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

JAMIEDODGER

Morning everyone.

Snow here too this morning although not too much of it. Looks pretty though!:D

DD for Tv licence has come out this morning so I am already spending februarys money:eek:

Need to pick up a few bits today when out and about, compost for planting and straw for hens, not to mention a couple of bits grocery wise. Will update totals later!

cw18

The snow's been sticking here since late yesterday evening -- looks nice, but I'm not looking forward to driving in it within the 20 mins or so



Anyhow - found some more receipts last night, including the Costco one. My figures (mainly grocery) may be a couple of quid short on actuals (I know I have one spend of about 50p that I didn't get a receipt for, and forgot to write down), but I don't think I'm far enough out to worry about things.....

At the end of month 1, my spreadsheet looks like this.......





As you can see, my expenditure at the end of month 1 is almost £230 above what my average monthly spend should be (a 34.5% overspend) -- but I'm not worried about this at all so early in the year !!!!

As individual lines, the ones above average are

Phone & Broadband - the payments on this are the last payments for my old line rental and what should be my last full month of the old Broadband. I was planning to take these out of the 'Anything Else' category, but for now have decided to leave them in here and see how much I can claw back from the following line over the year (by watching what chargeable calls I make - I only have evenings/weekends included for free).

Mobile Phone - This will continue to run more and more over budget until September-ish (when I can come off contract and move back to PAYG)

Windows - Whilst not 'over budget' (due to me having changed this one to let me get the guttering and eaves done in the Summer), it's over budget for one month of normal window cleaning. However, I've already paid for February so this figure won't change until month 3.

Dog Food - This one looks horribly over-budget, but I've included all the food I had in at the end of 2008 (as a stock item) -- and I should have enough to take us into July or even August. So any increase on expenditure here in the first half of the year will only be for odd treats, and I should end the year well under budget on this one (due to the larger dog having settled on the cheaper food)

Presents - Appears to be over budget, but I have already bought a fair number of birthday and Christmas present (and part of several more). Quite happy with this one, as they've either been sale items or things on limited availability. I didn't need any of these in Jan, and don't need any in Feb either.

Car breakdown - Looks like a total 'wipe-out', but this is an annual bill which comes up in January..... so it's now paid up until 2010 :T

Road Tax - Same state of play as my breakdown cover

Groceries - I shall blame this overspend on Sophiesmum :rotfl: Seriously, of what I've spent I reckon about £80 of it is now stockpiled (so should hopefully average out over the next couple of months), and £60 of the stockpiled items came from the trip to Costco......

Toiletries/Cleaning - Hopefully shouldn't need anything during Feb for this category, but over spend in Jan due to buying a couple of cleaning items I thought I had in stock (and didn't) and to buying enough swing bin liners in Costco to (hopefully) last right through 2009 -- and then some Also have enough toilet rolls to hopefully last until almost Easter.

Anything else - yes well! least said Main reasons for the overspend here are a couple of nightdresses for the Summer (my old ones are about to fall apart) which came to just under £7 (in total) in a sale, just over £14 on hanging baskets and seeds (still not decided where best to work these into my budget, but did debate putting them under 'groceries' instead ), and a stock-up on energy saving lightbulbs (the ones for my kitchen alone cost me £10, as they're spotlights and there are 7 fittings in the room !!!!)


ETA: Just had another look at my figures, and the annual budget for "one off" payments is £1129.50 (or £94.13/month), but I've spent £189.50 on these in January -- so that accounts for £95.37 of my 'overspend', and I'm even happier with my figures now Nothing else to go against these until March (boosters for one dog), and then nothing until July (service & MOT).

sophiesmum_2

Good morning frunchkins:D
Snow here this morning:D , will have to take DD to college as much too slippy for her scooter, nice to look out on though. Should have a quiet day ahead at work and then just chilling out tonight.
Mumzy hope your neck etc is feeling a little better.
Marru - Good luck for first day in your new job.

General frugal aims for today;

• storecupboard lunch and tea
• reduce, reuse,recycle one item- lots of pictures to charity shop
• do something nice for me -
• do something nice for someone else -take oldies shopping for new pictures
• fitter not fatter - swim and jacuzzi
• Try out making some veggie sausages if get time tonight ---maybe much later

Todays frugal meals;

• porridge , OJ
• HM seeded bread, baked beans, tomatoes
• Rest of yesterdays turkey in an omelette with mushrooms, onions, sweetcorn etc.

