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

savingfortravel

bails wrote: »

Oops yes sorry for being off topic. Can my tenuous link be my frugal ways making me rethink what I want from life?
Darn I missed it - off to watch it now. See, if we lived next door to each other, we could half our TV licence by watching the same programmes. Now this definitely = on topic MS

Bails - You're like my brother from another MS mother (really sister but doesn't rhyme)...SFT:rotfl:

Frugaldom

Another dry night, another walk gone, and today was switch on day for all these digital channels, so I no longer have a clue how to work frugal TV to see such programmes. I have only just discovered that 4+1 no longer = 5, it actually means I can delay a Channel 4 programme for an hour whilst I finish in the garden or go a short walk or bake a cake or something! Wow! How very 21st century is that?! (Or old fashioned am I for not having heard of it before now? )

The berries are already on the rowan trees here, so I think rowan jelly making could be a month earlier than books say. F00d for Free says pick in October, but I reckon they'll all be gone by then - SM we need to go picking in September and then we can start thinking about taking hardwood cuttings for next year's fruit bushes.

Following Grandma's picture of all those lovely bottled fruits, I have been reading my Marguerite Patten (sp?) recipe cards about preserving and it seems like a great way of storing stuff. I haven't got around to pickling anything yet, as there's been nothing ready to pickle but the beetroots surely shouldn't be too long now? Must check up on that.

I think we'd be not too bad in the event of quarantining. It was a subject well discussed in the wake of FMD when all the affected farms were shut off from the rest of civilisation. It's something I also discussed when first moving here, and I'm glad we have the garden up and running for fresh produce & eggs if anything like that happened. If it was chicken flu then my purebreeds would, hopefully, have some form of protection by their being registered, so we could survive. It's coping without electricity and water that dumbfounds me more than anything. Water not so bad as we have a stream nearby, but power supply still most important aspect of modern living. I'd love to try a challenge living without mains electricity but I think that's one for when DS has left and HS is on holiday, as it wouldn't be very fair subjecting them to it LOL

I hope everyone who is poorly or had bad days finds tomorrow a better day.

bails

Thanks so much SFT, I may not have watched that programme back and I would have missed something wonderful. That, right there, is my idea of heaven! Such breathtaking views. OH and I had already talked of definitely visiting the Hebrides on our return to the UK and now we intend to stay at that campsite :T It was inspiring to see what they acheived on such a tiny budget and the fact they could get all that land and property for 133K was a huge eye opener for OH - I may be able to convince him yet

Frugaldom

Hi guys

What programme have I missed about the Hebrides? I've only ever managed to drag HS as far as Skye because it's the only island he doesn't need to get on a boat to visit! :rolleyes: Bails, £133k is a fair bit of money up here for property, could get you quite a few acres if you wanted to start a project. Sadly, for me, it's the lack of ability to find anywhere near that amount of money that prevents me from jumping at so many opportunities. (However, friend is looking for another property with land at the moment, so she's sending me all the links for what's she's looking at way up north, so I still get to look. Her OH's family are from Barra.)

Dry and breezy here, frugal washing then accompanying HS into town but can't remember why he needs to go. I'm just going along for the trip. :rotfl:

Hope all our flu victims are making good recoveries.

SF how are you feeling today after your 'down day'?

Meant to ask, did someone get ticked off by the mods for going off topic somewhere? I haven't seen anything off topic - if it involves spending money then it's about moneysaving and spending without incurring debt, so there. Tales of frugal travel plans are what inspire others to aspire to become debt freen and then make the most of what they have in the most frugal way possible. :T:j

lyndasharp

I started sneezing this morning, but I don't think it's flu :-) If someone is just feeling under the weather it's really unlikely that it's swine flu, it's mainly characterised by flu plus diarrhoea. I do think that some doctors are being overly cautious. H2B said he was getting a lot of samples in for testing that were just from people with hayfever or a cold, but that GPs were finding it easier just to test than to try and convince people they hadn't got it. Having said that, I hope that everyone who is affected is doing OK!

