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

cw18

Just thought of something I've not built into my budget (other than in my 'anything else' category -- which I guess is where it officially falls with things like prescription and dental fees, but I don't have any idea how much of that it'll eat!)

Does anyone know roughly how much it costs to have a 'flu shot privately? I've had it free at work from 2000-2005 inclusive, and in 2007 and 2008 as DH's carer. But I'll have to pay for it in 2009. Given it's one thing I used to pick up 2 years in 3 (with every other dose knocking me flat out for 10-14 days) I really do want to continue having this......

If I register as a child-minder I can offset it as a business expense (I think), but if I'm still just looking after my GDs as a favour then I still need to sort it out (a couple of weeks with me not available for school runs would cause DD major problems with work!)

sophiesmum_2

Asda pharmacy were doing the flu jabs without appointments for £10 each:D

cw18

Fab :T I can live with that kind of cost Was dreading it being £50-60 :eek:

andan

Blondmuppet, we also have lodgers so can understand the restrictions regarding things such as gas and electricity. I have got away with it by turning down the heating by 1 degree every so often and now get away with having the heating at 17degrees as opposed to 20. I also made a concerted effort of going around and turning all lights off, after a while they got the hint and started doing it themselves!

It can be difficult, but the extra money they bring in is such a big help.

Am also looking forward to starting this challenge, not long left to go. Am still desperately trying to get hold of a bike so that i can start cycling to work instead of driving, which will help with the budget, as i have decided to include car and petrol costs in my budget.

2NDTIMEROUNDER

Paulgonnabedebtfree wrote: »

Well you only have to be half as scared now. I don't think these women things bite usually so we should be OK.

Let s take a day at a time then. Best course of action me thinks because the key word there is usually...:rotfl:

Frugaldom

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

Remoskas are a type of electric frying pan !!! oven only available at lakeland theres a thread somewhere very energy efficient apparently... Shaz

Yes, it's linked to post 1 of this thread in the 'handy links' section :rotfl:

savingfortravel

Thanks for that Mrs Mc. OB and I have just had a good nose and fancy the Standard Version.
I'll also look at the handy hints section too! Thanks Nykmedia.
We're going to start saving for one ...maybe ask for contributions instead of wedding presents. They look fantastic!!!!
SFT

skintwellie

Hi fellow frugalites. :j

Not long to go now. I've been intrigued reading about how everyone is going to save money next year.
I was hoping to keep my challenge to about £5,000 for the year. However, I have been off work sick for the past 12 weeks and it doesn't look like I will be able to return before February. I'm therefore managing on SSP at the moment (£75 per week), so if all goes well I might be able to shave even more off the budget.

The TV Home Entertainment package that I won was in place for Christmas Day and admired by my family and friends, so at least entertainment (!) is taken care of in 2009:rotfl: .

Last week my order came from Approved Food and I was very pleased. I got a huge amount of food for £22 including delivery. I ordered loads of drinks for 10p each which is great for son's packed lunches. The trays of pasta sauces are out of date by four months but I've used several and they're fine.:rotfl:
Big thanks to whoever recommended the site:T

Today I took my son to lunch (another competition win) and I took a tenner to pay for our drinks. However, when I went to pay for our drinks the manager said that we could have them on the house!:T

Also today I got a voucher for a free 3kg bag of large breed Eukanuba worth £13.99! so pooch is okay for next month.

I've done a freezer audit and found that we have a salmon mountain, so am looking for interesting recipes that everyone will eat.

Have printed off money diary from MONEYWISE site to record daily spends on. (Hoping for plenty of NSDs though).

hgbels

Hi All

I really want to try and join in with this challenge but don't think I will manage to keep detailed records. I read bits last year, but my circumstances ahve now changed dramatically. I was contracting last year, and my contract finished just before Xmas, and given the current climate and family demands, I will not be working for the whole of next year.

I'm lucky as I do not have any debts, but we will be trying to survive on DH's earnings and so not ues my savings. I have two preschoolers - one who is starting school in April. They will both be in preschool for two hours each morning time which I want to spend getting fit and raising money.

Afternoons will be OS cookery - I hope to save some money

I'l try and post when I can - good luck to everyone.
I am going to go back to the start of the thread to catch up

Hels

Brighton_belle

savingfortravel - another remoska fan here: I lurve mine and have only switched the oven on once in 4 months since buying it.