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

cw18

XS - pleased to hear you're able to be so positive about being made redundant, and it actually sounds smashing that you'll start life with the little one without debt hanging over you :T

chinagirl

Can anyone explain, what is a Sealed Pot challenge?
If the pot is sealed,how do you know how much money is in it?
Thanks
PS, Went to Lidl so been spending today, but cash only; not on my debit card, so that way I tend to spend a lot less, and not get tempted by things that are not 'on my list', so to speak.

glendam

China girl I have one of those that count the money as it goes in it was a present and I love it. Really encourages me to feed it. Before that I kept a running total in my diary.

Glenda

rictus123

Because you count up the money as you put it in.

XSpender

chinagirl wrote: »

Can anyone explain, what is a Sealed Pot challenge?
If the pot is sealed,how do you know how much money is in it?
Thanks

Not knowing how much is in it is half the fun for me. I have 2 sealed tins, one for £2 coins and one for 20ps and a piggy for anything under 20p. The tins do not get opened until the 1st Dec so it will be a suprise to see what is in there. I am hoping to pay for all of Christmas with mine.

kittiej

Hello everyone!

Well the bad news is I spent a tenner towards a takeaway last night, but I will get another meal out of the leftovers.

The good news is that OH actually listened to me for once and bought me something I really wanted for my birthday which is on Monday.

A food processor, hurray. After 18 months of asking, I'm so pleased, I'm going to nip down to Lidl's or Morreasons later to buy some "things" to make soups with.

Total spent £84.80/£3000

BigMummaF

nykmedia wrote: »

....search under the sink for the old laundry ball measure thing! :rotfl:Free dosing ball from P&G at https://www.softeningyourworld.com or 0800 015 7412 [UK], 1800 509 083 [ROI], just found on a bottle of 'stuff'. I've been meaning to do this so thanks for the reminder

....Kitchen reshuffle STILL hasn't progressed beyond some measuring and shelf clearing! ....I've been racking my brains for a solution to a particular problem..Me too .. Will let you know later. :rotfl:but can't promise I'll be as successful :whistle:

Appropriate responses to everyone I haven't responded to individually, I do read the posts. Save posting again, I'll just say 'ditto'

Think I've said before that we have plasterboard internal walls & the ones that are not connecting to the neighbours are :eek: bereft of suitable noggins to support the weight of anything more than a tissue At the moment, I'm pondering slicing the plasterboard in two horizontally [so we don't have to disturb the radiator] to put some 4x4 struts into the wall to hang some cupboards. Another thought is to erect a free-standing structure & build the shelves into that...what-to-doo, what-to-doo...

Happymrsh wrote: »

I totally agree with you, i'm like that too, i get bored really easy and don't tend to stick on one task for long. I have great plans of what i'm going to do but it never lasts long.

But your right the support of people online really makes a differece. It feels good to read how well everone else is doing and i get a real sense of achievement writing down what i've done and if i'm doing well.

Thanks to you all for helping me keep on track :beer:

Me too..on all of what you've said, but I am determined to change.

Our central fitting in the kitchen has three spotlights & one blew t'other night. I'd found some led bulbs that looked ideal but it's a 'blue' light & doesn't cover the same sort of area as the others; it was that bad that it was a while before I clocked the bulb had been changed! There's no room for table lighting & you're always stood in your own shadow IYKWIM, so a good ceiling light is an essential.
As much as I want to save the planet & my purse, I do like having a good strong light in at least one room for those times when you need it, so methinks I'll be looking for the older sort next time.

Frugaldom

BigMummaF, the plasterboard walls should have at least 2" x 2" framework withing them at the moment, so you could build a freestanding unit of shelves and locate the internal batons by tapping lightly on the wall. Use the wall batons if you need to secure the freestanding unit to the wall.

