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

Snow_White_5

Hey everyone! I'm so excited - this is the biggest challenge I've attempted so far. :j2 days to go and I'm using the last of my Dec budget to stock up for 2009 - dry goods, cleaning stuff and maybe some craft supplies to make presents.

blondemuppet - maybe your lodger will become a bit more frugal if she notices the household bills are going down and it spurs her on to save? I used to live with a very frugal housemate and it got annoying at times (she was always turning the heating off without asking!) but a few years on I can see where she was coming from and am now trying to get the bills down myself.

Janey51 - oh dear, hope your fence isn't too badly damaged by that tree. At least the house is ok. Here's to a luckier 2009 :T

shaz_mum_of__2

wow

We have been chatty,I can confirm that cranberry vodka is nice too same recipe as nyks also the 300ml cider vinegar bottles from mr t are great for putting it in


Welcome to all the newbies i too am excited even though hubby is fed up already of "don't forget the receipt " comments evert time he leaves the house:rotfl:


Been planning the garden and checking seed supplies just need some coriander ...............anyone know if the seeds for cooking will grow? it works out cheaper to buy than grow due to the small amount of seeds in a pack and i use lot



Mrs Mc i saw a site the other day selling knitteing charms like a earing with a split ring for marking stitches will try and find it again and post a link


Edted in here it is

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7528155@N02/page2/

Had a quiet day reading watched a DVD with youngest son (7) and done lots of knitting for my blankie on my 10th square only another 100 to go :T


Have fun wherever you are


Shaz

Boomdocker

I got very excited when I spotted a lovley pink diary that I shall carry in my bag to record my daily spends. Only cost 40p and is really handy as I think it will help my track every penny. (plus, did I mention it's pink)

Annie021063

I want to join this thread please.
I will work out my figure before the 1st Jan.
Thanks for all the tips and advice so far, I am looking forward to not spending money next year.

cw18

Just back from A!di, and am pleased to report I have birthday and Christmas pressies sorted for my BIL and brother (one B00ts gift set and one car boot tidy each), and the same items as part of the pressies for my Dad, plus a boot tidy for my elder DS.

The gift sets came in at £3.92 each and the boot tidies were £3.89 each -- budget is £5 each event for BIL and brother (so a saving of £2.19 each, or £4.38 on my present budget), and the budget for my Dad is £20 for each -- so substantial items as a start towards his :T

Also have one pressie each for both SILs - again B00ts gift sets at £3.92 against a budget of £5 - so a further £2.16 saving on my present budget. I also have one of these as a start towards my Mum's £20 budgets, and one for DD.

This makes for a total saving so far of £6.54 to move over towards buying extras for my kids, which just about covers the two bits I've bought for them already (which cost a total of £7.81)

MRSMCAWBER

Thanks for the beading help folks :T

I tried wine glass charms before xmas -but I need slightly thinner wire :mad:

I like the idea of stitch markers too ..... There is only so much jewellery I can give to the girls :rotfl: ..mind I sold a bit before xmas -but the proceeds were for my local hospice back home... perhaps I could try swapping for things instead on the other site :think: Sort of neutralising pressies that way... even swapping beads etc for other materials hmmmm got me thinking:p
I still need to get the last bits ordered for my pressie making -but I think Im going to hold off and get made what I have the materials for -then I can make sure I have time to get it all done!!! plus there may be other ideas i come up with before then

Still haven't spent 1c since the 22nd..we got paid on the 25th -so today hubby has nipped to the bank and stuck all €450 housekeeping in my account -and there it will stay...hubby gave me back the €100 he borrowed from me so that is in my purse for now..and WILL last to the end of the month :T

I was talking to mum earlier..and she has picked up another tomato variety I don't have so is sending me some that will be over 20 varieties I think -they are bush ones so I can find a little gap for a couple somewhere -honest :rotfl:
I can't wait to make a start -but as we are at -9 degrees ..it will have to :rolleyes: -I need to get caught up on my blog soon...
I think the 1st thing Im going to get going is the sweet potato as Im growing my own slips rather than buying them -so I need 1 sweet potato nex time I'm out
right enough ramble....have a great afternoon all

LollopyBear

That's excellent CW18 - I keep meaning to do this and only getting as far as buying wrapping paper in the sales.

I've just returned from a stroll up town and Oxfam have all of their Christmas cards half price. I bought 20 big cards for those who I don't want to make cards for - £3.99 reduced to £1.99 - and two boxes of small cards (20 in each) for the children in my form class - £1.99 reduced to 99p - so I am very happy with that! I've also bought most of my materials for the cards I make in the sales. My local craft shop was having a massive sale last week with up to 80% off all crafts. I got a huge bag of stuff for a tenner, including a mini wedding scrapbook set that I'm giving to my friend as a hen party present, all my Christmas embellishments and a load of embellishments for when I finally get around to making my wedding and honeymoon scrapbook! All I need now are some card blanks and new glue dots

1 day, 8 hours and 42mins til a frugal new year!

candygirl

OOh i'm all excited to start now.Got my budget sorted and my benefits, and ISMI so just got to keep strong now and not spend on silly bits of rubbish to make myself feel good.Got 2 shower gels off DD yest as she keeps buying it and her new flat doesnt have a shower:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: yep she is blonde:D
Right off to make bread, wash up and decide on tea.It'll prob be a 29p quiche, one of my yellow stickered triumphs:T :T :T :T

little_miss_moneysaver_3

This is my first time to do this challenge! And i'm strangely excited about it!:j

Have been reading the site for the last couple of months for pressie ideas, cheap meals etc. So I think I (and my BF) are ready!

Haven't stockpiled for 2009, but I went a little overboard when we moved into our first home in November. So I started from scratch with any supplies. Our 1st Jan started when we got paid last week as that is obviously our money for Jan. So on Jan the first I will update the spending on my sig.

Happy new year. Good Luck everyone! :beer:

LMMS x

Annie021063

can anyone explain stockpiling?