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

lingojingo

KarrieBee wrote: »

sorry for the internet stalker alert but I was reading back over the posts and realised that we live in the village that you teach in! And i think the crazy man in the shorts may be our neighbour.....

West Yorkshire is a small small world!

Oh, you must be near me then, I live in the same village as the school, although the teacher in the picture doesn't. I'm not a teacher though, I'm a teaching assistant. Amazing how posting that link has found people living near me, I didn't know there was anyone on this thread close to me!

savingfortravel

Hi Everyone!
Shorter day at school again..settling into the new snow routine and loving the class teaching. Due to be inspected this term..can you imagine if they turn up in this weather. So happy it’s the weekend.
Bails-Message box clear.
Thanks for sharing your dreams Bails/Chika/Lynda/Grandma/
Frankie/Flippin/Rozeepozee/BB/SF
Frankie-Since joining MSE forum, I have stayed debt free, saved up to travel through Central America for a month, married the LOML Mr SFT for less than 4k and downsized to our semi rural cottage-with enough land to do things. My dreams for the future are to be Mortgage Free in 40 months so we can live on Mr SFT’s money. If I stay at school longer than that we can save my wages for travelling. I want to be able to explore other dreams (maybe write a children’s book or study or teach adults to read).
Lynda-When is the wedding? I didn’t realise it was so soon?
CW-Glad your doggie is doing ok. Thank you for all the advice you give on this thread. You really put yourself out for others. :T
Nuala-Don’t worry about the choccie biscuits. You deserve them
Welcome Minjara/Karriebee
Warney-How did your plans go today?
Sf-Glad today went ok. Don’t worry about the taxi. Are you seeing your BF this weekend for some TLC?
Mumoffour-Thank you for gritting your path..we all have to look after each other in these times don’t we?
Xspender-Wow, good idea about the cars. Don’t forget to share those veggie recipes with Bails and I.
Jtb-Hope you’re ok after slipping.
Aril-Good luck with the decorating. Your dad sounds lovely and very appreciated.
Flippin-LOL at your weigh lose tips..up the hill in the snow:rotfl:-How did you get on with your goals? Thanks for the link to Mean Queen’s TV programme
Nyk-Great trade for the duck eggs. Don’t you dare share Master Plans with Bails and not us.
Chika-Lovely presents from the boss…well done for handing in the tin ..:TI imagined an older person dropping it (or MS-using tins is so OS these days) and the thought of that breaks my heart.
Kittikins-Glad the back is feeling better. What a sweet, caring DD you have.
Poorbutrich-Love your name..welcome and well done for sorting out your budget.
Fayjmck-We had a MS wedding but it was a very small affair..so it had a high cost per head for 16 people. My dress was from Monsoon then I ebayed it afterwards (I’m not sentimental). We got married in a beautiful country house..and I walked in to ‘Come Fly with me’ by Frank Sinatra and we signed the register to ‘Moon River’ – love the lines ‘2 drifters off to see the world, there's such a lot of world to see, we're after the same rainbow's end, my huckleberry friend…’-that’s so us. Afterwards we went to a posh restaurant for lunch. Sorry I’m rambling and dreaming again. :oLoved your comment about the wood fire.
Lilac-Your wedding sounds fantastic
Larmy/Skint Lynne-I love Meanqueen’s bags. Thinking of contacting her and buying one just because I agree with her principles of recycling. I have worn Mr SFT’s pants in the past but it was an emergency situation when I’d forgotten underwear and I won’t go commando.
Bails-Lovely news about your Bessie mate. Mine now lives in Australia and has just given birth to a baby boy..I miss her every day…Regarding your other post..I am a Head of lower school but blissfully happy in my class teacher role with the children in my class. But despite that I have found that giving myself a minimum cut off point has made me happier...40 months.. I can’t give up work before as I am the main bread winner in the house. We don’t have a choice..as Mr SFT’s 2 days a week don’t cover all our basics. Interesting reading your story Candygirl
Lynda-Very sensible cancelling that trip

That’s all folks..goes to lie down

sft

xnatalie81x

nykmedia wrote: »

Natalie, it could be that they've sent out the letter to coincide with your newest job, ie self-employment. No as i have been se since last jan as teacher for a swim club and notified them of my new swim school few mths ago as people started sending cheques in for this week start and i felt it best to!

The tax office people have always been really helpful anytime I've had to phone them to ask anything, they told me to contact my employer who tld me to email my query... so maybe best just call them and get it straight from the horse's mouth. My part time employment, outside of self-employment, is all taxed from the first penny, then I need to make any subsequent adjustments on my tax return. Things like tips, vouchers and freebies all seem to be classed as taxable income, too, as I remember a query about Amazon vouchers that arrived as freebies with stationery orders. Apparently, even they are classed as income! my situation is mega complex - se swim teacher for a club, se teacher with my own swim school so admin and stuff as well, teach for council 2hrs week PAID employment.as of my crb back - swim teacher for a school on payroll i assume...... i am wondering if it is actually claw back of tax from my trainee probation officer job which i left in april 09.......... it would explain the allowances for car and home study allowance but the 'benefits' i just do not get yet lol:rolleyes:

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slowlyfading

savingfortravel wrote: »

Sf-Glad today went ok. Don’t worry about the taxi. Are you seeing your BF this weekend for some TLC?

I certainly am - he's on his way! I'm so glad its the weekend to be honest, its been a strange week.

minjara

Right the latest is that I'm now not moving in with my mum as they might e mocing away again. Lol I feel like a piece of furniture getting shifted. So the latest is to try and find out if I will be better off living separate from my partner and move back to my dads or to stay together. My partner is on JSA contribution based but only till 23rd of this month then it will go to income based. Where as I will just be on contribution based. He gets a higher rate than me (£64.30 pw as he is 33) where as I will only get £50.95pw, as I'm 24. So we will need to see what works out the best. Argh, and there was me thinking that the start to 2010 would be better seeing as the past couple of years for us has been rubbish rubbish rubbish really.

Minjara

MushyPeas

Evening all, sorry to those who have had a bad day, roll on the weekend

Just a little frugal note from me (oh and thanks for cooking tips)..tonight I grilled some chips in my oven and figured out that I could heat beans and apple crumble in the bottom of the oven at the same time. It's a small thing, but wouldn't have thought of it unless I'd been reading everyone's tips so thank you

Early for me tonight I think, off to also dream of a cottage in the country x

savingfortravel

slowlyfading wrote: »

I certainly am - he's on his way! I'm so glad its the weekend to be honest, its been a strange week.

SF AND BF

Enjoy it sweetie! (confess to having big sisterly feelings towards little SF)

xnatalie81x

My dream is not of a cottage in the country BTW - it is of a huge house with its own pool house out the back and huge car parking area so i can run swimming lessons from my home. They will be mega mega cheap so EVERYONE can learn to swim, not just the parents with money.

I would also provide 1-2-1s to rich people and use the extra money to provide group lessons to children who don't have lessons because of cost! I want funding from sports uk as well lol.

In my spare time i would have an allotment in my huge garden with a hen house too with around 12 birds who would be my pets - i want my house to be in a posh area in a town but not a remote village - somewhere in Herts where i live already (think posh spice/jade that kind of place) ahhhhhhhhh bliss - my dream

If my kids wanted £19 for a uni form they could have it but they need to be going somewhere far far and away lol - school was closed AGAIN today and not looking good for monday either

mumoffour77

Oh I forgot to mention......my Dads operation went well:)
The stump of his bowel has been removed, and the hospital are weaning him off the epidural today:) (he is allergic to morphine so was given an epidural for 2 days) He is in great form and he could be home over the weekend:D

savingfortravel

mumoffour77 wrote: »

oh i forgot to mention......my dads operation went well:)
the stump of his bowel has been removed, and the hospital are weaning him off the epidural today:) (he is allergic to morphine so was given an epidural for 2 days) he is in great form and he could be home over the weekend:d

Fantastic news!!!