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

shaz_mum_of__2

Why not do it the cheffy way "mise en place" everything all prepared and in bowls (or old plastic containers that fruit etc come in) that way you can have a good clear up before you start cooking and get all the bags,packets and jars put away so only start cooking with the actual ingredients around you, it does mean a bit more washing uo but might mean a little less stress

HTH

Shaz

ps just sold 2 books i got free at the uni library for £12 on amazon!!

Frugaldom

Homegrown - I can sympathise with you on the kitchen thing. The first tiny cottage we bought (many years ago) had a lean-to kitchen measuring 6' x 4' wall to wall. I remember the nightmare of preparing Christmas Dinner for the in-laws! Height is the answer, as much storage as you can fit up the walls, upright fridge/freezer and open shelves with a curtain or sliding doors beneath the worktop to avoid taking up unnecessary space opening doors. When I eventually get my dream kitchen, it will be a farmhouse-style, live-in kitchen with all other rooms secondary to it! I'm hoping to be able to do more with the one I now have here - it's another of my 'projects' for 2010.

Another update!
For all you Facebook users, have you added our challenge to your Facebook profiles? Just click the link at the bottom of the page. I've already added it to mine. Thanks Martin! :T

thriftylass

Wellcome to our little community,

pencekeeper wrote: »

I am also currently overpaying mortgage by £1200 a month, whilst I am still in employment (which is far from guaranteed).

And WOW.......

gilligansyle

nykmedia wrote: »

My topic of the day is 'NEEDS OR WANTS' and, as it's the start of the 'let's grow our own' season then I decided to divide my list into needs and wants. I need somewhere to start off the seeds, but a propogator would be a mere want. I use the plastic trays from fruit or meat as they are so readily available and so easy to make lids for by pairing them up. I save the plastic drinks bottles and use them inside (tops) and outside (bulk of bottle) as mini-cloches, like this:


This is a lettuce seedling under the top off a 2 litre drinks bottle, screwcap removed. Seed buying will be kept to a minimum this year and I'm hoping the Beeb will have their free offer. Fortunately, being part of a LETS group, there's always someone offering seedlings or plug plants, so my free range eggs, will be traded for them.

:rolleyes: Hmph! Postie also brought National Insurance bill from HMRC, but I count that as deducted at source, so no impact on my actual challenge budget.

Will look at that 2 litre bottle thing, really good tip. Was speaking to Mum yesterday and she suggested I turn over part of her garden to veg etc, and we split it. She is in a bungalow on a big corner plot, has plants and stuff where she can see them, but the rest is grass and weeds. Can see a job for DS coming up!

Postie brought me my HMRC national insurance bill too, but have still got an outstanding query in with them as income is definitely below tax threshold and likely to be below NI threshold too! Don't want to pay and try to claim back as suspect they won't be too quick!

gilligansyle

nykmedia wrote: »

Homegrown - I can sympathise with you on the kitchen thing. The first tiny cottage we bought (many years ago) had a lean-to kitchen measuring 6' x 4' wall to wall.

My current kitchen is 7' 6" x5' so space is a bit of a challenge. I have things in baskets on top of cupboards, lots of shelves, hanging racks etc. Good job I don't like the minimalist tidy kitchen look.

What are you meant to put in your post on FB? I clicked it then realised I didn't know what to put

Frugaldom

gilligansyle wrote: »

Postie brought me my HMRC national insurance bill too, but have still got an outstanding query in with them as income is definitely below tax threshold and likely to be below NI threshold too! Don't want to pay and try to claim back as suspect they won't be too quick!

I'm below the threshold too, but am paying regardless. It's only £2.40 a week each (2 of us self-employed here) but the Class 2 contributions count towards your state pension and I haven't got a private pension. With no eligibility for benefits, I thought it best to ensure I keep NI up to date rather than have all the hassle of applying for a small earnings exemption and then finding out I didn't qualify for full pension when I get to [STRIKE]65[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]66[/STRIKE] 67?

Facebook - you just click the link and the box pops up to add the link to this challenge into your FB profile. It gives you the option to add an into comment, something like 'I'm part of the Frugal Living challenge' and then click 'share' at bottom of that page.

gilligansyle

nykmedia wrote: »

I'm below the threshold too, but am paying regardless. It's only £2.40 a week each (2 of us self-employed here) but the Class 2 contributions count towards your state pension and I haven't got a private pension. With no eligibility for benefits, I thought it best to ensure I keep NI up to date rather than have all the hassle of applying for a small earnings exemption and then finding out I didn't qualify for full pension when I get to [STRIKE]65[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]66[/STRIKE] 67?

Facebook - you just click the link and the box pops up to add the link to this challenge into your FB profile. It gives you the option to add an into comment, something like 'I'm part of the Frugal Living challenge' and then click 'share' at bottom of that page.

The NI thing, until October last year was working full time so paid NI and still have a part time job which is PAYE so NI is covered atm, and have a work pension too so am lucky there. I can't remember what year I can claim the pension but its getting far too close for my liking.

Frugaldom

gilligansyle wrote: »

The NI thing, until October last year was working full time so paid NI and still have a part time job which is PAYE so NI is covered atm, and have a work pension too so am lucky there. I can't remember what year I can claim the pension but its getting far too close for my liking.

Hi Gilligan, I think it's compulsory for all self-employed to pay Class 2 contributions unless in receipt of an official certificate or exemption. I'd just give HMRC a call and get the certificate sorted out asap, as £125 a year is as well with you than with them when you've probably already paid up the minimum 30 years necessary to qualify for full state pension. They should be able to point you in the right direction for applying immediately. Remember the NI minimum threshold is less than the basic rate income tax one.

homegrown_life

Shaz - thanks, that's a great idea. I think the packaging often gets in my way and just clutters everything up so much. Good idea to get it all out of the way first thing. I'll give it a go.

Nyk and gilligansyle - thanks also. I don't think my kitchen is even that small , probably about 8ft by 4ft, but feels bigger as it's a kitchen/dining room. It's just ill designed (our house is a tiny 3 bed, built in the 80's boom and probably designed for microwave cookery!). I think I'll try and get some baskets for the tops of the cupboards (or more likely plastic boxes as can get some from work for free) and try and sort it all out a bit better to make it work more. Got to be worth a try huh?

I forgot to add earlier some hugs for Natalie. I hope your housing situation works out soon for you. Must be really stressful.

It makes me thankful that our house (private rent, but from a company attached to a housing association - no I've no idea how that works either!!) is fairly secure as far as I know. I really hate the house, but having security, especially as it's in a nice area, has it's plus points. I must remember that more often.

lyndasharp

Hugs to Natalie and Lilo xx

I'm at my Dad's for a few days as he's having an eye op. It's all gone OK, but they aren't letting him out yet so I have to wait for the phone call before I can go and get him. I thought I might not make it here, as it was heavy snow in Swindon and settling a lot! I got told off at the petrol station for taking such a nice car out in atrocious weather, but it actually wasn't too bad on the roads once I'd got onto the bigger and busier ones. Spent money on petrol (obviously), and I might have to go out and buy some veg. All Dad has in his fridge to eat is cheese, yoghurts, and a huge bag of carrots. I know carrots are meant to be good for the eyes.... :rolleyes:

Anyone got any good carrot recipes? I'm thinking carrot and potato mash, maybe carrot and something stew????