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

homegrown_life

Good afternoon all,

I'm dog sitting for my mum all this week so will have plenty of time to browse on the internet (I hope). I ought to have brought some knitting with me, actually I'm popping home tomorrow so I'll pick it up. Would prefer to be using my time constructively. ALthough I count internet use as constructive!! But maybe not hours of it...

My mum is letting us use up the contents of her fridge so trying to get creative with what I've brought over so we get the best of it all. We've run out of bread today and couldn't get any more so I've set her breadmaker going as I brought round breadmaking stuff. Hope it works better than mine...

I wanted to bake some cookies but the internet went down and I needed a recipe so I couldn't. Might do some later or tomorrow.

Really enjoying this thread and the ideas contained in it. I'm hoping it will slow down somewhat once this snow goes!!

Frugaldom

Thanks Cheryl

Today was my first trip off the farm since 20th December, so I needed quite a few items topping up in my stores. Our road is still very icy but the next lot of predicted snow hasn't arrived, so today's blistering sunshine and lofty temperatures of 2C is melting the place really quickly. We're starting to see patches of grass on the fields and the hens have all been sunbathing.

Town was deserted and the supermarkets practically empty, it's a far cry from what many of you will be used to, that's for sure. :rotfl: Only things out of stock were porridge oats and salt, but I still have enough here to last another week or two. Bread flour will probably be sold out, too, as I bought the last 6 bags. From my 2010 budget of £975 for groceries, toiletries and cleaning products, I've managed to spend a grand total of £67.32 between Appr0ved F00d, Ald! and $ainsburys.

Today I've used 2 packs of the basic sausages (48p/pack) and made these up into 16 beef olives with the defrosted beef ham or was it minute frying steak? Can't remember which it was or if there's any difference. I'll get 3 main meals from that lot plus one small portion left over that DS will probably take to work as part of his lunch! :rolleyes:

Owing to lack of space in the freezer, I've had to take out a pastry case and a pack of the breadcrumbs, so guess who is going to make a treacle tart whilst the oven's hot? Have never tried making one before but it seems I have the main ingredients to hand, so I'll give it a go.

BOOK SHOPS - part of this household income is derived from an online specialist book store. I set it up some years ago on eBay then gave up, as the fees got too high. Now it runs through eBid online auctions. Their choice is a one off fee as a lifetime seller with stores or else you can opt to pay listing fees and/or small percentages of sales figures, but there's no relisting fees and you can run until sold or offer buy it now at no extra charge, from what I recall. PM me if you want any info or have any questions, as I don't want to go off topic. I no longer run the bookstore, HS does that now. Also - there are links in post 1 about selling on eBay/eBid and setting up a home business or cottage style industry.

SHAZ! What can I say? Fantastic news about 5k to the mortgage! Well done! :T

Now I've read so many posts that I can't remember if I even got round to posting my own 2010 masterplan budget! I'll need to go and check my posts. Sorry, memory lapse! Back soon.

lynzpower

Im back too. I got everything refunded which was great. We took the bus instead of tube and it was really very quick. We didnt go for lunch-= which is a weakness of mine or rather WAS- eating lunch out is just sooooo 2009.

I bought only 2x rolls of wrapping paper from sportsworld for 10p a roll. :T well done me.Went to china town to buy the pancakes for duck, just bought those and the plum sauce & spring onions, did not buy anything else ( despite me trying to buy other random stuff OH said no- well done to OH)
Went into 99p stores to buy kitchen spray for 99p, then into iceland for eggs and diet coke.
Plenty of things looked at then put back, so I feel rather pleased with myself.

Given its so cold in here dinner is no- way defrosted. We are having duck legs withr the pancakes they were on offer in sainsburys for 1.99 for 2. I have moved them from unheated kitchen into bedroom as there are heaters on in there at the moment. I hope they defrost though, I have been looking forward to them all day lol. additionally have a portion of chicken & sweetcorn soup defrosting, chicken wings- and some spring rolls. Its supposed to be a "banquet" but alas, its all still frozen. Good job we eat late in this house.

viv0147

Just arrived home from my bargain hunt in Tesco I had £16 of food for £7.14 delighted again today it was mainly fruit and veg which suits me because my lunch every day is a fresh fruit salad topped a with a fruit corner yoghurt mmmmmm I had a pun-net of plums for 20p,a pun-net of peaches 45p,a pun-net of kiwi 45p a bag of pears 30p a pun-net of cherries 25p and all good plus other various items so once again a very happy chappy

cw18

nykmedia wrote: »

.....so today's blistering sunshine and lofty temperatures of 2C is melting the place really quickly. We're starting to see patches of grass on the fields.....

Not sure what the official outdoor temperature is here today, but we're starting to thaw out too.... However we have "heavy" clouds overhead, and I'm trying to figure out whether the odd light flurry of snowflakes is coming from the sky or off houses/trees :rolleyes2

Owing to lack of space in the freezer, I've had to take out a pastry case and a pack of the breadcrumbs, so guess who is going to make a treacle tart whilst the oven's hot? Have never tried making one before but it seems I have the main ingredients to hand, so I'll give it a go.

Shame I don't live closer (like next door ), as I'd have offered to come and do a taste test for you
*** drools at the thought of treacle tart ***

lynzpower

Also to add, Im wondering if anyone can help.

