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

FrankieM

Mooloo Having a social life and hobbies can get expensive. What a bummer. You could always ask how it works. Sometimes they work on donations...but even £1 is a lot when you haven't got £1.

Savvy_sewing

FrankieM,
I do have a £1 at the moment, but knowing that I am about to loose £119.75 a week, very soon, I want to hold on to the funds Ido have as long as I can. Although I am very tempted to have a good spend on Storecupboards before Christmas, and then re think the Christmas. (I have £80 worth of Mr T vouchers)so I could use them at face value if I dont do any of their deals. I still have to work out how the deals work, and if indeed, there is a deal I want other then shopping.
Right I must make myself move and do the kitchen.Its bugging me, every time I want to cook, I have to juggle the toaster/microwave/slowcooker/deepfat fryer. and its driving me nuts. The Breadmachine isin the utility area between the kitchen and the bathroom, along with masses of junk, and I am just not liking the set up.
So I have to muster up the energy, and at least start on it.Badly laid out kitchen/utility, and I cannot utilize the cupboards very well.Cannot opentwo of them becuase of Tumbledryer and freezers in the way.

FrankieM

Mooloo I have sold my vouchers on ebay before. I've usually got about double their face value. It might be a way of getting a bit extra?
I understand the idea of not wanting to spend unless you have to. Budget juggling can be a really tricky business.

the_cat

Mooloo I have used my Tesco vouchers before for the cost of my MOT. Nationwide service centres offer this and also for services (although you might not need that as you have DS)

You might be unlucky and not have one near, but even a decent drive is worth it for a £50 saving

TBH it is the only thing on the deals that I can find which is a 'bill saving' rather than an extra treat sort of spend (except possibly for pressies)

grandma247

XSpender wrote: »

I am expecting a frugalteeny in May and am struggling on how much to include in my budget for disposale nappies and formula although I really want to b/feed. I understand all babies will be different but any suggestions?

XS

Would you consider cloth nappies? It used to be said that disposables were cheaper than cloth but guess who did the research?
The new type cloth ones are not cheap but you can make your own for next to nothing. Pm me about that or b/f if you want. I fed all of my six.
Also there are organisations such as national childbirth trust and La Leche league that can help you.

taka

*rushes in all excited...* :j

I've just checked the holiday days off I've taken this year... ermmmm I still have loads to take. :dance: I've just checked its still ok for me to take some of them and carry over a couple to next year (yep :j -we are allowed to carry over up to 5) and it now means I have 14 working days (including today) left between now and the 5th Jan 2010! :eek: :xmassign: Wooohoo! :dance: :rotfl:

It does mean I have no excuses for not doing loads of the stuff I need to do/get done to my flat though! :doh::rotfl:

SmlSave

Ohhh taka, I'm green with envy!

Kittikins

XSpender - depending on where you live, you might find that your council offers free cotton nappies, mine did (West Sussex). My DD is now 4 1/2 and I have brought her up on a minimal budget as my ex left us when she was 4 months old, and I didn't have a job, etc etc....

shaz_mum_of__2

Xspender

i would allow for one tin(i know it doesn't really come in tins anymore) of formula milk a week although there will be times baby will use more but it will average out same for nappies(1 pack) i guess but cloth ones even better and good for the environment but i understand its a personal choice . I do remember reading somewhere that LIDL$ nappies were good and won awards? but not sure


Need to work on a workable budget for next year taking into account the increased mortgage payments i am terrible at keeping up with spend though and prefer to look at the month end surplus as an indication of spends


I need to buy a new flask for uni as i am buying too many coffees !!

If only i could make chocolate?!


Pasta in a cheesy bacon sauce with garlic doughballs tonight and sticky toffee pudding (practicing for xmas pud alternative)........................yummy

XSpender

Thank you Grandma247 and Kittikins for your suggestions. You have got me thinking now. I think I need to look into the cotton nappy versus disposable nappy debate and make a decision before I can work out costs.

Went to the fridge this afternoon to discover DH had chucked out 2 packs of trimmed leeks I had got a while ago on special offer and half a large swede. I think he was in a bad mood:rolleyes: He will be receiving a firm talking to as there was nothing wrong with the swede though the leeks might have been a bit dodgy. In fact he has eaten the swede in soup for the last 2 days! He has also left the light on in the garage all night with the door wide open. He is a work in progress when it comes to frugal matters:rolleyes: