Live on £4000 for a year - Part 2

lyndasharp

Mumzy, have a look to see if any Cross Stitch magazines are on 3 for £1 - you often get small kits to stitch with all the materials included free.

whowants2brich

Hi all... Quick question - my car just failed its MOT and may need work of around £500... I assume that the cost for repairs etc can't really be included in the £4k challenge limit?

I've done 40,000 miles and 2 MOTs without problem, now for a change it's failed and needs brakes etc so won't be cheap but can only be expected on a car that's now up to 50k mileage (I bought it with 10k on the clock).

I guess it's MSE that I get to work from home for a couple of days as I can't get into the office by train (2hrs+ each way), the joys of working in IT...

On a better note, I'm going to make some gluten-free cakes, bread and some normal glutenous bread. A long day with the breadmaker working overtime, while working on my laptop in the meantime... (if anyone wants some recipes, let me know )

Have a nice day, it seems that the sun has come out to say hello - which will be great for my herbs

Frugaldom

Yet again, the sun is shining - that's been every day now for the best part of 2 weeks, so I haven't done much baking or housework recently! Garden is starting to look great, though, and I'm now a dab hand at lighting the BBQ! :rotfl:

Mumzy - I bought a plastic greenhouse, so my grow bags are in there.

WW2BR - If your car is an essential for work then it's a cost of working expense, not a cost of living expense, so your survival budget is safe enough for now.

Tesco Clubcard letter arrived! :j I now have £6.50 worth of vouchers, so that'll be another £20 worth of deals towards my Ireland trip plus £1.50 worth to carry over for next time! :beer:

This morning I went Freecycling and got a lovely old handmade toolchest that I was planning on using for my garden tools in greenhouse. However, I have now decided that it's going to be used as a kindling box. It's not often there are Freecycle ads from my area and the lady was just as excited at finding someone local to give the box to, as I was to receive it Now invited back there for coffee, thank you, see you again soon.

Thank you for the Basil tip, I have seeds that still haven't been planted and I did manage to mix up a concoction that seemed to wipe out the cloud of midges instantly! I had a windolene spray bottle and mixed up water, vinegar, tea tree oil and some lavender and for whatever reasdon, it worked an absolute treat. DS says it stinks, mind you, but it's left the big window sparkly clean.:rotfl:Off to sort out my Tesco Deals now. :T

I'm back! Look >>>> Stena Line Tokens to the value of £25.00, £6.25 of Clubcard Vouchers used... they accepted smaller 'denominations' than £2.50, so I now have a total of £65 in vouchers and the day trip to the Giant's Causeway costs £31 per person plus £10 booking fee. I am excited about my trip again, I've never been to Ireland and I've never been on the Seacat!

wornoutmumoftwo

Does anyone else on here use the Clubcard Plus at mr T's?

I usually put a tenner on mine at customer services, whizz round the shop and pay with it and get double points every time.

Frugaldom

wornoutmumoftwo wrote: »

Does anyone else on here use the Clubcard Plus at mr T's?

I usually put a tenner on mine at customer services, whizz round the shop and pay with it and get double points every time.

Thanks, MUST find out more about that!

Whitewing - just reading the Tesco Deals magazine and they have the Open Univesity listed. OH could do his degree using Tesco Deals Vouchers but I think you'd need to start following the Tesco boards to learn how to accumulate points. That thread amazes me but I don't have the brass neck to try many of the suggestions.

Carlsberg

Quote - Also in the summer Tesco quite often have discounts on tickets there. Maybe other supermarkets do too.

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Went into Tesco this morning for cat food. On the till they have vouchers for gret days out. Dont know where exactly for, but worth an ask!

Not signed on here for ages, and the task has kinda gone to seed. Ooops. Glad to see you are all doing well. :T :T

wornoutmumoftwo

Club card plus is NOT advertised, you have to contact customer services;
Tesco Personal Finance,
PO Box 104010,
George House,
36 North Hanover Street,
Glasgow,
G1 2YF
Customer Service Contact Number

08457 10 40 10, lines are open 24hrs, 365 days a year.

I got mine when they first came out and you can set up a Standing order/Direct debit or do as I do, work out what you need to spend, pay it in at customer services and then spend it at the till - double points every time, but only if you pay with it.

I am actually up to 3400 points at the minute (Xmas saver as I use it for pressies), never seen anything I've fancied in the deals although I'm tempted with the OU.

Also if you go slightly over your balance they don't do all the rediculous charges that banks/cc do, and you get interest while it's in credit.

I use it for budgeting my shopping, pop #50 on it on pay day (weekly), top it up if I have to.

(Lost my pound sign)

Would highly recommend it if your main shop is Mr T's.

redglass_2

Nyk - according to the wild food site i got onto (courtesy of another Frugaller - thank you! ) the smell of crushed elder leaves repels flies, which might leave you a bit more basil for the kitchen. In the south of France they use saucers full of lavender oil on windowsills where the flies come in, or you could try Ye Olde English rural method of painting the walls of your rooms blue - bit extreme if you ask me, and judging by the way flies zoom towards those blue neon lights on electric insect-zappers, I'd say they adore the colour..:D Marru, I'm about to PM you about the bath.
So far this month I am way, way over budget and steeped in shame. Just had to put some of my hard-won savings back in the current account. :sad:

DdraigGoch

Hello again - gasp! I'm back online, been having a few BT probs but have found, unsatisfactory, way around it.

This won't be my last post [sorry!] but I really can't pretend to be on here as a fully unpaid up member any more, I'll have to officially resign, but I'll still lurk and post as usual if that's ok. My finances are so out of whack that it's unbelievable, so I have to get them back into line before I can go for any challenges as the getting back into line will be challenge enough for me as it is ...

sorry but that's how it goes.

best of luck to all - you have my complete admiration.

DG

wendy_ann1983

Mumzy, just tried to Pm you but it says your full.