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

rozeepozee

XSpender wrote: »

Bought a pram/travel system for the frugalmite due in May. After having shopped around for weeks we got the one we wanted at £150 off but as it was in the sale we have to pay for it all by the end of Jan not the end of April as planned. This expense is not included in my budget but will impact on our spending as it needs to be funded out of a bit of savings and our income this month and next. :eek:
XS

Hey, XS I note you're due in May too - I'm planning on using my Healthy eating in Pregnany Grant (or whatever it's called) to pay for my pram. It's £190 so should cover a double buggy off ebay. Link here
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/hipg/what-is-it.htm. YOu can claim from 25 weeks so all you expectant mums out there, don't forget to claim and boost your budget!

RP X

Jules

rozeepozee wrote: »

Jules - how did you do that please? Did you use the snipping tool or Kingking?

I am becoming obsessed now!

You have to save as a jpg and then upload to the likes of photobucket or similar. I didn't even know about it until it was posted on here!

thriftylass

Hello, Just popping in to say a quick

Happy New Year

I've been away a lot over the last few days so haven't read the thread for a while. I'm back to work tomorrow and hope to catch up with a few things like this thread and getting my finances up to date (after work of course I mean).

See you soon

cw18

I think I could have a not-budgeted-for-but-not-totally-unexpected vets bill tomorrow morning

My little dog (a large Yorkie, who was 15 in August - but who I've only had since March 2007 when a friend emigrated) had another fit at 2:30 this morning - and made that much noise crashing into things she woke me up. (For those who don't know, she had one towards the end of June - but after some sedation at the time it was left as 'keep an eye on her'). Having watched her behaviour in the hour afterwards (and again this morning) my gut reaction is she's also had a couple in the last few weeks while I've been at work.

She's getting more and more disorientated around the house and garden, has refused to go out on a lead since her first, and is making more and more messes in the house - even to the point I can have her outside for half an hour but still have to clean up (thankfully normally the kitchen floor which is tiled) within 5 mins of bringing her back in.

I'm also concerned that the (much) larger dog may end up getting hurt if she has any more. I was advised in June that I shouldn't attempt to pick her up if she has a fit, as even the most mild tempered dog can turn nasty during one of these 'episodes' - but this morning it was as much as I could do to keep the larger dog away from her as he seemed to be trying to get to her in concern. I couldn't even shut him in a different room, as the only one geared up for that (the kitchen) was the other side of the small dog (who was in the hall) and I didn't want to make him jump over her to get him into there !!

So (other than shutting the little one into the kitchen every time I go out / to work) there appears to be a risk that she could bite him - and I dread to think what he'd do to her in return :eek:


I guess I've known since the end of June that we were on 'borrowed time' - especially as both my lads have hinted that I should have said farewell to her several months ago (mainly due to the messes/smells). But as she can still find (and still enjoys) her food and water, and normally seems to like sniffing her way around the garden, I've steadfastly refused to even consider it as an option until now

candygirl

Just been to B&M'S and got a few bits inc and A5 diary that will be dedicated to spends of all kinds, as I can't get to grips wiv spreadsheets etc:p
Have just had a talk wiv my very non frugal friend, who lives with her DS, and spends literally a fortune on food for convenience sake.I bought her a slow cooker for her bday and she is just getting into it, so fingers crossed:D:D;)

Jules

rozeepozee wrote: »

Hey, XS I note you're due in May too - I'm planning on using my Healthy eating in Pregnany Grant (or whatever it's called) to pay for my pram. It's £190 so should cover a double buggy off ebay. Link here
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/hipg/what-is-it.htm. YOu can claim from 25 weeks so all you expectant mums out there, don't forget to claim and boost your budget!

RP X

And don't forget to check if your entitled to the Sure Start Maternity Grant too. Many missing out on this one as you can get it and be working / have been working.

You can get a Sure Start Maternity Grant if you or your partner receive any of the following:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element - in other words more than the basic £10.49 per week Or £21 if baby already here!
• Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award

and if one of the following applies to you:

• you or your partner are pregnant and expecting a baby within 11 weeks or have given birth within the last three months

skint_chick

Today is understairs cupboard clearout day - I took some before pictures





as you can see it's a disorganised mess and the thing I need is always at the bottom - so I spent £68 of last year's budget on Broder shelving from Ikea and clear plastic tubs to store all our diy and car cleaning supplies. I've just painted the entire cupboard with leftover spare room paint (bought 3 years ago) and am trying to convince DH to sell his golf clubs, bag and trolley - as he's been maybe twice in the 3 years I've known him. He also has so much sports equipment for sports he doesn't get time to do anymore so maybe this can get freecycled.

I made an inventory of everything we have diy wise as we had a lot of stuff that was useless/empty packaging/duplicates with tiny bits left at the bottom - so I won't be going to the diy store for something we already have:o. I bought so much from the diy store when I moved in that I have everything I need already to finish this year's planned home improvements except for floor sanding and varnishing and paint for my bedroom. I also need to pay someone a small section at the front of the house and weatherseal it, and get 2 upstairs radiators replaced in the spare room and study so I've budgeted £550 for this. It's amazing how in the middle of rising unemployment I'm struggling to find someone reliable to turn up when they say they will to quote for the work:mad:. At this rate the first person that turns up is getting the job!

Mystery shopping company rang to offer me 4 Post Office jobs, 2 Spars and a couple of mobile phone stores. So this will give me enough stamps for the year free and £10 worth of groceries - usually soft drinks for DH plus I'll have earned extra money for debt repayment:D

JayneC

THis thread is moving really quickly - Im struggling to keep up.

CW18 so sorry to hear about your little dog, doesn't look too good does it. Hope she/you/other dog doesn't get hurt x

I'm trying a new recipe for tea today - we usually have roast dinner on a Sunday but had one on Fri instead - joined the challenge on OS board to try something new each week so we're having a chicken pasta bake with cheese (except OH who won't eat pasta so he's having chick and veg in gravy with potatoes.) I have all the ingredients in so I'll let you know if it's any good. Am also gonna make fishcakes for tomorrow - got some mackerel reduced several weeks ago so finally got it out of the freezer.

Have a bit of a dilemma next week - Am doing a lot of travelling with work and want to try and make sure I can take food with me, but I'm not that keen on sandwiches also will be out quite late at times so will need lunch and tea. Any ideas for cheap transportable food??

Off to do a bit of baking, prob be back later x

Jules

skint_chick wrote: »

Today is understairs cupboard clearout day - I took some before pictures





as you can see it's a disorganised mess and the thing I need is always at the bottom -

Oh that looks so much like mine! I can hardly open the door for junk! You sure you didn't sneak in and take pics of mine! lol

Brighton_belle

cw - really sorry to hear about your wee dog. Tough one , which I know you wil deal with very pratically but is still a tremendous loss for you.

Rozee - don't be discouraged - you are a 'beginner' and we all did this in our first year. It takes time to remember all of life's expenseses and that is what the first year is about. You will make mistales and you will seemingly distroy your budget. BUT you will also, by staying in touch on the frorum and continue to keep and constantly review your records, get on top of it again.

Yes the forum is going very fast - it did this last yer and does slow down after the first month or two. Hang on in there with us. Skim read if necessary rather than stop reading totally.

I am stll focusing on decluttering/shredding and reorganising. If I can get on top of this, therest of the year will be much easier.