FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE 2010, part 1. (Living on £4,000 a year)

LilacPixie

had a spend day here. Some DD's came out and OH bought me 2 dozen free range eggs for £3.50 from a farm in Aberdeenshire. They look lovely and large.

Muchypeas - I am a slothe of a cook. I put everything in at 180 .

savingfortravel

Brighton_belle wrote: »

sft -i'd have to cut and paste the link, can't just click on it, but that's ok

Is it ok now?

Thriftkitten

Welcome to you and your family, I too have started my first thrifty day today, I spent it in the kitchen baking cookies for lunchboxes, cooking and freezing left over potatoes that got mashed and frozen and roasting a joint of pork which I plan on getting a few meals out of, what with all the snow, the kids running about outside in the snow throwing snowballs, freezing and soaked to the skin, but so full of delight at finally seeing snow in Cornwall it rather felt like what it would be like in the olden days; Kids cold and appreciative of a hot cup of cocoa to warm them and hungry bellies satisfied by the aroma of country cooking and all you can eat home cooked food on the table, I honestly do not remember a day like this for many years.
Such satisfaction of knowing I have used everything to my best ability and seen happy satisfied children is priceless;
No arguing and bickering over the nintendo wii and squabbling about what they want for dinner and me feeling like if I was a golden goose laying golden eggs they still wouldn't be happy....
I hope tomorrow brings as much joy for you as today has for me, How exciting is it to be in control of your finances eh!!!!

warney27 wrote: »

Hi All!
I am new to this, so please bear with me if I make mistakes!
I have been following money saving expert for about 2 years now and have changes over my car insurances, home insurances, broad band, phone line, electric company and have a cashback credit card. thank god for martin lewis, his team and these forums!
I also have been doing the competitions since june and have won a few things, the big prizes being a 12 year old bottle of malt whiskey (which i gave to my dad for his birthday) a eco wireless energy metre and a £500 gift voucher for Smyths toystore which I spent on xmas presents and this years birthday presents for my daughter, niece and nephews.
I am on holiday this week from work and have been watching this forum and thought i would like to try, so I sent CW18 a message and she very kindly sent me over her budget sheet. i have just finished it, I have included all our expenditure and it comes to £29000 for the year, which is far to much and room for improvement. Our annual income is £40330.
Here is a bit about us, I am warney a 27 year old chef, my wife to be is a 27 year old part time care assistant/full time mummy to our 2 year old daughter who has cerebral palsy. Today has been our first day on the budget we have spent £25.41 at the shops. I found the breadmaker, dusted it off and have just made a loaf. we have made chocolate chip fairy cakes and sausage rolls. we have also planned the meals out of the freezer to use it up.
That is me and the family, please ask if you want to know more. Any tips much appreciated and thank you for reading.
cheers
warney27

knithappens

Thriftkitten - my day sounded just like yours down to a tee, even cooking the pork and cookies for packed lunches - great minds hey

LilacPixie

Does anyone have a good recipe for Naan Breads??

warney27

Exciting and shocking at the same time. The wife to be was very shocked because she doesn't follow the money side of things, I am trying to get her on here reading the posts but she is more interested in farmtown and cafeville or something like that. Anyway we both need to really look at the finances because we are getting married in may and have lots to pay for of. Of course it is a money saving wedding because that is what i do now, but we will still need to find between £1k & £2k for it all. thanks for the welcome!

xnatalie81x

Welcome warney27

MushyPeas

Thriftkitten wrote: »

Welcome to you and your family, I too have started my first thrifty day today, I spent it in the kitchen baking cookies for lunchboxes...

What a great day thriftkitten - do you have a recipe for those cookies? My Cornish biscuits have spread into the whole of the baking sheet so I'll have to cut them up

Welcome warney

Thriftkitten

Yes, maybe we were seperated at birth lol!!! where are you located?
We are here in normally somewhat sunny St Ives, but today it was a white out and very exciting to be stuck home baking and saving money, have even had the radio on all day which I never do.... jeremy kyle, eastenders... Be gone with you!!!!!

knithappens wrote: »

Thriftkitten - my day sounded just like yours down to a tee, even cooking the pork and cookies for packed lunches - great minds hey

Thriftkitten

A slight confession..D'oh they were actually on sale at MrT's over xmas.. Yes a packet mix, but but but!! that was last year before my frugaling mentality, they were made by "greens" I think and in a green box and you get about 6 out of the mixture but of course with my frugalling mind I got 8-9 and they were roughly a bit bigger than a digestive so adequate.

MushyPeas wrote: »

What a great day thriftkitten - do you have a recipe for those cookies? My Cornish biscuits have spread into the whole of the baking sheet so I'll have to cut them up

Welcome warney