Live on £4000 for a year - Part 2

mumzyof2

what channel is it on?

oh channel 4

Frugaldom

I'm having serious problems getting into the bingo site and just as many problems getting into the MSE forums. Everything is on a serious 'go-slow'. I did intend watching the 'large family' programme. Are we even allowed to discuss our opinions on such things nowadays?

nevadagirl

Hello everyone,

Haven't been around in ages, lots of interesting ventures on the go. I was meant to be out tonight at a charity pub quiz but I'm quite tired and don't really have any cash to give away. I'm going to donate what I would have spent going instead.

I've been crafting away and had my first sale at my friend's work down in Cheltenham last weekend. I made back my plane fare, donated part of the income to charity and we had a nice steak each at Cafe Rouge care of Mr T's deals. Prior to that I was crafting away and now I have a good idea of what sells and what doesn't I'll be doing a lot more. Although not in quite so much of my free time!

My fiance and I also put our names down for a new build which should be ready for just after we get married next year. I've been spending some time over on the housey boards to get an idea of the process, I think haggling over cashback and fittings is the order of the day. We've only signed up to ensure we get first refusal on the plot we want, so nothing is set in stone, but it's a really well-designed house in a conservation area that isn't jammed in and has restrictions on any further building locally. So while lots of people think new builds are a bad bad idea, this one works for us, and we can afford it.

So, after being with you in spirit so far, I think I will be properly joining in with the challenge for the second half of this year. I need to maximise all the part time bits and pieces I do, and we need to make sure that our regular wages go as far as they possibly can.

Oh, and I read about the kids programme in the weekend paper, but I'm watching Come Dine with Me on +1 and then it'll be ER time...

Frugaldom

CONGRATULATIONS JB - Your first win! :j

nevadagirl, welcome back and that's great news about the house. You'll certainly need to budget now, as next year you'll be joining the mortgage free wannabee forum challenges.

nevadagirl

Thanks - I thought I'd be mortgage free by now in this property but hey ho, all my learning will go into the next one.

I'd completely forgotten about Free Thursdays but now I'm in the Amazon too :rotfl:

Frugaldom

Having read everything I could find about how to save the veggie plot from cats, slugs, snails and other 'beasties', I had quite a productive day. Entire veggie plot, barring the potatoes, has been netted (keeps birds off), I trimmed off branches from the holly and laid them around the edges (stops cats crawling under netting), I planted extra garlic around the edges (can't remember what it does) and I made my mini pond by digging a hole, lining it with bubblewrap (insulation?) and used 2 large plastic bags as a mini-pond liner. I then surrounded it with rocks, added some into the pond so frogs can climb out safely, moved some of my froggy ornaments to the pond edge and hey-presto! I have a miniature water park where frogs will congregate to discuss solving my slug problem. I have taken photographs but have had so many problems online this evening that I haven't even tried to load them onto the computer. All I need now is some water cress and/or pond weed to set up the little eco-system.

Oh, and I potted up a load more pepper seedlings for selling at market next week and planted out a large pot with Coriander, Basil and Thyme seeds. And yes! I actually did manage to get some work done in between watching for [STRIKE]stupid[/STRIKE] free bingo tickets. I really think I need to give that up as a bad joke, though.

Just realised that the Isle of Man may not be such a quiet and relaxing trip next Monday - the TT is on! :rotfl:

whitewing

Mmmm...tell us more about your cute guy, Marru....I'm in a dreamy mood. H2B is at work this evening and I'm missing him...

Marru

Hi,

Sorry nothing to tell. At least not yet.

In a meanwhile I have a love sick quinea pig trying to hump his friend who is not impressed. This is to the extreme that this friend has lost weight as get distracted from eating constantly. I guess it is trip to the vet to get him health checked also I might have to move my girls into another room as they might get the dominant boy excited. I have been sitting here all evening booking free bingo tickets and operating as sex police to stop this piggy to bully and hump his poor friend. I don't want to have to separate them. Bother!

No wins so far and have now left the bingo rooms hoping that my last tickets that I have booked will win. My Dog wants to have a dog bed into the car (she is 14 and sleeping just on towels is a bit uncomfortable) and I was hoping to fund it with the bingo winnings but so far it is not happening.

Back to the subject. NSD for me today. Tomorrow another emergency shop as DD will be home for 9 days and I need to actually plan the menu as it is not just me grabbing whatever I can (which reminds me that I somehow managed to skip supper and now I am hungry). Lets see: Pasta bake, rissotto, Pasta, potato bake, chips and sausages, fish and potatoes, stir fry with noodles... that is only eight... off to read my veggie cook book...

And to scoff off the last bit of HM bread. Need to remember to buy some white bread flour tomorrow so can make another one - hopefully that one will be to Madam's taste. Her favourite two sayings are at the moment: Why? and I do it myself!

Night night everybody. There was something I was going to say but forgot. I shall do one of my catch up posts soon.

Marru

bails

Morning everyone, I'm shattered! So many things to do, especially now OH is working fulltime; think we need to redress the balance here!
My financial situation has taken several turns for the worse, due to silly decisions made when severely ill. :rolleyes: Anyhoo, I'm on the case with sorting them out, just more work I could do without.
I've just paid for my new car, so that's £950 pootling its way to someone else's pocket. It is good to have my own car for the time being though, and one day I'll be able to give it up. It should be very economical so fingers crossed as soon I won't be able to afford the petrol for it at this rate :rotfl:
I still haven't done my spends and have to put them off for longer as I have benefit review forms which need to be sent back; stressful times.
Sorry, this seems to have turned into a long moan rather than an update I think the bingo may have sapped the life out of me!

shaz_mum_of__2

Hi everyone

My neighbour thinks i am mad because i was out in the garden taking photos of my veg




potatoes in buckets




baby apples starting to grow..!!!




Actual!!! strawberries .............












hmmm i think my neighbour may be right :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:


courgettes and pumpkin and squash doing ok and so are the runner and french beans but peas haven't germinated yet is it too early/late


Shaz