2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

Marru

You lot are absolutely hilarious. :rotfl: Janey so sorry to hear about your car but if you follow the advice of the other forum members you should earn a fortune when you publish and that should more than cover all the costs.

I just read a book over the weekend that was a diary of fifty something who was an aspiring writer. It was a very good story but not half as funny as yours Janey so go for it.

I had a little grocery challenge disaster on Saturday. I went first time in my life into Lidl and while there didn't think of pulling my shopping list out of my pocket. So got some of the stuff and then went to Mr T to get the rest and as it happened forgot the list into the car. And also realised that had forgotten all my vouchers at home. So couldn't do my big shop as had no vouchers and had to just pick up the necessities (difficult as the list was in the car). So when I got home I had to start a new list of all the things that I had forgotten and needed to go to co-op today to get them. Was really good girl as only got what was on the list (except when I got home I found some chocolate biscuits from my shopping bag and I don't have a clue how they got there):o .

I have also been pouring over my budget spreadsheet today as I have estimated my petrol consumption wrong. Instead of using a tank per month I use a tank in two weeks :eek: . In September it should go down a bit as LO will go to Pre School near nursery and nursery can pick her up saving me the trip. Also my budget doesn't include my breakdown cover cost and I think I have under estimated my car insurance and also have forgotten LO's French lessons. So there was real culling that needed to be done to my grocery budget. I need to do better than this weekend to be able to keep within the new grocery budget.
Good news arrived today. I got the housing benefit! :T Thank goodness for that, gives me a little breathing space. It is funny how life can change. Just over 7 years ago I was working in Central London for £35k and now I am a single mum depending on benefits and going into DMP.

Time to go and feed the doggies and clean the piggies.

Keep it up!

Marru

mumzyof2

evening all, i have just made HM bagels and HM ice finger buns ))

djjojojuice

I have reduced my debts by £1000 since January and really have this thread to thank in particular. Taking out my weekly allowance and seeing it in hard cash has really made me assess what I spend my hard earned cash on. When you live in a debit card blur you can become numb to the money coming in and out of your account.

Everyone keep up the good work your stories are inspiring.

sophiesmum_2

mumzyof2 wrote: »

evening all, i have just made HM bagels and HM ice finger buns ))

hi mumzy
Did you use the apple braid recipe from OS for the ice buns? Been thinking of trying that out for a while:D

Hope the cigs are going well and that DD's eye is looking better.

mumzyof2

nope i used recipe which was on back of morrisons bread flour packet
the apple braid recipe on the OS forum... sounds complicated to me (the recipe its self) i need one that is easily understood.

ermmm 14 cigs so far coz my fella been here grrrrr.
DD eye is better now

sophiesmum_2

djjojojuice wrote: »

I have reduced my debts by £1000 since January and really have this thread to thank in particular. Taking out my weekly allowance and seeing it in hard cash has really made me assess what I spend my hard earned cash on. When you live in a debit card blur you can become numb to the money coming in and out of your account.

Everyone keep up the good work your stories are inspiring.

Well done on your debt busting:T :T

sophiesmum_2

mumzyof2 wrote: »

nope i used recipe which was on back of morrisons bread flour packet
the apple braid recipe on the OS forum... sounds complicated to me (the recipe its self) i need one that is easily understood.

Any chance of posting recipe? DD loves iced fingers:D

andromache_2

Janey51 wrote: »

andromache I love the way alcohol figures as an essential in your budget

:A But of course! Spends today: £1.80 in pub, £1 on chocolate (split the £1.99 for two Easter eggs offer with a friend, YUM). Healthy, oh yes indeed. (Though I haven't eaten ALL the chocolate just yet!) I got a free meal though!!

Sorry you've had such a rubbish day: I hope tomorrow turns out better

mumzyof2

ICED BUN RECIPE - TAKEN FROM THE BACK OF MORRISONS WHITE BREAD FLOUR

you will need:

560g (1IB 4oz) white bread flour
10g (1/2oz) Milk powder
60g (2 and half oz) Caster sugar
5g (quarter of a oz) salt
50g (2oz) butter or marge
25g (1oz) beaten egg (i used 1 egg tho)
275ml (10fl oz) warm water
6g Dried yeat

225g (8oz) icing sugar 1 and half teaspoon water for the icing

1. sieve the flour into a bowl and rub in the butter. Form a well in the middle and add all the other ingredients into the well

2. On a floured surface kneed for 10minutes. Mix together.

3. Plae the dough into a large bowl, cover and leave for about an hour to rise (the dough should have doubled in size)

4. Divide into 16 cigar shapes. Place the shapes onto a greased baking tray and cover again for 30 minutes, at room temperature, or untill the dough has risen again.

5. Bake for 10-12 minutes at gas mark 7, 220oc, 425 of.

6. When the buns have cooled make upthe incing sugar and spread evenly across the top of the buns

Let me know how you get on

sophiesmum_2

Thanks for that Mumzy will have a go of them tomorrow:D