2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

sashacat

I have had another NSD as living out of freezer but will have to get petrol soon. I am really enjoying this challenge in a perverse sort of way.
I have just changed electricity and gas from British gas to npower and the DDs are £10 per month cheaper( down from £82 to 72) so that £10 goes back into my spending money. Can anyone tell me if it's this month or next that we don't have to pay the DDs for the Council Tax...as if it's this month then I have an additional £132 that isn't going out for this tax....I've factored all of the DDs in but forgot about the 2 "free months"

whitewing

A very quick post from me. Well done everybody. I'm getting loads of ideas and have nearly dusted off my slow cooker (browny orange 1970s version!)

Room thermometer came from Help the Aged - I requested one for my aunty but they sent two so I'm keeping one! Have also sent off for a reflective snap band. Won one recently and it's great. This offer was from a different website. Can't do links but have a gander at the freebies board, lots of great stuff so I'm freebying daily at the mo.

DS gave me a present to recycle as he doesn't like creating things from the build your own model. So he's a mini moneysaver.

Got my little bro a new duvet in Debehams sale which was a bargain (not quite as cheap as the one above but eligible for necar points). Bro is paying so I indulge a need to spend/bargain hunt without it costing...

night, nightxxx

mini_huny_money

sweetpea03 wrote: »

I'm not sure but it maybe its this thread

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=643807

Thanx sweetpea for getting that for Bails, Wasnt online earlier, came home from work, went to bed for a quick nap and the next thing was it was after 9pm:eek: . I def hibernate at this time of year

Primised my DS id have soup ready for him whenhe gets back from his 2nd job, he'll get back round about midnight......., making soup at 10pm !!!!! .

A NSD for me today.

LollopyBear

Hi everyone, I hope everyone is feeling happier today - it seemed to be a very down day yesterday. I spent £5.40 today on both train and a cup of tea. I wasn't able to get a hold of the lady who offered me a lift last night but I ran into her again today and it is all sorted for my days in school next week so I'm excited by that. It also means I get an extra 10mins in bed so an added bonus! 6.10am - luxury

Is anyone else still working on an essay? My due date for a 4000 word assignment is due in on Tuesday and I'm starting to panic somewhat as I didn't get great feedback on my first one and so have to dedicate the entire weekend to doing a decent job. The essay is comparing educational research articles to discover whether children do better in mixed ability groups or in sets. Fun!

juliejay

We are doing OK so far. £120 spend last week but still have 3/4 tank petrol,loads credit on phone and full cupboards. The main difference is that we are almost back to normal after Christmas whereas its usually more like Easter before we can are back in credit.Thanks Nyk for getting us off to a good start. For us its all money in the bank for a new car before the old one gives up the ghost.lolJJx

hopeless_spendthrift

I can relate to you Whitewing - it does seem harder to money save at the times when life is tough - kinda feel like 'blowing it all' then, bc don't have the energy to fight it .
I DO fight it though and always remember that ... after hardship, comes ease

Not finding the time to post as often as I would like.
Have worked out my DD's for the month since my 'palava' on Monday - £220.00 out of a 333.33 budget! :eek: So now a bit confused about this challenge.
Added my CB to the 4k, making a total of just over 6k, but STILL only left with £4.61 a week to spend on all luxuries, home improvements etc, and even 'gifts for others' have not been included in the 6k! Oh gaad! :eek: Guess I should take some things off the list of things I am including, but then I am only kidding myself and could run the risk of not saving or paying back any debts at all as my total income comes in at just over 10k.
I will completely overhaul all my calculations when (IF!!??) I get the time, then hopefully will not be whingeing on about it anymore to u guys - SO wanna be positive and proactive on this challenge - but also wanna be honest, life is not always a rosy bundle of laughs is it?
Appreciate your support and dedication :A AND recipes Thanks for the sweet potato and chick pea dish Bails sounds outta this world! And yes please Sweetpea for your sweet potato and tomato soup as I also have some of the said pots lurking in me veggie basket!

