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

grandma247

So sorry to hear your sad news Bails Take care.


I do so hope those customers are sensible tho; a friend of the Offspring got a phone call just yesterday afternoon to say the company had closed the depot & everyone was out of a job
BMF I do too and I am keeping up my storage efforts because just a couple of weeks ago DH came home and said three of the office staff had been made redundant and that was after they had been told there would be none at their depot. I don't think we are anywhere near the end of this recession no matter how much the powers that be try to tell us otherwise.

DdraigGoch

Sympathies and condolences to Bails and Mr Bails. It's horrible any time but at a particular festival is always more difficult. Please give him a dodgy hug from everyone on MSE£4K and from all of us in Frugonia.

On a more cheerful note, I've just taken out from the freezer my bogoff/whoopsy Christmas dinner ingredients - one turkey breast joint [half price], one Welsh beef joint [whoospied to less than half price], one garlic basted chicken [ditto], two turkey legs [special offer], bogoff frozen veg which worked out cheaper than fresh *rolls eyes at the silliness of things such as this*, a Christmas pudding bought well in advance, cream [whoopsy and soft peak whipped for freezer storage], dried milk bought on special offer for the bread sauce/custard/rum sauce, potatoes on special offer, and mincemeat for the mince pies to be made with "the best mince pie pastry" - bogoff - and to have apple and brandy/wine/port/whatever added to it just before use.

Thanks to everyone, particularly NYK, for the support and friendship shown on this thread, it's truly inspiring and such a help for everyone, even those of us who don't post much, to know that you're all here, rooting for us all and passing around good tips and help.

Happy Christmas and a prosperous and, more importantly, content New Year in 2010.

Savvy_sewing

Hello, we have a christmas PUd!!The social services telephoned and asked form my address etc and then a man came in his car with a carrier bag with a few tins,and a few mincepies, custard, soup, sardines(yuk)!, a selection packet of chocolate and the Christmas Pud!, he also brought with him a large bag with several lovely toys for DGD!. But they forgot the stairgate, so I drove the 30 odd miles to go an collect it from their offices. Our SW is off sick apparantly.
So at last we are just about ready for christmas!. I was going to say I had a NSD thn I forgot, I did spend, as I bought DS cough medicine, and more firelighters. So this years budget was well and truely off the scale.
I am going into the new year with very little in the bank. But at least I am not overdrawn (Well I am not allowed).
I am hoping that I will be able to work out a better budget, and stick with you guys through out 2010.

Heres sending my condolences to Mr Bails and his family. This time of the year is never good to loose close ones.

I wish everyone a happy christmas, and a prosperous and FRUGAL, (Is that possible) new year!.

cw18

nykmedia wrote: »

CW - could you put a couple of gallons of fuel into your car and then top up just before any price increase from next year's budget, as that'll be when you'll be using the bulk of the fuel?

Have considered that, but the roads to the closest petrol station (3.5 mile round trip) probably aren't the best for using in this weather - so not sure I really want to make the trip twice just for fuel They're likely to be clear of the worst of the snow (main road most of the way, then one of only two routes into Mr T), but can still see the more minor roads by the store being a 'bit iffy'. Plus it's hard to justify driving 3.5 miles to the filling station for only a few quids worth of fuel :rolleyes2

Did you manage to get your DS to recompense you? I thought these military recruits were guaranteed well over the minimum wage right from day one, so he should be pretty well off if he's only himself to keep whilst living on base. Don't let him kid you about low earnings, it's more likely to be high spendings, knowing 20-year-old sons. :rolleyes: Mine spends a fortune, but knows not to expect any help if he gets his sums wrong.

