2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

tryingtodobetter

Thanks Nyk, unfortunately the nearest library is over 20 miles away and not somewhere I visit often. I think I will try googling it and see what I can find. Thanks Nyk you always seem to have the answers.:j

princess_leia_3

Off to update my sig as my month starts tomorrow, I have also joined the Feb grocery challenge as this is where I seem to have most of our spend go

Well as I was £100 over in Jan, this means I have a whole £100 to spend after all my direct debits have been paid and also I think the gas and elec bill are due soon too.....feeling a bit deflated now

Frugaldom

Hi all, I've also 'signed up' for another month of the grocery challenge too, as it fits in so well with this challenge. I just wish I could get my b*m in gear with the earning extra to catch-up part now! If I coumt it all up it looks great but none of it is any good to me until the cashback sites pay out - normally 2 months or so. Talk about being glued to the chair in front of the PC screen! Umm... I just can't help myself, my life has become virtual unless I'm away from computer spending money, cooking, cleaning or sleeping (and taking advantage of cheaper electricity for washing machine, tumble drier, slow cooker and the extra half price heaters I bought in the Curry's sale) :rotfl:

Princess, you can't be over budget in this challenge because it's a year long one. The only total that matters is the one you'll have on 31st December 2008. Week to week and month to month is just the average so we can budget how much we need to save to cover all the bills throughout the year. I think you should keep a seperate note of all 'baby' things and then repay yourself from any maternity grant/new child benefit payments once the new baby arrives That could make it a little easier to keep on top of your grocery challenge.

liuhut

nyk - have you tried doing the Bingo ones were no deposit is required for the earning extra/catch up.
Here is a list of the sites - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=575067

I've only joined three of them tonight and have won £12.65....every little helps!!! EDITED to say now up to £72!!!
Have a read about the deposits and withdrawel...think you would have anyway but just wanted to point it out.



I've really got into the cooking bit. I put a load (well 6) potatoes in the oven while I was warming it up and have put them into the freezer for jacket pots later in the week (read somewhere that they will be OK!!) Did my Roast and made two lots so one lot is in the freezer for t tomorrow. Then (and this is the best bit!!) I put the chicken in the pot and maded soup for t!!! How pleased am I and just to think I have chicken almost every week and have always thrown it away....what a waste... OH came into the kitchen and asked what I was up to, when I told him he fell about laughing and then through on some garlic and herbs from the garden!!

tryingtodobetter

I too have signed up for the grocery challenge (£160). This is my first official one, although I did have a vitual one for this month to keep me in check for this challenge. I will update my figures for this challenge at the end of the month, not long to go now and things are looking good despite DS1 needing new shoes :mad:

LollopyBear

bails wrote: »

Lollopybear, did you not say you were training to be a teacher? Sorry if I have the wrong person, but if it was you then there's your answer for the cold

I've got my eye on a couple of aubergines at the Coop (I'm lucky enough to have one a couple of minutes walk away) - at the mo they're reduced to 50p but I'm going back after 9pm to see if they're reduced further...There wasn't any bread when I went at 5pm so no hope of some cheap loaves :rolleyes: Probably won't do my week's spend til tomorrow now.
Now that we're doing up the house, I've spent £30+ on 'nothing' today. It's not coming out of this budget but out of what I save and will hopefully add value to my house. OH is wonderful and is working really hard on it, but he's does come up with some worrying suggestions e.g. getting new wood floors throughout :eek: We'll be sanding down the wood that's there, thanks v much! I'm a little scared as I'm paying for all the renovations (it's my house) and he loves DIY so he could get carried away unless I rein him in I do appreciate all the hard work he's putting in though, don't think I'm a heartless be-ach
I can't believe it's nearly the end of Month 1:T; what I can believe even less is just how much I'm looking forward to scrutinising my spends at great length to see how I can do better next month :rotfl:

You've got that right Bails and I bet it is the kiddywinks that I've caught this off, it's just that there was not an inkling of a cold when I went to bed but I woke up with fullblown sniffles!

I'm very jealous that your house renovations are moving so quickly. Our house has been a building site for 3 years. Apparantly a sparky is coming during the week to give us a quote for a full rewire, which is very exciting! I want to be at the decorating/aesthetic stage.

princess_leia_3

Thanks Nyk, I think I will do that with the baby stuff until I have spent the £500 grant as the first few months are so much more expensive!
Thanks for making me feel a bit more

Mortgagefreeforme

tryingtodobetter I have the book by Alan and Gill Bridgewater and have found it quite good so far, it's also been good to refer to on a fairly regular basis. I also have one by John Seymore, the concise guide to self-sufficiency and it's been quite good too. I got them for similar prices, and as we are an 18 mile round trip from the library I could justify it. I think I'd need a bigger garden or a more understanding hubbie to do all thier ideas though:rotfl: .

broke_mum_of_three

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

Maybe it is possible to make one's own 'oven' chips from fresh potatoes?

I always make my own home made chips, Peel and potato and cut it into large chunky chipsPlace the chips in a saucepan of boiling water and cook for 10 minsDrain them and lightly coat with oil. Season with plenty of black pepper ( or not if you want your kids to eat them!)Place the chips on a non stick baking tray and cook for about 25-30 mins in the oven at 220 degrees until golden and tenderI guarantee you will never eat a frozen chip again!

Burlesque_Babe

Morning all. Just popped the breadmaker on. I've got enough flour for this loaf and one more. I've started slicing and the freezing the bread after it has cooled as I found that I was wasting 1/4 or so of each loaf.

Yep, the £8.93 Jacksxxx forced me to spend on an album has come out of my account. I'll update sig. Other than that it should be a NSD. Hopefully!