I need to know how to set a budget, honestly we've no real idea. Have you all got budgets for everything ( eg clothing, toiletries etc) Im just aiming to spend as little as possible and next year to beat it? The problem is that that doesnt really control finances either?

I'm not sure how best to set it- please can you give me some tips?

cw18

lynzpower wrote: »

I'm not sure how best to set it- please can you give me some tips?

I've set "budgets" for years, but then never monitored how I did against them until late on in 2008 :rolleyes2

When it comes to utilities, there's not a lot of working out to do - main thing is to keep an eye on useage of gas, electricity and water (especially if metered, though it's "kinder to the planet" if those without meters also think before leaving taps running ) Also to shop around to be sure you're on the best deal for TV (assuming you like more than Freeview), phone line, Internet and insurance.

Clothes I used to work on a 'minimum wardrobe' for the children which consisted of school uniforms, several pairs of footwear each (wellies and slippers, as well as shoes and trainers), and a few outfits for each season (mainly winter and summer, with a few 'in between' bits such as long sleeved T-shirts) plus nightwear and underwear/socks. For me I always allowed for a couple of pairs of shoes, a pair of slippers, a couple of tops and a couple of pairs of each of trousers and jeans. On top of this I had underwear and possibly one set of nightwear a year.

Groceries I used to look at a pretty standard 4 week meal-plan, cost up the "ingredients", and multiply this total by 13. I then added on around 10% to allow for treats and extras over Christmas (as well as price rises).

Petrol I take my average annual mileage, divide that by what I reckon I'm currently getting to the litre, multiple by the current pump price, and allow a bit for price increases. But it's also good to question whether you need the car every time you go to pick up the keys - I found this hard work at first (used to shrug off the cost of using it), but now question just about every journey and look at whether I can combine errands (even if it means delaying a trip a day or two if it's feasible to do so).

lynzpower

Hmm tricky one:

We dont pay bills ( unless we do get gas) We have Bt line, internet, tv license. We have a freeview box- and wont be getting paid for tv. We also don't have a car ( yet) although we'd like one, I am paralysed by how to buy a second hand car that's not a total banger. :rotfl: We have a nominal budget for the car-initial cost- of 3k but I know i have been putting it off as its a want not a need- and I cant bear the idea of parting with the cash. We do hire cars throughout the year from time to time ( eg about 4x per year) to visit freinds & family and probably spend about 600pa on this.

Otherwise Im setting the budget at 40 per week for groceries inc dog food and 20 pm for toiletries although im certain I can do less than this. This month we are eating out of stores and are doing ok so far. I think we can do this and then minimise it going forward.

We also don't have children ( yet) and their associated costs.

shaz_mum_of__2

Thriftkitten wrote: »

Hi it was the Allinsons dry little round ball type, I did mix it with enough water and made by hand for the first time not in the breadmaker as I normally do, it was the first time also using the dried yeast, I found it lurking at the back of the cupboard and had a bb date of 2008 D'oh, may of been reason why it didnt work. will try only fresh yeast free from Mr T's next time and stick to breadmaker.

If your not sure about yeasts "life" add a bit to some warm water with a bit of sugar and see if it froths

Do you use fresh yeast in the breadmaker then?, always thought this was a no no i buy the fast action sachets as it stays fresher as its sealed i usually get 2 loaves from 1 sachet

grandma247 wrote: »

Thanks for the concern. I wrapped the towels round then wrapped carrier bags round so they have stayed dry.

I only ask because it happen to us thankfully you have been brighter than we wer!!

nykmedia wrote: »

SHAZ! What can I say? Fantastic news about 5k to the mortgage! Well done! :T

Thanks its 10% of our mortgage so quite a big chunk its all thanks to this thread and the stoozing i did the year before last so thanks for the inspiration guys aiming for a bigger chunk next year (in addition to upping the monthly payments)


The reason for try to wipe out mortgage is so that hubby can retire early in a couple of years, the budget i have set us for this chllenge reflects being able to live on his small works pension,he has a forces pension that he will get at 60 so we may have 5 yrs on a greatly reduced income but if we have no dbts , mortgage etc we think its doable , especially if by then we have our smallholding and are almost self sufficient.

BRighton Belle - Do you think its possible to do a mosaic using x stitch patterns ?? i have some great patterns but hate xstitch and thought i could replace the stitces with a tile the same colour iykwim also wheres cheapest for special square tiles

Chicken bones and bits now cooking with some of my dehydrated veg and some approved foods broth mix as a tester for my dehydrating machines usefulness smells great so far.

Shaz

KarrieBee

Gosh I wish my knitting grew as fast as this thread.
Managing to have a frugal weekend, in part due to the snow.
Gave the house a top to toe yesterday including cleaning the oven, all done using stardrops and soda crystals. OH quite convinced I've lost my mind.
NSD today and yesterday:j
Will need to get my bus pass tomorrow as should finally be able to get back to work - unless transpennine continue to be hopeless!
Whoopsied duck for dinner today with some roast veg from the veg box and the leftovers of our foraged blackberry and apple crumble which OH made yesterday.
Off to get on with aforementioned knitting - MiL gave me a kit for wristwarmers with some lovely soft cashmerino and I need them in this weather!
Have a frugal and fun evening!