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

Skint_Lynne

Hi everyone,

Well, that's February over with, I didn't spend much today, only £1.16 for air freshener as I nearly set the shop on fire today. I put a bit of toast on and then a customer came in, but the toast did not 'pop'. Instead it burned to the colour of a coal bricket and the amount of smoke was something else.:eek:

I am still spending quite a bit of cash, a lot was on petrol, but as I now have a company car, this should come down quite a bit. Also, DH will be finished in Kenya at the end of the month, so I will be able to decrease my spends on the phone. I pay 122.00 direct debit just now, so I am hoping that this will half at least (my broadband is through that as well). I am in credit with them just now, so that's something.

I am going to reveal my spends on 31st December. I have to be different.:p I am improving, it just horrifies me to think about what I was up to before I found this thread.

DH will be home at weekends after he comes back, so this means I will be cooking a lot more at home now. I'll need to get ahead of the game and think about what we will be eating. I will only eat at mum's monday to friday, I'll need to get used to him being around all the time. Poor soul, every time he comes back, I ask him when he's leaving again.:rotfl:

I made potato scones tonight, my brother ate 4 of them with butter, he said they were 'excellent'. They are nicer than the shop ones, I wish we had started making them years ago. Well, I'll be off, speak tomorrow frugalies. xx

Penny2myName

Here is my monthly totals for this month followed by overall spend so far
£4k Budget Challenge
BILLS
Jan 2009 £152.11 Feb 2009 £202.80
BOOKS
Jan 2009 £6.24
CHARITY
Jan 2009 £4.00 Feb 2009 £4.00
CLEANING
Jan 2009 £0.65 Feb 2009 £2.80
DELIVERY
Jan 2009 £21.26
FOOD
Jan 2009 £59.18 Feb 2009 £130.92
GIFT
Jan 2009 £14.97 Feb 2009 £2.99
HOUSEHOLD
Jan 2009 £108.65 Feb 2009 £1.28
MOBILE PHONE
Jan 2009 £10.00 Feb 2009 £10.00
OTHER
Jan 2009 £13.26 Feb 2009 £9.30
TOILETTRIES
Jan 2009 £108.70

TOTAL £499.02 TOTAL £364.09


Year to Date spending
Groceries - £1080.00/£190.10
Household Insurance - £142.00/£23.68
Internet access - £221.00/£30.55
Household - £200.00/£129.93
TV License - £141.00/£23.22
Telephone - £154.00/£68.66Really need to work on this
Mobile Phone - £120/£20.00
Wildlife Membership - £48.00/£8.00
Gas - £534.00/£145.00
Electricity - £365.00/£64.00
Water - £405.00/£0
Cleaning - £60.00/£3.45
Toilettries -£120.00/£108.96
Total £3590.00
Leaving £410 for :-
Books - £6.24
Everything else - £22.56
Travel - £4.80
Delivery - £21.26

angelatgraceland

Well Ive just totted up my totals and Im doing amazingly well! Ive allowed 10k for the year so 2.5k per quarter. So far have only spent 1284.96 so Ive got 1215.04 left for march!!! At this rate I will be able to add in my "excluded" items such as driving lessons. I really do need to get my figures down as next year we may only have a guaranteed income of 9k. My income isnt guaranteed-unless I get another job so I will need to call on the rainy day fund! I really only want to keep that-for my Direct debits which are not great. Last year I spent 14k before the DDs so if I manage to get by on 10k(or even 9k)this year it will mean life will be a lot better for us in future years. Every month I seem to learn more moneysaving ways!

skint_chick

BB - Congrats to you and Mr BB on the new job hope it goes really well and even though it's only a 6mth contract who knows where it will lead.

SFT - you're doing well for viewers! Good work:D

I've only spent £271 in Feb so very pleased with myself. Things are going well - new job is great barely a murmur of stress, nice people and plenty of training. Diet is going fairly well apart from the odd slip up and the good news is my monthly cycle is back so having a family doesn't seem so unlikely now. I think it's a combination of huge stress relief of work situation getting sorted and new diet.

Have spent tonight making sushi for OH -easier than I thought -and wholemeal apple muffins for work for me

shaz_mum_of__2

well done to penny2 myname and angelatgraceland and lynne (i think)

on your low(er) spends

Lynne my ex was a contractor and i was desperate for him to leave sometimes and then missed him..................what are we like ?? How is the shop doing ? wondered if you may reconsider having it at all once you started your new job...........but i think your tied into a lease aren't you ? Also do you sell online ? i am beginning to think there will be no shops left in 20 years and evrything will come mail order!

I am looking for extra way to make a few quid i am doing amazon and greenmertopolis for books and have been selling old currency to collectors on fleabay i do the TAB and l/wood scratchcards and have cashback accounts what else can i do apart from surveys/reviews i hate them

I am also planning a stall at the school fair in summer but not sure what to sell i would love to sell jam chutney and cakes and something hot like waffles with cream and syrup etc or something a bit weird like ostritch burgers ( i can buy these locally) any other ideas greatly appreciated


Shaz

dND

My goodness it’s been so long since I’ve been on the forum, life has just taken over. There is no way I can catch up on the posts so congratulations :beer: to everyone on your successes and hugs :grouphug: and best wished to all those needing them.

Long post warning!

