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

skint_chick

Hi everyone it's been a few weeks since I was on. I've been redecorating one of my rental properties since the tenants moved out and it's due to be finished on Monday:D but I'm £750 lighter:eek: Was expecting this so it's not too much of a shocker after 3 years of renting the house but it means I might not reach my mortgage overpayment target by the end of the year. I wanted to have my family loan repaid in full - I'll owe £4000 by the end of the year - but I also want to get my own home finished too! I think being debt free would be a nicer feeling than new doors though.

I'm doing really well with budget and OH is on board now - he is finally debt free and even has savings for his car tax and Christmas:D I'm over on my haircut budget because my hairdressers put their prices up - dry trim used to be £6 now they make you have a wash cut and blow dry at £15:mad: Clothes are shoes are 50% over budget:eek: because I needed new work clothes and shoes, and now I need a winter coat - I realised I've lost my old one:o

Household and toiletries are over budget but food is a long way under budget - so why have I not lost any weight?:rolleyes: I still have nearly £500 of my £1200 budget left because I've been doing so much batch cooking for work lunches and eating lots of soups to try and get my 5 a day. Diet coke habit has drastically reduced too and I'm now a fan of no added sugar squash especially as it seems to be BOGOF a lot.

Have agreed with OH that for Christmas we'll go out for a nice meal and pay half each instead of getting presents, and I'm asking my parents for a Boots gift card so I can budget less for toiletries next year!

Frugaldom

Good morning fruguys and gals,

Weather here doesn't know what to do! I got up this morning, switched on the oven to cook a chicken and the washing machine, to get towels etc done, kept an eye on the sky and watched thw clouds roll in, obliterate the sun and send down some more rain! Aaarg! Now the clouds have gone again, sky is blue, sun is shining through and I'm just about to risk hanging the stuff out in the hope that it dries.

Cooking a large chicken that's been defrosting since yesterday morning, and that will be split into about 3 meals plus more soup will get made. The freezer isn't emptying very quickly, especially as recent trading has included foodstuffs. This is great for the food budget, so there may still be hope of stretching my meagre grocery budget right through to the end of the year by relying on all the storecupboard stock piles. I've reassessed that situation and am almost sure that I have enough in store of certain items to last all of next year and beyond! Should be interesting finding out what the 2010 grocery challenge unearths.

There are now more eggs than can be eaten on a daily basis, despite trading surplus, so I should manage to make another 6 or 8 quiche this week. Some of these will be taken along to the LETS meet on Wednesday, where I'm arranging for someone to come and construct my pergola/plant frame next to the greenhouse. I love LETS, it's such a great idea and one of the few frugal living type things that actually does exist in our local community.

Edited in - now it's lashing rain, despite seeing a blue sky, so no chance of getting anything line dried for now!

jtb2412

Hi everyone

I'm still here but I'm afraid I've fallen off the wagon with recording my spends . Bank balance is still looking good and I'm still being frugal as much as I can but I just haven't had the time to record everything. Think I've had the piggy flu too so that hasn't helped over the last few weeks.

Anyway, I'm still doing WW and losing weight and surprisingly I don't seem to be spending as much on food (I think the reduction in the amount of meat me and DH are eating is the main reason). Portion sizes are also much smaller so the food is lasting longer as most of the recipies I'm cooking are for 4, which leaves 2 portions for the freezer. Everything is mealplanned and lists written for shopping trips so I'm still on the ball for this. Kids are sometimes eating what I'm cooking too and to start with I was quite worried about their calorie intake being too low but most of the meals are healthy and full of fruit and veg so it's all good :T

DD had a fantastic time at Alton T*w**s (so did me and DH ) although I think I'm losing my bottle a little bit as there was one ride I point blank refused to go on :rotfl:. The thought of a 100ft drop into a black hole somehow didn't appeal to me :eek: .

New allotment is going great but I overdid it yesterday (not quite over this flu) so having a day at home today. Pulled up our leeks from the other plot (not huge but big enough to do something with) so I have a big batch of leek and potato soup (low calorie of course !) on the cooker. Also have lots of sweetcorn that's just ok so DH going to make something with that - thought of corn chowder but that's not going to help my weight :rolleyes:. Any ideas what we can do with 20 cobs of corn ? :rotfl:

So, I think my plan is to keep muddling through until Xmas then in January I'll re-join and make it part of my 'routine' to log my spending. We don't have such an expensive year next year (lots of family b'days, anniversaries, weddings etc this year) so I'm pleased about that !

Sorry for not keeping up with you all, I do log in from time to time to have a quick read through but promise to give you my full individed attention in January :D.

