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

rozeepozee

SuzyWuzy wrote: »

Rozee - You mustn't have long left now have you - Do you know what you're having or is it a secret?
Suzanne
x

Suzanne, no it's not a secret. We're having two girls and we're going to name them after their grandma's on either side: Dolorez (my mum) and Eliza. We have a little bit of a "z" thing going on in the family. My son's name is Zain and I have a "z" in my first and surnames. Only DP is the odd one out now!

I really haven't got long to go. I'm 33 weeks and I doubt my Consultant will let me go much past 36 weeks given my old age and my gestational diabetes, so it looks like they'll be here in no time.

We've been pretty frugal about their arrival (apart from the camera and electric bed mentioned in my PP!). We've bought a secondhand travel system and travel cot off ebay and a couple of books on breastfeeding twins (I reckon if I can establish that, I'll save us tons on formula!) Nursery furniture will entail painting an old habitat wardrobe I got off freecycle and clothes are those I've diligently saved from my little boy and what's been given. I'll also reuse the cloth nappies I had for my son and have been able to add to them off freecycle too. :think: Now I think about it, i don't feel so bad about my overspend on the budget - I could have spent a fortune more and I've actually been incredibly restrained (learnt from last time!)

cha97michelle

I have done a Rozee today and spent over £100 in costco. Scary how quick it adds up in there. Not as bad as DH though as he wanted to buy the kids a outdoor shed/house thing that was £500. Eeek. At least the stuff i got will feed us.

We also got a very expensive quote for a new bathroom and boiler. It was extremely nice, and we have put up with a hard to use space since we moved in nearly 6 years ago. I guess it is hard hearing big numbers when you are used to hearing small numbers here. I was sat there thinking how can it be that much? Nyk could run a household for 3 years on that.

Thankfully the ILs wish to pay, so although we might have to find some towards it, it won't be as much as it could be. Frugalness definitely helps us achieve our longer term goals. Also, a new A efficiency boiler instead of our G rated one is predicted to save £20 a month on gas bills, so we will be better off there.

Always something needs your time and money. If i do get it, i bet i end up cleaning it constantly to keep it looking brand new. DH says i will need to move in there to get the best value for the money.

rozeepozee

*STEP AWAY FROM COSTCO MICHELLE!*

It's very easy to do. I was there today trying to persuade DP that the kids' playhouses were totally justified now that we are gonna have 3 kids but fortunately, he was having none of it :rotfl:

We managed to escape without breaking the bank having bought some floor carpets for the campervan "off budget" (been putting away any premium bond winnings for this fund)

top_drawer_2

I also meant to mention that PAH are doing 3 for 2 at the moment on a lot of stuff. I only looked properly at the GP stuff and that would be a saving of £7.99 on driend food and around £4.00 on Tim Hay.

Jen

Blairweech

CW - Thanks for that info, that makes a lot more sense now - it didn't mention that in the letter.
Michelle - I know what you mean about not hearing big numbers, I was squawking about spending £500 to go abroad and see one of my best friends because that money could be used to go towards my house deposit. Then someone reminded me that seeing my friend would be money well spent. Hm, time to reassess the line between 'frugal' and 'tight' me thinks.
Top_drawer - Good news on your frugal guineas, sorry I can't help with the bread question, mine always turned out like a brick

Well, I was most confused this week as I had a £50 credit into my account with no idea where it had come from, and the sender was a really long number. Then I rang BT today and asked for my final bill and they said they had credited £50 to my account :j So, that has gone over to my savings now the mystery is solved.

