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

Sarah147

Anyone giving up anything for lent?

Just realised it begins tomorrow, I think I will have to be predictable and go for chocolate, although I do not eat that much of it anyway. So maybe I might go the whole hog and cut out all dairy foods. I can probably do it most of the time but the only trouble will be the choices when eating out. Something to work through through!


Went to see a free preview of "The Young Victoria" tonight in the cinema, not my usual type of film but I really enjoyed it, very good acting performances. I also got a free Starbucks coffee beforehand which was not so good, I don't get this coffee thing

sophiesmum_2

nykmedia wrote: »

This is the kind of bargain I never see, is that for 500g? :eek: Wow! We need to pay 80p + just for St0rk, which is cheapest available. I use lard in bread and even it has gone up to 60p. Good spot, SM! :beer:

They are the 250g (8.7oz) blocks and I got 20:p , 10 now in freezer and 10 in big fridge:D , have enough to last a long time now. Nyk I use olive oil for breadmaking bought a large bottle when it was on offer so it works out quite cheaply and easy to measure out in the measuring scoops that came with breadmaker.

Spent £9.40

sophiesmum_2

Mollymop5 wrote: »

I think I've got mice in my living room ceiling(more like elephants). The thought of them is making me feel sick.Can anyone tell me how to get rid? where would I put traps.would I have to lift the carpets and floorboards of the bedroom above? Going to ring landlord tomorrow but they might take a while and the thought of them being here longer is making me ill.This is the 2nd night I've heard them but there sounded like more tonight

Might be some info here mollymop;

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=81812&highlight=mice

cw18

Sarah147 wrote: »

Anyone giving up anything for lent?

I'd like to say h/work, but I already have so much to catch up on I don't think anyone would actually notice :rotfl:

Given I have almost everything in the house that I need in the way of food (apart from perishables) until 5th April, I guess making it "non-essential food shopping" should - in theory - be possible, but with the possibility of a local supermarket sale coming up before then I don't think I dare :rolleyes:

I suppose it should be the Internet - 'cos then I might actually get caught up on the h/work :eek: But that's sooooooo not going to happen I don't know how I've even dared to think of it :eek:




In so far as my various budgets go, in the main I'm looking OK for month end. I've "officially" got £12.50 left of my grocery budget (and about £100 in total after the remaining direct debits leave my bank). I'll probably need more milk and bread - but hopefully not a lot else.

BUT, as mentioned above, I already have almost everything foodwise that I need for March -- so (unless I give in to any really good bargains for stockpiling) I should be at least 2 weeks in hand by the end of next month :T I don't really expect to make it, but when setting my budgets I never for one moment thought I'd be this far 'ahead of the game' this early in the year :beer:

sophiesmum_2

Looking good Cheryl and only 4 days of Feb to go:T :T , sure you will be able to manage for last few days;)

angelatgraceland

Sarah147 wrote: »

Anyone giving up anything for lent?

Just realised it begins tomorrow, I think I will have to be predictable and go for chocolate, although I do not eat that much of it anyway. So maybe I might go the whole hog and cut out all dairy foods. I can probably do it most of the time but the only trouble will be the choices when eating out. Something to work through through!

Well Im giving up lots! Chocolate,bread,cakes,sugar,pasta,rice and potatoes!
I could say I am being religious but I'm not-unless it is called body worship. My body is my temple-or whatever! More likely its called dieting!
Another moneysaving day today. Started with a free swim using the last of my kelloggs vouchers and made it worthwhile by doing 44 lengths so I hope I don't ache tomorrow!
Went to Co-op tonight and got reduced cauldron sausages at 40p
per pack x 2
Peppered ham bogof
Pancakes-I didnt want the mess this time-after the deep cleaning sessions!
cheese bogof
Red Leic cheese multibuy
plus mlk and salad, cream and Lurpack for which I used my vouchers.
I also collected a book full of vouchers from a freecycle member and dd has used one tonight for a free swim. shame they run out on 1st March!
Spent £21.60 tonight so I will add that to total later.
Tidied the freezer today-OMG the amount of HM meals!
It's groaning. I think I need another hobby-apart from shopping-really sad!
This "book" is available to buy for 2009-2010-if anyone wants details just PM me. Im getting one!

