2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

FunBrum

I'm still trying to use up everything out of the freezer, so the only groceries Ive had to pay for have totalled £10.98 for the week!:T My weekly food budget is £30 for two adults and 1 teenager that eats for England!

I'm staying at home today....a day off after working all over Christmas and New Year.....so can't see myself spending anything today!:j

After reading some of your posts, I'll be clearing my clutter. Gawd knows I need to:rotfl:

whitewing

I was thinking about all you cold people freezing up north. We had a slight problem with damp in our new-to-us house a few weeks ago. So having looked around this site I bought a dehumidifier, which seems to have solved the problem. We also note that it feels warmer in the house by not being so clammy. As far as I've been advised (again on this site) it costs about 3-5p an hour to run it.

Also, (this is a very sad top tip from someone with no life whatsoever!) I find that if I use talcum powder after my shower, then I feel warmer than if I don't. (Old before my time, lol)

Burlesque_Babe

gggrrr.........the Abbey website is down so I can't get in to see what has left my account today.

Lilo - nice idea about the hot water bottle for the feet - I have one I've never used (another MSE freeby !!!!) I'll drag it out.

My fingers get the coldest - I'm sat here now with a top and a jumper on but haven't got the heating on and because I have lots of fast typing to do for my job it's my fingers which need to be kept warm.

dreams_R_free

Do you have a pressure cooker, whiskylizzie? I wouldn't be without mine as it can make a superb casserole from scratch in less than 30 mins (ideal for large amounts to freeze in batches)and gammon cooked in it is so yummy. I don't use it for cooking veg though as we like them lightly cooked and the pressure cooker takes such a short time to do them that I always ended up overcooking them:o

My Mother's pressure cooker is still going strong and must be about 30 years old. I treated myself to a new bigger one 5 years ago and it's been used several times every week.

I'd really love a presentable set of pans. None of mine match, some being stainless steel and some enamel in various styles, some with lids from other long-dead pans:rolleyes: . They all do the job though, so it's not high on my list of 'needs' at the moment. Could do with a good reliable milk pan though as I don't own a single non-stick pan. I saw a cook on TV using a black non-stick pan to make sauces and he was using metal utensils and it was standing up to it OK. I think it was from the Meyer range.

Good Luck!

whiskylizzie_2

Thank you for reminding me about pressure cookers - might look out for one - My mum never trusted them, thought it would blow up - but I know they are much improved now.

I do have a non-stick milk pan _I bought at sales 2 years ago-I can use metal, it's wonderful, but do not make same mistake as I did - it's too small for making a proper batch of sauce, like cheese for 3-4. I wish I had invested in a bigger one-circulon -expensive. Also, it won't go in dishwasher, but very easy to clean so it's swings & roundabouts I s'pose.

Well must get on now to set slow cooker to braise beef & use up veggies found in bottom of fridge!

Protogenia

Morninggggggggg everybody

Still a no spender for me this year, I do have two Ebay parcels to post but I am not counting those as the postage is paid by the people that buy the items and not me. What are you other Ebayers/Amazon etc sellers doing? Including postage or not?

I have a big fat chicken in the oven and that will be making 5 meals, one roast meal with spuds, veggies,gravy etc, one chicken & veggie curry, chicken and sausage hotpot, chicken butties for work and chicken carcass and veggie soup - Yummy!

I am currently sat with an extra fleece rather than have the heating on, it's quite mild here in East Yorkshire - 6 degrees.

Hope you're all still watching them pennies. :T

Genia x x

affordmylife

Well done everyone so far.

Im off out in a minute to do my first two mystery shops and im nervous!!!!

Its supposed to be something that you do when you go to the shops anyway so you are not wasting time/journey but as im not spending i cant go to the shops. So its straight to the two jobs then home. I hope. If i manage that it will be a no spend day for me. I am aiming to try to not spend for two weeks but will probably need fresh fruit and veg before that so we will see.

Ill check in again tonight.

Im updating weekly as someone asked.

funkyfunkymonkey

Protogenia wrote: »

What are you other Ebayers/Amazon etc sellers doing? Including postage or not?

I won't be including postage because I operate my Amazon sales as a business - the profit is classed as income and is taxable, so postage, envelopes, paper, ink etc would be the same as work expenses.

FFM

Jacks_xxx

It's 2 degrees here at the moment (according to next doors thermometer but the BBC weather site says 3 degrees) so we're learning the "Hairspray" dance steps rather than put the gas fire on!

My DD has just run round the house turning everything off at the plug for me, and I've decided to leave hoovering until tomorrow to save leccy. (Glad you sorted yours out Mumzy! That's all you need on this challenge, things breaking on ya! :rolleyes: )

After dancing (well, giggling) we're going to snuggle up on the sofa and watch last nights Sense & Sensibility under the furry throw with what's left of the Christmas chocs!

I've done a Tesco order and need to update but I've got to go now cos my daughter has the dvd all cued up and has got her hands on her hips and calling me "Mu-um...Mum...Mu-uuuuum!"

Love Jacks xxx

rosieben

keren29 wrote: »

...
My fingers get the coldest - I'm sat here now with a top and a jumper on but haven't got the heating on and because I have lots of fast typing to do for my job it's my fingers which need to be kept warm.

When I was doing my piano practice (MANY years ago ) I had a hot water bottle on my lap - a tip from my piano teacher; you could also try some thin fingerless gloves - loads of freebie patterns on the net but I have quite a few if you're interested pm me.