Have sorted out my CDS for sale - I have 32 CDs with no cases. How has this happened???? Especially when I haven't actually bought a CD for about 10 years! Not sure what I can do with them, now the music is on my computer...bird scarers I guess...although I did see a great project once for a lamp base made of CDs glued together in a stack - the flex is threaded the holes. Seems a waste of good music to me though...

cha97michelle

rozeepozee wrote: »

*STEP AWAY FROM COSTCO MICHELLE!*

It's very easy to do. I was there today trying to persuade DP that the kids' playhouses were totally justified now that we are gonna have 3 kids but fortunately, he was having none of it :rotfl:

We managed to escape without breaking the bank having bought some floor carpets for the campervan "off budget" (been putting away any premium bond winnings for this fund)

Rozee - wonder if we were in the same shop at the same time? Shef branch - We were there between about 10:30 and 11:30 this morning. Bit freaky we were there on the same day. I did see a pregnant lady but she didn't look big enough to be having twins, but i guess you never know. MAybe i should start asking all pregnant ladies in costco if they are Rozee from MSE?

[Deleted User]

Hi everyone

I havent been on here for a while.... having to stop 'officially' doing the challenge as cant seem to make time to read the thread!!! Am logging all spends in my head (none!!) Trying to cut back budget as far as poss..... Hubby got alot of work at the min but it may not go on for much longer, so need to build up the pot of money for emergencies.

Will keep popping in to read about everyone elses news!

Loopy x

P.S. My little baby was one on Monday!!

Kiwisaver_2

I've been reading and not posting, so sorry I can't remember who I need to congratulate for good news, hug or commiserate. I'm just bumbling along keeping my head down below the budget line despite all the things that life throws at us. This week a puncture in a tyre I only replaced less than five months ago.

Good news is we now have our new shiny electric meter that has been keeping me occupied and entertained for the past couple of days. It shows a reading for the present load on the system, which has been a eye opener especially for Mr Kiwisaver as he is the worst culprit for leaving things on standby, falling asleep with the TV blaring etc and now he's seen hard facts and evidence he has committed to at least switch his PC off when not in use. :T

Late night washing has opened up a whole other issue that's been bubbling under the surface for the past five years (ahem!) My Zanu$$i was (I thought) on it's last legs when we shipped it from the UK to NZ in 2005, it was touch and go whether it was coming with us at all, until we discovered how much a replacement would cost here. Front loaders aren't popular and to this end I have kept it going all this time knowing that I would need to bite the bullet and replace it sometime soon. The bearings and brushes are totally shot, it dumps carbon deposits all over the floor from the motor and makes a horrendous racket. I'm amazed it lasted five years more and I can't complain really at having to buy a new one.

I finally ordered one yesterday for delivery next week and paid for it with my credit card so I get rewards and six weeks before I need to pay. I'm sure it will be way more efficient than my old clunker that keeps getting stuck on the spin cycle. I am still gutted though at the price of them here compared to in the UK, I paid $1,119 after 20% discount for having the shop floor model (nearly £500 for a fairly basic machine).

Hark I hear the spin cycle calling. :eek:

JayJay14

KIwi - there are certainly disadvantages to living in other parts - though I'm sure you have a few up sides as well. We were in the carribean before xmas and popped into a supermarket on St Lucia and I couldn't believe the prices for the locals for food and stuff. How they managed I don't know, though their energy cost are probably lower I suppose, they don't have to worry about the central heating bills.

DD2 has moved back into the house this week, so for part two of the challenge I am going to have to make some changes. Food and water will certainly go up but income probably won't as she only has a part time nightclub job and her termination phone/broadband bill is nearly £200 (early termination charges ect) I don't know when she will be able to contribute to the household though I'm sure she will when she can.

So I'm going to have a good look at the figures and will restart when NYK starts up the part 2 thread in March.

candygirl

I'm dead proud of myself :j:jDid a Tesco online shop yesterday, cos I had a voucher n they always entice me.Got tons of BOGOFS of stuff I didn't really need just to get my total to £50.Anyway woke up today, cancelled my order and went to Morrisons and got just the stuff I actually need,as well as a big sack of dog food for £35:D:DHave decided to stop stockpiling stuff as much cos it's taking up space and costing me a mint in the long run;)
Anyway just off to sort my ebay sales out, still doing quite well.
Have fab days everyone:A:A