Pips_Mum

So here is what I have decided to do:
Not up my budget and leave it at £4000 but not include anything for Pip in this amount. So this means that last month instead of overspending by £70 like I thought, it was only £7.10:j

I am going to be WELL over on my grocery budget this month but I did stock up from Approved foods and also Costco so it should go down next month.

Here is the latest picture of Pip. Took him to be weighed today........... 13lbs 1oz!!! Not bad for a 6 week old, no wonder I couldnt afford to keep him in my budget!!!

http://i689.photobucket.com/albums/vv256/pinkfairygirl13/coolwales.jpg

purplevamp

[strike]Evening [/strike]morning everyone. I should really be in bed as I'm still feeling like cr*p, my nose is blocked and I think I've got a migrane on the way. But I have to go to work tomorrow as I had all last week off. Went in on Monday and did all my backlog work within 5 hours :T . Had our pancakes today and they were yummy. Made a big big pan of spag bol and there were 3 spare portions.

Nyk - Our Ald! should be opening in March, so I've been told now! I hope their prices are cheaper than other shops, otherwise it seems pointless going in there . I hope my one doesn't turn into a mob scene;)

Sarah - thank you so much for the choc voucher, I printed it off and sent DH out to get it for me, still haven't eaten it yet.

ram_murdock - wow! Fast work on the house, well done with the weight :T good luck with it all

SFT - any news on your house yet?

lilac_lady - I'm like you. I was telling OH only today (yesterday now) that when I was about 11 we were on holiday on the I.O.W. and I found a £1 note, so I treated my mum, dad, sister and myself to a cornetto each, you couldn't even get one for that amount now. Spending money on myself feels like a naughty thing these days :rotfl:

sophiesmum - That is so true about getting old. I also love "you're only as old as the man/woman you feel". My DH is 5 years younger than me :j . I love those dyson dryers, I want one! But if you keep your hands in too long and too near the air jet it gets very hot.

Pips Mum - ooh, he's so adorable. I love the way he's pointing at his emblem!

Well I'm off now as the "tooth fairy" needs to visit DD, whose front tooth fell out today, she had a little cry as there was some blood, but that wiped away and she's ok.

shaz_mum_of__2

Just a quickie but i had to share

Tomorrow is pay day and there is still £600 left in the bank!!!!!! normally only have about £50 spare so doing this challenge is obviously working

Will transfer over to savings ready to go into the ISA in april(already used both our allowances this year with the stoozed money)


Pips mum he's lovely

Shaz - running to uni to pick up essays wish me luck

the_cat

Hi everyone

Not been posting much, but have been reading every day. There seems to be lots going on with new houses, puppies, jobs and even a fiance..........it makes my life recently look jolly boring!

I got paid today so have updated my figures for the end of the month. This makes it easier for me to budget and at the end of the year I will just have to add on the few extra days of December (or have a NoSpendWeek!). I have to say I feel pretty pleased with the results. So far I have spent £520.60 out of a monthly average which totals £966.66 for the 2 months so I am well ahead. This does not include many big bills or gifts etc though so not as good as it first looks!

After much thought I have decided not to try too many home grown veg this year. I have consistently been very lucky with whoopsie fruit/veg over the last few months and manage to pick up most stuff for 10p-20p and find enough of these to do the whole week most weeks. So it probably won't be worth me buying compost/seeds etc and investing the time for the saving I would get. Have got a few seeds from last year so will probably buy one bag of compost and 'play' gardener with those just for fun.:D

I really like the idea of having a big project on the go for the month (thanksNyk!) so am stealing that one starting from March... I need to knuckle down and lose a few pounds that have crept on over the winter so I will set a target of 5 pounds lighter by the end of March. Slow and steady as I don't have a lot to lose so it will be tough to shift (especially with my lack of will-power)

In the spirit of this, I am going to drag myself out for a walk in a minute and then do my exercise dvd. Very frugal :rotfl: :rotfl:

Have a good day everyone