TTFN xx

savingfortravel

Hi Everyone!
On Friday evening Mr SFT heard a drip coming through the V*rlux window onto the dining room carpet. As you can imagine our hearts sank. The roofer came round straight away and declared that he was pleased it wasn't anything he'd done and that he'd come the next day to fix it. I wanted to know if he would charge us (this is the man who now has 13k of our money after all). I was pleased when he said he wouldn't. He wasn't there long the next day and sorted out the problem. Something to do with the catpillary (sp) action meaning that water was gathering on the leading underneath. What a relief!
Yesterday then turned into a much better day. Felt good after the gym. Treated my friend and Mr SFT to a coffee (my turn). Mr SFT got our weekly food using M and S vouchers. I think we'll just need £10 this month for anything else not in M and S. We are also eating up the contents of the freezer and the pantry. Just not sure what to do with a can of flageolet beans. Any ideas? We finished the general housework, had lunch (our baked bean mountain is certainly proving useful-we got 100 tins at the beginning of the year when they were on special offer-saved us about £30 in total). Then went to a nearby village for a 4 and a half mile walk that turned into a longer walk because we got a bit lost and ended up on country lanes at the end. Did pick up 11 cans for my dad. After storecupboard dinner we watched TV and drank a bottle of posh french (very heavy) wine that we got as a wedding present. Had a wonderful fire in the fuel burner. Really appreciate all the wood and paper we've been given.
We actually lay in this morning until the phone woke us up at 9.30am. We then lay in bed and looked at the beautiful coloured leaves of the beech tree in the paddock opposite. Plans for today are to make a big veggie shepherds pie to last us for 2 dinners. Mr SFT is making some paper logs. Harder to dry out in this weather so we putting them on top of the fuel burner at night! I'm also going to clean out the fridge. Wander up the lane where I saw 2 cans-add to my dad's collection. He's trying to get enough Mr T points to pay for his R*C road cover this year. Also writing letters to various people, including my bessie mate in Australia and another friend who is currently travelling through SE Asia. Got some ebay ending which we'll add to spending money for France (or mortgage if not)

Keep up the good work everyone and will catch up later.

SFT

Frugaldom

Vixstar wrote: »

Right all this talk of Xmas has persuaded me to put some effort into my HM presents this weekend. Which should also stop my internet window shopping!

Vixstar, I'm following suit and have just ordered a set of 11 assorted cookie/pastry cutters so I can make everyone some designer cookies to add to the hampers this year. They'll also be handy for making the ravioli that I never got around to.

JTB glad you're still here in spirit, that's what counts, especially if you are feeling the financial benefits in any small way. :T

SFT, glad the window problem wasn't such a problem. We're still awaiting contact from landlord regarding the 2 leaks in our roof but I'm now convinced that they have completely forgotten, as it's over a month since I informed Mr Landlord's wife. HS just keeps emptying the tubs as they fill up with rain water. :rolleyes:

I've updated my signature to reflect DGD's chrissie pressie, my jeans and the pastry cutters. Still bargain hunting here but won't need to fork out for hamper baskets if I just make up boxes instead - much easier for wrapping.

cw18

savingfortravel wrote: »

We are also eating up the contents of the freezer and the pantry. Just not sure what to do with a can of flageolet beans. Any ideas?

I chucked mine into a Chille along with the Kidney Beans. DS noticed them as they're a different colour, but still ate it


Glad to hear the roofer patched you up for free

findingmyfeet

hi guys dont know if you remember me from the begining of the year but i went awol about the end of april, alsorts of problems but nothing that cant eventually be sorted, but i have still been lurking and reading and follow all your wonderful stories, they make my days happier.
Dont know where my budget is at havent a clue but i have made lots of good changes this year :
started my allotment and actually had good produce for a first timer.
got the greenhouse producing.
frozen and pickled what i can
havent used the credit cards at all since 1st january 2009
paid cash for a cmping holiday
and open an isa and actually have a small amount of savings in there.

none of these i would have managed before you all inspired me

A HUGE HUGE THANKS TO ALL OF YOU
hoping to get back here lots more soon xxxx

DdraigGoch

Hello to all :wave:

SFT - rather worried about you drying out the paper logs on top of the multifuel stove overnight ... There's an awful lot of heat left in a stove after it's gone out and paper has a habit of smouldering, then bursting into flames when you least expect it, particularly damp paper - a bit like hay but without the self-heating effect. Rather nervous here, please reassure me that I'm being silly....

On a lighter note, I've just spent ages working out that it's cheaper for me to have an AF delivery, provided I save over £1.20 per order, than to drive to Mr A's. So, unless I get a free delivery code, AF will be having a lot of my business! Does anyone else work out these things, or is it just me

Currently looking out at the damp-&-getting-damper sheep. Autumn's really here :j

grandma247

Sft beans can go into anything you can even make a nice salad with a tin of beans ( I usually use Kidney but it does not matter) a tin of sweetcorn a finely diced onion and home made french dressing all mixed together.

finding my feet I remember you, well done with the garden :T
havent used the credit cards at all since 1st january 2009
this alone is a great result, I should think a lot of credit card companies are crying into their tea as a result of this site.

Good afternoon to everyone else. sunny cold and windy here at the minute. I am going to start the washing shortly and put it out early tomorrow because the forecast is good.
looking forward to weekend and going to sunny (hopefully) Mablethorpe. Anyone know if there are any car boot sales nearby?

savingfortravel

DdraigGoch wrote: »

Hello to all :wave:

SFT - rather worried about you drying out the paper logs on top of the multifuel stove overnight ... There's an awful lot of heat left in a stove after it's gone out and paper has a habit of smouldering, then bursting into flames when you least expect it, particularly damp paper - a bit like hay but without the self-heating effect. Rather nervous here, please reassure me that I'm being silly....

Wow! Thanks for that. Glad we found out. What about placing them on the hearth in front of the fuel burner? Would that be ok?

Cheryl and Grandma-Thanks for those ideas. Mr SFT loves chilli and salad.
SFT