2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

mumzyof2

WOULD SOME one tell me which is easiest so i dont spend money...

paying for things on my solo card or srawing say £30 out a week? I use to use cash all time but since i got my solo card i think along the lines ..well why draw £10 out a day when i only need £6..

Frugaldom

Whitewing, you sound so perfectly focussed despite everything you have written today, I hope you are feeling a lot better after getting that lot offloaded. I'm sure everything will work itself out eventually and you are quite right to consider your son's welfare during such dilemmas. Here's hoping that all your 'life smog' starts to clear soon.

Mumzy, I'm here now, but I can only fit in visiting the boards between work and stuff - just as well I'm based from home! :rotfl: Just made up some yeast mix and weighed out the flour for another 3 loaves and have the cheese & ham pie to bake for tonight's dinner.

For everyone participating in the 4k challenge, I received a message / forum comment (elsewhere) this morning that I think some of you may be interested in reading. I'm also going to post the one liner comment along with part of my response, and would love to hear your views. Red for the comment, italics for my response. :rolleyes:

Bit unfair this 4000 challenge as someone living in xxxxxxxxxxxxx might do it but someone living in London has no chance.

I suspect you have not read any of the details pertaining to this particular challenge. The £4000 is for cost of living and bears absolutely no reflection on cost of housing. I see no relevance in comparing the cost of living in a rural (or remote) community to that of city based. Contrary to your (astounding) belief, cost of living can be much higher in rural communities and the more remote, the more expensive IF you expect to enjoy the same lifestyle as a cityslicker.

For a start, there are no major chain stores, hypermarkets or, indeed, clothing stores. There are no train stations, taxi ranks, leisure facilities, cinemas, hot food takeaways or discounted fuel stations attached to well known supermarkets. Indeed, you usually find a sub-branch of either Co-op or Spar (only one of those, no choosing between the two) and there aren't usually dentists, specialists of any kind, Bingo halls, bookies, the list can go on and on the further off the beaten track you go. And let's not forget about emergency services - not exactly 2 minutes call out in the event of a call-out and the nearest general hospital may be miles away (think of the cost of keeping regular appointments, check-ups etc). So, need I go any further?

Please read the appropriate details and then feel free to comment once you are aware of what this challenge involves... You might like to try reading the MSE thread, which is where 140 individuals are attempting said challenge from locations throughout the UK...

PPPS: Have you compared the price of Council Tax between, say, Westminster and 'mytown'? As an example:
'mytown' Band C - approx £1200,
Westminster Band C - approx £585
SHOCKING!!

It was quite a lengthy response as you'll can imagine. The above is abbreviated and I've emailed the individual a link to this thread. Let's hope they can fully appreciate what a hugely diverse group of people we have here and how location doesn't really come into it.

I'm off to knead dough now, but I'll be back to catch up with all the new posts soon. Be nice to the above 'comments person' if they decide to visit us before I get back. :rotfl:

slowlyfading

I will update my total later as I'm out for drinks tonight!

Does anyone have a griddle pan? I'm wondering whether to buy one or not.

mumzyof2

i always wanted a griddle pan. if anyone finds a heavy one but cheap let me know

Marru

:T Well done Nykmedia

elantan

totally agree with that nykmedia

mumzyof2

I agree with that also

Janey51

This is a Janey Rant about Men and their Toys :mad:
All men on here please feel free to retort

DH is collecting big powerful toys to replace those lost in the fire. Problem is, he is on crutches and can't move them.
DH has got a huge new shed. Problem is, ground is wet and muddy and not conducive to people on crutches.
DH also has smaller shed which is supposed to be for logs but is now full of Power Tools with nowhere to go.
They have nowhere to go because big new shed needs lots of shelves put up in it to accommodate new tools.
Overspill of tools now in kitchen and dining room and sitting room :mad:

Today, gigantic lorry arrived....how he negotiated the country roads I have no idea Driver proceeded to unload massive box...weighing 75kg :eek: containing some kind of saw.

DH appeared at door, on crutches, with beaming smile on face.

"Where" said Janey "are you putting that?"
"In the shed" said DH
"Which shed?" said Janey.
"New shed" said DH
"Impossible," says Janey. "In case you had forgotten, there is a pile of hardcore blocking the way to the shed and a trailer full of paving stones".
"OK" says DH. "Put it in the small shed"

Trotted round to small shed, opened door and shed is full.

"Bring it into kitchen" says DH.

Janey spent next hour in bath fuming loudly and is now refusing to speak to DH.:mad:

Janey51

slowlyfading wrote: »

I will update my total later as I'm out for drinks tonight!

Does anyone have a griddle pan? I'm wondering whether to buy one or not.

We have a griddle pan which is 100yrs old according to DH. Makes ace girdle scones and is also suitable for inflicting severe head trauma when provoked. (See previous post):rolleyes:

Janey51

Nyk really good post about country living. I moved from the centre of a big city to a pretty remote area and it is a bit of a culture shock at first.