2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

Jacks_xxx

shazrobo wrote: »

sweetpea, one of my 12 year old ds is in a size 13 trainers as from yesterday when i took him for a new pair and discovered most shops dont have that size:eek:
jacks, have you tried dorothy perkins for your daughters jeans, they are reasonably priced, might even find some in the sales, i get all my jeans from there they fit lovely and i have a 34" inside leg

:T Thanks honeybun, I might head over and check out the website in a minute. The Gap M&S and Long Tall Sally have also been handy in the past.

I should just be happy for her that she's so leggy huh? She doesn't get it from me unfortunately!

Love Jacks xxx

the_missis

IM QUITE UPSET LIKE A FEW OTHERS ON THIS THREAD.

At present i am on benefits, i am in my second year at college, wanting to go to uni next year,
I have just sat down working out my income- expenditure and i am down £30 a week! Im with the CCCS waiting for offers to be accepted but im still down. I didnt include going out, presents, car maintenance, tax, clothes etc all i did was my bills, food at £40 a week and my contact lenses at £20 a month.
I dont get any money from the kids dad even though he does buy them things

So basically i live on ebay money!!!!!

yes its my own fault for getting into trouble a fews back but i was with my partner at the time and ive been left with all the bills.
Maybe this is posted in the wrong place but now i am even more depressed, i thought i had made a move and going forward with the CCCS but i would love to live on £4000. Some people dont realise how lucky they are. The only thing that keeps me going is my healthy children and they always come first. i would love to be able to buy a few new clothes occasionaly, go out once a month.
So in my opinion (and im sorry to offend) but all you people aiming for £4000 should be easy. Just think of the debt you will pay off. Dont get me wrong im proud of the people doing this challenge, but there are people out there like me who would just love the chance to have an extra £1000 per year to live on. like the pensioners or disabled.
Im fed up of living like this and that is why im going to college and uni to have a nice, good paid job that i enjoy.
Aswell the £2 savers, i cant even do this one, i give my pennies to my children to put into their bank because i want them to understand the value of money. I have read that some people save £20 and then bank them because of their debts and once again im proud of the people that do this. Im probably jealous and taking my anger out of the wrong people, but yes i would love to have a little extra cash.

Jacks_xxx

JAMIEDODGER wrote: »

Jacks - have you included your child benefit into your total?

Live on £4000 + child benefit.

We're way above even that amount honey!

This challenge is making me feel unusually spendthift! :eek:

Love Jacks xxx

Jacks_xxx

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

Go for it pepys! Watching this with interest! Jacks the cat doesent NEED prawns unless its birthday! How about a bike for some of the granny visits - that way you get some excercise & save dosh? Can get one at a car boot cheap as chips or the admag - esp this time of year as pepys getting rid of old(ish) stuff for the new. I have an allotment & LOVE it - £36 a year but thats for a full plot...you could get a decent space for much less. Very sociable, fun, excercise & nowt like eating something you grew yourself....delivious wonky carrots.

Busted! :eek: I can't believe you spotted my Prawns comment! He really likes them though...But you're right. Just for special occasions.

I knew someone was going to suggest a bike! (Where's the icon for "Oh God Do I HAVE To?" ) I'm usually carrying laundry and / or shopping when I go - so I hope that lets me out of pedal power. (plus both Grandmothers consecutively would be about a 30 mile round trip and I'm embarassed to admit that I'm just not fit enough for that! )

I'm looking forward to the veg growing though. I think wonky carrots are cute!

Love Jacks xxx

Jacks_xxx

FunBrum wrote: »

Hi Jacks.

My 15yr old son is 6ft and an size 12 shoe!:eek: I get his trainers from Soccer Sports or Sports World. They are a fraction of the price of other sports shops on the High St and it is the only way I can keep up with his growing feet, and body! Their sports clothing are just as cheap but the quality is great!:cool:

For crimbo I had so many shampoos, conditioners, moisturisers, and hair colour...yes, I asked for it....that I will probably not have to buy any for the whole of 2008!:rotfl:

Although I get a petrol allowance from work for my job, I have decided to walk more so that I don't have to use the car, and petrol, for leisure, hoping to let the allowance cover my petrol expences for the year! A tall order I know, but it will be fun just to see if it is achievable;)
I had already decided to look into an allotment as some of you peeps have suggested, but might see how 'growing my own' in tubs fair. I can't see me doing a lot of digging and bending, not with my poorly back. So I'll let you all know how I progress!:T

I've been food budgeting and meal planning for yonks, so will continue there, and I am sure I can come up with some healthy wholesome meals for my family.

I'm so looking forward to this challenge, and this year. Good luck to everyone and I know we can do it. Just keep supporting each other through the thick and thin of it all!:D

Blimey - size 12??!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Jacks_xxx

DdraigGoch wrote: »

If you input your journey into Traveline then it will show you how far you have to walk, bus, train plus the routes and providers - this might find you a more economical public transport system, probably not, but it's just a thought.

I find it very useful for all sorts of journeys.

Ooh thank you honey. That's a very handy thing to know. i'll go and check it out now.

Thanks a lot,

Love Jacks xxx

Jacks_xxx

the_missis wrote: »

IM QUITE UPSET LIKE A FEW OTHERS ON THIS THREAS.

aT

:hello: What's upsetting you honey?

Love Jacks xxx

rosieben

Unfortunately one person posted near the beginning of the thread that they were angry about this thread as they are disabled and live on benefits and only have £5000 to live on.

In fact, anyone who's disabled and on benefits (which I am) gets probably between £10k and £12k per year. My actual cash benefit is less than £5k but when I add in my council tax, rent, prescriptions, glasses,dental care, bus fares, that takes my total to well over £10k (and I dont get DLA).

Its perfectly feasible for anyone on benefits to do this challenge.

I love my OS ways that have already helped to reduce my cost of living tremendously so I'm not joining this challenge, but I love this thread and I shall be here regularly cheering on all the participants!

Why anyone would want to make people feel guilty because they are earning a wage and paying full rent/council tax and health care is beyond me

Good luck everyone!!

mah_jong

I agreee, rosieben.

No one should feel guilty etc. I have had tough times in the past, choosing not to get prescription as I could not afford it. (Crazy, I know but I did read up on the non medicinal things I could do to help myself).

I did not know at the time I could claim WTC. I was earning around 8000, I could not even get anything back dated! Out of which everything was paid, mortgage full council tax etc

i also could get free dental treatment when my children were still at school, however there were no NHS dentists for 50 odd miles!

But hey...you cant look back. Must be positive.

We can all make cut backs. We can pass on tips to others, like pass the parcel with out the string!!

I am up for the challenge.

M_J

have I number or do I have to register my name address against a data base somewhere!! :D

whitewing

mah_jong wrote: »

I

have I number or do I have to register my name address against a data base somewhere!! :D

Hello! Great to see you! Nyk will give you a number when she gets online - you don't need to do anything else.