2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

mumzyof2

im about to update my sig and work everything out so il let u know in a bit everyone

sophiesmum_2

I go foraging for blackberries when they are in season, get tonnes every year enough for lots of jam, crumbles and pies.We still have jars of jam and several crumbles yet from last season. Also elderflowers/elderberries for cordial etc.There is also a damson tree nearby which produces enough fruit for pies and jam, and a crab apple tree which is okay for chutney and crab apple jelly.
Within our grounds there is also a huge bay tree so pick leaves whenever I need them, and around 30 of the rose bushes that produce rose hips. Have tried rose hip syrup in the past but it is fiddly making sure you get all the little hairs out. May have another go this year as we have tonnes of them growing.

I love making use of the stuff that grows wild nearby - and no one else seems to bother collecting it

mumzyof2

Ok iam back and i have spent loads!!!

i have now spent (started this month) £478.53, i still have TV licence and insurance to go out this month.
My new monthly target is £366.50 so thats £91.62 a week :$
Im sure i can up this next month as im away on my hols 12 days to go!!
I also have £90 left of my phone bil to pay which is coming out of £111 quidco money i have coming so does anyone know if i include this? I do want to add my quidco money on to this challenge how do i go about that with the sums etc? do i just look at what my total figure is ive spent and then minus the quidco payment then add on whatever my phone bill is think its £90.

sophiesmum_2

Hi everyone,
Just been checking my banking and have two DD's out today so will have to be a spend day.

Life insurance £14.49
Car insurance £26.28
Also added another £10 to sealed pot in lieu of electricity:D and gave DD £5 to have tea from Macdonalds:o (well it is school hols:rolleyes: and I hardly ever treat her now that she has her own allowance:D )

Total spend for today £55.77:eek:

Kittikins

:beer: Hi Mumzy,

Congratulations on giving up smoking! Just saw your updated signature

Stopped smoking at 5.45pm on 25/03/08

I'm a lurker (I should really join on 1st April as I think "belonging" might keep me on the straight and narrow....) and don't post very often, but want to wish you all the best, you CAN do it :j

Kittikins

mumzyof2

Thanks Kittikins to be honest i been trying to stop for a long long while. Im off on my hols and only reason im doing it mainly is because i have £13 to last me as long as i can.. and i want my hair cut and dyed at hairdressers (about £50) before i go on hol (week on sunday) and i cant smoke and have haircut so im quiting the cigs and having my hair done, that way i wont feel guilty spending about £50 on having my hair done. Once in a blue moon i have my hair dyed (i only had it done once at hairdressers) and i hardly ever have it cut lol. )))))))))))))))

I have never felt so postive about this than ever before - maybe coz i have aimed for something. I use to spend about 4.56 x 2 a day on cigs in 5 days i could have my hair done.

Should i draw the money out my bank each day???? and put it in a jar or just leave it in. I need to see it it will keep me going
oh and my ex quit smoking 6 days ago and im so jelous tbh another reason i want to quit i smoked my last sig 2hrs 15mins ago and no cravings yet! im about to go bed soon im on anti b's for infection and made me so tired. il take one tomo am and if i feel like this i wont be able to look after kids properly so will have to stop taking them i feel weak,headache tired. and if i go to bed i wont get cravings!!

sophiesmum_2

Kittikins wrote: »

:beer: Hi Mumzy,

Congratulations on giving up smoking! Just saw your updated signature

Stopped smoking at 5.45pm on 25/03/08

I'm a lurker (I should really join on 1st April as I think "belonging" might keep me on the straight and narrow....) and don't post very often, but want to wish you all the best, you CAN do it :j

Kittikins

Come and join in, everyone is lovely and friendly here, and it will help you focus on your spends.:D

mumzyof2

sophiesmum i just realised my pm box was full, so didnt get your last pm if you have sent one. Its empty now

Kittikins

Mumzy - I'd say leave the money in the account so you can earn interest on it, also it might remove the temptation to use it for something else (well it would me). Do you use online banking? If so, maybe you could set up a savings account linked in to your current account and transfer the money accross so that you can see it's "spent".

Thanks Sophiesmum, I know I should join in more, I'm struggling on many levels at the moment, and maybe keeping track of what I'm spending rather than thinking it'll just "cheer me up" to buy magazines, food etc, would be good. I think I need to start reading from the beginning again to work out what I should/shouldn't include in my £3,000 from 1st April.

mumzyof2

Kittikins I think i would spend it lol. I could set up a e savings that linked to my account but im in process of changing banks so not much point
1day wothout cigs (£9.06) i could take my kids to play centre even tho im going there thursday