I'm working my way through the weekend 'to do' list and found the laundry ball in the cupboard under the sink, but thanks for the freebie info. :T

My kitchen is beginning to look workable with all the extra floorspace and added work station. I have a 'thing' about cluttered worktops, so these are gradually emptying and things being relocated. DS being away for the weekend means no interuptions except at mealtimes, so I'm progressing quite well. Washing line dried now, jelly set for trifle, large jar of elixir made up and in the fridge, big box of jars looked out for SM next door and I'm halfway through cleaning out the kitchen cupboards. Progress is slow, all things considered but we stopped for elevenses with neighbour and then lunch, which was just noodle pots from App Foods order.

Lighting - my kitchen has an ancient 4 bulb spotlight thing with only 2 bulbs working (other 2 fittings were broken when we got here) but they don't take energy lightbulbs. I do have a couple of those clip on bulb holders that I use for the heat lamps when rearing chicks, so I might just plug them in and attach them somewhere suitable until we find out what landlord intends doing about the old light fitting.

Skiving off to SM's with box of jars now, then I'll get back to emptying kitchen cupboards.

Blairweech

Hello all!

CW - I'm sorry to hear about your little dog, but it sounds like you gave her 3 fantastic years

XS - Bad news about the redundancy, but you have a great attitude!! How very inspiring


I promise I am reading, but just have not had chance to make notes, so responses to everyone as appropriate.

Went and got my haircut today, and also nipped into Mr M as I needed change for the car park. Was going to buy a chocolate bar just to give me change, but then just decided to buy what I needed - eyebrow tweezers, sugar, eggs and butter.

So to that end I have made a chocolate cake this afternoon which will be duly filled, iced and decorated. Got a load of washing on, as it's quite a nice day. Dinner is Chicken New Yorker, with chips and onion rings (I know, its hideously unhealthy but am trying to whittle down the contents of my freezer before I move!!). Also have to write my notice to my landlady have no idea what to write. Plus find out about giving notice to BT and ISP

Hope you all have a great day

xnatalie81x

Brighton_belle wrote: »

Natalie - just in case: stop thinking about 'you know what' - it's the weekend. Hope the child care issue finds another good solution.
Thanks for the reminder about milk - have been meaning to try this for ages.

- it may well be sorted lol - i went to my swim school today MY SWIM SCHOOL lol (am stil soooooooo proud of myself) and i am so manically booked that i am definitely taking on an extra half hour and more than likely 2hrs - so by the time i move in April i should be up toa around 2.5hrs on Sat and hr on Sun at which time i shall leave my Tue job and childcare is therby SORTED

I am amazed at how fantastically well the lessons are doing although i shouldn't be as we are very low cost (not for profit) and i only employ the bestest teachers I have long term plans now

1. Get new private rent house for April
2. Rent said house until March 2011 at which time i will be able to bid on HA 3 beds
3. Get the BEST 3 bed HA house (as i will have mega points above what they are going for now) - by summer 2011
4. Move into HA house and as rent will be HALF what we pay i will save save save (as hoping debts will have been paid off)
5. Save hard for 5 years and repair credit
6. After 5 yrs in HA (around 6-7yrs time from now) use my saved and OH's saved money (guesstimating around 4-0-50k) to start the ball rolling buying our own house!
7. Find said house, with pool and run own swimming lessons - closer to my dream - see previous posts on my 'dream' and keep many many hens as i love my girls!

This - i shall focus on! and i am mega motivated this year to get those debts down!!!!! 29000 :eek: currently going to clear 3000 this year so next year better be good lol as need to clear 26000 in 2011 although i am hoping to get some full and final offers and use any money saved from live on 12500 challenge - watch this space

I AM ON A HIGH FROM MY LESSONS - CAN YOU TELL LOL i know it is only and hour a week and with admin totals about 4hrs week for £15 lol BUT it is mine and my son gets his free lesson that would cost £5.50 elsewhere. But it is only me second week so i am doing well!!!

O i am waffling - off to have cake