I know exactly what gets paid into his bank (and how much goes out for his car loan) -- he made the mistake of opening a bank statement on Monday, and then leaving it lying around downstairs when he went out to see a friend Nothing from him yet, and he's said tonight (we were ships who passed briefly) that he can't get any money out until his pay goes in (next Thursday). He's claiming it's 'cos Sweden is expensive, and he had to buy loads of 'personal kit' like £50 gloves while he was there for the last 6 weeks :mad:

Believe me, I'll be frog-marching him to a cash-point ASAP after his pay hits his bank :rolleyes2 Luckily my account is in credit - and by enough to let me finish my shopping, pay the last couple of bills, and have a small 'comfort zone' (without having to raid my saving account)..... but only 'cos the company pension has gone in today (a week early) with it being Christmas. So I've already transferred across what's needed in another account for my January D/Debs (including my car breakdown which is a once-a-year one), so I know exactly where I'm at for now

Paid the window cleaner too - so that account's clear. Had I been a couple of mins later home he'd have missed me though !!!

After I clocked out I checked/noted down some prices in Mr M for bits I still needed for the next few days - then wandered over to A!di to check prices there. Came home with various bits of veg that were cheaper, but need to go back tomorrow morning for milk and a couple of other bits. Still a couple of bits to get from Mr M before work tomorrow too, as they're actually cheaper there even before my staff discount......

And I'm starting work at noon instead of 1:30pm. The two in before me (due to finish at 1pm and 2pm) are going in from 4am instead of 6am - so they're both knocking off at noon. Rather than leave no-one in that side of the bakery for 1.5hrs (heaven knows what management would say) I asked my manager if he wanted me in early - and he bit my hand off at the offer.

cw18

((hugs)) to Bails, and - especially - Mr Bails.

Feeling dreadful about the time lapse between my posts (and therefore delay in sending of hugs), but I replied to Nyk and then rushed off to make tea before reading any further through the thread

savingfortravel

cw18 wrote: »

((hugs)) to Bails, and - especially - Mr Bails.

Feeling dreadful about the time lapse between my posts (and therefore delay in sending of hugs), but I replied to Nyk and then rushed off to make tea before reading any further through the thread

Well, I didn't even read her message to start with-just sent her a cheerful one back..then had to delete my first one quickly. Don't worry she knows how lovely and supportive you are and she wasn't online for long.

Take care

sft

[Deleted User]

Just caught up with the thread again (and said a quick hello on new one)

Sorry to hear your news Mr Bails..... hugs to you both x

findingmyfeet

bigmamma- i was a rotherhamer......small world we live in.
nyk- these kids just wont listen at times, 35 years on a mortgage sounds horrendous, dont point them in the right mse direction SHOVE THEM!!!!!one day they will wish they had listened to you hope its sooner rather than later. today i got the windows clean, bedding changed and almost all the pressies wrapped. made my own gift tags out of photos and old cards so felt happy that i hadnt spent any more cash.
I have asked for books, toiletries, vouchers and a magazine sub for xmas so that i will be well set up for the new year. I also have a x stitch kit and wool ready to occupy any spare time without spending. !!!
visited the library yesterday so am well stocked with fiction and ref books- cooking, gardening etc all ready for planning the veg plot etc.
hope everyones xmas preps are going well

findingmyfeet

hugs to bails and mr bails, thinking of you x

Brighton_belle

don't worry CW - it's about 3.30 in the morning for bails at the mo so she is probably asleep now anyway and will see everything at about 4a.m. our time.

Still reading everyday folks, but focus remain the big job of refurbishing & sorting OH's house to rent out while not feeling too well. A lot of work. Focus has slipped from the challenge. Not that I have spent much on anything else - haven't bought any pressies, lol, or sent any cards. But funds and energy being chanelled in to sorted this very big project which will ultimately make our lives better and less financially precarious.
Only 2 children to worry about present wise and the wonderful Mr Am^zon has sent them some great craft project books reduced in price and free postage so they are all I really need to worry about.

Just done an ^sda shop and walked straight theough the checkout with no quesue - bliss, even the checkout lady was astonished as she has had them 8 deep all day. Total respect to all the mums out there organising xmas for a whole family.

If I am too late tomorow - wishng you all a peaceful Christmas.

PS Lynne - had such a laugh at your parents exploits, you tell such a good story and you are a great daughter/sister/aunty.