Live on £4000 for a year - part 4 (Oct - Dec 2008)

Brighton_belle

Deleted_User wrote: »

(BB - I was impressed with your budget... you [strike]shamed[/strike] inspired me to try abit harder and do 4.5k instead of 5k!

Gosh:o How lovely to have inspired someone, having been inspired myself so much by others. That's what is so good about peeps posting budgets every so often. I didn't know where to start when I joined in July, but I've taken my time, using these 5 months as 'in training' and gradually got to understand the what and how of the 4k challenge and reduced what I can. Still plenty of work to graually do on the groceries front I'm sure. I shall have to work hard to stick to the cleaning/loo roll toiletries and mobile budet but I am determined to do so. I also have a very small gifts budget compared to some: I don't have many to buy for and am making more gifts now. I find making someone a cake really seems to thrill them so it's become a real pleasureable way to give a frugal gift.
CW - will be thinking of you and your children and grandchildren tomorrow xx

lyndasharp

:j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j

I've been on viewings again today and have found my absolute dream home, and my icesave claim email has come through so I'll have money in 5 days! I'm going to put my offer in on the house tomorrow, and thanks to Dad having more money than he thought, I can do something that would shock the house price board totally and pay full asking price if I have to... hopefully it won't come to that and I'll get it a bit cheaper!

sophiesmum_2

Woo Hoo, I am really excited for you Lynda, fingers crossed everything goes okay with this one:j :j
must be such a relief to see light with the ice save thingy too:beer:

Frugaldom

:j Good Luck, Lynda! :j

Frugaldom

Hi fruguys and gals,

I've added CarolBee's name to the challenger list and have done a bit more work on my spreadsheet for 2009. FrankieM (and anyone else who asked) we will most certainly be doing this challenge again next year and don't worry if you can't attempt the £4,000. It's more a challenge to help drive down the actual cost of living than one that sets financial boundaries. Of course, there are SOME rules, but these are only guidelines on what is included as an essential living cost. For the sake of arguments, we class the ability to access the Internet as an essential, although you may not agree if you live within walking distance of a library, or such like.

Sophiesmum, I have lost a fortune already through the Woolies disaster, my shares are hardly worth selling. I was hoping for a slight 'relapse' in the chronic financial state of affairs over the festive period but it isn't happening soon enough. I heard a token payment of £1 was being considered for the company - if I had the wherewithall, I'd offer £2 and a stab at keeping the Woolies boat afloat! Meanwhile, I need to get into a town to spend my vouchers before it's too late! :rotfl:

twinkle_star_2

Hello all you lovely frunchkins .

I wanted to post to say thank you to all the brave people who have been keeping so positive despite such sad losses. Love reading this forum - you're all so nice! :grouphug:.

Thanks to all the budgets just posted on here I have finally gotten around to writing down some proper figures for next years challenge. Essentially I have worked out what i'm not including in the challenge so I can see how much is left over. So, for 2009 it goes something like:

Rent - £3000
Bills - £900 (this is technically included in rent which is why I'm not including it in my money left over)
Travel to work - £660 (assuming no further price rises in bus passes)
Mobile phone - £144 (thanks to the inspiration from you lovely people I finally got around to changing my mobile phone tariff. Was paying £35 p/m until today which worked out at £420 p/a:eek:!)
Insurance - £100 (approx.)

Total = £4804
Leftover income = £4079

£4079 would equal £78.46 per week but I'm going to allow for £50 per week. Had previosuly been doing £75 per week but with the coming of the frugal-brain i've cut it down to something like £20-30 per week. So £50 x 52 weeks = £2600.
May have somewhat overestimated my frunchkin powers but hopefully I've allowed enough wiggle room so here's hoping it'll work out!:D


P.S. Congrats to Lynda!

FrankieM

Thanks nyk...
Is there a new thread or somewhere I need to sign up with my budget etc ...or do I just need to be patient!?

cw18

FAB news Lynda

sophiesmum_2

FrankieM wrote: »

Thanks nyk...
Is there a new thread or somewhere I need to sign up with my budget etc ...or do I just need to be patient!?

You can post your budget here for now and Nyk will add you to the list for next year.:D

Brighton_belle

Lynda, that's great news and I'm very excited for you: i 'lost' 2 houses before getting this one and can't imagine living anywhere else yet I thought the original one was a good idea. If you have a choice , I always think a house is better than a flat because you are in control of your budget & repairs, not other people(with flats, there can be problems getting other flat holding to ap there share, what ever agreements are in place.) Good luck with the offer.
Oh and welcome to the fold jill and frankie and twinklestar:T