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

taka

sophiesmum wrote: »

Tonight i have planted some chives and mustard and cress in kitchen,figured it would be an extra bit of greenery to chuck in food for time being until the garden gets going again. My new food processor has a mini mill on it that will be great for chopping herbs so I can dry/freeze/cook with them.

Taka - growing stuff really isn't hard, the seeds do most of the work for you as long as you keep them well watered most things thrive with basic attention.

Hmmmm... I'm someone who seems to kill a house plant at 100 paces in 10 seconds flat. The only thing that lived for long was that blasted basil! I think that was out of spite more than anything! :rotfl: Looks like my wee bruv is also going to grow herbs at least this year too so I will get him to get some other seeds and we can swap! I love coriander but that really hates me. It dies so easily so I think I'll just buy big bunches of this from the ethnic grocers!!

taka

Sarah147 wrote: »

I definately want to join you guys and grow my own salad/herbs this year, anyone know a good (cheap) place to buy seeds from?

I got mine from Th0mson & M0rgan but that was mostly with a voucher they sent me as I'm on their (postal) mailing list. I've seen them pretty cheaply in L1dl too if you have one nearby...

redglass_2

Gasp...gasp...wheeze...gasp...
The thread's growing so fast I can hardly keep up and this is only day 1

Great news, JennyBee, what a lovely surprise from your sis.

Who was it asked about using leftovers in Janssen's Temptation, was it PipsMum? TBH I don't think i would mix stuff in as it's a very particular blend of flavours, but if you want to experiment I'd try a standard one first to see what it's like and what might go in there. At a guess leeks and mushrooms might be possible but not many other veggies and definitely not bacon (tastes horrible with anchovies).

Hope all of you poorly people are starting to feel better.
Still haven't spent anything...

Masomnia

I have an issue on my accounting. Not sure whether to note down online purchases as being on the day of order or on the day of receipt... Maybe I'm just a bit too OCD about these things.

I'm not doing amazingly. I ordered a new pen today, decided to treat myself as I can't go on holiday this month, and it's erm, well, err *tugs collar* £29.95 with postage. BUT! It's a Parker Sonnet, and that is pretty damn good for one of those! And I have had a pretty tough time recently. Plus I do like having a nice pen to do my accounting with, and my old one is broken, and and and yes I know I should just use a ball point.

I know, I know, excuses.

Cat_Addict

I work on traditional accounting - the day you get the bill, or in our cases the Tesco receipt LOL. ie. the day you do the buying. Cash accounting would be when the bills actually clear through your account but no, I stick with the old way using the receipts and the date thereon (or tax point as it's often referred to).

I know it amounts to personal preference but will affect the way you fill out a VAT return if applicable.

Masomnia

Cat_Addict wrote: »

I work on traditional accounting - the day you get the bill, or in our cases the Tesco receipt LOL. ie. the day you do the buying. Cash accounting would be when the bills actually clear through your account but no, I stick with the old way using the receipts and the date thereon (or tax point as it's often referred to).

I know it amounts to personal preference but will affect the way you fill out a VAT return if applicable.

Fantastic! Make that a none-spending day then

Thank you!

sophiesmum_2

Masomnia wrote: »

I have an issue on my accounting. Not sure whether to note down online purchases as being on the day of order or on the day of receipt... Maybe I'm just a bit too OCD about these things.

I'm not doing amazingly. I ordered a new pen today, decided to treat myself as I can't go on holiday this month, and it's erm, well, err *tugs collar* £29.95 with postage. BUT! It's a Parker Sonnet, and that is pretty damn good for one of those! And I have had a pretty tough time recently. Plus I do like having a nice pen to do my accounting with, and my old one is broken, and and and yes I know I should just use a ball point.

I know, I know, excuses.

I like spending money on good quality things that I will appreciate, that is the thing with this challenge for me. I can save money on the other stuff that doesn't matter much and free up cash to use on stuff that is important to me. Kitchen stuff is my downfall - I will quite happily eke out the food budget for the year and then think nothing of spending £100+ on new food processor etc if it is fit for purpose and good quality/value. Being frugal in some areas lets me have a better quality of life and frees up the cash to spend on what matters to me personally.
If that is a £30 pen for you, fine, just make savings elsewhere to compensate;) enjoy your pen and don't feel guilty.

cw18

Masomnia wrote: »

I have an issue on my accounting. Not sure whether to note down online purchases as being on the day of order or on the day of receipt... Maybe I'm just a bit too OCD about these things.

I'd personally do it on date of order, as the money has to be in the bank that day for them to be able to take it. If the order arrives with adjustments, then I'd go back and adjust the entry. (It's easy to do this on spreadsheets, but I guess not as easy on paper)

sophiesmum_2

cw18 wrote: »

I'd personally do it on date of order, as the money has to be in the bank that day for them to be able to take it. If the order arrives with adjustments, then I'd go back and adjust the entry. (It's easy to do this on spreadsheets, but I guess not as easy on paper)

That's how I do it, once I order something i deduct it immediately from my budget and adjust spreadsheets, eventually my account catches up, but at least then I don't lose trck of what I have spent and end up over budget.

Can't believe how fast this thread has been moving the past few days

whitewing

I always do my stuff on the day it shows as a transaction on my bank account.

If I take cash out, it'll go on my spreadsheet as cash out.

When I spend the cash I'll do separate transactions (I like to make it complicated as it puts me off spending money totally).

Thanks for the crochet advice - I have printed off the how to do granny squares. It'll take a month or two to get started though, but it looks good.

redglass my knitting is too basic to ever be interesting. Haven't knitted since the Eden project knitted a water scarf or whatever it was. I did a bit of that.