2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

Jay1_2

Congrats on your auntyness Mollypop - great news for the whole forum I think, makes me feel all family-cosy-whatsit :grouphug: .

Well the real reason I'm posting is just to get something down. Kinda like when you revise you are supposed to write it all down again (I didn't, and didn't do very well in exams... buts thats a whole other issue). You don't have to read it.

Anyway I was feeling proud of myself because I did manage to make my own lunch and not buy it. I didn't even buy chocolate. And I went to buy some bread after work and wasn't tempted into anything else. And then I went into the co-op to check how much things were coz I couldn't remember how much I had spent the other day and wanted to put it in my spreadsheet and then it went wrong. They had prawn salads reduced so I bought one. I justified it because I was really tired and hungry and the only easy healthy thing I had in was a tin of veg soup (most of my fruit isn't ripe and I don't have much healthy food in ever). But I justify things to myself too much. I didn't even eat the whole salad. Having always been fairly careful with money this challenge isn't really having much of an effect on me (there is only me to buy for afterall) but I do really want to pay my mortgage off early, otherwise I will retire still with 50% rent to pay (I'm in a shared ownership flat). And I would really like to retire early or better still work part-time very soon. And thats without worrying about the security of my job! 99ps soon add up.

Sorry about the long winded navel gazing but hopefully when I am next tempted I won't find my excuses so convincing and walk away with my purse intact!

Better go to bed now. (Lay down earlier which is why I'm still up now).
Nighty-night
Jx

whitewing

Mollymop - congratulations on being a frugalaunt.

Everyone else - lovely to read your posts - keep 'em coming.

MIL should hear about the job on Monday. We have our fingers crossed as we think it's made for her! Anyway, we're all shattered and have a very busy weekend coming up, and the funeral next week. So, next week, apart from routine stuff eg school runs, we're not going to schedule too much, or we'll burn out.

If MIL does get the job, we will need some help in working stuff like pensions, ISAs etc out. Due to circumstances/cultural influence, she has not had much opportunity to think long term, and with our money being like monopoly money to her (as foreign coinage is to most people), I think she will need some assistance before the credit card offers come flooding through the door. I may post separately about that if jobs get confirmed.

Had to spend another £4 yesterday redoing my passport photos. I would say that if you normally wear glasses, then take them off for the photos as they do all sorts of biometric measurements now (they told me they measure your eye sockets even). Hope this lot are acceptable.

Lots of tiny spends this week, onions, parking, OH even bought a packet of sweets yesterday to get change for the photo machine etc so I'm getting tetchy about 'leakage'. Must update the spending diary. Should do it daily. MIL is being encouraged to have one too. That'll stop her eyeing up the porsche's in DS's (second hand) Top Gear magazine!

Have a lucky, happy day today, all of you. Take care!

Janeryan

Hi all

Just wanted to say what wonderful posts!

I really enjoy reading this forum and totally agree with all the remarks. Iwish I could join in but know that I would find it impossible to be as dedicated as you gals and guys are.

I see a lot of you are on the Grocery challenge and I definately find that very helpful and would also recommend the Simplifying Life thread too as the people are lovely there as well.

Carry on posting and can I wish you all the best of luck-I will enjoy reading and standing in awe of your acheivements:T

Burlesque_Babe

Mollymop - congratulations!!

Have to say, my sister has done it all herself so far, she always seems to have so much drive and enthusiasm to 'get on with it'. I helped her claim back her bank charge (run up by her husband - ahem) 18 months or so ago but she is very good at being proactive in other ways. She started running a couple of years ago and started off with the Race for Life and is now doing half marathons, cycling across various countries for charity and is a committee member for Cancer Research. She is a fab girly!!!

Just tired thinking about it all!!!

Need to pick up a few bits today. I started a thread on OS about using up Ferrer Rochers as I'm not overly keen (too nutty) and OH gave me some for Valentine's. So far I've used some in a marsbar rice crispie cake and I'm going to make a cheesecake out of some more up.

I'm going to another DFW'ers place tomorrow night for a little party so I've got a long train journey ahead.. Better take some frugal nibbles to stop me buying from the buffet car!!

Frugaldom

It's been blowing gales here all night, so it's a quick trip to the postie (work related) and then get some work done. Hoping I'll have time to bake some rolls later using ordinary plain flour - will let you all know if/how they turn out.
EDITED IN - Just spotted the Amazon sale - going pressie shopping now!

