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

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments. DH is waiting for a couple of people to phone him back but has decided to go back self employed asap even if he does get a full-time job he can do self employed stuff evenings and weekends. I am lucky cos he isn't afraid of hard work, just thinking of a name to trade as at the min then am getting some flyers printed up and me and Daisy will be leaflet dropping!! If anything this could be a good opportunity, like I said before so glad i've started this challenge this year and already learnt how to 'cut my cloth!'

Thanks to you all for being a positive inspiring bunch!! :beer:

xx

Snow_White_5

loopylou - sounds exciting. Good to hear you're so positive! :beer: Good luck with the leafleting.

Just popping in to post my total for the first quarter: £925.18, which isn't bad for a newbie!

sophiesmum_2

Sorry to hear about your OH Loopylou, look on it as an opportunity. Hope you succeed in your new venture. xxx

sophiesmum_2

Well it's been fun so far:D and pleased to report I am so far underbudget - woo Hoo!!!
Congratulations to everyone who has stuck it out so far,:T :T hope you have learnt lots about your spending habits and where to make cut backs.
Personally I am very happy - particularly with my food spends as am on track so far for £400 for 6 months - thanks to my lovely storecupboard and stockpile :j This is the most effective moneysaving tool I have found so far. Have also mnaged to neutralise other miscellaneous spending so far with extra income from various sources so that is all good too:D
Thanks everyone for the lovely community support and thanks to Nyk for running the challenge and keeping me frugally entertained and educated through her frugaldom blog :A

JANUARY END OF MONTH TOTALS

Food for stockpiling £136.66
Fresh foods £8.50
Toiletries for stockpile £5.55
Gifts for stockpile £10.08
Shoes/clothing £32.99
Car Tax (annual) £120.00
Gym membership £32.00
Life insurance £14.49
Cable /broadband/telephone £82.00
Miscellaneous £5.05
TOTAL MONTHLY SPEND FOR JANUARY £447.32

FEBRUARY END OF MONTH TOTALS

Food for stockpiling £9.40
Fresh foods £13.40
Gifts for stockpile £4.38
Toiletries £12
Gym membership £32.00
Life insurance £14.49
Cable/broadband/telephone £82.00
Miscellaneous £8.18
TOTAL MONTHLY SPEND FOR FEBRUARY £175.85


MARCH END OF MONTH TOTALS
Food for stockpiling £9.88
Fresh foods £9.00
Gifts for stockpile £5.20
Toiletries £1.38
Gym membership £32.00
Life insurance £14.49
Cable/broadband/telephone £82.00
Miscellaneous £0
TOTAL MONTHLY SPEND FOR MARCH £153.95
TOTAL SPENDS TO DATE £777.12
Remaining of £4000 budget £3222.88

Remaining target cash for first 6 months food spends - £211.08 left from budget of £400 for first six months.

Extra income generated £250.43 /spent £118.19 / left £132.24
ITEMS BOUGHT WITH EXTRA INCOME:
tortilla press/flour £33,
boots pressies £18.35,
hanging baskets and brackets x 6 £17.88,
planters £20,
blueberry bushes/compost £12.99,
gardening book £10,
grow bags £5.97,

And as a frugal brucie bonus I have also lost 20.5lbs since the start of the challenge too:j :j
Life is Good:D

slowlyfading

wow, well done on the weightloss sophiesmum!! Any tips? xx

sophiesmum_2

Just following a low GI/GL diet ,eating green veggies and salady stuff and keeping my carbs down to about 30g a day. The swimming is helping too:rolleyes:
Still got a lot to lose yet though;)

Sounds like you have had a lovely fun day today SF :j

slowlyfading

I've had a great day - finished off with a walk on the beach as the sun was going down! I'm trying to do more exercise and stuff so fingers crossed something may happen soon lol! xx

[Deleted User]

Another question.... I know DH will probs need Public Liability insurance. Anyone know anything about this? Any companies to recommend? Or is it just a quick look on the internet and go for the cheapest, obviously after comparing like-for-like cover.

I think thats all the questions for now, I could be back tho!! :rolleyes:

xx

sophiesmum_2

Several of the contractors I deal with at work have cover through AXA tradesmen insurance , and they have to have a decent level of cover to provide our contracts. Don't know if that is any help to you

silkbeast_2

Hi all

we've been hopeless at posting but have been keeping up with posts!

Just wanted to post our first quarter which is £1,389/£1,300 so quite chuffed with that for our first try! We are trying to go for £5,200 for the full year (£4k plus contribution from child benefit etc - 2 x adults, 15 year old, 2 year old and dog... )

Will try and post more in next quarter! Hugs to all who need it ...