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

cw18

thanks all -- may risk it towards the middle of next month (may have freezer space by then :rolleyes2 )

today was day 2 of my six week meal plan, and I'm already noticing a difference -- namely that I'm pulling stuff out to defrost the night before, rather than having a mad scramble late morning/early afternoon to see what I can get defrosted in time for eating at around 6pm (sometimes by heating in a pan from frozen..... but sometimes using the microwave to defrost in time :eek: )

sophiesmum_2

If you get to grips with the meal planning cw it can save you a fortune,make best use of your foodstores and vary your diet. As you say it also saves having to think about what you will be eating - just lift something out in morning and job done:D

lilac_lady

I'm still hanging on in here despite not posting much at the moment. Have you all noticed how often this thread is viewed? There's a lot of MSE-ers lurking and learning and maybe even planning to join us.

You know you're too frugal when you treat a friend to a cafe latte and a cream cake but order a plain coffee for yourself despite yearning for a cake.

I find it hard to spend money on myself but easy to part with it for other people. Does anyone else share this sydrome?

candygirl

Hi everyone:hello:
Had quite a cheap weekend, but have spent £40 today on the dogs boosters, bless them:A :A
I am deffo not buying owt else for DGD to be until she arrives, as I have spent a mint:eek: :eek: :eek:
Anyway am getting the £60 xmas bonus for being a carer at last so that should help.Haven't had time to read the thread so (((hugs))) to all:D

sophiesmum_2

lilac_lady wrote: »

I'm still hanging on in here despite not posting much at the moment. Have you all noticed how often this thread is viewed? There's a lot of MSE-ers lurking and learning and maybe even planning to join us.

You know you're too frugal when you treat a friend to a cafe latte and a cream cake but order a plain coffee for yourself despite yearning for a cake.

I find it hard to spend money on myself but easy to part with it for other people. Does anyone else share this sydrome?

I know exactly just where you are coming from:rolleyes: , was in little gift shop today and they had some pencils with little chickens on - only 59p I picked one up twice then put it back, and left with a jar of sweets for OH which were £2.60
Luckily for me my chicken fetish is well known and I was later given two of chick pencils by different oldies as pressies:D

enjoyfinancialchallenges

Lilac_lady... I know that one but I justify it by explaining that I am a Weight Watcher which I am, it also seems to put it right in my head as well.

NYK...am glad you have got some curtains finished and up even if its not the kitchen ones.

I'm up and dressed today, only the second time in two weeks and I'm going to the Osteopath and Dentists tomorrow plus to collect some stuff from a freecycler so I hope my back holds out.....I'll let you know. I must say my neighbours are being marvellous, I live way out in the county and when people in this village notice someone isnt around come and find out why. Its wonderful really except when I'm phoned at 8 am as I was this morning and asked if I want anything from the shops, to be honest I could have done without that but never mind I can always go back to sleep again if I wanted to.....and I couldnt. Oh what a misery I sound , sorry. Back to watch Mistresses now .

Skint_Lynne

Good evening,

I am stinking of bleach - have just finished gutting the bathroom. I've washed all the tiles down and gave it a good going over. Tomorrow, I will get something else done. I am going to try and do something every day so that I don't need to do anything on a Sunday but relax. And, if I do the gutting out just now, I will just need to do normal cleaning when DH returns. I think he is due back in April. You get all the good ideas on here, yet another one 'borrowed' from sophiesmum.:o

I had a look at where you were today actually and it looks lovely, what a nice day out. I do wish that I was one of your oldies, you are always doing something fun.:T

Another appointment was done today, I've to go and meet another rep tomorrow for some tips. I was meant to meet up with someone today, but her car windscreen was smashed so she was waiting for it to be fixed.

Didn't spend much today, only papers and rolls for mum again. I will just buy them, but not get as many groceries in. I suppose it's hard for some leopards to change their spots, I don't buy papers and magazines anymore as they are too expensive. I just read MSE or get free papers and magazines. You get all the news on TV and the internet anyway.:D

Was going to make pancakes but sister 1 is on a diet and sis 2 did not want to tempt her, so we will make them another time.

Catch you all later. xx

P.S. I've not got my qype voucher either, not too worried though as it took them ages to deliver my ipod, but they came through with it. xx

sophiesmum_2

My oldies say "Growing old is inevitable but growing up is optional":rotfl: :rotfl: Doing fun stuff keeps them young at heart.
A couple of them disappeared for about 20minutes this afternoon, when they eventually returned they confessed to having been "playing in the toilets" - these had just been renewed with those infra red flushers, sensor taps, an angled ledge instead of sinks and the scariest hand driers I have ever seen (dyson airblade - well impressed), talk about turbo charged they had been hving lots of fun trying everything out several times

Masomnia

Yeah my grandma always used to say 'Age is just a number'

I'm sorry I haven't posted in ages. I'm a very rubbish thread member, and an even worse challenge member! Haha.

I'm still keeping my spending diary and still updating my sig. I'm pretty determined to make the £3k as it means it'll be much easier to reach my £10k target. So I'm still with you all in spirit even if I'm not posting much.

lingojingo

sophiesmum wrote: »

My oldies say "Growing old is inevitable but growing up is optional":rotfl: :rotfl:

Oh I love that quote. I'm about to have a huge milestone birthday (half a century :eek:) that sounds really old, my body sometimes feels it, but in my head I'm still about 20, so not really grown up at all :rotfl: