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

thriftylass

NualaBuala wrote: »

But now I find myself really tempted to buy this crochet magazine they're advertising on telly. I've been wanting to learn and feel myself being sucked in by their nice throw which would cost hundreds as there are 120 issues. :eek: What's funny is I haven't even touched my knitting in ages so don't know why I want this - but will start again tomorrow, too tired now.

Don't buy it, I've seen it and it's definitely a rip off. I do crochet and whenever I want to learn sth new or need a pattern I get a book in the library or go online. Much better and free

grandma247

Debtmess have things changed then? I seem to remember a time when your Landlord did not need to know you were claiming housing benefit,it could be an arrangement between you and the council.

Kiwisaver_2

One week gone and we're looking good, just have to keep this up for another 51 weeks. :eek:

Back to the old routine today and my usual weekly Friday night shop: being the first proper shop I have done since 18/12 and I spent a fair chunk less than I usually would. I called into the F&V Shop before I went to the supermarket to see what I could get off my list the cheapest and got 500g bag of beansprouts for next to nothing. I did Gordon Ramsay style, Beef and Pepper stir fried noodles for dinner - totally yum. I still have half a bag of beansprouts, which I now don't know what to do with; they don't freeze well, I'm not sure I can get away with more stir fry tomorrow and they'll not go down well with Sunday dinner.

A sharp rise in overall spend for the week, due to DD for Electricity coming out today - but no worries so far. I got my annual dustbin bill and it was exactly as I had estimated in the budget. Lovely Jubbly!!

Just had the news on and even over here they're reporting on the snow in the UK.

As for dreams, just be careful what you wish for! The grass isn't always greener and wherever you are in the world it's equally hard to mow. I'm 'living the dream' I had to emigrate for the bigger house, more space, more relaxed lifestyle etc and I can categorically say it's every bit as hard (and some) than the life I left. I would hesitate to do anything that can't easily be undone, especially if you are relatively happy in your current situation.

flippin36

Morning all. Goodness it takes some catching up on this thread! It was -11 this morning, my OH thankfully remember to put some WD40 around the car doors so we could get in! Roads are much better this morning thank goodness. I have managed to eek my petrol out for a further 3 days because of the weather, and its made me realise how I can manage without the car for a couple of days - so its been good practice for my frugal year. Also I think I've lost a bit of weight already - its a good work out walking up hill in the snow .

Savingfortravel - Fab website which I've bookmarked thank you. And thank you for asking after everyone, it makes this thread!

Warney27 - Welcome and well done on your competitions, am thinking I would like to join the competitions thread too. Congratulations on getting married.

Lingojingo - thanks for pm have replied.

Thriftkitten - Haha. I thought I was the only one that had value tbags for myself and Twinings for guests!

Kez12 - Welcome, and well done on tackling your debts, I am in the same boat

Catzine - Congratulations on your DD wedding. I wish there had been a site like this when I was planning my own wedding - it would have saved me a fortune

batcatz - Lol. Yes Boots is my drug dealer, especially with their offers and vouchers! Have you seen the "no buying toiletries until they are used up" thread on Health and beauty?

bails - I found your post extremely inspiring. Thank you.

Slowlyfading - hope you are feeling better

My goals for today are

To tidy my cupboards and make a shopping list
To clean the house ready for weekend
To walk for the rest of the day to save petrol
To read in detail Mean Queens thrifty tips for inspiration!

chika

flippin36 wrote: »

It was -11 this morning, my OH thankfully remember to put some WD40 around the car doors so we could get in!

Thank you so much for this tip :-)

bails

chika wrote: »

I know! That is weird. Hopefully we will achieve it sooner rather than later. :jAre you enjoying being back in the UK?

Honestly? Not that much really. We didn't want to come back and it's for a sad occasion; I also feel very much in limbo as I can't crack on with things here and yet I'm not travelling either. If I can get to see BB today and my other friends if I can get home to Somerset, that will make it much better

lyndasharp wrote: »

Funnily enough, I have a similar dream too. Enough land for a small smallholding, with a few animals and room to grow veg (but no horses, I'm very allergic to them). H2B shares that dream so hopefully one day we'll get there!

:T My OH shares it too (except for the horse part :rotfl:) and he's really up for building a house together, an idea I love. My ideal would be a small stone barn which we can add a cob extension too

When I get back from travelling, I'm going to put my new dreams in my sig to keep me inspired on the frugal path

Not long til the wedding now Lynda :j

rictus123

Around -16 this morning here. Now i need a new battery for my van, knew it was going to happen sooner or later after i charged up the last one. £58 odd and then comes the cat, next thing on the list to be sorted. Paid £218.31 to debts today

grandma247

Our dream is to buy another house,possibly in Lincolnshire. I was very naughty a few weeks ago and looked on some estate agent sites and found a house I fell in love with. It was cheaper than what our house here is valued at and it had a garden at the back and paved front for cars. Plus outhouses and sheds and a conservatory. Ours has a tiny front about 2ft deep and a small concrete back yard.
I thought we lived in the cheapest area in the country till I saw that house and some others while we were on holiday there.
That is a dream that may have to wait till hubby retires because the houses are in villages so work might be a problem. In the meantime we are trying to pay off our mortgage early so we will have as much as possible to put down.

debtmess

grandma247 wrote: »

Debtmess have things changed then? I seem to remember a time when your Landlord did not need to know you were claiming housing benefit,it could be an arrangement between you and the council.

i thought you had to inform them ?

the let im in now is via local councils letting scheme but is beyond desperate to move due to the condition of the house and the amount of promises over the last 23 months now to improve it, i had a break in last year and the broken window is still broken, its only back in its frame due to a friend and his hammer, had a bathroom leak which has now affected front room wall and the flooring, which has lifted and im now sure is broken under the lino, the front room wall has bubbled the plater broken away and salt deposits growing out the wall, recking my cabinet unit,ive got damp in hallways,front room utlity room,toilet, kids bedroom, and mould on celings now, every double glaxed window is blown, the front door bowed with a huge gap where it doesnt fit the frame

and thats without me being picky

yet i cannot seem to find another house/flat for rent with a private landlord and the council took me off there list as im housed within my means

shaz_mum_of__2

grandma247 wrote: »

Our dream is to buy another house,possibly in Lincolnshire. I was very naughty a few weeks ago and looked on some estate agent sites and found a house I fell in love with. It was cheaper than what our house here is valued at and it had a garden at the back and paved front for cars. Plus outhouses and sheds and a conservatory. Ours has a tiny front about 2ft deep and a small concrete back yard.
I thought we lived in the cheapest area in the country till I saw that house and some others while we were on holiday there.
That is a dream that may have to wait till hubby retires because the houses are in villages so work might be a problem. In the meantime we are trying to pay off our mortgage early so we will have as much as possible to put down.

Whereabouts in Lincs grandma .......might be near me ?