2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

Burlesque_Babe

£13.80 in car insurance DD today.

I've been invited to London at the end of the month to see a show with my Mum and 2 sisters for my sisters birthday. I'm not sure i'll be able to afford it but it is a real one off so I might go for it and get the cheapest train ticket available.

Mollymop5

Congratulations Rafiki.I also got a small part time job.My sister cleans the village library but has taken maternity leave so i'm covering for a few months.It's only 3 hours per week but as it's extra money I'm just saving it and not counting it in this challenge.Means I will have more saved at the end of the year

whitewing

Despite the fact it's gloomy and grey here in the South West too, there is plenty of sunshine coming from this thread!

Sweetpea, I think you are an absolute sweetheart for planning such a lovely surprise. OH and DS know about mine, but haven't told anyone else. They all think I'm mad anyway. Sometimes send off for freebies/comps for them too if I don't want it and all sorts of stuff comes thro their door but I forget to warn them! Entered my dad for a comp to win some stair rods - you should have seen his face when I told him! Picturesque!

R- well done in your part time job. Nice to see you brimming with enthusiasm.

Thank you all for the soup updates. I went straight out and set up the slow cooker and it's all warming up nicely. No cumin, so added some curry powder for a little kick. At least it'll smell great. (Apparently there's a really decent slow cooker in Argos sale for £16 at the mo - big enough for 4 and with glass lid so you can see progress. My friend showed me hers the other day with some morrocan coconutty thingy in - no I don't have the recipe ).

Jacks, I'm disappointed that you don't share my lust for Paul Daniels!! He, he!

Must go, I've been so busy this morning I haven't even got showered yet.

Family are moaning because Help the Aged thermometer says that 18 centigrade is too cold; turn up the heating. I laugh and say we're not old folk so it doesn't apply to us. We are not going over 18 (unless I'm poorly!)

Miss_Pink_3

whitewing wrote: »

Family are moaning because Help the Aged thermometer says that 18 centigrade is too cold; turn up the heating. I laugh and say we're not old folk so it doesn't apply to us. We are not going over 18 (unless I'm poorly!)

That sounds familiar. My dads the same. His thermostat as kids never went above 18 and it still deoesn't to this day. Mind you, Im just as bad. Mines at 20 and never goes above. Might stick it down to 18 and see if that makes much difference.

Penny2myName

anyone know how long fresh yeast lasts? A friend who knows i am doing this challenge picked me some fresh yeast up from the Asda bakery yesterday. He has brought it round in an air tight container (for me to re-use later on with my batch soups).

liloandstitch

Miss_Pink wrote: »

Great!!! Might pay this of my mortgage instead. I think mine is something like £99 a month or something like that.

Be careful, not all councils are the same. My months off are March and April!!!!!!!!!! (Swale BC)
Check first

OliveOyl_2

I think you can freeze yeast, but maybe someone will know for sure.

liloandstitch

Time to update, I think, I havent had chance up to now.
I have sorted my money out into 12 monthly budgets, which is £333.33 per month. Out of this I take all my DDs, which then leaves me £40 per week housekeeping, plus £31.09 extra per month towards extras. So, for this money I have to pay for everything!!! So far so good, I have just taken £30 for this weeks housekeeping ( I had put some of the money aside each week to pay for a couple of things like sons Tennis coaching) I put the coins left from last week in the sealed pot (I have filled 2 money boxes and am on my 3rd but they are only small). I have spent all the extras budget (My Ds seems to be responsible for most of it!!) so month to date my spends are £333.33 - 112.24 (DDs) - 30 (extra elec) - 31.09 (extras) - 40 (week 1 food) - 20 (taken out of HK for more extras) leaves me £100, which is £30 for this weeks food spends, £35 for next week and £35 for the week after (ish!!) so at the moment, I seem to be coping OK.
Extras spends have included Tennis lessons (22), Gym club for school (6), presents for school birthday (14) and money for DH to go to football game (10)
I have been helped by using the self scan tills in Tesco, you can download internet vouchers for coke for £2.49 - I have used two of these together through the scan till in Tesco with absolutely no problems, without buying the product - so saving £4.98 off my shopping. These are valid to end of the month, so will be using them each time I shop to stock up a bit. I will see if I can find where they are (the site is on other comp which I cant use at mo as no anti virus protection - will get later) and post - unless anyone else knows and can post!!
Thats it for now - will update siggy
Lilo

Rafiki_2

Well, I've just checked my overall weekly spend and thanks to last night, the budget was blown to pieces.
Oopsie.
Still, there's some 50 odd weeks or so to bring it back into line *bovvered*? :rotfl:
(although in all fairness, I don't much like that mentality in myself - ie. spending over budget. I have no overdraft, no credit cards etc and therein always make sure I live within my means BUT just because there's money in the bank doesn't mean I should be blase about taking it out of the bank, willy-nilly < -- that leads to trouble!)

However, here's the shocker.
Having just checked the state of my account it is to find that until the end of the month I have no option but to stay within budget! :eek:

Now, I knew January was going to be a bit of a sod of a month but whoopsie, not quite that bad :eek:

Still, I can't help but grin - how timely this challenge! Had I not spent the last couple of weeks settling into this, becoming aware of my spending habits etc, I would probably be in a (mild) state of panic but with what is left I know I can get thru' - although Lover of Mine might get a little miffy ...

Oh, and someone asked if OH's etc were aware of us taking part in this challenge?
Not directly. Everyone is aware I'm budgeting but not of the £4000 challenge itself.

(((((whitewing))))) <--- I just felt like it today. I've sure got more than enough of the smiles to go 'round xx

Carlsberg

Tomato soup was soooo yummy last night. Got out a traditional cook booka nd me and DH went through it. Ive got some kidneys in the freezer, so we are gonna have deviled kidneys on toast one day.

Belw the budget as spent £13.99 on a slab of cider, but DH promises he will tone down the booze and make it last him all week.

Was gutted when I looked on the boots website, how many bargins have I missed. And went onto additions to get one of those prams for niece, but sold out. Damm! Going into town on Sat, so im gonna have a look about. Anyone have any ideas for doing a hawian theme fancy dress outfit on the cheap? Im thinking plastic fruit but no ide where to get any?

C x