2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

Frugaldom

Hello all, haven't had a chance t post today and have only just caught up with the thread.

Janey, thank you for a lovely post, I loved it

Keren, I'll update post 1 to show your 4k 'allowance'. :rotfl: Makes it sound like pocket money!

I've managed my 5th NSD in a row! :j I know for sure that I will need to spend soon, but I'm forgetting exactly WHY?! I know I have run out of kitchen rolls, but I can't think of a reason to buy any! I'll need toilet rolls soon, but have enough to last until the end of the week.

We had a friend visiting this afternoon and he never questioned the milk (my powdered milk made up in a milk carton in the fridge) and even had a second cup of tea. And, seeing as it's so quick to cook up a few biscuits when there's hm cookie dough in the fridge, I baked another tray of them whilst the oven was drinking his tea - oven was on for the dinner at the time anyway. This is awful, I don't want to spend any money! I'll post the birthday pressie tomorrow and won't be tempted to stop off in any other shops, so should only spend on postage.

Next weekend is the monthly charity auctions where I do some fundraising, so I have plenty of photographing and uploading to do this week in preparation (distracts me from spending). I've also had a couple of enquiries for items that are made as part of my cottage industry challenge, so I'm hoping that will bring in a few pounds more .

Well, that's day 48 over and I don't think anyone has come to any great harm from practicing more frugal ways. I'm still loving the freedom that frugality affords and I am sure you will all agree that the best things in life are, without a doubt, free. For everything else, we are saving.

Who did I spot planning a wedding next year? Must scroll back as my old memory has forsaken me yet again. :rotfl:

System

nykmedia wrote: »

I baked another tray of them whilst the oven was drinking his tea - oven was on for the dinner at the time anyway. This is awful, I don't want to spend any money!

Hmm i know you are keen not to spend money... but is it wise to have your oven running on tea?

funkyfunkymonkey

Elantan, thanks for the spring roll recipe, sounds great. Can you freeze them either before frying or after? Also, can they be cooked in the oven? I don't have a fryer - I binned it during my last spring clean as i hadn't used it for so long (it was only a big old frying pan - not a proper deep fat fryer).

FFM

Frugaldom

Jumble-Bee wrote: »

Hmm i know you are keen not to spend money... but is it wise to have your oven running on tea?

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: I lost the plot somewhere! :rolleyes: I baked the biscuits whilst the visitor was drinking his tea

andromache_2

Hi all! Thanks Janey51 for that lovely post: it really put a smile on my face. The best things in life are free eh :A

It's been a loooong weekend so I'm just checking in quickly to update my totals for the end of the week, then I might go to bed! My weekly amount has gone up from £43.27 to £44.06 despite a mini-splurge on Valentine's Day and being out and about (hence needing train travel and having to buy food) all weekend so I'm pleased! I have less than £1000 left, though :eek: but I'm still convinced that I can do this!

Hope everyone has a nice week x

FunBrum

My BF and I had a little stroll as the sun was setting tonight. It was cold but beautiful, and I appreciated it more with Janeys post...cheers!:beer:
I have a feeling Im not going to get to sleep tonight. This happens a few times a week so I should be used to it by now! My head is full of calculations, for reducing my debt and I have to stay focused as I am easily distracted!:mad:

I 'fibbed' my way out of a night out tonight, because I had work tomorrow but mainly because I didnt want to spend! I said I was called into work!:o Im so ashamed...and on a sunday too!:eek: Still...Ive saved myself about £20, so I wont beat myself up too much!;)

I love socialising but I feel that I dont want to pay for anything and tend to look for things to do that costs zilch! Am I becoming obsessive, or is it all parr for the cause?!

Janey51

Oh, I'm so pleased my morning post brightened peoples' days :j

I have spent some cash today but got something back in return
Needed some basics and spent £10.50.
While in the Co-op, checked out the price of "I can't believe..." and its £1.15.

Went to see a friend for coffee and her partner gave us some home-made beefburgers and a huge beef joint :j

Partner then proceeded to tell us the name of the animal it came from :eek:

Think I will bury it in the freezer until I've forgotten what it was called.

Our visitors came for afternoon tea. Sat and moaned. Ate all our scones and cake and then departed. :j

Frugaldom

Hi FunBrum, was just reading your concerns about not wanting to spend and, as I already posted earlier, it seems perfectly normal to me for someone to prefer not to spend on non-essentials or luxuries whilst purposefully frugalising their lifestyle. I think it could be a determination thing or, as some have suggested, a control thing. Once you have proven to yourself that you are in control of your own spending, determined to get to where you want to be at, then you need to keep reinforcing that fact for your own benefit.Have you tried the Billy Can 'test' of stashing a few pounds for something special (like your night out) and then deciding which is more difficult - spending the money on doing what you set out to do with it, or not doing it. It makes you question quite a few things about modern living.
However... IMHO it is perfectly believeable that frugality has the potential to become addictive. It's certainly habit forming, you get an immediate 'fix' when you hit a savings target, you want to more of the same, it has long-term side effects (like clearing debt, increasing savings etc) and you show some form of withdrawal when frugality is withdrawn (ie - you need to spend money on things you don't see as essential). On top of that, as time goes on, you begin to see more and more 'waste' and can see less need for items you once considered as imperative to your lifestyle.

I believe a similarly addictive thing may happen to millionaires - they fall into the trap of 'why stop at 1 million, I wonder if I can make it 2, then 3, then 4.... they are never content to stop at just the one but why?


Now that I think of it, I may need to try the Billy Can test on myself again, and soon!! :eek: Originally, I kept powdered milk in stock only for emergencies. Then it became an ocassional ingredient in sauces, then occasionally milk puddings, then it became an ESSENTIAL ingredient in all cooking or baking that needs milk... now I cannot see the point of buying fresh milk when the powdered stuff works out about 20p per litre cheaper :rotfl: I'm going to have to FORCE myself to buy fresh milk

EDITED IN - Can we call this strange side-effect 'Frugal Millionaire Syndrome'? I mean, if we are all going to suffer from EWAD (Extreme Waste Anxiety Disorder) then we may as well aim high.

FunBrum

'I cant believe im still up'!:rotfl:

My lovely DS came over tonight after a fortnight in the Gran Canaries and has bouthgt me a ltr of vodka..needless to say it is accompanying me, and keeping me warm on this COLD night!:rotfl: Just knocking back a 'bloody mary'! I must be Bl**dy mad....Im due in work tomorrow at 7am!:p
Janey, you made my day today, and I thank you, as I have started to look at things in a different light since I have been reading your posts. I actually looked at the sky on my stroll this evening and thought how wonderful it was, and free!:T

Frugaldom

Janey51 wrote: »

Partner then proceeded to tell us the name of the animal it came from :eek:

Think I will bury it in the freezer until I've forgotten what it was called

Pleeeeease tell us what it was called - was it rabbit? ostrich? goat? wild boar? whaaaaaaaaaaaat?