2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

Frugaldom

Good morning to all and I, too, have discovered the underlying cause of the February Frugal Strops - according to news reports, it culminated last night/early hours of this morning as a 5.2 on the Richter Scale earthnquake across much of England. Must read more as I like to conspiratorialise and theorise about such things, especially if there's been a spaceship launch in the recent past

Janey, thank you for your superb contributions, you had me in fits at your posts, especially the prospect of just heading back to bed. :rotfl: :rotfl: Out of interest, how long does a tank of oil last these days? One of the houses I was in about 4/5 years ago was oil and it seemed to cost a fortune then too.

Redglass, you have missed LOADS! I'll recap quickly so you feel the urge to check back 20+ pages :rotfl:

1) Someone got banned & posts got deleted, so there's a run of posts that won't make much sense now but just pretend you don't see that part.
2) Whitewing is having a phantom frugalmite baby whilst having her MIL, whom she had never previously met, staying for a few months. WW is teaching MIL English (nobody has yet been brave enough to ask if it's the English dictionary or the frugal dictionary, but I suspect it may be the latter). We should hear about the job application later this afternoon. :T
3) We are all recycling plastic bottles and there should soon be a mosaic of 'greenhouses' scattered throughout the UK and visible from space
4) The bread baking industries are going out of business and shares in breadmaker companies have soared - flour prices are still affordable :T
5) Frugalmania is reaching epidemic proportions and supermarkets are batoning down the hatches as they face the leanest period in retail history - frugalites unite, we don't shop before quarter to closing time :cool:
6) Lidls give away free food! :eek: :j
7) The 'feeling down' days coincided with a full moon, a lunar eclipse, the shortest month of the year and culminated in an earthquake felt across England. :eek:
8) We all got a new frugal niece - not hear her name yet, must make note to ask how mum and baby are doing

9) Several new members joined up after lurking and...

Oops, called away, will catch you up with the rest very soon :rotfl:

Burlesque_Babe

Haven't had much to contribute really over the last few days. Thinking of making Mrs Micawbers tortillas tonight filled with spicy pork mince. I'm trying to use up as many odds and ends as I can before we go away on Monday.

MarkyMarkD

sophiesmum wrote: »

Don't use library much as I can never get there at the times they are open and end up paying late fees so defeats the object:o

With our library, you can:

- renew books online or on the phone; and
- return books through the letterbox.

So it doesn't matter whether you can get there during the opening times to return books.

Libraries are a good MSE place to go!

Horasio

Hi

I am willing to try this challenge, even if I can't manage to keep within the limits, I am sure I can find ways to cut costs.

We are paying 6 months rent in advance on our new home, so it leaves the Council Tax, water (currently included in Scotland but we are moving back to England), utilities, food, fuel for the cars, insurances (contents, car, pension and life), car tax.

We also run a small business and developing our business further, so that will incur some expense. We are trying to live on our interest from our house sale, so the capital is safe. We have no debt. We do need a washing machine.

Initially there will be three adults sharing a house but none are currently working.

MarkyMarkD

Janey51 wrote: »

Very good...saved the petrol driving to bank to transfer money over from savings account.

Janey, dear, I can't believe that anyone seeking to be an MSE drives to the bank to move money. Can you not sort out an online account or even a telephone one where you can transfer money instantly?

My new job is fantastic. I have been shadowing more expereienced carers Mon & Tues and again on Thurs. Sat & Sun I am let loose on my own :eek:

It's great to hear someone so enthusiastic about a new job - well done!

MSHAWX

I love the way we all set ourselves smaller targets within the bigger picture of £4000 per year. Each one achieved is a sense of acomplishment.

This month I had a close look at the electricity we were consuming which averaged out at 19.7 units a day. I can see some of you throwing up your hands in horror but we are totally electric apart from oil central heating. However, by trying not to use the main oven (used the combi oven on the microwave or the slow cooker), and turning off the computor at the end of every day I've managed to get it down to 18.07 units this month, my aim was 18 units per day, and there are two days to go. My aim for March is to go down another half unit per day and to cut the central heating by half an hour per day. A small step, but hopefully in the right direction.

Can't say the same about the grocery challenge - failed miserably.

Frugaldom

sophiesmum wrote: »

I almost bought Duncan's book last week, but managed to resist for now:o
Have to admit that books and kitchen stuff are my weakness.
What do you think of the book - is it worth a read???

Have been hinting for book tokens for mother's day:rolleyes:
Don't use library much as I can never get there at the times they are open and end up paying late fees so defeats the object:o

I'm enjoying the Bannatyne book, finding it interesting and strangely irritating, as you do sometimes stop and think... hmm, it's all very well your saying, "If I can do it, anyone can do it", Duncan, but how I see it is, anyone can do that if they are a man! I can't imagine a fulltime wife & mother getting anywhere close.:rotfl: (Apologies if this looks sexist or anti-feminist.)

OH!! I just had a brilliant idea for Martin's TV show... need to go add my suggestion about who I'd like to see under his money magnifying glass! I'd like to see inside the MARTIN LEWIS wallet!

Frugaldom

MSHAWX wrote: »

This month I had a close look at the electricity we were consuming which averaged out at 19.7 units a day. I can see some of you throwing up your hands in horror but we are totally electric apart from oil central heating.

Me! I'm throwing up my hands in absolute horror... at the thought of people jumping off very high bridges if they saw mine compared to yours....

Mine is around 75 units a day :eek: :eek: :eek:

Thought I best add in that I live in an all electric house - no gas, no oil and no coal fire or log burner (although I would love one)

Burlesque_Babe

I really should check mine one day. I haven't a clue what I use. My electric meter is hard to get to as it is behind the TV in a cupboard, but I could start by checking the gas one which is much more easily accessible.

MSHAWX

Nyk - 'WOW' I don't know what to say.