£6.92 out today for Internet access, last month's was £24.99 but I switched packages (with the same company) so that must be the adjustment figure. It'll only be £14.99 for the next few months (they gave me the intro £5/month discount even though I was an existing customer - it was that or I was leaving :rotfl: ) and then £19.99/month after that. I know it's a lot but because I house share, we also wireless network share, so I get some of it back. I treat it as savings, as I would be paying it anyway.

Spoke to my mum last night and she had a good laugh at my efforts with the new timer on the slo-cooker. I gave her an update on how everyone was doing and she was stunned when I told her about Lidls and the free food! However, she was equally stunned when I told her I'd have some if there was a Lidl's near me! Best not take her shopping when I go to visit next month - and incorporate a last minute trip to Lidls! I broached the subject of the Irish trip and will probably take her with me, as she's never been to Ireland either! and to remind me of how free the trip is going to be... look what I found (on the pay your mortgage in 3 thread) :cool:

whitewing

Yes, I've been reading your Ferrero Thread, but they don't last long enough in our house to be made into anythng else.

MIL has just perfectly mended my favourite jumper, in time for me to wear to some meetings today. Wonderful lady!

Life is great!

bails

Congratulations Aunty Mollymop! Best wishes to everyone. I also have a second Frugalbaby to report - my best friend gave birth yesterday to Amelie :j
Whitewing, you sound on top of the world at the mo, how great!
Nyk, I love those ticker factory things, people have them on the WL thread. Great news about the March Challenge, now we just have to think of a name for it! Anyone else feeling brave/daft?
Janeryan, it's always lovely when people pop in to say Hello! Thanks for all your good wishes.
Keren, your sister sounds ace, bring her over for a cuppa!
I've got over my GC disappointment and am looking forward to a weekend on my own - not because I want to get rid of OH (I miss him when he's away ) but I have some navel gazing of my own to be doing and it means I can get some early nights (he's an owl, I need to be a lark - is that right, having brain fog about my sayings!). Ah bliss! I'm also going to be using a health club/gym for free this weekend :T

Hardup_Hester

Afternoon all
I've still not got round to updating my sig, I'm still trying to get my head round my kids offer to take over my mortgage. I'd still live a very frugal life but I would be stress free.
I spent money today, usually I run out of money one week into the month, all my DD's go out on 1st of the month, I put £20 of petrol in the car, which lasts a month, I do my main shop & pay my milk bill & thats it for the month.
I'm crocheting squares & making blankets & worked out I have almost enough wool for 3 blankets, so I've divided the wool & already made squares into 3 coordinated piles, I decided I needed some dusty pink wool to do one of the blankets & so I spent £1.78, lol, oh well, it will keep me busy for a few more evenings.

Frugaldom

Hardup_Hester wrote: »

Afternoon all
I've still not got round to updating my sig, I'm still trying to get my head round my kids offer to take over my mortgage. I'd still live a very frugal life but I would be stress free.

Hi Hester, the kids taking over the mortgage would be a really tough decision to make! I tried thinking about it from both angles - as a daughter and as a mother - I guess there are too many variables to compare but I would consult someone with legal 'know-how' to see how anything like that affects things in the longrun.

Burlesque_Babe

I'm staggered. I popped to Asda to get a couple of bits and the reductions fridge was absolutely ram packed full (again) of ready meals, yoghurts, cream, eggs etc and the bottom two shelves of fruit and veg - mostly apples.

I took a bag of apples and a garlic ciabatta (30p each excellent) and they then brought more stuff out to be reduced. 13 big plastic tray loads (I counted them as I waited!!) and 5 big boxes, all fruit and vegetables. It was unbelievable and this is quite a small store!!! I patiently waited - to be honest there weren't many people hovering and I got spring onions (10p), cucumber (10p) baking potatoes (20p) huge mushrooms (40p), organic sweet potatoes (50p), 2 bags Fairtrade bananas (50p), organic tomatoes (20p), leeks (20p), strawberries (30p), 2 lots of organic peppers (20p). There was tonnes of stuff - think of a type of fruit or vegetable and I can almost guarantee there would be some reduced. There must have been about 40 bags of Smartprice Apples there and almost the same of really nice looking Oranges.

There were 3 staff reducing and I mentioned the amount when I was at the till - the cashier said they had started at 11am - still going strong at 1pm!!

I also got some free fruit tea bags from Typhoo in the post, so happy days!!