Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

bails

EagerLearner wrote: »

For the two of us, this currently totals: £2130.94

To explain further this covers:

All groceries
All household items / furniture / furnishings
Tel & broadband
Gas & Elec
TV Licence
All meals out / dvd rentals etc

Could I join really, really late please?

In 2007 we spent £3155 on these categories, so we'd aim to beat this in 2008.

Um, off the top of my head, clothes, transport (except for work-related costs with these two), presents, um, help anyone? Technically the meals out/DVDS don't count as they are entertainment and a luxury! It is quite open to personal interpretation what you include - for example, I have meds which are essentials but which also cost more than the whole challenge so I don't include them.

slowlyfading

Just found out the job I was meant to be having an interview on Thursday for has been filled internally.

bails

Oh no SF, that's rubbish! I hope something else good comes along soon; you were obviously FAR too good for that one

Frugaldom

Oh SF, that is terrible! I know it goes on, I know it isn't supposed to go on anf yet 'they' don't mind flouting rules but it is much worse when you already had the interview lined up and then find that out. would you really want to work for an establishment that involves itself in anything less than perfect procedures? Which bank?

Marru

bails wrote: »

Might you happen to know anything about a lovely bunch of flowers on my doorstep this morning?

I wish I have thought of it but no sorry. I was too tired yesterday to remember my name never mind to think something like that.I think it is your lovely OH!

SF: So sorry to hear about your interview. I am sure something better will come up.

Have managed to: cook lunch, get an urine sample from guinea pig, taken said guinea pig to the vet, booked a castration to the flatmate of the said guinea pig, walked the dog and yet again popped into the shop as forgot couple of essentials yesterday (like pickle and toilet paper). And that is it, I am finished.

Not good news about the piggy. The med is helping but not solving the problem. So we shall carry on and just keep an eye on him.

On the walk The Dog's legs started to gave up on her and I am now terrified that I am going to lose her as well. I lost my collie two years ago when I had to put her down after she couldn't get up anymore. But when I got her to the house from the car she was running ok. I am just blaiming myself as I haven't walked her for 3 days due to my cold and the horrendous weather and perhaps that is too much of a break for her old legs. I just have to keep her going.

So Nyk, next time that the moon is against us please can you pre warn me as I will send DD away and make sure I can just stay under the duvet until the danger is over.

Wishing good evening everybody.

Marru

Frugaldom

Hello again, can you believe that the sun is STILL shining and we have had no rain today? However, when I was out watering all my green tomatoes, I thought the greenhouse was going to lift off and blow away! I'm kind of hoping it's just the wind whipping up from the tide coming in but it's really blustery.

I'd to update my signature again after being in town this afternoon taking advantage of some bargains whilst there. Semichem have their Schwartzkoff (sp?) hair colours reduced to £1.99 so I treated myself to one, plus bought another pack of disposable latex gloves. I had run out and I wear these when baking - my paranoia that stems from working with animals and then preparing food - but they're only 99p for 10 and are reuseable if you keep your nails manicured, wash them (the gloves) carefully in warm soapy water, rinse them and then blow them up to dry. (Not like with a bomb or anything like that.) :rotfl:

The exercise bike has gone already! :T I had several enquiries by the time I got home from town and was able to arrange for collection at tea time. The person who collected hadn't heard of MSE :eek: so I've given her the details and told her about our moneysaving tactics. I don't know about anyone else but I always end up chatting for ages with folks - is it something to do with frugal living that talking non stop is such a habit because it's free? Please, someone say yes!

Did anyone do the free survey that was emailed via the 'UpMyStreet' website? After answering it (aided by HS/OH2B) I've come out as a Monica from 'Friends' who wants to be a farmer if I ever win the lottery! :rotfl: There were no options for 'none of the above' or 'I don't do the lottery'.

