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

cw18

cw18 wrote: »

So a dig through the booklets for a contact number - and was impressed to find it wasn't a premium one Called K@rcher customer services, and the chap was great. Seemed amused when I admitted I've had the machine since last July, but this was the first time it had been out of the box So I was told to send in my receipt (bought from a shopping channel, and invoice still attached to box) with the silver label off the bottom of the machine - which I've done this afternoon. He said they'll send out a replacement machine, which I can expect 3 days (I assume 3 working days) after they get the letter from me......

So fence cleaning is now on hold until that comes........

And I'm still impressed with K@rcher Customer Services.....

Letter was posted 1st class recorded on Thur afternoon, so should have been with them on Friday (though I haven't checked on-line).

Came home on my lunch break to find my replacement machine has arrived (F3dex driver must have managed to drag DS out of bed ), and not only have they sent me a complete boxed unit (meaning I now have several spare attachments), they've also sent a slightly different (more powerful) model :T

I'm guessing the one I bought has probably been discontinued for them to send a different one, but there's still be no quibbling from them (or request for me to return the unit at my personal expense) what-so-ever. So whilst it wasn't a cheap purchase last summer, at least I know my decision to get a dearer one from a reputable name has well and truly paid off


My second App F00ds order of the month (and year) also arrived today (a second wake up call for DS) - so I have three large boxes to sort through tonight, then have to let DD know her bits from it are here and waiting for her. Unless she's desperate for any of her bits, I'm guessing it'll stay here until I'm heading down to hers on Saturday though.

rictus123

Evening everyone, how are we all tonight? Just got home from work at 5 past 5, my new peugoet mats had arrived so they got put in and gave the old ones to my mum as she asked for them as they were fairly new aswel! My new ones are smart with the blue outline matching the colour of the car. Also fitted the leather look seat cover on the back! Looks such a treat inside now! Spent £5.49 on an inside car shampoo/polish when i got my seat covers from Halfords, gave it a clean up inside and going to give it another clean up this weekend but its soooo much nicer and shiner than before. When my private plate is on(whenever insurance doc comes-its been 2 weeks since i took it out!) and new steering wheel(been dispatched but can take upto 4 weeks) is on il be so so proud of my car i love it. After that lady hit my first car like this 2 days after i passed i should have got the same 1 again as i do love it.

Will also drill in the holes for my mud flaps and get them on this weekend all ready for it being my only vehicle! So much better than my deafening van with the burst exhaust! Anyway a NSD and a day closer to pay day

cw18

Looks like I can reduce my 'dog expenses' budget (ie. the one for food) by a whopping £180 :T

Had an email from PAH that announced BOGOHalf Price on R0yal C@nin, which is the brand I (have to) use, for today only. Bit annoyed that they've reduced the standard price by £10/sack (almost 25%) since I ordered on 2nd (when they were giving 20% off), but means the 4 sacks I've ordered this evening have worked out really cheap compared to the special diet stuff I'd been using (and the ones on the last order still worked out cheaper than the previous stuff, so not kicking myself too hard).

What I'll have in when this second order arrives should last until the start of October, so I reckon 4 more sacks will more than easily see me to the end of the year...... so taking what I've already spent and adding on the cost of 4 more (at just over current full price) means the budget can drop from £636 to £456

So another £180 I can rehome to other budgets - would normally put it all on my contingency, but as that's already more than it was at the start of the year (even after the unexpected vets bills in January), I'm going to put £84 of it onto my 'anything else' and the other £96 into my contingency fund

grandma247

CW that's very good news for both things.

Rozee I found this site and there are lots of bars on the list. You could have a play with all of them and they should freeze ok.
http://www.healthy-diabetic-recipes.co.uk/Snack_Recipes.html

ceridwen

grandma247 wrote: »

CW that's very good news for both things.

Rozee I found this site and there are lots of bars on the list. You could have a play with all of them and they should freeze ok.
http://www.healthy-diabetic-recipes.co.uk/Snack_Recipes.html

Thanks for that - theres quite a few there that take my fancy:D

xnatalie81x

MY NEW HOUSE IS HUGE lol. Got keys Monday. Have until next Wed to move. WIll be here properly soon to update.

xxxx some freecylcing to beg for stuff for new house xxxxx

Skint_Lynne

Hi all,

Not much to report, had an easy day today, worked at home and then out locally near the end of the working day. Then had a batch cooked dinner. I had a big 4 litre milk in the fridge, so emptied it into smaller 1 pint cartons that I had saved, so these are now in the freezer. I don't use a lot of milk when DH is away, so it is ideal that I can do this.

I'm down south again tomorrow, so will be away early and home late. Will check in later. xx

rozeepozee

grandma247 wrote: »

CW that's very good news for both things.

Rozee I found this site and there are lots of bars on the list. You could have a play with all of them and they should freeze ok.
http://www.healthy-diabetic-recipes.co.uk/Snack_Recipes.html

Wow, thanks! Some of them look really good. I'm probably going to have to continue to be sensible even though my gestational diabetes will disappear once I give birth - I'm still high risk for diabetes if I don't maintain a sensible weight and lifestyle

Frugaldom

Loads of great recipes linked up for breakfast cereal bars. I just did a basic oat biscuit mix but added in a grated apple, spoonful of honey, some raisins and sultanas and what I had left of my mixed seeds from breadmaking, because HS doesn't like 'bits' in his bread. Rather than using oats for my biscuits nowadays, I use cheap muesli as it has so much more in it - think Twinks but substitute oats for muesli plus added extras.
Glad you got the keys for the new house, Natalie, hope you are all very happyliving there and thet you manage to get settled for the longer term.

Phoebecat, the dumpling is as easy to make as it looks, but I usually get into a bit of a tangle between getting the thing out of the cloth, onto a plate and into the oven or under the grill. Traditionally, they got tipped out onto a big plate then sat in front of the fire to toast the skin. There is a microwave version as well but I haven't tried making it yet.

Made another 6 jars lemon curd plus a lemon drizzle cake this morning. It's far too cold, wet and blustery to be doing anything outside today.

SL, have a safe trip driving up and down the motorways, I don't envy you one bit - all that rain and lorry spray.

Only one more week left of the first quarter! It's flown in yet again! I'm pulling out all the stops trying to round up £150 to fill my ISA. Wanting to see what's happening with THE Budget but bad weather here means no TV signal. Typical.

Frugaldom

Has anyone seen the details about the new Government SAVINGS GATEWAY accounts that wll soon be available? I think these look excellent and really hope that they catch on! Those eligible are low earners or in receipt of specific benefits - like a 'by invite only' savings account - and can save up to £25 per month into these accounts. After 2 years, the Government will pay 50p for every £1 saved! :eek::T Well worth scraping together the extra £600 over 2 years to accumumlate £900! If eligible by way of working tax credit entitlement, I think I'll be making this part of my challenge from this summer.

HMRC site says, "You don't need to do anything else in the meantime, HMRC will write to you if you are eligible." HERE IS THE LINK to see if you could qualify.