Live on £4000 for a Year, 2009 Challenge, part 1

Skint_Lynne

Yes, that's fine mumzy. It's not set in stone that you must not go over the £4k. It's a good idea to stay in the challenge though as it really makes you think about spending money. I am going to try and have as many no spends as possible. The way I am keeping track is keeping a notebook in my bag, write down all spends and use the spending diary to record direct debits and spends as they come in. 12 days in, I have had 3 no spend days, but I can see that I am still spending too much, so will need to keep cutting back where I can.

fallen_angel_shelley

Good evening frugalers. well today was my 1st back at uni after the christmas hols, I didn't want to get up when that alarm went of at 6am:eek:. They were giving out free microwave burger things on campus today, so I gave it to DS. I didn't have to to eat this morning so treated my self to chibatta with, chicken, chesse and jalapenos and a coffee, it was yummy but at a price £3.85:eek:.

Not sure who it was that mentioned this challenge getting a facebook page, but I think it is a fab idea.

My student loan/grant went in the bank today:j, I was going to tranfer some into my savings account but I read on another thread the other that my Hal!fax student current account has a better interest right now 2%, so what i'm going to do is pretend that I have transferd it and just keep a note on paper of what I would have left in there if I had of taken it out IYSWIM and live of that.


Mumzy- could you not get a rough idea of you have spent by getting a bank statement. I just take cash out the bank now for day to day running cost and add that to my 4k sig and only use my debit card for food shopping.

right i'm of to up date my sig and then one more brew and bed, I worn out after running round from class to class, and most of them are up 3 flights of stairs, and getting so early has been abit of a shock to the system:rotfl: .

Big hugs for everyone.

Shelley x

angelatgraceland

mumzyof2 wrote: »

Ok ok.. so after much thought I can afford to draw out £90 a week.. Im not going to do this challenge for everything. Im going to count all DD's etc but not debt payments. Gas 15 a week and elec 10 a week will come out of the £90. Im starting this on thursday as thats when i get paid. I will try and not use my card anymore. does that sound ok?

Excellent mumzy! Keep at it! It does take a while to adjust. I keep a list in my purse of what it covers as I tend to forget. You will know by this whether you are allowing enough for your challenge and you can always adjust it in a few weeks if its not working out. However-you will be aware of what is going. Spending only cash is importannt as when you start using cards it disappears too easily and we forget what went where. I nearly paid for my petrol on a card yesterday-until I realised it wasnt in my purse because it has to come out of the cash. I can be forgetful. People think Im organised but Im not too organised. I put restricitons on things which makes it easier.

cw18

fallen_angel_shelley wrote: »

Not sure who it was that mentioned this challenge getting a facebook page, but I think it is a fab idea.

Don't you DARE all go disappearing on me :eek:

I don't (and won't) "do" facebook

DD seems to live on there -- and between that, another similar board of some kind and MSN has managed to pick up one virus to many !! Her PC now needs another total rebuild, but without any disks for it I can't do it for her -- and the local shops charge £80 a time !! This will be the third time in under 4 years!

The virus she has now is one that can grab bank card details etc., and major digging on the 'net says no way to get rid of it other than a total reformat/rebuild :mad:

Guesty6

cw18 wrote: »

Don't you DARE all go disappearing on me :eek:

I don't (and won't) "do" facebook

DD seems to live on there -- and between that, another similar board of some kind and MSN has managed to pick up one virus to many !! Her PC now needs another total rebuild, but without any disks for it I can't do it for her -- and the local shops charge £80 a time !! This will be the third time in under 4 years!

The virus she has now is one that can grab bank card details etc., and major digging on the 'net says no way to get rid of it other than a total reformat/rebuild :mad:

In proper MSE style, I am sure someone on here could help with your missing Discs, do you have the XP Serial number still?

cw18

Nope - nothing at all !!!

Guesty6

It may be on the actual PC case on a sticker.

looby-loo_2

Bought a big bag of onions sets from the local allottment group for £1

looby-loo_2

cw18 wrote: »

Don't you DARE all go disappearing on me :eek:

I don't (and won't) "do" facebook

Me neither - just don't want to get involved

mumzyof2

Guesty i dont have a credit card just a debit card.

Thankyou Lynne I have a little note book and i will take it to college tomorrow as i usually buy my breakfast there but i will try and make my own to take tomorrow. So hopefully a NSD day tomorrow (have u guessed what the £6 on yet? lol). I say a NSD but have to pay £2 odd for bus but not counting that as i get it back from jobcentre when they buck there ideas up and start paying me back ..been 10weeks now.

Edited to say food will alsocome out of the £90 a week. But i have loads and loads in so wont need any for a month or so. except veg n fruit n milk which is free for me

does anyone know of any cheap things for a childs party..like party bags etc napkins, paper plates? things for party bags.
cant believe my DD is nearly 3... I have no babies anymore..they all growing up so fast, only seems last week my son was turning 4 and now he is 4 and half!!! I wish they werelittle again