firelighters. Just browsing on OS board and came across this post

"
If you`re having trouble lighting your fire!!! Don`t use expensive firelighters bad for enviroment and your pocket too! Use your old candle ends but be careful a little lights a lot,no chimney fires please!:eek: "

Might be worth trying out with cheap tea light candles. In most £1 shops you can get 50 for £1 - might even get away with using just half of one

lyndasharp

Mmm, free chocolate! Thanks for the link to the voucher, I was planning to go into town at lunchtime anyway so I can get some chocolate as well!

I've just booked a boiler service and gas fire service, as I'm not sure when the previous owners last had it looked at, and the gas fire ignition isn't working quite right. Think it's a good price at £55 for both, anyone got any comments on how much theirs costs?

enjoyfinancialchallenges

LYNDASHARP.....not much use to you I know but my oil fired boiler costs me £78.66 to be serviced each year..the price has'nt risen for the last couple of years either! I wouldnt feel safe if I didnt get it done annually and its probably more important to get a gas one done.

NYK...I dont remember hearing if the kitchen curtains are up yet?

I wrote out a long post yesterday and somehow lost it and despite all my efforts to find it again it had gone, so very p***** off about that but will post later on when I feel a bit better than I do now and will tell you all about my progress.

cha97michelle

Morning folks

I've been to the library and popped to the co-op while i was out. I keep hoping to see some mega bargains as our store is closing on 20/03, but although shelves are slowly emptying there are not many bargains to be had, so i stuck to my milk and a half price tub of ice cream. Maybe nearer the close date. After that it will be a tesco so hopefully even cheaper.

Anyway, i thought i would reply to lynda gas boiler services round these here parts - we just had a letter through for £65, so yours sounded a good deal. As i know we had ours done last year, i am personally skipping having it done as we are thinking of getting a new boiler when i go back to work anyway as the ILs want to buy us one with MIL retirement lump sum.

Another teacher here - i have been doing it about 6 years - lost count as i have had the 2 years off for maternity leave during that time. I teach Science to secondary kids, and i don't think i am quite as happy doing it as some of you. I am interested though as the union keeps saying the pay is not enough to live on, and so many of us are here trying to be frugal.

I have got DS1 at nursery today, so i am trying to be good and get some organising done while he's not about to help me. When we went to get in bed last night, his toy hoover was tucked up in our bed. That is the level of help i get around here.

chika

Morning everyone, how are you all today?

Wow this place is full of teachers, to think I only decided to become one because I thought "you got paid loads of money" and "spent half your life on holiday" Haha! I do love it though and can't wait to be qualified... Its an interestibg point about what the unions say about teaching pay not being enough to live on. My best mate teaches PE and has a daughter but still lives at home with her parents and struggles. I'll point her in the direction of this thread.

Today I've been to work been walking for a mile and now I'm sat at home procrastinating. I need to write an assignment for uni but I just can't seem to do it. It really does need to be done today because I won't have time in the rest of the week. Help!!!

What is everyone up to today?

Frugaldom

G'morning folks

Trying hard to remember what everyone has said:

Bails, when we collect/deliver dogs we normally leave a flat nylon lead attached to the dog's harness or collar (not chokers) and then close it in the back door or boot door, depending on the type of car. Leave enough length for dog to lie down but short enough it can't distract you or get tangled. In avoids the dog causing an accident by getting in your way or distracting you and stops it being catapulted if you need to brake suddenly. It also prevents the dog escaping when you are getting out of the car. I've seen quite a few road traffic accident victims from this happening - dog jumps straight out driver or passenger's door and into oncoming traffic. (Sorry, not meaning to panic you, but it does happen.)

Sophiesmum, thanks for resizing the pics and for the firelighter info. I already do the candlewax thing and the pinecones and the paper sticks, trouble is that I don't buy newspapers and we can't get cheap candles about here. I stockpiled on firelighters last week when I got the chance of them for 60p per box of 15. Bargains of any description are few and far between when there are no shops nearby and when I factor in the cost of petrol, they are no longer bargains.

Purplevamp - our Ald! opened on 19th, I went to see what it was like and we all got a huge free canvas shopping bag as a bonus. It was mobbed, so I just made straight for the fruit trees at £4.19 each :rotfl: Will have a closer inspection next visit, but did spot a few things more expensive than S0merfield and there certainly weren't any signs of cheap veggies! :rolleyes:

Sarah, well done on the batch cooking and savings to ISA! :beer:

What is it about teaching that I have missed? :eek: I am ashamed to admit that I am one of those horrid people who was under the impression/illusion that it's a longterm profession for extremely patient people (patience of saints, in my book) involving regular unpaid extra-curricular hours and compensated by long holidays and high rates of pay. I appear to be waaaaaaaaaaay out on that score and am a little concerned that so many teachers are having to live the frugal life to make ends meet. What happened? I do know a couple of primary school teachers (a close friend and a cousin, neither of whom follow my 'eccentric' looks-like poverty-stricken lifestyle, I might add :rotfl: ) Must ask them about it.

Pips Mum - re the £4,000 budget, this figure was what I based my own spending on and worked out at about how much everyone taking part originally had to last them a year, but that was several years ago and was elsewhere, not on here. Your personal budget is something you need to work out, as per post 1, as the challenge is about clearing debts and living within your budget to remain debt free. Have a quick look at post one of this thread and work out what you have to spend before deciding. Hope this helps.

EFC I still don't have curtains up in the window, but the ones I was making for hanging along the front of my units are up. Still not finished the others, my excuse is that hand sewing takes so long and there are so many other things taking priority that I keep setting the project aside and conveniently overlooking it. Or, perhaps I spend too much time on here when I could be putting it to better use umm... making curtains?

lyndasharp

Woohoo, I have a free bar of chocolate. I'm going to try and be good, and save it for later...