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

grandma247

I was sent the link for these pictures of pantry storage. some of them are crazy but I wish I had the space they have.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fidjiti/2563363140/in/set-72157603895991225/

Frugaldom

blueberrypie wrote: »

You don't even need to choose the one name to use all the time - lots of people use both a married and a pre-married name. You can use as many names as you like, in fact. All perfectly legal as long as you're not using them to commit a crime :-)

This is very true! I have 5 names I go by, depending on what I'm doing and where, although I bet I could think of a few others that a few others might add! :rotfl:

SM - I believe those rabbits are the same breed they used when filming Teletubbies, as ordinary rabbits would have looked tiny on set.

Keeping spending to a minimum at the moment, but I think I'll need to do a CW-style financial juggle in order to stay within budget and keep the household fed. Grocery spending has completely run off the scale, so I'll need to try and cut back elsewhere if the £1200 runs out before the end of the year. I also discovered DS has been using the wall mounted fan heater in the bathroom as a hair dryer when he comes out the shower every day! :mad: No wonder I can't get my electricity down! (I secretly found it very amusing, but don't tell him that!:rotfl:)

SM!!!!!!!! Why have you got sheep on your front lawn????
Back soon, gone sheep chasing!

OK, quick resolution to the problem, panic over, the sheep climbed the front wall, minimal damage done if you don't count the footprints and a courgette that the hare has just demolished, sorry, didn't spot that until we went sheep chasing. I yelled at HS to grab his camera (he already knows I'm a bit loopy) so we have the sheep evidence for all to see including pics of the great escape from the garden, showing us their route!

Kittikins

NYK - I'm chuckling at the hair dryer, but holy moly, that must burn up the electricity!! My hairdryer languishes in the cupboard and only comes out when friends visit, now I've got an electricity monitor thing, I'd probably faint with shock to see how much it uses...

cw18

nykmedia wrote: »

but I think I'll need to do a CW-style financial juggle in order to stay within budget and keep the household fed.

:rolleyes:

My theory with juggling money between areas is that

1. this is my first year of trying to second guess everything up front - so there will be things I've forgotten about. Hopefully a lot less 'juggling' next year as I'll have 12 months of full records to refer back to when setting my budgets

2. I'd rather juggle as needed, as the other option would be to shrug my shoulders over the ones than run over budget - with a danger I run the ones I have more control over right up to their original budget and overspend on my total. As the 'total' is actually the figure I can't afford to break, the regular re-allocation helps me stick to that

cw18

Kittikins wrote: »

My hairdryer languishes in the cupboard and only comes out when friends visit

I don't even know where mine is!! It was last used on a dog that we looked after while her owners were away - and that was for two weeks in October 2004, just before we got the dalmatian.......

Frugaldom

Guilty of using a hairdryer, I'm afraid, but towel drying and then waiting for it to dry naturally just takes far too long and is completely impractical for me at the moment. I am as frugal as possible, though, and don't blow dry it when it gets soaked in the rain.

CW, I meant 'CW-style' in the nicest possible way. If Frugaldom had to be a nation, I'd want you for Chancellor of Exchequer.

:j I now have my outfit for DD's wedding - designer label but won't mention which - sis bought it for herself and then didn't like it!! :eek: I got my shoes in half price sale. They still cost me a lot more than I'd normally pay but I REALLY like them and I'm sure I'll managed a full day in 4" heels and will find somewhere else to wear them afterwards. (What was I thinking?!) Fascinator already bought, just need to accessorize now and that's me all set for my first born frugalmite's big day. :j I wonder how silly it looks doing housework in heels - gotta break them in sooner or later. :rotfl:

Frugaldom

Kittikins wrote: »

NYK - I'm chuckling at the hair dryer, but holy moly, that must burn up the electricity!! My hairdryer languishes in the cupboard and only comes out when friends visit, now I've got an electricity monitor thing, I'd probably faint with shock to see how much it uses...

Have you seen how much a hoover and an iron use? :eek:

Frugaldom

Alright, I couldn't resist this and I'm sure SM will forgive me for sharing it with you all.

I know I said be frugal, keep warm, budget for your groceries and grow your own where possible, but this really is taking it to the next level:

Question: What can mow your lawn, provide you with winter woolies, fill your freezer and give you a sheepskin coat for free?

Answer: Sheep :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

cw18

nykmedia wrote: »

CW, I meant 'CW-style' in the nicest possible way.

Didn't take it any other way

If Frugaldom had to be a nation, I'd want you for Chancellor of Exchequer.

*** feels very honoured ***

cw18

nykmedia wrote: »

Have you seen how much a hoover and an iron use? :eek:

The former is a problem for me - especially with dogs moulting all over the house all year :eek:

As for the latter -- let's just say that's another appliance that I know I have in the house somewhere. As to when it was last used by me - no idea at all. Last used by anyone? That would be elder DS doing shirts (his and younger DS's) for DH's funeral last November.......