I treated myself to a bar of Lindt chocolate that I found in the 99p shop yesterday. Dark choc with mango and chili - it really was fantastic :-)

bails

Morning all! :hello: Don't worry Nyk, noone got told off by the mods, it's just I was getting excited about a TV programme where you get the chance to become a wildlife photographer, something I've loved since being a kid. It was frugal entertainment though
The Hebrides programme was this - they bought a croft house, a 160-year old black house and 2 cattle bryres with 13 acres for the 133K :T I spent the Millennium on Lewis but haven't been back since and would love to properly explore all round that part of the world.

Hoping for a much cheaper day today! Dad isn't here today so I am planning on getting as much done as possible. First stop the letting agents once I've photocopied various documents, posting off my TAB stuff and walking the dog then lots and lots of packing and phonecalls. I'm shattered but it all needs doing, it's a good job I'm going on holiday soon :rotfl:

savingfortravel

nykmedia wrote: »

Hi guys

What programme have I missed about the Hebrides? I've only ever managed to drag HS as far as Skye because it's the only island he doesn't need to get on a boat to visit! :rolleyes: Bails, £133k is a fair bit of money up here for property, could get you quite a few acres if you wanted to start a project. Sadly, for me, it's the lack of ability to find anywhere near that amount of money that prevents me from jumping at so many opportunities. (However, friend is looking for another property with land at the moment, so she's sending me all the links for what's she's looking at way up north, so I still get to look. Her OH's family are from Barra.)


Programme was on Channel 5 at 8pm last night, called Build a new life in the country (Bails got me interested in it). Was a bit more interesting as they were converting a croft (using heather for the roof) and land into a campsite.

Dry and breezy here, frugal washing then accompanying HS into town but can't remember why he needs to go. I'm just going along for the trip. :rotfl:

Hope all our flu victims are making good recoveries.

SF how are you feeling today after your 'down day'?

Meant to ask, did someone get ticked off by the mods for going off topic somewhere? I haven't seen anything off topic - if it involves spending money then it's about moneysaving and spending without incurring debt, so there. Tales of frugal travel plans are what inspire others to aspire to become debt freen and then make the most of what they have in the most frugal way possible. :T:j

Sorry if I misled everyone but I wondered whether I've been going off topic lately, posted alot yesterday (making the most of it before I leave). No-one has been moderating as far as I know.

sft

bails

Wow, just noticed your MFW total again SFT, that's fantastic! :T I CAN'T WAIT to be in a position where I have my own mortgage so I can start paying it off :rotfl:We're hoping to take it on next year when we get back and have jobs, fingers crossed.

How's the packing going? Wanna come round and do mine?:D

whitewing

I love reading all your news people. Love the jars grandma. Good to see you bright and breezy again bails.

CW - does DS drink normal cow's milk? We buy 2 litre plastic containers of milk from the supermarket and freeze them as they are. Literally put them straight in the freezer when we get home (upright).

They look a bit orangey when they are frozen, but are back to normal when defrosted. We put the container in a jug for defrosting to keep it upright as the container is somewhat out of shape, and loosen the lid.

DH passed an important test yesterday, so we are chuffed to pieces. Very tired though too as DH had to go to the city. DS and I went along for the ride (and Ikea!). I would have bought a cot but DH says it's too early. We had a good look round though. I didn't manage to get a nap (even in the car as I had to navigate), so I felt very ill by the time I got back. Am still in bed now but will get up in a minute. Feel a lot better this morning.

Like to read everyone's news and I nod along, or grimace as the occasion demands. Have a lovely day all of you.

savingfortravel

Bails
Yes we are very pleased with MFW total-we've just gone from paying £543 a month to £338- a real difference-another one of my juggling financial balls-bit ignored this month due to the roof. Its not that we earn loads of money (Mr SFT still only works 2 1/2 days a week and only during school terms) but i do (I confess) think about every penny we spend/love a bargain and I don't buy many luxuries for myself day to day.
My trips however cost a fortune so we saved hard through the year..we are saving for nephew's trip at the moment.

Well I've made my work hard/play hard list for today.
One WH job done-We've just cleared a shed as my dad wants to put up shelves in it (has to be done today!) but on the plus side found my 'Watching wildlife in Central America' book so I'm very happy, as well as a number of other useful items.

Now starting to gather all my items together. Then I will halve it.
Lots to do but am fitting in lots of reading, a letter to Australia, 30 mins in our local and a walk today (my PH list-not so much good telly today )

Catch up later.

sft