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

loopychriss

Kittikins wrote: »

Hello everyone - I'm debating whether to do a SFT and up my baked bean mountain as the Mr T offer ends tomorrow, I have about 30 tins and DD does love a good baked bean or two.....decisions, decisions! Apart from that, I need to keep my purse snapped shut.

If you can guarantee that you'll only buy the baked beans on offer....! These offers are like buses: there's bound to be another one along soon!

loopychriss

candygirl wrote: »

CHINATEA branston beans don't have pickle in them, thank God:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::T:T:T

I think they used to be called Crosse & BLackwell baked beans.... they were the only ones I liked. It really confused me when they changed them to Branston...

skintas_2

loopychriss wrote: »

I think they used to be called Crosse & BLackwell baked beans.... they were the only ones I liked. It really confused me when they changed them to Branston...

oh thats what they are, had 4 cans fro 89p this week in mr T, thought they where very yummy..

candygirl

skintas wrote: »

oh thats what they are, had 4 cans fro 89p this week in mr T, thought they where very yummy..

I got them too;)
Hopefully having a NSD today , as got Boo again, and she kicks off when I try to put her in the trolley in shops:rolleyes::rolleyes:
Have just had an email off EDF saying they can't validate my meter reading , so i'll have to ring em later:mad:
Added up how much i've spent on clothes and boots this month, and smacked my own hand:o:o:eek::eek:It's cos i'm losing weight quite fast , so hopefully will be ok till spring with what i've got this month:D:DAm being good and taking a pair of boots back as they are too small, so will be back in credit a bit;);)
Have fabbily frugal days everyone xx:A:A

Fishcake_Random

Awwww thanks guys.

Candygirl - I'm having some thoughts about selling them perhaps online on folksy or some such place to make a few extra pennys. Can't quite decide what to do.

NualaBuala - The socks are made using this site, it was the second thing I ever made after the typical scarfs for practise. http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/SockClass_Start.htm
Its all step by step and really helpful, the socks come out super comfy everytime. Good Luck.

I'm helping OH in the shop today as he has lots of things to "pop" out and do, so I will be loitering all day lol. His current mission is popping to Sports Direct as they have some trakkie bottoms on offer for £3 as their deal of the day and if they have them in his size then he's laughing.
x x xx

ChinaTea

Thanks for the answer to the bean question:T
I have to admit I always though they had something to do with the pickle which I can't stand. All those offers I've missed. Will have a look in MrA tomorrow for any offer. I used to love C&B beans.

Had a bit of spend this morning, went to the town to drop off some papers to local council and called in MrS, got bag of apples for 69p and 14 slices of bacon for £2.
Their beans were 60p a tin so didn't bother.

After tomorrow should have another couple of NSDs except for no3 puss at vets friday for booster and check up. Am doing really well with petrol budget so far only £15 this month but didn't go out much with the bad weather but still well under the £100 I'd allowed. I have a hospital appt Saturday morning at Lincoln-53 miles away. Not too bad though as it's where my parents and rest of family live so can kill 2 birds with one stone.

furndire

Fishcake_Random
Just read that you are going to unpick wooly knits. Wind the wool round something bigish, like the back of an old chair (something you don't value, as varnish will in time strip off) and hold a steaming kettle under, If you can put a black bag or something over the top, and enclose the steam, works even better . The steam will take out all the wrinkles so you'll get new looking wool.

cw18

ceridwen wrote: »

Confess I was sitting here thinking :eek: when you mentioned having spent your own money on a work key - and now some more of your money on work shoes - at a guess = about £17 of your money on work expenses. Also thinking - "well - if its needed for work then surely THEY pay for it?".
Wondering what else they might get you to pay for for them..

Visions of you being told to go on a course for them - and then being handed their bill for it....:eek:

EDIT: Think I recall you mentioning buying work "uniform" type clothing in an earlier post as well....the costs of this job seem to be mounting-up a bit...

Only uniform bits I've had to provide are black trousers (or skirt), black socks and black shoes. As to the key, I'm not giving it to them..... I'm attaching it to my house keys so I have a better chance of finding one myself

patentgirl

Afternooneveryone

Managed to spend £25 on petrol today and few bits in sainsburys all out of budget so far
Bails enjoy and have a fabulous time
Nykmedia thanks for the veg planner just what i needed promised OH next nice weekend will help him sort out the allotment ready for planting so that will be just the ticket already got some onion bulbs from £1 shop plus a few fruit bushes
Fishcake love the Elephants I have been trying to teach DD17 to knit so sure she would like to tackle them
Natalie sorry to hear you have to move
DS has just rang to say he is being put on a 3 day week so will probably have to help him out as they are on quite a tight budget anyway

Doing a pasta and chorizo thingy for tea to use up odd bits out of fridge and will try and make some leek and potato soup for packed lunches for a few days.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

pagangirl wrote: »

Hi folks - have read up to page 16 so far, but jumped ahead to ask if I can join in?

PAGANGIRL

brilliant thread nykmedia - thanks for all inspiration people :T

Budget this year is all over the place, as job ended 31st Dec, no new job in sight, and benefits still not sorted.:mad:

Outgoings so far are yearly - only me in household

Pension £192
TV Licence £142.60
Council Tax £755.56, hoping to get CT benefit off this
Dogs Trust Sponsor Dog £52.08
Insurance £74.04
Landline/Broadband £360
Water Rates £174 have water meter
Pay as you go mobile £36
Rent £3166.28 hoping to get Housing Benefit off this
Gas/Electric dual fuel £280 - with E-On-Age Concern

Total for basics £5232.56 excluding shopping/bus/train fares/clothing/leisure etc.

everything else still not sorted as waiting to hear how much money wil be incoming. Will do updated budget as soon as I hear from JSA/Council. (If/when new job appears, I wil revise budget again).

This is going to be a VERY frugal year , need to get more into home cooking - can do, but was working full time, with travelling to/from work - worked out to 52.5 hrs per week. by the time I got home - it was just shove a microwave meal in coz too tired to cook! No more !!!!!!!!!!

Hi pagangirl

How much energy do you use a year? The Age Concern tariff tends to benefit low users more than people with average/high usage.

The usage will be detailed on your bills. Alternatively, give us a call and we will be happy to let you know what your annual consumption is.

I posted some info earlier in this thread which you might find helpful. Particularly about tariffs, comparison sites and energy efficiency. Please see the link below.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=28740521&posted=1#post28740521

Hope this is of interest pagangirl. Give me a shout if you need any more info as will be happy to help. Good luck with the money saving.

Malc