2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

hopeless_spendthrift

Hi Mother Nyk and fellow chicks!

Sorry to not have found the time to post or keep up with yours for a few days now. Hope u are all still doing well - am sure u are!
Have just skimmed through the latest ones however and would like to reply to Nyk's post by saying that I agree with Whitewing that contributing to society cannot be measured in mere financial terms, ie how much income tax somebody does or does not contribute.

If you believe, as I do, that we have been given this world as a trust - we are the 'caretakers' of the earth; us human beings have been endowed with intelligence, which gives us the ability to seek and gain knowledge and the potential to consequently act wisely, respectfully and fairly with regard to the rest of the inhabitants of this planet, be they animals, plants, or our fellow human beings (or not, as we have also been granted free will), then a frugalling lifestyle based on moderation rather than extremes is surely a massive contribution to make to society, as we are actively striving to respect the earth and it's limited resources, in an attempt to preserve and protect that which has been entrusted to us.

I personally strive on a daily basis to be as productive as I can in my community because I feel this is my duty. We can perform the smallest of good deeds without thinking anything of it, like removing a harmful object from the footpath for example, but who knows, it could have a positive result, a 'contribution' towards helping to prevent a negative result. We should not overlook the small deeds - even a smile can make a big difference

I have noticed that people who attack me or are aggressive or negative towards me are really feeling bad or unhappy themselves or are suffering some way in their life and that reacting or retaliating to that kind of attack doesn't help them, or me! Of-course I can't shut up every time, but I do try! And that is just it - we do have the choice, the same as we are choosing to do this challenge - to better ourselves and our lives in some way.

My belief is also that if everything in life is done in moderation ( yes i am expecting some wry comments to this!:p ), then we are better able to be more productive members of society. I feel this is in keeping with this challenge but please forgive me if I have overstepped the mark or worse - completely missed the plot altogether! Just seemed to be relevant to what u guys were discussing earlier...

I must away to me bad now as am taking the kids for a 4 day trip to the seaside tomorrow!!! :j I feel ever so guilty taking a wee hol so early in the challenge, but it is a deliberate measure bc the children and I have never been on holiday before.
I have saved the money from doing this challenge, overlooking my debt for a mo! and managed to barter a cheap deal on a self-catering flat, which means I will be able to cook meals whilst away, thus keeping any further costs to a minimum. And got cheap train tickets through a company via quidco, so tis officially a true frugalite's vacation! :T My kids - especially DD1 - have been moaning and poking fun at me and all my frugalizing ways since the 1st of Jan, so wanted to prove to them that something good and tangible can come out of being careful what u spend your money on, and not buying any crisps, sweets, snacks etc.
Yes! I know it is cold, :eek: but we are gonna wrap up warm and because we live in London, the awesome sight of the sea and just being in a natural environment will be such a bonus, I'm sure we won't feel the frost biting our toes! :eek: It is the south coast so hopefully not too chilly anyway I used to live there so am planning lots of refreshing walks and fun things for the kids, away from the beach, regardless of the weather and there is rally driving along the beach planned at the weekend which should be fun to watch too!

Please forgive my ramblings - bet u were glad to have a break from my dull posts eh?

Just wanna say thanks once again to you all for being so warm and supportive of one another and for not letting those who are not get you down - it fair warms the cockles of me heart so it does! I will bring you all a stick of rock back from Bournemouth as I am sure I would not be going were it not for all your kind help and encouragement. :heartpuls Bon Voyage! lol

hopeless_spendthrift

bails wrote: »

:T
Slowlyfading, sorry about your results but you have done so well to be under budget, well done!

:T I totally agree with bails! x x x

hopeless_spendthrift

Will update when I get back - (should be interesting!) - for last week also. Hope u all keep well and have a wonderful weekend

Mollymop5

Hope you have a lovely weekend.I take the children on 3 day last minute Haven holidays.Usually costing £99 ish with all entertainent free.The kids love them and know that we are always saving towards them.Have alovely time.Kids never mind the weather

hopeless_spendthrift

Thanks Molly, for good wishes and moral support! :happyhear
I personally love a bracing sea wind - to blow all the cobwebs away. Can't wait! Have packed a huge bag of provisions - including onions and peanut butter. Determined not to go supermarket shopping whilst there! :rotfl:
Did your sister give birth yet Molly? Do hope all is going well for her. Please give her our love and best wishes. And to you, for a happy and peaceful weekend.
Take care all :hello:

Janey51

Good morning to the the members of best thread and Challenge on MSE :beer:

What a truly philosophical bunch of Frugalites we are becoming. :beer:
Some of the posts I have just been reading through this morning are really thought provoking.
I haven't really thought about the tax situation but I am allocating a little piece of my brain to analyse the situation.
I don't really think about the problem of people "sponging" off the State because, TBH, I know more people struggling to live on benefits than the so-called "spongers". It's a shame how quickly we judge other people's lives without knowing the full story.