I made Cream of Mushroom soup today - minus the cream! - more economical, both financially and figuratively

Passed by the Co-op this morning and bought some of their freshly baked rolls ( 5 for 99p) with which I made 20 little, french-bread style pizzas for the kids with my home-made tomato sauce - costs pennies to make with 'passata' toms and only 1 onion The little ones absolutely l:heartpuls ve this, so may pop out again 2mrw (as I made extra sauce), then can make and freeze for healthy(er) snax for the little 'uns ( i always add fresh garlic and ginger and black seeds (onion seeds, kalonji) to the sauce too!;) )

Also bought some carrots 2day to make some coleslaw, 6 first class stamps (£2.02:mad: ) and a flashing toothbrush for a gift for my niece for only a pound! Plus t.tissue (89p!), bread, eggs, potatoes, a whistle-pop lollipop and ice-cream - £12.29 altogether - eep!

Also made the minimum payment £31.42 on my Virgin cc today - will update sig altho I hope to knock a little more off the outstanding balance b4 the month is out.

Time to update so will leave u all in peace now.
Wishing u all a fantastic day 2mrw. *hugs*
Thifty

whitewing

Thank you for your support, people. It makes a world of difference. Juliejay, I laughed when I read your post...I know the feeling about not being 'normal' until Easter.

We are low on food now until my child benefit comes in (hopefully Monday). But we do have loads of frozen veg (cauliflower, brussels, peas, green beans). I also have a slow cooker, which I am thinking about pulling out of the back of the cupboard. Can anyone tell me how to make veg soup, please (it's mainly quantities that I'm uncertain of)?

All the best today, everybody. Should be a nsd today, and tomorrow.

sophiesmum_2

Hi Whitewing
Dont worry about the quantities so much. Just chuck whatever veg you have lying around into a big pan (or slowcooker;) ) add a couple of stock cubes,water to cover, maybe a tin of tomatoes,/ I usually throw in a bit of mixed herbs or a little bit of cumin. or a bayleaf too. Cook till soft, whizz with blender. Voila - lovely veg soup.

needtoearnmoremoney

I make vegetable soup without measuring anything - just put it all into a saucepan.

Basic soup i soften a chopped onion, add chopped potatoes, carrots, any other root veg, a tin or two of tomatoes, some vegetable stock (stock cube) and seasoning and simmer till the vegetables are cooked. I then liquidise - usually leaving some chunks of vegetable whole. By liquidising the vegetables you thicken the soup. If too thick then add some water.

sometimes i add some chopped bacon (cook this with the onion at the start) or red lentils.

this is really tasty and very filling as well as being economical.



The other soup i make regularly is leek and potato.
Gently soften chopped onion, chopped leek and chopped potato. Add vegetable stock and simmer till veg are cooked.
liquidise as above.
Sometimes i add some frozen peas in the last 5 mins or so of cooking.

hope these help

Rafiki_2

Last night - £90! :eek: :eek: :eek:

- Cocktails.
- A bottle of Sake
- Sushi for dinner.

I didn't even get to the theatre! :rolleyes:

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

However, it was a wonderful day and night!
I had a fabulous lunch with a professional colleague and then at end of work the evening commenced. It was always going to be a biggie although in all truthfulness it did exceed even my considerations...

That said, in the midst of budget blowing chaos... a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Despite working in the city, commencing most days at approx 0730 and having to factor in a 3hr commute, I am resolved in turning my financial status around so I applied for an evening job too - 4 nights a week minimum and yesterday I got the news that I had the job!
Ta-dah!! :beer:

I train next weekend and commence butt end of January, early Feb and the income from that will be my monthly budget for this challenge - how cool! :j

I iz so happy! :rotfl:


So....

Good Morning, Lovelies!
It's hammering with rain here in London but that'll help the flowers grow! :j

Please all have a lovely weekend!!