2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

shelovestobuystuff

Well on track and my top up earnings look to be turning into a wage soon so all good.I am trying to claw back some cash over the next 2 months though to offset the cost of dd,s dance costume,tap and ballet shoes and lessons,£140.Yikes!

FrankieM

nykmedia wrote: »

Hi Frankie, glad to see you back. Why not use this year to assess your entire 'cost of living' budget rather than attempt to live within one? That way, you'll be well prepared for next year

OK, I'll give that a go....I will at some point today go over my accounts and sort out a total of some sort on what I've spent so far this year..well from beginning of Feb , which is when we got back in the country....

FunBrum

Thanks for the humourous account of the wondering sheep Janey:rotfl: :rotfl: I know that my Clematis will survive. I had to cut it back to the ground when hurricane Andrew decided to wrap it around next doors hedge!:eek: It's calmer today so we are going to be making a better job of erecting it, hopefully!

Call me sad but I have actually enjoyed the wind, as long as it stayed dry. I felt really refreshed when I was walking in it, and it has blown an awful lot of cobwebs out of my stuffy head. I somehow feel more inspired to live at one with nature. I think we all need to realise that nature is more powerful than us and that at times its going to say enough is enough....you have abused me too many times and I'm coming back to remind you!

Here endeth the lesson!:rotfl: Had a Mother Earth moment there:rotfl: :rotfl:

bails

Morning all, now I'm not really with it this morning so I could be wrong, but that link takes me to a budget calculator for 2007 - surely that'll affect your figures??
Mumzy, have you got a diary? In there it'll have what day of the year we're on and will help you keep track of things.
Andromache, your trip sounds ace! That's one (of many) area I haven't been to yet, in fact it's been cropping up in conversation this end as a summer possibility too I could write a book just on dream itineraries :rotfl:You're right, definnitely make the most of your long hols, the only way you'll get anything close again is to become a teacher or lecturer :eek: Man, OH finishes uni this summer and you've made me think we should make the most of this time and go for longer...will put it to him and see what he thinks :T

elantan

funbrum sounds like you had a special day ...i love those

Marru

Hi,

Here is the budget calculator that I found from BBC site. This should be for correct year. Haven't tested it yet thou: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/7290230.stm

Marru

PS same result except gain in NI payments which can't be right as I just got the list for the direct debit dates (self employed) and NI has gone up by 10p per week.

bails

Hmm, apparently I'll be no better or worse off; don't believe that!

OH is thinking about the travelling idea...:j

Completely forgot to say, I made bread the other night! It was lovely, we need some more already! So that's one of my March pledges out of the way; just need to remember what the other one was now...:D

FunBrum

elantan wrote: »

funbrum sounds like you had a special day ...i love those

Yep...and having one today too:D

I was looking at the Oprah site,which I do from time to time as she has some really great concepts on money. The piece I was looking at related to our attitude, and being open to making and accepting money, and that it was also ones belief in oneself, knowing that it is up to us if we are wealthy or not. I think that there are things in life that stop us from progressing but I always have believed that there is a way around things;) We just have to look for it. With a little help from our friends....on here...we can help each other to achieve our goals.:D

Here endeth the second lesson!:rotfl:

I was also reading on the site and watched some footage of a 'Clear your clutter' section! WOW! The one lady had so much clutter that she filled two storage units:eek: She was in tears and my heart went out to her as she couldn't believe the 'stuff' that she had accumulated. So I quickly turned off my computer and proceeded to 'de-clutter' my sitting room, and sought out everything that has been holding me back. This is what the experts say is what helps zap our energy.
I can tell you that I feel so much better already and I'm just about to tackle all of the mail and bits of paper I have, that I have been meaning to sort out. So wish me luck.;)
It's helping with my weight too as I haven't had time to eat!:D

whitewing

FunBrum - I've not seen that Oprah site before but some good articles on there. I liked the 'Baby Steps to get out of Debt' article because it doesn't just make paying off your cards and loans the point of the article, but what happens next too.

Got to go to lunch now but may be back later with philosophical questions for Marru and MarkyMark, and anyone else of an accountant/financial advisor nature.

Marru

Hi Whitewing, you got me curious now.

Some good news today. I got my electricity bill and I am almost £60 credit (after actual meter reading) and got letter from RBS offering me over fourty pounds back from late payment charges of cc that I had couple of years ago. Also a publishing company contacted me and said they might have a job for me which would be great as books are my second passion (after all furry and featherly creatures).

Yesterday was supposed to be NSD but thanks to Martin I went to wild goose chase after that digibox. So I drove 12 miles to find out that they had sold out. Yes yes I should've called first. So drove 12 miles, filled up tank in the Mr S saving 62p, bought a sandwich that I didn't need and chocolate that I definitely shouldn't have needed. So all in all not very frugal. I should be ok now till Easter, fingers crossed. I am determined not to go over 334.50 this month and even that is bad as I don't have any big expenses going out this month like insurance payments etc. But I have halved my grocery spend from February to March so can't really complain.

Need to go and see if I can get LO to have a nap as it is not a nursery day today. We have just had our traditional Thursday lunch: veggie sausages and chips. And in the evening I will cook a "mess" including left over cooked potatoes, eggs, left over veggie sausages, mushrooms, frozen peas, grated cheese. All chucked in frying pan (cheese at last minute). Yum!

Have a great day! :j

Marru