2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

whitewing

Had a meeting with a colleague from work today so I arranged for her to come to my house so I had no fuel costs (hers get paid by her company). Decided I would make a cake rather than buy biscuits, but was still busy printing stuff off in my dressing gown an hour and a quarter before she arrived. So quick phone call to mum to see if she would pop to the shop for me. She turned up with a pack of 15 eggs that she already had and refused to take any money.

At that point I realised that my kettle had stopped working! Aargghh! 5 mins later, mum arrived back at mine with a brand new kettle, and refused to take any money (OH's birthday later this month, and said it would all count as part of his present). That was great.

Meeting went well and decided to do very little this afternoon.

Frugaldom

Janey51 wrote: »

taka our council tax has gone up by £20 according to the Council website and I was going to throw a wobbler til I read your post and realised it would be the water increase so thanks for that.

Janey - thanks for the reminder! :beer: I hadn't even thought to check the council's website - DOH! I now know that our Council Tax is going to be £1,269.80 for the year. Imagine incorporating that into a 4k per annum budget? It's more than my entire year's grocery budget! :eek:

Hi Whitewing! I got a spare 2-cup size kettle on eBid for £1 last year. I'd have brought that round for your if you'd been closer.

mumzyof2

Spent £8.99 at morrisons
£10 provident
£27.20 littlewoods payment
£10 westcot payment - £40 to go and paying it b4 monday!
£6.17 at local shop
£2.20 on cigs

Total - £64.56

Frugaldom

Hi Mumzy,

Can I make a suggestion to you that MAY help with the ciggies? Put a separate update in your signature or dpending diary etc and update it each time you buy any cigs. It really does help when you can see it in front of your every day. Last year, I had a ciggie budget (hence the ciggie piggy I told you about) and made a point of sticking to it so I had to cut down. It was so much easier when it came to the final quitting date. Instead of saying 'quit smoking, saved £xxxx' just say 'total smoking, spent £xxxx' and update it every day. It soon makes you think and gets you to force yourself into doing something to take your mind off it. Not preaching, honest, I'm only trying to help. Are you still on the quit smoking thread? I haven't ventured back on there since 'that night'.:rotfl:

sophiesmum_2

Jumble-Bee wrote: »

:eek: :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: If i see a mouse i must remember to jump up on a chair clutching my skirts like Daphne Broon

I was very unfrugal today - i forgot to defrost bread so ended up BUYING lunch, how horrifying!

I must restock my freezer with luchables, it has nothing in it apart from my lidl free bread stash and a million tubs of that red cabbage i had a long long time ago...

If you make the sandwiches anyway with the frozen bread they will defrost nicely by lunchtime and be fine to eat, ask my OH I am always sending him out with frozen sandwiches:rotfl:

Jay1_2

sophiesmum wrote: »

I suspect that most frugallers are naturally creative and nurturing people who enjoy cooking, baking, crafting, gardening,caring for animals etc

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Nah, I'm more like Waynetta Slob (only I eat chocolate biscuits instead of smoke and do wash from time to time!), but yes I do wish I was like that.

I've been very good this week though, did loads of cooking for the freezer on Sunday and haven't bought lunch at all this week (so far...:o ).

On the subject of wishing...
I wish I had a grand designs style house, and entirely self cleaning, with a greenhouse/garden shed that I could open the door and find cooked veg!
I wish I had a husband/wife who lived next door (I won't even share my bed with a teddy bear), this would be nice for all sorts of reasons, plus if the self cleaning house or self cooking garden broke down they could sort it out for me!
I wish I could be a publisher of all sorts of books that just don't seem to be out there, and I could work in a library too but never deal with any difficult stuff.

I also quite fancy being a Hollywood "teacher" (you know the ones that are perfect); a doctor (similar to the teacher); a singer (I don't mind what sort as long as I'm brilliant); an acrobat/gymnast ("did she really just do that!") and a pwincess .

Weeeell, why have more reality than is absolutely neccessary:rotfl:

mumzyof2

nykmedia wrote: »

Hi Mumzy,

Can I make a suggestion to you that MAY help with the ciggies? Put a separate update in your signature or dpending diary etc and update it each time you buy any cigs. It really does help when you can see it in front of your every day. Last year, I had a ciggie budget (hence the ciggie piggy I told you about) and made a point of sticking to it so I had to cut down. It was so much easier when it came to the final quitting date. Instead of saying 'quit smoking, saved £xxxx' just say 'total smoking, spent £xxxx' and update it every day. It soon makes you think and gets you to force yourself into doing something to take your mind off it. Not preaching, honest, I'm only trying to help. Are you still on the quit smoking thread? I haven't ventured back on there since 'that night'.:rotfl:

Thanks for that, i think im doing well most days im only smoking 10. I will do that.
LOL at "that night" bit. Im on it kinda but no one replied to my post so asked again for help and some replied. I dare you to go back on! I would!

mumzyof2

sophiesmum wrote: »

If you make the sandwiches anyway with the frozen bread they will defrost nicely by lunchtime and be fine to eat, ask my OH I am always sending him out with frozen sandwiches:rotfl:

:rotfl: :rotfl:

skintwellie

Hi Guys,
Taken ages to catch up with all of the posts. It looks like we are all wishing for the same thing.
Today my son, who has just turned 18 and who is still at school had a meeting with his bank about upgrading his account, cos he is now officially classed as an adult:eek: :eek: :eek:
He has a Sunday job and works during the school holidays. As we are on a fairly low income he receives EMA, most of which he spends on petrol and maintaining his 'old banger'. He was offered an overdraft of £1,500!!!!!:eek: Luckily some of my MSE has rubbed off on him and he refused it, taking a £50.00 OD should he accidently dip in the red sometimes.
When he told me I was ready to do my 'mumsy' bit and phone Nat West and give them a piece of my mind, but guess he has to make his own (hopefuuly responsible) decisions now.

bails

Pwincess Jay, I loved your post, hysterical!
Lollopy, it's Of Mice and Men - I'm just being silly really, but thanks for your good wishes. I mean, it's last lesson on a Friday...like they're going to do anything anyway!!:rotfl:I am really enjoying getting back into things though, and I would be over the moon if a job does come up that's part-time enough for me to manage...
Had more to reply to but internet is playing up so I might retire [strike]kicking and screaming[/strike] gracefully to the bath