DH has a small pension (£60pw) and works part time as it is all he can manage. He brings home £60-£65pw. Because of my salary, we don't qualify for any help'benefits. Really, it would be more economical for us if he stopped work altogether and was on Disability but his feelings of his worth as a man would be so dented, its better for him to work. I am hoping things will improve for him soon as he desperately wants to do more hours.

To more cheerful and lighthearted matters.....it is my leaving do on Saturday and I start my new job on Monday :T
I was having a panic about what I could wear to the "do" as I have lost so much weight and my purse is welded shut after my fall from grace at the garden centre.
Wonderful friend has given me a load of posh frocks to try on :j I was convinced I would never get into them but I do :T
So, I am wearing a SIZE 10 :eek: slinky rose/cream dress with a black shrug. And (all men evert your eyes) a black basque, a shape forming waist slip to hold in the unruly bits and ........ fishnet tights :rotfl:
How amazing is that? And all free and all from Monsoon.:D

Last night I made a huge rice pudding out of the remaining rice in the cupboard. It was made with 5 Pints, skimmed milk and Half Spoon. It will do me for loads of meals.
I also made 3lbs of mince into Shepherd's Pies, plain mince and pies to feed us and my Mum for a while. It was eked out with vegs and tins of tomatoes and is now safely in the freezer. Had some for tea last night and DH voted the mince wonderful which is a real complement from him as he's a cook.:T

I was checking Mum's cupboards yesterday and realise she has enough tins of corned beef to feed an army so I've liberated a tin and will make a big pan of Corned Beef Hash today.:D

Happy frugalling.

Frugaldom

I don't normally sneak on here this early but I am well and trully glad that I did. What wonderful posts here to greet me!

First, Mollymop, you must let us know the progress - I hope everything is going well for your sis and her new baby. Everyone's desperate to hear if we are new frugal aunts or uncles .

Janey - Fab post, very well written and with so many great posts here, I'm wondering how I ever fitted in resfing my library books - haven't been to the library since this year's challenge began! and all I can say about your 'wee do' is WOW! A SLINKY SIZE 10!! :eek: Well done!! :T :T And I never realised that you were a regular member of the FLF! :j (Food Liberation Front - :rotfl: but don,t worry, there are several of us on here )

Hopeless - Your ramblings are never offensive, derogatory or boring. I love your take on life and am very proud of having you as a virtual challenge buddy (as I am of everyone taking part here) so please keep posting whenever you can. :T Hope you enjoy your few days holiday with the kids - if that's what being a frugalite does for you, then "power to the frugalites".

Mini - glad you are [strike]happy[/strike] delighted with your new bathroom and hope the heating installation goes smoothly. I'll let you know if mum ever needs a tiler .

Lilac-Lady - anyone with anything of frugal interest is welcome here at anytime. Keep up the good work and perhaps you'll officially join us next year :j

I'm feeling much more positive today and refuse to let anyone annoy me or upset me - I do realise how silly it is after the event and don't really see why we should need to justify our lifestyles when they are far from being embroiled in consumerism. Life is good, even if there is debt, when you attain the stage that you are in control of it. Have fun today. No doubt I'll be back often to catch up and I'll eagerly await the news of Mollymop's new niece or nephew

PS: Yesterday was a NSD

slowlyfading

bails wrote: »

Slowlyfading, sorry about your results but you have done so well to be under budget, well done! Don't worry about the bakery, they get us all

Thanks This is what I have to walk past every day to get to and from lectures:

• burger place
• Greggs
• spar
• cafe
• fish and chip shop
• Pizza shop
• another burger bar :rolleyes:

so most of the time I manage well! :rotfl:

slowlyfading

hopeless_spendthrift wrote: »

:T I totally agree with bails! x x x

Thanks xx

Burlesque_Babe

Hoping for a NSD today. Was going to get some potatoes but I have 3 or 4 in the bag and about 1 portion of frozen chips left. I'm doing duck (the last of the Christmas meat!) with a peppercorn sauce and broccoli so one of us can have the chips and the other one can have little fried potatoes. No spending necessary!

Went to get my holiday euros this morning which I'm not counting from my £4,000. I got £250 worth but I'm hoping to bring a fair bit of it back. We are going half board so the money really is for drinks and an icecream or whatever during the day. I will be buying a few bottles of cheap vodka and cherry brandy to bring back but other than that I won't need to spend it.