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

sophiesmum_2

Paulgonnabedebtfree wrote: »

Don't forget the 33p on top of that. You may end up needing it.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

grandma247

http://www.tbramsden.co.uk/html/learnknitcrochet.html

This is definately a uk site. The company is based in Bradford. The tutorials look like the sort you need with lots of step by step pictures.
Scroll down the list to starting to crochet.

Edit: they have a few free patterns too
http://www.tbramsden.co.uk/html/freepatterns.html

JAMIEDODGER

Nice little lay in this morning:D

Just checked online banking and my dd for tv licence has gone out so I have adjusted my signature!:)

Gonna have a browse for a little bit and then start on this mornings jobs...

MRSMCAWBER

Morning all

Day 2 and another nsd planned -assisted by the fact that it is freezing out there -and WE HAVE SNOW :j ..I will venture out to defrost the bird bath and top up the table (but thats it)

yesterdays dinner was HM flour tortillas with caramalised veggies, gyros meat, tzatziki and served with salad mmmmmmm Hubby has requested that the meals shrink even more :T , so that should help the food budget even more:D plus its our first weigh in tomorrow (fingers crossed) -we have got back on the weight loss wagon -I really need to get rid of the rest of this weight -not that I "diet" -proper Hm meals in sensible portions is the way I go...so tonight it is a hm roast lamb n vegetable pie I took out of the freezer, with mashed potato/swede and veggies -so this time the pie will do us twice and I will do extra mash n veggies to make bubble n squeak in the remoska

On the veggie growing front -I can't wait to get going.. I have a feeling we might have to side shuffle to get through all the pots I'm planning on putting on the patio ....
Im looking forward to trying out lots of new tomatoes -particularly one I have where you can pull up the whole plant and hang it up until all the tomatoes go leathery...my own sun dried tomatoes
Right -today I WILL get lots of my crafting for xmas done....
have a great day everyone

grandma247

fizzel potatoes could be a problem if you plant them where grass has been as the grass harbours pests (i can't for the life of me remember what they are just at the mo) they will eat into your potatoes. If I remember I will post.

sophiesmum_2

Good morning frunchkins:D

I can't believe how fast this thread is growing at the moment, lots of lovely new people posting and some great ideas:D
Popping into work this morning for an hour or so which will earn me a lieu day so not a bad deal I don't think and as I live here anywy isn't such a hardship;) Got OH to declutter his wardrobe yesterday so more stuff for recycling.
CW looks like DD is close to having her lightbulb moment;) , have also noticed that lots of cheaper ranges have started to disppear from supermarket shelves, and the value range has crept up in price.

My general aims for today are:

• batch cook some pizza bases (thanks for reminder)
• make a loaf in breadmaker
• get some curry/rice out freezer for OH to take to work
• find somewhere to put the 15 bottles of alcohol I have been given over xmas
• join Nyk on the "fitter not fatter" challenge and make time to go swimming
• reduce. reuse or recycle at least one item - today's items clothes to charity shop, shredded bills to compost bin:D, some shoes to shoe bank.
• Do one thing just for fun - - surprise invite out to lunch - lovely

Today's frugal menu:

• porridge with stewed rhubarb and gooseberries (from garden )
• [strike]baked beans on HM seeded bread with grilled tomatoes [/strike]- steak and salad out for lunch
• Toad in the hole made in remoska, (HM lamb sausage) with variety of veggies (3) from freezer.

F&V portions - 1 Fruit, 5 Veg,0 Pulses

Today's extra income / expenditure
Planning no spend day - no spend day scuppered as car tax due and I forgot.... £120 spends today then, and gym membership DD just gone out of bank so another £32 there

fizzel81

grandma247 wrote: »

fizzel potatoes could be a problem if you plant them where grass has been as the grass harbours pests (i can't for the life of me remember what they are just at the mo) they will eat into your potatoes. If I remember I will post.

would tub be a better option for potatoes, would the tubs have to be a certain size? woke up this morning full of so many ideas that i want to get sorted 2009 will be my year (i hope) to fineally be a dfw

sophiesmum_2

fizzel81 wrote: »

would tub be a better option for potatoes, would the tubs have to be a certain size? woke up this morning full of so many ideas that i want to get sorted 2009 will be my year (i hope) to fineally be a dfw

You could grow spuds in almost any type of deep container. I had some in those black pots from supermarket florists, nyk used an old kitchen bin, this year I' m planning on using some of the supermarket canvas bags;)

Purple_Sparkles

Good Morning Everyone,

Just let my chickens out, they are still laying really well even though it's sooooo cold, getting an average of 4/5 per day from 5 hens!

Our new 'rescue' dog has come round to the idea that she has to eat the same food as the other dogs or she'll get none. A lovely 4 year old springer spaniel - poor thing was riddled with fleas and was skin and bones when we got her on Boxing Day, her muscles had wasted away and she could hardly stand. Amazing how a bath, some frontline, food and water and the company of my other dogs has improved her health. She can go for small walks now and is putting on weight and the fleas have gone.

A NSD for me yesterday and I'm hoping today will be too.

I'm on the lookout for some free wood or old frame tent poles to make a fence to keep the chickens out of my vegetable garden and greenhouse.

I'm looking forward to starting working in the garden again, I remember the pics of MrsM's pots last year - an inspiration to us all.

Off to start making some bread and cakes for the freezer and check if anything needs using up in the fridge, I think a veggie soup will be made too.

Have a lovely day everyone.

January20

January20 wrote: »

Right, so I've crunched some numbers - and read a few posts on this thread which made me realise I'd forgotten some things in my initial calculation :-(

My budget for this year will be £3000 and this include: bt, mobile phones, all car costs ie mot/ services/ petrol/ insurance/ breakdown cover, electricity and food and toiletries for 2 adults (DD is 16) and a cat (although cat doesn't use many toiletries...)

I'm sure I've forgotten something as this is very low so will probably have to amend later!

And HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Just as I thought! I haven't put in anything for entertainment and miscellaneous spends like vets check up! So I'm going to review my challenge to £3500 - just in case and hope I'll be below it!