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

shaz_mum_of__2

FrankieM wrote: »

my DH has been looking online and stumbled across a smallholding in Wales. Of course, I love it so I'm busy trying to figure out how we can afford it!
The thing is, i've never wanted to live in Wales, often got the impression they don't like 'incomers'.....any Welsh out there, please don't shoot me down..persuade me gently . Will the fact that I'm Australian make a difference???

I met lots of lovely people in South wales last year (inluding several MSE'ers) in fact i would be more worried about the weather than the locals:rotfl::rotfl:

danielley

Hello All

Just called up my local council to

a) check that I am actually on the allotment list
b) see whereabouts on that list that I am!

I applied via an online application and I had a nagging feeling that it wouldn't have gone through.

Anyway, I got spoke to a gent today and he confirmed that I am indeed on the list (I registered on 15/04/2008), but unfortunately I am way down the list, I am 73rd out of 98 people on my preferred area and 50th/69 on my second choice. :eek:

He did say that nowadays that as the plots are quite large, when any do come up, they split them in 2, so that is getting the list down, also they have a couple that are ready to be reallocated, so I will be in the 60's in my preferred list soon .

So I think we can safely say that I think it will be a good couple of years yet, but that will not deter me, I will grow my own salad leaves this summer :T, it will just be in buckets or tubs etc ; I think I've said before that I reckon that alone will save me about £10 a week as I love salad with my evening meal.

NSD for me today, but I have spent a little over the weekend, a lot less then normal though, frugal thinking is having a massive impact on me.

xxx

FrankieM

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

I met lots of lovely people in South wales last year (inluding several MSE'ers) in fact i would be more worried about the weather than the locals:rotfl::rotfl:

My DH did suggest that I should be worried about the fact that the washing line was under cover..lol
He says its too early and he's right. We've got some debt to pay off and decide what we are doing with our current home first...oh well, I can dream.

Thanks for the reassurance, though

knithappens

had a total of 6 NSD so far, have also made some extra cash on ebay and sellin some unwanted baby items, so paid this off my credit card.

I am trying my hardest not to use my monthly budget as a target, but to shop as cheaply as possible, and use the extra to pay down debt.

Savvy_sewing

Kiwisaver wrote: »

Glad to hear the weather is improving as I have been fretting about my mother, she's not been out for days and sounds like she's getting very near the end of her supplies.

H Kiwisaver, Just wondering where your Mum is, and if there is anyone you can get to check up on her.? I know that if my cupboards had not been stocked up I would be in a pickle as I live in a village 8 miles from the shops.! My Parents came in thier 4 x 4 to bring me milk, matches the other day.
The roads to the village are just about passable now, my problem is where my car is parked, is off the beaten track, and I will have to dig the area to get the car out. As I have spondilosis, (or spondilitus), never sure of the exact difference< anyway, I cannot dig myself out. My left arm is not strong enough unfortunately.

I decided to put the chicken in the slow cooker, with 8oz carrots, 8oz onions, and a stock cube, with some Mixed herbs. will cook other things to go with it, later. See how the chicken cooks before I decide on exactly what we will do. I say we, its me on my own. DGD is 2 so not quite cooking yet!:rotfl:

grandma247

Fishcake-random a nice touch with the elephant if it is for babies is to buy a cat ball with a bell inside it (they were only a few pence last time I got some) and put it inside the toy with the stuffing.

Frugaldom

Good afternoon frugang

Trying desperately to remember who said what but it does seem quieter in here today.

FrankieM, speak to Ddraiggoch about Wales. It sounds quite similar to scottish weather, so much colder, wetter and wilder than the south of England, for example, but even that's getting snow this year. I could always go and see because, apparently, if I climb to the top of the mountain here (The Merrick) then I can theoretically see Snowdon. It's only 144 miles from point to point. LOL

Back soon, neighbour arrived for cuppa.

Savvy_sewing

Wish I had a neighbour to chat too over a cuppa!. The village is dead during the day I seem to have noticed. Except on a Tuesday at the Village hall gathering, but then I am actually the only one who lives actually in the village.
DGD has suddenly got nappy rash? Or a Red bottom anyway!. Wonder if she is teething, sickening for something, or eaten too much of the wrong things, she has been doing a lot of yucky nappies these last few days!.

Chicken is smelling lovely in the slow cooker, but its not browned, so I think I will have to take it out of the slowcooker, and whack it in the oven to brown it a bit!. Will do some potatoes to go with the onions and carrots that are in with the chicken. As I havent heard from my son, even though it is his Birthday today, then I presume he is not going to come for tea today either!.

Paulgonnabedebtfree

cha97michelle wrote: »

I'm not sure Paul. It is a 51 plate Skoda Fabia. We bought it in 2007 when i was pregnant and couldn't get my DS1 into his car seat with my 3 door car. It has less than 17000 miles on the clock so it is probably the original battery. To be honest, i've had a flat battery the past 3 years over christmas when we are away and it is most likely lack of use.

It started ok this morning (touch wood) so we may manage another winter out of it yet. :rolleyes: I probably need to budget for it during this year though.



The slow cooker is on already with a brisket joint. Think that will be on all day, but i am hoping it will be nice as i have never cooked one before.

It sounds as though you've done pretty well out of it to me. Low mileage is often a minus rather than a plus with batteries as it can possibly indicate lots of very short journeys which run them down sooner. Have you considered removing it and charging it manually from time to time?

jtb2412

Hi everyone,

Not had time to catch up properly on here yet, but I was wondering if anyone else has had problems getting milk? DH has been to 3 shops and they've completely run out !!! I would have thought the deliveries would have been getting through by now?

Will pop back later and read all what you've been up to xx