Fruit and veg portions;
1 fruit, 1 pulses,4 veggies,:D

Expenditure or additional income

needed to buy eggs £1.40 but got £71 from quidco

Remaining target cash for first 6 months food spends - £253.44 left from budget of £400 for first six months.

LollopyBear

Good morning all!

We got halfway to school before getting that magic phone call that school's been closed today I think my head of department was a bit bemused at the squealing from 2 girls that went on at that bit of news - but we were both wide awake and listening avidly to the local radio for school closures.

I know it is a bit naughty but my fellow teacher friend and I are going to celebrate this day by going to $tarbuck$ for a hot choc. :shhh:

It does mean that I will [STRIKE]catch up on lots of chores I need to do up town[/STRIKE] get lots of marking done I just can't believe how excited this has made me! :j :dance:

Happy snow day everyone!

mumzyof2

Morning everyone..

Its snowing here, i nearly fell on the way to school. :snow_laug

My neck is much better today still hurts when i move it but i can move it a little.

Going to sort out behind my settee today as its full of rubbish and the fact i can find DS schoolbag or shoes..so I have had to take him to school in nav blue shoes :rolleyes:

CW What does the puple column mean in your spreadsheet?

Thankyou sophiesmum

Hope everyone has a good day, just having a brew and check internet bankin and update on my threads then i will crack on with my jobs

Edit: Ive just accept a full and final settlement on my Overdraft whch stood at £125.88 and they accepted £80 so all paid off. Got the Credit card to do now at £410 which they have llready said i could have for F and F settlement. Im well excited. Off to update sig.

Edit so say paid off £100 off a o/d and they will now accept £50 a monthfor next 12 months.
Paid of £410 to credit card so 2 debts gone woohoo. Feeling well happy.. right now go do cleaning
edit again does anyone know where i can find the spendingdiary website.. i think im spelling the link wrong

[Deleted User]

Good morning all:hello: . I hope there's enough snow where you are to look beautiful but not enough to keep you from all your frugalling activities! To all those who've got an unexpected day off from work....enjoy:beer:

cw Just love your multi-coloured spreadsheet, it's so clear and looks user-friendly. Is it readily available through a link and could even a died-in-the-wool pen and paper gal like me get to grips with it?

Savvy_sewing

This moves so fast I find it hard to keep up with it.Been trying to read it so that I can get ideas as my losing my job has dropped my funds so low I am panicing.! Duvet day for me. Well sitting in bed with laptop and big dressing gown on, and the TV on.!! Really naughty of me, as I should have gone to Accupuncture and the gym, So £1.80 saved as not going to gym today!.

FrankieM

Morning everyone,

It would seem not coming here as often means I struggle to keep up with the thread but I'm managing to get other things done..
Pocket money and my mobile bill has come out but it should be a no spend day apart from that. We had roast pork yesterday so I'm hoping to do something with the leftovers. Going to look through the fridge and see what needs using up so I can make sure I can put it into the next few days food.

andromache_2

SNOW!!!

*ahem*

That sounds like a really thoughtful big-brotherly thing to do, masomnia I bet your sister really appreciated it. Money well spent, I say

Sorry to hear about the job loss, Mooloo. Really hope you manage to get things sorted.

:wave: to everyone else

Brighton_belle

Mumzy - well done on clearing your overdraft:T Glad you are feeling a bit better today.

Masomnia - that was a lovely thing to do as a brother an money well spent. As for the meal out -you had a good time and it's in the memory banks for ever. You are so aware of your budget I am sure you'll reign back control.

Marru - hope your first day is going well.
CW - I too love your budget layout and am going to spend time today making my own version within my current spread sheet. It was so easy to read and understand:T .
Big snow here on the south coast ,so house full with all 4 of us in, so heating on but will be a NSD otherwise.

Today's simplifying/frugal to do list:

• titivate account spreadsheets a la CW
• Finish clearing clutter from walk-in pantry (formally known as the dining room:D )
• Spend 1 hr on mosaics
• Slow cooker lentil lunches recipe to bulk freeze in portions