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

MrDT

I'm knackered!

The attic is now completely empty, and the living room is absolutely chock full! It's been a bit of a workout shifting all my junk

Hoping to list a few bits on ebay to get rid prior to the move, but there's not long to go now... I've already thrown out some rubbish that'd be no use to anyone, think I might need to get a bit ruthless and throw a bit more out, I don't really want to fill the new place with useless or unused tat.

When you guys sell stuff on ebid/ebay, what do you do about delivery costs? I have a couple of large items to offload, but have no idea how much it'd cost to deliver them. Any tips on cheap delivery options for big and heavy stuff?

sophiesmum_2

Just made a couple of traybakes for OH and DD, an iced coconut sponge one , and a tray of choc surprise:rolleyes: , the surprise is they never know what will be in it:p Tonights has oats,rice crispies, linseeds,glace cherries, sultanas, cranberries, walnuts, sunflower seeds, agave, and set with organic cooking choc. Oh says it is very nice and is already on his third square:eek: The idea was to fill up the baking tins not fill him up:rolleyes:

I love creating stuff with my stockpile, it never gets boring as you can just use the ingredients in different combinations to come up with new stuff all the time - plus the usual favourites of course.
Must be a side effect of the dieting - I get the urge to create lots of edible goodies for everyone else.

not much else to report today. Had a no spend day and was given 4 bags of sugar and 4 unopened boxes of cereals to use up by an oldie moving into residential care.Will use these up in baking.

SC - hope everything goes well for you with the clinic x x The diet should help.

Nyk - loving the chicken pics:j

whitewing

Hello everyone.

I made marzipan kebabs as a semi-surprise for DH, who is at work. His birthday is coming up, so he thinks I'll make him marzipan for that. I've done it for tonight as he has been an angel over the weekend.

I used sophiesmum recipe, and then put about 8 or 9 balls to a skewer. It wasn't planned to do it like that. On some strands I did a marzipan ball followed by a glace cherry followed by marzipan, cherry, etc. They are on a tray and look brilliant. I alternated walnuts with whole almonds as decorations.

Don't know what they taste like as I don't like marzipan. (Don't know why as I like the ingredients separately!)

Moneywise I'm not spending too much. Trying to get back into regular overpayments of my mortgage. Have a plan but can't seem to get started with it. Am looking forward to spring and hopefully renewed vigour!

sophiesmum_2

Whitewing - sounds lovely my OH would love those.:T

Frugaldom

MrDT wrote: »

When you guys sell stuff on ebid/ebay, what do you do about delivery costs? I have a couple of large items to offload, but have no idea how much it'd cost to deliver them. Any tips on cheap delivery options for big and heavy stuff?

Hi MrDT, check via TopCashBack site for parcel delivery as there are a couple listed. Interparcel tracked really quickly for me and they accept items up to either 25 or 30kg. If it's anything really bulky and heavy, you're best contacting a haulage company and asking what they can do, I have used them on many occasions in the past and I'm sure it only cost me about £40 per ton or per pallet load. (Ask about returns - they deliver loads and then like it if they can make a little bit on the return trip rather than run back to base empty.) It's cheaper than man with a van, IMHO, especially if it's something like 2,000 books or 5,000 newspapers. :rotfl: If it's something really awkward, just list at zero postage and select the option for 'buyer collects' and let someone else sort it out.

Skint_Lynne

Evening everyone,
Well, no sign of the cash book, so it looks as if it is lost.:( I'll need to start again from the 1st April and I'll back it up on spending diary.com. I'm really mad at myself as I'm not ususally guilty of stuff like that. Never mind, I'll just need to do the £3k in 9 months challenge instead.:o

I had a bit of a result in Asda tonight. I went down for my mum (as usual) and got a few bits for myself, 3 x tins of corned beef £2, 1 x gold blend coffee £3, (I can't drink cheap coffee), and 1 block of seriously strong cheese £2. All of these items are on special offer and it came to £7. The girl put my coffee through twice, and she apologised and asked me to go to customer services for a refund. I did this and got my £3 back and a giftcard worth £2 free cause a mistake had been made. Hows that for a result, I was chuffed.:T It makes up a bit for my book loss, every cloud has a silver lining.

Speak later. xx

purplevamp

MrDT wrote: »

When you guys sell stuff on ebid/ebay, what do you do about delivery costs? I have a couple of large items to offload, but have no idea how much it'd cost to deliver them. Any tips on cheap delivery options for big and heavy stuff?

If I have an item that is heavy or fragile (I once sold 6 large glass bowls) I put them as local pick up only. If people want them then they're willing to travel. My SIL does this all the time. Or what nyk said!

sophiesmum & whitewing - you're making me hungry :drool: . I thought marzipan was just ground almonds, is there something else with it? I'm the same with peanut butter, can't stand the stuff, but I'd happily eat a peanut sandwich :rotfl:

Skint Lynne - sorry to hear the book has gone forever, it must be frustrating after all the effort you've put in these last 3 months.


Cheap day today, bus fares and £7 in £Land, they had 4 x Branston beans for £1, and also needed some new measuring cups and spoons as my ones are very old and cracked,...also needed some chocolate.... Also managed to get the Paul McKenna book with CD so will give that a whirl tomorrow.

sophiesmum_2

That'll be you having a good sleep tomorrow then:rotfl:

marzipan is made from the following

• 450 g ground almonds
• 225 g caster sugar (fine granulated)
• 225 g powdered sugar (icing sugar!)
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks (make some meringues!)
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract ( or use 1/2 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp brandy)
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• food coloring (optional)

angelatgraceland

I made HM burgers tonight. They came out really yummy.
400g lean mince beef-Waitrose Aberdeen Angus
teaspoon chilli powder
half a red onion
a couple of teaspoons oregano
Fried in a little vegetable oil with some fried mushrooms.
Im always experimenting with the seasoning but chilli seems to be the fave in this house!
The good quality mince goes a long way as no fat came off it-hence I really needed the oil. Very filling-Me and dd23 had one each, DS and dd15 had 2 each!
Used up some strawberry whip also-2 packets which I had paid either 3p or 6p for at the time. Trying to use up some stuff-I have far too much.
I had my fave-s/f jelly and cream.
Cooked fish for DH as he alwaays has to be different.
Got some reduced pork chops which I repacked individually and froze.
Popped out to Co-op for those and a lot of salad-veggies.
Now I need to update totals and sig but its all going well.
Getting loads of value from my gym membership too-Im getting down there approx 5 days per week. Tried to go for a swim tonight 7.30 pm but darn it-swim club at 7pm so had to come home-too late!
Started sprouting some more beans for salads-the last lot really were good. Im sprouting chick peas aduki beans and mung beans. Is there anything else suitable for sprouting?

MrDT

Thanks for the ebay suggestions nyk and purplevamp I have sold a car on ebay as buyer collects, and a voucher that I just popped in a normal envelope, that's it lol! I'll have a think about it.

sl, a bit of a setback but you can do a 3k for 9 months challenge no problem, it's what I did last year