Sharing my review of Innocent Smoothies with you all: when they are 49p per litre reduced to clear in 'Spring Meadows', these taste absolutely delicious. I'd never tried them before (too much of a luxury for my frugal lifestyle) but the price was right and it contributes to the 5-a-day. Yummy! I also liked the pack design with the little storyboard explaining the ingredients! Did you know there are no guitars added? :rotfl: So refreshing to see some humour in the marketplace these days

Back again - I forgot to say that I did remember to take the wardrobe pickings to the charity shop, so that's another good deed done. Decluttering will need loads more attention but I should be able to have a bit more space once DD takes all her stuff away next month, when she & SIL2B move into their new place

EagerLearner

bails wrote: »

Um, off the top of my head, clothes, transport (except for work-related costs with these two), presents, um, help anyone? Technically the meals out/DVDS don't count as they are entertainment and a luxury! It is quite open to personal interpretation what you include - for example, I have meds which are essentials but which also cost more than the whole challenge so I don't include them.

Thanks B :T I guess for us it's easier to include meals out/dvd rentals etc as it's all the joint spending - clothes etc come out of our personal spend? I hope I have understood it all ok, the main aim being to trim necessary expenses like food & bills, and cut down on luxuries? Or is it really just a challenge on the necessary spend? If so we'd need to take out the DVD/Entertainment and the miscellaneous (booooo, hiss!)category.

I guess either I am doing the challenge on *my* spend, or, on the *joint* spend - what is everyone else doing overall?

Frugaldom

Hi EagerLearner,

I've been doing this challenge for 3 years now and I count in everything that's involved in the cost of living. I think of it as having only £4000 to last an entire year for everything I need and whatever is left over is for what I want. There are 3 of us living here but the others buy their own clothes and pay for any luxury items they may want, like their cars. We split the rent and council tax, so that's not part of the £4000 but everything else is, including stuff like basic household essentials - new iron, new kettle, heaters - and all my gift shopping. This is how my current annual targets look:

Groceries - £1000
Gifts - £400
Utilities - £1685
made up of
Electricity - £1400
Telephone - £225
Mobile = £60
Household - £187.90 (contents insurance and TV licence)
Internet - £210
Everything Else - £350 (Clothing, replacement household goods, entertainment, socialising)
Contingency - £167.10 (one never knows when the food budget will run out)

By sticking rigidly to this budget, everything else I earn is saved for debtbusting, luxury items, savings and investments. This is the main point of the challenge - being debt free (top priority) and, ultimately, having enough control over your household finances to enjoy life.
I'm saving for a house

Brighton_belle

EagerLearner wrote: »

I guess either I am doing the challenge on *my* spend, or, on the *joint* spend - what is everyone else doing overall?

There are just two of here too EL. I'm impressed with how you are doing for two.
I'm still getting to grips with the challenge and what is in it or not, so it has been useful to have a recap, so thanks.
At the moment I'm not including clothes (I don't buy many but I want the freedom to buy what I really want) I don't include transport, as I have some intermittant mobility probs and it's good for me to get out and about and I don't want to be forced to stay in for want of a bus fare because walkings a little difficult that day. Perhaps I'll work on these area in due course:D
At the moment I am focusing on (a)getting my food & household spending down through the GC challenge and (b)becoming more aware of my general spending through accounting for every penny. OH has come on board too which is a huge step forward for him so it is already having a very positive effect on us. Loads more to learn and put in place but I'm taking it one step at a time.
Oh, and I am definitely planning to make all my xmas pressies this year. I am planning on not spending a single pennie on pressies between now & xmas, other than that for cakes or basics for craft/garden stuff I plan to make.

slowlyfading

bails wrote: »

Oh no SF, that's rubbish! I hope something else good comes along soon; you were obviously FAR too good for that one

Clearly just annoyed now, lol.

nykmedia wrote: »

Oh SF, that is terrible! I know it goes on, I know it isn't supposed to go on anf yet 'they' don't mind flouting rules but it is much worse when you already had the interview lined up and then find that out. would you really want to work for an establishment that involves itself in anything less than perfect procedures? Which bank?

Nope, this is true! I'm looking at graduate training schemes at the moment, so hopefully something will appear!

Marru wrote: »

SF: So sorry to hear about your interview. I am sure something better will come up.

Thanks, I hope so!