2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

CharliesAngel

still can't work out how this is a challenge.... me and two cats live on £11 a week.... lol.....

Frugaldom

mama67 wrote: »

Nyk where are you geting unbranded butter for 58p please cheapest unbranded I have been able to find for ages is 85p.

I saw the yellow wrapped (saver) blocks at 58p whilst buying my yellow pack lard for 39p in summer fields. I did consider buying some as it freezes ok but decided against it as there's only 250g in a block and I can get 500g of margarine for that (the branded kind that carries the babies :rotfl: ).

What I miss most are the 2kg tubs of margarine that I used to buy - the above 'helpful' store has, "taken it off their list", according to the employ I asked. Hmph! It was great for splitting up and freezing for baking etc.

I'm now trying to arrange a trip to visit parents for a couple of days next month, so I'll probably aim to stock up on the things I can't get here whilst visiting. They live very close to both a newly built mega Mr T and mega Mr A. Oh! But I should update you on the local events! On last trip to the summer fields, I noticed demolition work almost complete nearby - this is where they are clearing a plot to build a Lidls store, assuming all goes to plan :T I've already subscribed to the Aldi's newsletter so I can keep track of what to expect. Does anyone know if they do the 'cheap' days on fresh produce, same as Lidl's?

Angelofthenorth_4

Drat! Just spent ages typing a reply and lost it :mad:

Mainly wanted to say thanks to MrsM for the tortilla recipe which I'll try this week. Spent £1.45 on 8 tortillas last week and they had the nerve to put hydrogenated fat in them!!

Still have money left - £6.47 - to last till Wednesday so should manage it and I've learnt loads that I can put into practice to make February a cheaper month (including giving up smoking as of tomorrow night :eek: )

Off to finish reading the rest of the posts I've missed this week. I am supposed to be studying but this is too compulsive

slowlyfading

Janey51 wrote: »

slowlyfading I really want to see Sweeney Todd so thanks for the feedback on that. I drool over Johnny Depp Will be able to work the price of the tickets into the budget especially if we go to the performance before 5 when its cheaper. And of course we will be taking our own nibbles.
Could combine it with going for logs and might even call into Lidl or Aldi to make full use of petrol as its a 60 mile round trip.

Once you get past Johnny Depp singing, its good I must admit, I treated myself to a kid's thingy at the cinema - a tray with a small drin, popcorn and sweets for £2.05! first time I've been out all week though, so I justified it lol

Frugaldom

CharliesAngel wrote: »

still can't work out how this is a challenge.... me and two cats live on £11 a week.... lol.....

By 'live on', I suspect you mean feed. This challenge is to 'live on' as in all the household bills - electricity, heating, telephones, Internet, gifts bought over the year, television license, insurance etc, etc, etc. I think you have misunderstood, or else haven't read the early posts The grocery challenge is the one where you count grocery costs only and you seem to do really well. Maybe you could demopnstrate a week's meal plan for us so we can see how you do it? :T Please?

Jacks_xxx

CharliesAngel wrote: »

still can't work out how this is a challenge.... me and two cats live on £11 a week.... lol.....

Then please help us hon, as I have frittered away over £1133 this month.

Here's what I spent it on:

Bought £49.09 worth of my food staples.

PLUS

Replaced some Herbs, spices, worcester sauce, soya sauce and stock cubes etc to the tune of £7.21

Bought Braising Steak for the goulash I want to learn to cook this week £3.69 (Anybody got a favourite Goulash recipe they’d like to share?)

Bought what I hope is at least 6 months worth of shower gel for £9.92 (500ml Sanex on BOGOF at Tesco)

Bought 24 condoms cos they were BOGOF too! £7.98

Bought a new tap, £16.99 (now we have slightly odd taps but hey ho! The old tap is 50 years old and I don’t have the time or the money to trawl through reclamation yards to find its identical twin. )

Bought a new immersion heater £16.99

and a tool to fit it with £2.99

£114.96.

Not bad for Day Four!

£9885.14 left - 361 days to go!

Love Jacks xxx

Latest update Day 15

Prescription Pre-payment Certificate £98.70

Supermarket shop £74.16

3 pairs of 33" inside leg jeans for my daughter for the 200 or so days a year she can't wear her school trousers. (well I s'pose she could...! ) £60

Hubby's birthday present of two new work shirts and a bottle of brandy £50

MILs Birthday present of a £50 M&S voucher. (Not optional unfortunately) £50

Birthday presents for my daughter (so far) £11

Supplements, vitamins and painkillers £8.99

6 months supply of shampoo (hopefully) £5.94

Roof repair £116

= £474.79

£9885.14 - £474.79

= £9410.45

Oops! I almost forgot... plus monthly DD's for gas, leccy, phone, internet, home insurance and TV Licence £195.90

£9410.45 - £195.90

= £9214.55

OOh - and bus and train fare to see my grandmothers. One of them is currently in hospital two buses and a train away from me so it's costing more than usual to get to see her, plus we're also clearing her house out bit by bit, and still visiting the other Grandmother- whom I still haven't taken to LIDL yet and I promised before Christmas. £160

£9214.55 - £160 = £9054. 55

£9054.55 left. Day 15, 351 days to go


+£28.05 + £62.81 +3.88 on supermarket shopping
+£10 on monthly u18s Disco for DD
+£5 on cinema for DD
+£100 Bus / train (grandmothers, hospital, orthodontist)

=169.74

+Congestion charge £8
+Parking £10

£187.74

£8868.81 left of my £10,000 - 339 days to go!


Love Jacks xxx

carrottopsuk

Jacks_xxx wrote: »

OOh - and bus and train fare to see my grandmothers. One of them is currently in hospital two buses and a train away from me so it's costing more than usual to get to see her, plus we're also clearing her house out bit by bit, and still visiting the other Grandmother- whom I still haven't taken to LIDL yet and I promised before Christmas. £160

Is there anyway to reduce the costs of travelling to your grandmothers? eg buying a bus/train pass, or even a daily/weekly/monthly ticket (bus) eg Arriva etc.

Jacks_xxx

carrottopsuk wrote: »

Is there anyway to reduce the costs of travelling to your grandmothers? eg buying a bus/train pass, or even a daily/weekly/monthly ticket (bus) eg Arriva etc.

Nah - cheers though honey - I live on the edge of three counties and we each live in a different county / bus area so there's no bus / train pass that helps.

It's such a pain.

Love Jacks xxx

slowlyfading

Jacks_xxx wrote: »

Bought Braising Steak for the goulash I want to learn to cook this week £3.69 (Anybody got a favourite Goulash recipe they’d like to share?)

Jacks, do you have a slow cooker? My mum does an amazing goulash in the slow cooker, and if you've got one, i'll get the recipe off her for you

Burlesque_Babe

Jacks_xxx wrote: »

MILs Birthday present of a £50 M&S voucher. (Not optional unfortunately) £50

£50 - on the MIL????????!!!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Actually Jacksxxx........you are going to be the reason for me confessing to a spend when my bank balance updates overnight.........:rolleyes: .......Facebook and a certain video you added to my page?? I bought the album.......:o although I searched for the cheapest place - Tesco Jersey.

So folks........if I overspend by £8 odd this year - blame Jacks for having good tastes in music and tempting me !! :rotfl: