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

thriftylass

Hello...

Reading the C-word (that holiday in december) was a little wake up call. This year I have to be more organised. So today the first step was to split my savings accounts in two - one for proper saving and one for that holiday. I transfered some money over and although it reduces my long term saving just now, at least I don't have to touch them later. Simples...don't know why I didn't do that earlier.

P.S. still haven't made a gift list . I'll do that this weekend

Savvy_sewing

Starting to realise that I have been "playing" at my reductions. Becuase every now and then I have spent funds, that I thought I was able too, and now realise that should have had in a different pot for the things that I pay out annually. Although I did it in a budget, I didnt follow the budget properly. I have cut things massively, with reducing from an income of over £20,000 to one of a future of just over £4,500 but I had a safety net of funds in the bank when things started to reduce, so I have used that now.
(My CSA has been messed around, and is now currently not accessible while a query is being sorted out.). I think if I had access to that, I would have had the money in the bank I expected.
Meanwhile I have to remember that I dont have access to it, and by the end of August I wont be getting it anymore anyway.
I think i need to go back to the very beginning of things, and reset my year from now on. I was not one of the actual challengers at the beginning of the year, but feel that I need the principles of this thread to guide me from now on.
The inspiration of the people on here, is what is driving me into the future with a more positive attitude then I would have had finding myself in this mess previously.

So I have a lot of reading, note taking and inspiration to kick me back into the real world that I have found myself in.! (Out of the bubble I was living in!).

sophiesmum_2

Going back to querying the cost of home grown food etc.There are lots of different reasons why I am aiming to grow/cook/preserve my own foods, not just for the cost implications.

Ø Triyng to eat more organically grown produce
Ø Trying to reduce environmental impact by reducing food miles
Ø Trying to cut back on the amount of packaging I am responsible for
Ø Trying to reduce reliance on the monopoly created by the large supermarket chains
Ø Trying to live as sustainably as possible and learn skills which would help my family in a serious situation. I'm not thinking end of world here just something as simple as a national transport strike which would cripple food supplies within days now the supermarkets rely on continual topping up of stores from the suppliers instead of warehousing.
Ø Trying to limit the amount of chemical additives and preservatives in our food by scratch cooking as much as possible - even a simple thing like shop bought bagged lettuce is usually treated with a bleach solution and packaged in a gas!
Ø Because I like the sense of achievement from growing, making, cooking our own things, and learning skills which our predecessors used to use daily.
Ø Because home grown, scratch cooked food does taste nicer than shop bought mass produced stuff
Ø Because once start up costs are removed I still find it cost effective when comparing like for like - eg jar home made plum jam with jar of extra fruit jam, home grown toms with organic toms, home baked bread with top of range loaf. I can provide the family with top quality foods at smart price levels.

I agree that there are often start up costs to growing your own veggies, preserving foods etc but these can be recouped over time and then there are limited costs to most things. Seeds can be collected from grown veggies, plants propagated, pots reused, compost made ,, spent plants used for green manure,
equipment reused, jars recycled, so there are lots of ways to reduce running costs after the initial investment.

Transport is an added cost especially in rural areas but is needed anyway for other reasons - medical, social, emergency so you would need that in place anyway, or at least access to a taxi service/bus route and funds to pay for it.


Andan:T,
Mooloo,- just keep tweaking the budgets to suit your circumstances, this frugal living really gets a hold of you.That is a big adjustment you have had to make:D

Changes in circumstances mean we have spent more money recently than we have for ages, 2 new cars and setting things in place for growing etc at cottage. However this has come out of savings which were earmarked for our future life, and day to day spends are still under control for £4000 challenge:D. It is nice to have saving pots to dip into when you really want to and frugal living helps you achieve that by reducing the everyday expenditure, and being more aware of where your money is going. I know for some people this isn't a choice and frugal living is a necessity but everyone can benefit by being more savvy with their cash.

Okay have waffled enough now - off to do a free meditation class with the oldies in a minute:D

grandma247

SM I agree with everything you said about food etc. I was thinking about it while I was cleaning.
If I lived in the countryside again I would have a large stockpile/pantry of food and I would hope to shop only 3-4 times a year for that. I would also grow as much as possible making use of as much planting time as possible ie.planting for autumn and winter crops.
I don't do enough of that just now because our allotment is a long walk from here and I would have to take care of it by myself in winter as its dark when dh gets home.
When I was much much younger we did live rural with only two buses a day mostly and that was reduced in winter so I had to walk three country miles to the nearest village for shopping. I did not have much idea of how to stockpile in those days but I did learn to make jam and pickles and I started learning about gardening then too.
There is great satisfaction in eating food you have grown yourself and you can't put a price on that.

cw18

grandma247 wrote: »

SM I agree with everything you said about food etc.

Me too :T

The organic (not that I can officially be classed as that with a main road the other side of a wall!) and reduced pollution (from air miles and packaging) actually being the main ones for me.

There's also the exercise side of it that can't be discounted :rolleyes: And if I get into child-care (home based) it's educational too.....

Skint_Lynne

:mad: I didn't get the job. They actually picked the one that drew the look and someone else to go forward. The guy in the agency is gobsmacked, but that's just one of those things. I'll just need to keep on looking and hope for the best.

I've to send my CV into another place so we'll see what happens.

Speak soon, xx

shaz_mum_of__2

Hi guys

fed up with not being able to have real chickens .............i am making my own!




She is a she (don't ask me how i know!!)

Nyk - i think i may still be slightly waffy:rotfl::rotfl:

trying to sew, iron,pack, bake and cook dinner all at once may not be a good idea:rotfl:

The instructions are on my blog


Shaz

shaz_mum_of__2

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

:mad: I didn't get the job. They actually picked the one that drew the look and someone else to go forward. The guy in the agency is gobsmacked, but that's just one of those things. I'll just need to keep on looking and hope for the best.

I've to send my CV into another place so we'll see what happens.

Speak soon, xx

So sorry Lynne :grouphug:i know you really really wanted it

Shaz

Savvy_sewing

Sorry to hear that Lynne. I hope you have better luck soon.
Hugs, x

Kittikins

Oh Lynne, so sorry to hear you didn't get the call back