Where to start – February was a bad month in that I lost another alpaca, which has left me suffering, panic attacks and suffering a rather large drop in my self-confidence again. At least this time round I know that I have to take care with these panic attacks and not ignore them as I did last time to disastrous effect (my breakdown). I also got very slack in updating my spending diary but I’ve now caught up just in time to post the end of month totals.

On the whole I’ve been very good and even reined in the non-challenge expenses. I did succumb to a couple of extras that have been long term wants; a lightweight sewing machine with free arm, the one I had is over 30 years old and a very heavy flat bed and one of those contraption for making paper bricks. Both were on offer and should help me to save money in the long run, well that’s my excuse.

Budget Spent Jan Feb
Electricity 610 € 20.72 20.72
Oil - for heating and tractor 1300
Logs 300 € 90.00 90.00
Paraffin 100 € 52.29 52.29
Groceries (Foodstuff) 2200 281.91 112.03 169.88
Groceries (Toiletries, cleaning & laundry products) 100 47.02 17.14 29.88
Cat food 400 € 131.59 2.42 129.17
Entertainment 400 € 37.47 17.47 20.00
Gifts - not family 100 € 6.55 6.55
Diesel - work and pleasure 1350 € 149.33 95.00 54.33
Everything Else 1040 105.01 52.82 52.19
TOTAL € 7900 € 921.89 € 355.72 € 566.17

OK how are people getting the excel tables to post??? Everything I've tried has failed Can you PM me as I can't get online as often as I'd like, thanks.

Overall it’s looking OK although I may have underestimated my cat food spend. I swear they are better fed than me! I’ve also spent about half the cleaning budget but I think I’ve most stuff that I need now.

Looking forward to March, I’ll have to refill the oil tank ready for the tractor usage. It will be nearly a month earlier than last year and that worried me for a bit as I thought I’d really cut down on the central heating usage. Then I remembered that the boiler was a broken and awaiting repair for more than 6 weeks last year so I think I’ve saved fuel even with an increase in tractor usage this year.

The entertainment budget for February is being used tonight; it’s the village’s Hunter’s Meal, a 9-course bambi and babe meal that will last over 6 hours. I know this can be an emotive subject but I am an omnivore and the hunting here is mainly for food and protecting the crops not just killing for the sake of killing, so I hope all the vegetarians and vegans on the thread will understand.

On the general farm side the chickens are laying and I’ve started planting the vegetables so apart from having food to sell I‘m on my way to being self-sufficient in eggs and vegetables too. :j I’ve been reading MrsM’s blog and I’m really jealous that she’s got her sweet potatoes to sprout, for anyone who’s thinking of growing veg in a small space, you just have to see what she’s doing, I’m really impressed.

Well that about covers it, well done to those getting to the end of this long post. Good luck to everyone for March.

shaz_mum_of__2

dND wrote: »

I’ve been reading MrsM’s blog and I’m really jealous that she’s got her sweet potatoes to sprout, .

Me too i followed the instructions but mine just rotted

Sorry about your alpacas deb did you find out the cause in the end ?

I love your blog by the way i get a sense of real warmth from your community and like the way you have been accepted.

shaz

MrDT

dND wrote: »

OK how are people getting the excel tables to post??? Everything I've tried has failed Can you PM me as I can't get online as often as I'd like, thanks.

You got mail

oliveoyl

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

Also, DH will be finished in Kenya at the end of the month, so I will be able to decrease my spends on the phone. I pay 122.00 direct debit just now, so I am hoping that this will half at least (my broadband is through that as well). I am in credit with them just now, so that's something.

Have you looked at Martin's International Callchecker... makes calling abroad much cheaper.



* relurks *

Frugaldom

Hi guys,

dND I'm so sorry to hear about the alpaca, I hope everything else is thriving and that you manage to get your own health problems in check very soon. Sending some virtual 'big hug support' just in case it's needed.

Photographs - Hmm... I don't really do the interior photo bit, my house is shy and my photography skills rubbish. :rotfl: Anyone who ever ventures into my little corner ofr Scotland, however, is more than welcome to drop in for a frugal cuppa.

I did the old budget tallying bit last night and February wasn't too bad, considering the bashing the budget took in January.

Bulk buys, food, toiletries & cleaning products - £145.24
Electricity - £90
Internet - £19.99
Gifts - £8.98
Travel & deliveries - £15.15
Coal & Firelighters - £4.10
Leisure/entertainment - £6.50
Total housekeeping spend = £289.96 :j
Total non-essential spending = £251.93 (garden, home improvements, livestock, savings)
Less extra cash earned or won (£277.14)
Overall total = £264.75

Several of us are now working our budgets from a standing start of £4,000 then deducting what we spend and adding whatever extra we make. I'm deducting everything this year (except rent & council tax) so my overall balance is currently standing at £3033.44 This means I need to make a few more extra pounds over the coming month to have a balance of £3,000 on 31st March. If I could manage that, I'd be delighted. :cool:

Off out into the garden now while the sun is shining. The eggs in incubator are due to hatch on Thursday 5th, still not holding my breath, though, as I still haven't got to the bottom of the temperature fluctuation or discovered which thermometer is correct! :rolleyes:

Loopylou, how are you? Any signs of Loopylou junior yet?

PS: 'Spoke' to Janey just recently and she's just a little bit busy sorting work-related stuff out at the moment frm what I can gather. Hoping for a spring meeting soon, though