Live on £4,000 for a year - 2009, Part 3

cw18

(((hugs))) Aeb. Glad to see you posting, as I've been wondering how you were

Frugaldom

Good morning, special hello to Aeb, CharliesAngel and to Bails' little niece/nephew if they arrived overnight

It's a beautiful day again, very warm and sunny. Was out doing the rounds and decided that this would be a good day to start reorganising chickens, as Capt. Beaky is beginning to get too boisterous with the others, so he'll need to go sooner rather than later. (Anyone want a cockerel?)

Gathered another bag of pine cones last night whilst out on our evening forage and the redcurrants & blackcurrants taste ready to me, so I'm going to pick them tonight and attempt to make some jam. Gooseberries are still very small but I'm not sure how big they should be when they are wild ones.

CW, this would have been an ideal time to visit to see how you'd manage with frugal rural living - dry, sunny, picturesque and winter stockpiling beginning. PM me if you want details for cheap digs, as friend does room let in town, so it isn't next to the field where they're silage cutting.

Hope the sun is shining wherever you are and everyone has a good day.

cw18

Thanks for the offer Nyk, but lousy timing here

I still have one more week of school runs, and am out for an organised crafting event - with classes - for the full day this Saturday (9:30am - 8:30pm!). This is the closest I'm likely to get to a holiday for this year at least

Once school breaks up on 17th, I then have exactly 2 weeks to clear out the spare bedroom before elder DS gets home on leave - and I want to 'top to bottom it' as well as working hard on a couple of other rooms, as it's the only chance I'm going to get during the school holidays. If I can get the other rooms sorted as well, then DS can move the furniture back around for me while he's home -- which means I'll have a dining room again, and my bedroom will be back upstairs :T

I thought I'd have the bulk of the 6 weeks to blitz the house, but DS has informed me he arrives home on 1st Aug and leaves on 29th - just in time for the girls going back to school on 2nd Sept :rolleyes2 At least I've had almost 4 weeks notice.... in the past he'd have phoned me a day or two before he left camp to drive home :eek:

Frugaldom

I keep forgetting that the holidays are all different between north & south. Our schools break up in June, although some of them stayed open until 3rd July, then they go back around mid-August.

Just updated spreadsheet and the grocery budget is getting ridiculous - £1200 for a full year for 3?

NEVER GONNA HAPPEN! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER! :rotfl:

Only way I'll get the groceries back in check is if the LETS group starts incorporating more foodstuffs.

bails

Morning all! Great to see you aeb, working hard as ever! No baby news yet but I'll keep you posted :j

Packing a bag to go up to Brum and then on to London on Saturday once I've met my niece or nephew so won't be about for a few days probably. Have a great weekend!

Just had an email about my work placement, getting v excited about it now! :T

grandma247

Good morning everyone. I just popped my head in to send a pm to Sophies' mum and noticed the new thread. I will be doing my figures soon. Aussie friends arrived safely but they were disappointed!!!!!!!! to find we had hot weather
I am still being very frugal and they are helping because I have only paid for groceries once since they have been here because they were not with me. They are visiting Europe at the moment but will be back in a week or so.
I am going to have to have a couple of marathon reading sessions to catch up soon.

slowlyfading

Woop, 1 day :j :j

This is quick as I won't be on tomorrow I am so excited! Have just finished packing as am going across to the bf's soon, as his dad is taking us to the airport tomorrow morning. I seem to have spent a fair bit in July so far, but I'm hoping that the last 2 weeks of the month will be very low spends to counteract all this. My parents are going away for 2 weeks to Portugal, and I don't have anything planned apart from work so it should be able to reign it all back in

So, have a good week everyone, and I'll see you next week!
Bails, how exciting! I hope the labour goes well

sf xx

cw18

Had a call from my GPs surgery in the last hour - and, as I was expecting to contact them next Tuesday for the results of my fasting cholesterol test, it was immediately apparent the results have come back high. The receptionist confirmed this, but can't give the actual results over the phone :rolleyes2

I was then informed the GP wants me to see the practise nurse. First available appt is 24th July (due to her being on holiday between now and then), so a bit of wait for the actual results But the way I look at it is that if the figures were sky high/high risk, they'd have been calling me in for an emergency appt tomorrow or Monday

I was told I could have an earlier appt with the GP if I was worried, but I'm not and I'd rather not take up her time if she's asked for me to make an appt with the nurse......

I do know they'll be wanting to try dietary changes first, as a 'condition' of authorising the test was that I worked with them if the results came back high - but the GP knew this wouldn't be an issue, as she knows I hate taking medication if there's another option. Both my parents are on meds for it, but as they were both in their 60s when they started on them the GP says it doesn't count as a 'family history' to be worried about. However, I must make a note to remember to ask how my high count 20 years before she'd expect to start seeing it will impact on the risk for my kids - especially as I know DD's diet isn't even as good as mine, and my GDs are fed loads of what I consider 'junk' :shocked:

So it looks like I may have to reconsider my grocery budget from next month onwards :eek: Even if the suggestion is one of those Fl0ra yoghurts or drinks a day that works out at an average of about 50p/day (or £182.50/year)!!!!!!

patchwork_cat

Cheryl -http://www.ivillage.co.uk/food/cook/health/articles/0,,182460_185150,00.html
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/food-to-eat-to-lower-cholesterol-list-of-low-cholesterol-foods.html The flora proactive spread works out at just over 20p a day, so not too bad. Just done my heart age on their website and it is 10 years on mine!!

cw18

I don't really want to use the spread - I'm already on a soya one as I'm trying to increase that in my diet (it's one way of avoiding HRT which my Mum is very dependant on!)

I also mix soya mince in with 'standard mince' and use soya milk on cereal (so can't swap milk either)