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

Brighton_belle

Picked up my free bar of chocolate form the body shop today curtesy of sarah:T . Given it to OH as he's more of a choc fan than me.

I'm itching to declare my end of Feb figures as i'm not planning to spend anything else before end of Sat but I'll hang on for 2 more days:D . I'm coming in under my monthly £333 average though which gives leeway for unexpected costs turning up later in the year. Somehow I have managed to spend £40 less on groceries this month - if I can repeat this next month this would make a huge difference to the annual budget and free up cash at the end of the year for savings: it certainly helps prepare for hard times if the company I work for hits the wall (I work in finance).
Good to hear some are finding the new experience of money in the bank at the end of the month:beer: .
Oh, bails - your porch experience is not quite the travel aventure you have in mind really is it:D .
My new aldi is opening on 19th March: don't really know what to expect but I'll give it a go: won't be far from where I work so will go armed with my trusty shopping trolley.
Hope your headache is clearing SM, and you purplevamp: hope you coped ok with work today.

Skint_Lynne

Hiya,

I've had not too bad a day today, work was okay and then done some shop bits after that. Now, I wanted to stock up on the butter offer that sophiesmum kindly told us about but did you all know that all asda stores do not have the same offers on?

I went to a branch in Glasgow and they had 47p butter but there was not any left. So, I decided to go to the branch near my mum and dad's place. Theirs is 86p. I queried this and they said that that was the price of it. The lady on customer service says that some of the stores carry certain offers, some don't.

I then went to another branch nearer my house on the way home. Theirs was 86p as well. The lady on that desk said that sometimes, smaller stores get the offers in after the main stores so I had to check tomorrow. I know that there is a big branch on my way to an appointment tomorrow, so I will look in there. I am going to email Asda and ask why the store prices vary. I don't think they should do that. I bought a block at 86p and it is very nice, nicer than lurpack right enough, as sophiesmum told me.

Imagine me scouring the country looking for cheap butter, that's what it is all about though, seeking the bargains. I won't give up until I get my butter.:rotfl: :rotfl:

PS - I've now sent an email so we will see what happens......................

savingfortravel

Qype Voucher was by recorded delivery!!!

Bails-Film was great. Love Woody Allen. Would love a MS twin to add to my MS mums (Grandma and Redglass-it was you wasn't it??Hope so don't want to offend).

PV and Nyk-Thanks for the well wishes.

Great to hear so many people doing well this month. Kind of distracted at mo, what with the cottage and all that...
For people talking about meal planners, I swear by mine..keeps OHs on track and some people write a list from their freezer and then chose from it like it was a menu (great for those who don't know what they feel like eating until they get home). What with growing our own fruit/veg, batch cooking, whoopsies etc.. meal planning is a great money saver and if you get ahead of yourself then the pressure is so much less.

And of course, my savings from the 2008 MSE Grocery Challenge has paid for me to go to Central America for a month July/August.

SFT

redglass_2

savingfortravel wrote: »

Qype Voucher was by recorded delivery!!!

Bails-Film was great. Love Woody Allen. Would love a MS twin to add to my MS mums (Grandma and Redglass-it was you wasn't it??Hope so don't want to offend).

Congratulations, Daughter, on your frugal achievements. One of your MS mums has wandered off course recently but is about to work out all the new totals as I have to set a good example.

savingfortravel

Looking forward to reading all about it Mumzy X SFT :money:

ram_murdock

This is my first post using the internet on my mobile so hope it turns out ok!;-)

Got my virgin voucher today- was delivered recorded delivery +the nice postman signed for it himself.Saved me a trip to the post office!

Some bad news on the house front. My offer hasn't been accepted. The seller wants the full asking price+i was about 30k under but i think my price was fair as the house needed a lot of cosmetic work+some outside/structal work. Wil keep an eye on it anyhow!

My word limit has run out...

pennib

NYK +why dont you ask in your local library for some newspapers for your fires. That's where I get mine from, they have loads that they have to get rid of every week. Come home with piles of papers....and if you train the staff well enough they have it waiting for you.

With regards to freezing milk I have been doing it for years and have never had a split bottle. I dont store upright either, just find a space and force it in! Never had a problem at all. I also de-frost on the draining board overnight. Great minds and all that:D

savingfortravel

Ram-Murdock-So sorry about the house..surprised the seller demands full asking price..in my experience that is an unrealistic expectation.
SFT

Skint_Lynne

I've not had my voucher. Maybe it will arrive tomorrow. I rmember that whitewing had her ipod long before mine arrived. Maybe they do English addresses first and then do Scotland. Must be their system. (I hope).:p

Sarah147

Hello all, hope everyone is well today.

Would appreciate some advice. How do you stop over eating? Seriously, recently I have been eating like a total gannet. Since I have started my new job I have put on half a stone. I just cant seem to stop over eating, especially when I am not even hungry. I don't know whether it is boredom or whatever but it is going to catch up with my health soon and I am feeling lethargic and not sleeping that good. Any techniques to stop this anyone? I am not over weight but I really want to stop gorging myself. Take today, I had a beautiful homemade bean soup for lunch but still had the need to have a couple of bags of crisps afterwards. Any advice welcomed!


I have done well with not spending this month bar flights for a friends wedding which was an unavoidable spend. I just find that I don't want to buy anything, there is nothing I really need. I have food in the freezer, a roof over my head... the rest doesnt matter and, like others have said, I would rather treat my friends to little things here than there. Just cause we are cutting back on the pennies, it doesn't mean we have to be tight with those that mean the world to us I bought a chippy supper for my sister today and in return she recyled a top to me that she has never worn but which I Love. I also got a voucher in the post today for a free big eat bag of Walkers crisps. Yum