Live on £4000 for a year - Part 2

Frugaldom

Hi folks, thanks for the words of support. However the wrongful doing has been done, it hasn't been via my Internet or telebanking. Bank has said it was done by mandate, so police should be able to retrieve copies. I did push my luck to see if one of the insurance companies would divulge the registration number of 'my' new car, but no luck. She did, inadvertently, divulge the telephone number given as a contact, which I noted and called as soon as she was off the phone - umm... nope, there;s nobody with my name works for Robert Wiseman Dairies in Manchester and they don't have an insurance policy for a small car. :rotfl: I would have suspected bank error but for the fact someone has gone to the bother of rhyming off a wrong telephone number, refer to me as Mrs (I am not a Mrs) and confirmed the first line of my address! I can't tell you what 'my' supposed house is like but I'm betting it doesn't have as good a garden as my current rental. :rotfl:

Dinner was an astonishing success, I'm a bit gobsmacked! :eek: The 'chicken curry without chicken' was bulked out with assorted peppers, onions and carrots and got devoured without as much as a, "not much chicken in this," comment from DS. :rotfl: I'll try same with sweet & sour next time and I've already tried it with lasagne and bolognese sauce, which works just fine. Got to keep practicing if I'm going to have tons of homegrown veggies this summer.

Easy Living magazing is giving away a Laura Ashley canvas bag in June edition, so I received a free bag with my free magazine. (Free subscription with ipoints.) Have just checked and I'm back up to about 2,500 so I should have enough for something else soon. Still not managed anything from Pigsback, though, since they increased the points from 1000 to 1150 for a £10 voucher! Now off to check my other sources of freebies and see if I can find something to go with the homemade card for Father's Day. :rotfl:

MrDT

Uh oh, identity theft At least the bank is on top of things and sorting this out quickly for you nyk! Seen some real horror stories on the idiotbox about this kind of thing, but luckily sounds like you found out about it before they could do any real damage

I have a big pile of 'rubbish' paperwork next to me that I'm gonna burn on a bonfire at the weekend I think. Doubt anyone goes bindiving round here, but meh, better safe than sorry!

lyndasharp

Well, just got back from the viewing. Nyk, there's no way they'd build in the field opposite. It's actually owned by the Science Museum and is their large object stores, it's an old RAF base and the hangars are full of planes, cars, and other nice stuff!

The house does have a lovely garden, great location, loads of parking for my Morris Minor habit... but it does need a bit of work to remove all the wood chip wallpaper and repair the garage.... I know that doesn't sound too major, but when it's at the top end of my budget already there wouldn't be much to spare for extra work. I've got a couple more to see on Saturday, so will see how they compare.

whitewing

Nyk, ref the DD refund. The direct debit guarantee means the bank have to ref straight away if you dispute it. Good to hear that they are doing so.

sophiesmum_2

Hi everyone just landed back home from my holiday and now having a cuppa and a catch up.
I have to read pages 155- 182 so it might take a while to see what everyone has been up to while I have been away.:rolleyes:

Anyway have had a great time, lots of sunshine,lots of good food. and quite a few bottles of wine;) . Spent time with our maltese friends and also did some frugal research while we were there for our future move to live there:D

Back to work tomorrow:eek:
Off to catch up now:p

Mollymop5

evening everyone.Not posted for a while but still reading.
Nyk I'm so sorry you've had your ID pinched.I know you have your money returned but it still mustn't feel nice
Sophiesmum, good to have you back.Hope your holiday was a good one.
I will be back in the next day or too to post this months figures.Been a big spend this month!!!

mumzyof2

Glad to have you back sophiesmum hope you had a fab time

looby-loo_2

Welcome back Mollymop5 and Sophiesmum. Pleased the holiday was good. Nyk, I've had called inviting me to take out ID theft insurance but declined it. This makes me realise it can happen to everyone out of the blue. I hope it gets sorted soon.

I spent another day on the lotty in the drizzle until 3.30 then gave up. All the weeds are cleared, wood pile moved, coldframe relocated and hedge clipped. Now I have a hugh rectangle which just needs digging. It has just one plant in the middle which I must protect and dig round - an artichoke.

I lined the base of the coldframe with black plastic from compost bags. As I lifted it a little wood mouse ran from under it. Five mins later it returned with a bundle of something in it's mouth. Then ran out again. Later I had to remove the plastic. There was a little hollow containing a pile of dry beech leaves, dandelion seeds and grass. I took a peep and there was a mummy mouse and three (that I could see) babies. She froze and stared back at me - poor thing looked so frightened. I covered her back up and replaced the plastic. I placed a line of long grass from the edge of the plastic to the field edge. The babies looked quite far developed so hopefully if I start digging at the other end tomorrow she will relocate into the field soon. Cynical DH said I may as well have taken the cats to watch as we'll find her on the doorstep tomorrow morning anyway. (Cats are all in with me now!)

slowlyfading

Nyk, :eek: that's scary! Sorry that has happened to you! I hope you get it all sorted out ASAP.
I've updated my signiture with everything that's happened lately, and its looking more scarey by the second - I have NO idea how I'm going to get to the end of the year with it looking like this - miracle anyone? Hopefully as the weather gets warmer, I'll spend less. Not sure how, but hopefully! ah well, taking a day as it comes and all that
sf :heartpuls

sophiesmum_2

Good morning fellow frugallers:D
I am now nicely refreshed from my holiday and raring to go again in the frugal stakes. Over the next week I plan to do the stockpiling for my 6 month challenge so need to settle down tonight and sort out some rough menu plans. Nyk have seen that you have already done some stockpiling while I have been away - good bargains!
Need to get out to the greenhouse and veggie patch later,if it ever stops raining here:rolleyes: ,I can't wait to see how much things have grown while we have been away:D
While we were in Malta I was researching costs etc for when we hopefully go to live there in a few years time. Mostly there are just small stores for food and vans parked at the ends of streets that sell lovely fresh veggies daily. I managed to find one supermarket although it was quite small but was pleased that it was LIDL :j.

Catch up with you all later, work is calling:rolleyes: