Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

BlueFleur

:eek: Managed to get through the bureaucracy that is the student loan company and discover I owe just under 15k :eek:

Then I guess I'm earning 7k more a year after graduation than I was before. Still! Looks like I'll be on the 4k a year challenge for a fair while yet.

As we are discussing next year's challenge, I thought I'd ask a random question I'd been pondering. Will we up the amount to £4200 a year, assuming 5% inflation? If not, we'll be effectively allowing ourselves £3800 of today's money. This is all random geeking with money, and should not be taken seriously

taka

BlueFleur wrote: »

As we are discussing next year's challenge, I thought I'd ask a random question I'd been pondering. Will we up the amount to £4200 a year, assuming 5% inflation? If not, we'll be effectively allowing ourselves £3800 of today's money. This is all random geeking with money, and should not be taken seriously

I wondered this too but if we are doing an all in type challenge (that will be uber depressing numbers from me...sob) I guess its kind of moot??? I like the 4k challenge as at least I could dream of my outgoings being 4K The scarily high number challenge doesn't really have the same ring about it

BlueFleur

Ah, I seem to have missed that part of the debate. So is it going to be a scarily high number and include rent/council tax etc? I'll miss the 4k

whitewing

Oh well, whatever it is, I will be here with my unrealistic targets, lol.

taka

whitewing wrote: »

Oh well, whatever it is, I will be here with my unrealistic targets, lol.

Yep me too!! I like the 4k challenge as the things I count in my 4k challenge are the things that I have (in theory ) a bit of control over and COULD reduce (though I'm currently likely to completely fail the 4k challenge). All the rest like mortgage, council tax, bus pass that I don't count are hugely depressing and largely unchangable. It would also complicate things as I'm hoping to fill my 2009/10 ISA (its a higher rate than my mortgage so it gets filled 1st) and actually start making mortgage OVERpayments next year if my budget planning goes as planned! That would make mu figures for the year even more depressing!! :rolleyes:

slowlyfading

I'll be here next year too! :j

Frugaldom

If it makes anyone happier, my next year's challenge will remain the same at 4k for the third year in a row (assuming that I succeed this year). I count everything into my cost of living budget except rent & council tax/water, which means that the more I spend on cost of living essentials the less I have for 'luxuries'. It helps me focus on what's really important, like avoiding debt.

The title of the challenge will change, as we need to lose the 4k part for obvious reasons I think it would be fun to call it something like 'Beat the System' but that might sound too enticing for busy-body official treasury types who'll then assume that the economy is fine, folks can survive on a pittance, and there's no need for Government intervention to solve the debt or housing crisis. Any suggestions?

Edited in: I may continue calling it the 4k challenge and it's up to everyone else what's counted in.

Marru

nykmedia wrote: »

Everyone who is 33 and in the West Country, maybe you could start a local club? I did say just last week or so that there was something about the number 3!

Oi - I don't want to be left out! And my age is dividable by 3 .

EEEEEEEK! I have just made an application for DD to start school (reception class) next year!! That is just so scary how quickly time has gone. Now I am crossing everything for next few months as we are not exactly on the catchment area on either of the schools that I put as options but I hope that my "narrative" was persuasive enough.

Nothing else to report here. It was NSD today and I have stuck on the meal plan apart from breakfasts as failed to get on with the joghurt making. I will have a look at the recipe that Sophiesmum posted to this thread and see if I can get it started tomorrow.

Mrs Hayes, you are entitled to. Put your feet up when ever you get the chance.

I still haven't sorted out my finances, I am hoping that over the weekend I can summon some energy to get all spreadsheets reconciled.

Off I go now, hoping to be horizontal by half nine - unheard of but feel like neccessary today.

Night night,

Marru

mumzyof2

I just wanted to say im still here and that my son goes to school tomorrow for his first day. I feel sick to be honest lol

Frugaldom

mumzyof2 wrote: »

I just wanted to say im still here and that my son goes to school tomorrow for his first day. I feel sick to be honest lol

GOOD LUCK FOR TOMORROW - try not to cry even though it's really difficult as it's so hard to believe that the tiny person you're taking to school is your baby... I think both of mine were embarrassed by me on the day.

Marru - 9.30pm? I can still seeeeeeeeee you! :rotfl:

I've started doing some simple competitions My biggest problem is that I won't enter anything that I have no use for the prize - like holidays or cars - I just want the cash and think I should leave the other stuff for those that need or want it. Kind of reduced the odds of my winning anything if I'm going to restrict myself on what I can and can't enter! :rolleyes:

Signature all updated and I've squeezed in everything except the wedding savings, the stoozing and the latest adventure into the land of 'comping'.