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

carolbee

cw18 wrote: »

I'm also considering becoming a 'cash shopper' in 2009, at least for things like groceries and petrol that are ones I don't pay on DD. Problem is that I need to find a couple of small but sturdy (and secure fastening and cheap) purses to make this a viable option, as if I have everything in one purse I'll never remember how much I have for what each week/month (probably pulled monthly for me)

I use cash for groceries and petrol, keeping the money in jars, one for petrol and one for groceries. Works well as I use some local shops for one or two bits and I find it easier to keep control, it also saves keep entering things on the electronic budget, just one entry per month for each item.

Janey51

Smlsave well done for posting your budget :beer:
I see you have put car tax but nothing for MOT, servicing etc....or is this not included in your challenge?
I don't include car expenses as I have to use my car for work (community based)unless the car is being used for holidays and then I would include the diesel for that.

Nice to see old faces back. Hello all. This thread is addictive :hello:

I am staying in the warmth today as it's freezing outside and the roads are like glass.
I have sold a couple more books on Amazon which makes my earnngs over the last 2 weeks £31+ Straight into my terramundi's tummy it will go for my holiday next year :T

When I posted earlier about drawing out my entire budget for the year at 3 monthly intervals and losing interest...I suppose I could open a basic building society account that pays a tiny bit of interest...anything is better than nothing....and use that account solely for household expenses.

I already have Building Society account that my wages/pension get paid into and my SOs and DDs go out of. I also have Co-op Cashminder Account that I use for internet shopping.
I will have a look around for a bog standard Building Society interest paying savings account that has a branch locally.
I wonder if I can have 2 of the same savings accounts with my BS that I already belong to? That would save all the rigmarole of proving who I am :rolleyes:

grandma247

Woolies is having a sale. I went in this morning. 10% off sweets,20% off many items and 50% off some stuff. I was very restrained and just got a Ladybird track suit for youngest son age 9. £5.60 for that

Just noticed the add above right. I dont think ours started on the third though it seems to be the first day today.

slowlyfading

:hello: everyone and sorry I've not been around much lately.

Firstly, I've updated my signiture to show the correct amount. I'm still doing well, since there's only 26 days left to go! :j I've done most of my christmas shopping as well, so that's including in the total spends. I just have my dad to buy a present for - why are they always so hard to buy for? I can never find anything that I think he might like, and normally end up giving him a voucher or something so he can get what he wants himself, but its not the same so I'm still on the look out, but I don't think it'll be too expensive to buy him something.

I've also lost 10lbs! :j I've been trying to cut back snacking, and as I work in a bakery, I was eating a lot of fatty foods, which I've also tried not to eat. It seems like its working! I'm so pleased with myself, as I've having a rough time at the moment, and I normally turn to binge/purge cycle, but I haven't so far

I'm sure I had something else to write about.. but I can't remember what it is! I'm not going to do a budget like you all are doing for next year, simply because I'm not in a fixed situation at the moment and so I don't know when that will change, as it could do at any moment.

I'll have a look back at the thread now.
sf xxx

MrDT

nykmedia wrote: »

I, like Whitewing, am interested in what one's 'lady friend' will be receiving by way of that extra special gift.

Trust me, I wish I knew the answer to that one!!Can't really spill before Christmas as m'lady lurks on the forums... but I can let you all know on boxing day lol! Well, provided its a family friendly gift I can hahaha! :pWon't be stingy on the lovely lady friend prezzie of course Just everybody elses lol

kerron7

Hi,

I have to admit that i am also a serial lurker, i have to have my daily fix of this thread lol. I really need to curb my spending & pay off all much of the cc by May. You all seem so lovely and have picked up some really great frugal tips. Looking forward to January & being positive about finances.

xx

slowlyfading

:hello: kerron7 and it'd be lovely to have you join us! x

Janey51

nyk well impressed with your logs. And jealous. Mine are diminishing rapidly but my friend's partner is going to bring some up next week.
Just need the log burner fixed now.

Welcome kerron7. You will soon be as mad as the rest of us have become over the months.

thriftylass

SmlSave wrote: »

Thanks everyone for being so welcoming!

Here's my current budget for your keen eys to go over:

How many people is that for?

Home Insurance - £25p/m - £300p/yr
Water - £5 p/m - £60p/yr
Gas - £25p/m - £300p/yr
Electric - £32p/m - £384p/yr
BT - £12p/m - £144p/yr
Sky - £27p/m - £324p/yr
Life Insurance - £30p/m - £360p/yr
Groceries - £200p/m - £2400p/yr Might be able to reduce that slowly without reducing standards (loads of tips on here), we spend 150 for two and cat
Car Insurance - £30p/m - £360p/yr
TV Licence - £10p/m - £120p/yr
Car Tax - £10p/m - £120p/yr

TOTAL: £4872 per year :eek:

I agree with Nyk, what about household items, going out, clothing, holidays etc. Although you can tailor the challenge to your needs, just need to declare it:D. I for instance don't include holidays because I'm here to save and to have money for hols.

SmlSave

Thanks for the help nykmedia, thriftylass and Janey51

Both buildings and contents is covered under £25p/m.

I’ll be calling BT bout their package now I know about it! The internet is included in the Sky package although we may change this sometime next year

Groceries is all the shopping done with food included, I know I should really separate it into different bits – but I’m lazy

Mean TV Licence people

I think I’m going to go with an annual household running budget as all house ‘things’ are paid out of the joint account whilst we have separate accounts for Clothes, Socialising, Gym, Hobbies etc.

DIY is £50p/m - £600p/yr

Gifts £25p/m - £300p/yr

Enjoy (eating out/drink at pub) £20p/m - £240p/yr

I see you have put car tax but nothing for MOT, servicing etc....or is this not included in your challenge?

Maintenance would be £25p/m - £300p/yr

The Mortgage is £690p/m - £8280p/yr but I’m not going to include it on my budget as it’s a grumpy figure :mad: that I’m trying to work on over on the Mortgage page via my personal budget.

That brings my yearly total to a grand total of £6312 :eek:

Although you can tailor the challenge to your needs, just need to declare it:D

I, SmlSave, hereby declare that I shall challange myself to £6000 'household' budget.

It just me and OH so Groceries can definitely come down, we have a slight alcohol problem whereby we buy too much :beer: so we can definatly improve there!