Live on £4000 for a Year, 2009 Challenge, part 2

bails

OOH OOH, new thread! Sorry for the double post but this is in case you miss the one on the old thread and think I've done a runner, which I haven't (although I can now run a little bit :j:j)

WOO WOO to the new thread! x

Hi everyone, I hope you're all okay and frugalling away, and noone has had any awful April Fools played on them

Apologies once again for not being around, it seems I've gone and got myself a life :rotfl:Things are going really well with my health so I'm able to do so much more and to be quite honest, I'm just loving it! :j I still think of you all lots and wonder how you're getting on, and I do intend to stick around, I've just been making the most of life As it's the 1st, I'm back to writing everything down again - spends wise, despite the up in lifestyle we're still doing well and I've squirrelled away £660 so far to the Dream Pot (which OH still seems oblivious to :rotfl:).
I must dash now as we're playing tennis later so I'm off to the charity shops in search of balls (rather than paying £1 to hire them) and I have to be back at half 4 for an important phonecall. See, the frugal genes are still alive and kicking!
Hope you're all well and I will be back soon to catch up fully with everyone (reading a few posts when I can at mo) Lots love xx

xnatalie81x

Hi all

I am still taking part although am not on here as much as i could be. Busy trying to sort life lol. Handed in notice to Probation on 24th and will be teaching swimming part-time. Just working out all the things i will need to change...........

Did 3month review and incomings match outgoings (bar i have lost £30 somewhere so not bad for my first few mths on challenge)

Also STOPPED SMOKING 5 weeks 1 day ago YAY so the £5 per class i now spend at slimming world is only half what i used to spend on tobacco and filters etc per week when smoking! I have lost 11.5lb and have only had the confidence to stop smoking and lose weight thanks to joining this challenge in jan and realising that if i am confident and strong enough to set up my own DMP and run my budget i can do the other things in my life too!!!!!!!

This thread has had a huge inpact on my life. Anyway off to work in 1/2 hour - will pop back tomorrow

sophiesmum_2

Bails - So happy for you that your health is good at the moment and you are able to get out doing stuff. xxx

natalie - :T :T well done on the weightloss, no smoking and getting confident xxx

lilac_lady

A new quarter already! I'm in the red by £58 but considering all the March birthdays it could have been a lot worse. I can't see me making it up soon but hopefully by the end of the 4th quarter (didn't want to say New Year) I'll have recovered enough to have completed my financial project for 2009. (my £4000 spend)

I see that a few people want to join in and/or are lurking on the thread. Even if you don't join us officially by becoming one of Nyk's number, you'll all be aware of "careless" spending by keeping reading about our successes and failures.

Once again I'm in awe of the detailed spreadsheets and posts about where the money has gone. I'm still doing it by deducting it all from one total as I can confuse myself (and others) very easily!

Onwards, fellow frugalites.

cw18

Here's my "all-in" budget for 2009 as it stands at the start of Quarter 2
[FONT=&quot]As and when I realise some of the figures are way off track, I will be back to adjust it (again!) - whilst aiming to keep the bottom line at the same £8k......

The figures in brackets are what I've spent to the end of Q1

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Council Tax : £977.14 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](£71)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
Bill received 24/3, so now reflects actuals due
Water (metered) : £300 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](£75)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
this is based on the assumption my Direct Debit doesn't go up in 2009.
Gas and Electricity : £720 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](£180)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
budget set at payment level negotiated in Nov due to no longer needed the heating on for as long/at such a high temperature (and being substantially in credit)
Central Heating cover : £210 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](£49.86)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
this allows for a small increase against 2008. due for renewal in May
Buildings & Contents insurance : £350 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](nil)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] based on £342 renewal in Dec 2008, when I didn’t have time or energy to shop around
Phone line rental, calls & Broadband : £261 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](£115.65)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
final charges on old package, special deal for first 12 months on new package, plus £29.99 set up fee
TV Licence : £140.44 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](£34.83)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
part of the year is paying for the 2009-10 licence and part for 2010-2011
Mobile phone : £352.64 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](£124.74)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
on contract until 11/08/2009, thereafter PAYG at £10 every three months.
Endowment policy : £345.60 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](£86.40)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
this is the one I took out on my first property, and matures in March 2012
Window Cleaner : £200[/FONT][FONT=&quot] (£22.80)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
have costed at £4 a time. I’m currently paying £3.80, but they’ve not raised the cost on me since early 2007 so I need to anticipate an increase.
have then lifted this from £104 to £200, so I can ask them to do the gutters and eaves this year - was quoted £80ish in 2007, but couldn't afford to go ahead. Now in desperate need of doing.
Dog Expenses : £400[/FONT][FONT=&quot] (£96.13)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
have based this on having to put the larger dog back onto a much dearerhypo-allergenic food, but as he seems to have settled onto a cheaper one I could make a saving here
Boosters / Drontal / Frontline : £140[/FONT][FONT=&quot] (nil)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] this is a couple of quid up on what I’ve paid in 2008, but I still anticipate it coming in slightly above this!!!
Presents : £405 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](£136.11)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
GDs : Birthday*2 + Xmas*2 @ £20 each = £80.
My “kids” : Birthday*3 + Christmas*3 @ £30 each = £180.
BIL & SIL : Birthday*2 + Christmas*2 @ £5 each = £20.
Parents : Birthday*2 + Xmas*2 @ £20 each = £80.
Brother & SIL : Birthday*2 + Xmas*2 @ £5 each = £20.
Nephews : Birthday*2 + Xmas*2 @ £5 each = £20.
This breaks down as : Mar £35/Apr £20/May £25/Jun £10/Jul £35/Aug £20/Sep £5/Dec £50+£200 for Christmas presents
plus Easter Eggs for my 3 plus 2 grand-daughters : 5 @ £1 each = £5

Total for this section : £4801.82

Groceries (food only for myself and younger DS) : £1314 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] have decided to budget this at 70p/head for the cooked meal, 60p/head for the snack meal (we eat a lot of cold meat or cheese sandwiches), and 50p each a day for breakfast, drinks and snacks – making for £1.80/day each for myself and younger DS. should be able to make a saving here as younger DS uses his EMA to cover a couple of snack meals a week during term time
Groceries (food only for meals provided for GDs) : £65.70
term time only until the start of the Summer holidays. 21 cooked lunches for younger GD (Mon only), 68 snack teas for younger GD (Mon-Wed), and 116 snack teas for elder GD (Mon-Fri). Calculated at 50p/main meal and 30p/snack meal
Groceries (food only for visits home by elder DS) : £151.20
no idea how much annual leave he’s likely to spend at home, but am making assumptions on 12 weeks during 2009. Daily figures calculated as per those for myself and younger DS
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Total budget for Groceries : £1530.90 (£425.69)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Cleaning & Personal Hygiene products : £109.50 (£28.51)
initially set to £10/month. adjusted to 30p/day[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
Total for this section : £1640.40
Total so far : £6442.22

Car Insurance (2009-10) : £275 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](nil)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
closest I care to “guesstimate” based on £260 for current policy, as not due until August 1st
Breakdown Cover : £69.50 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](£69.50)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
confirmed as my renewal cost in January 2009
Road Tax : £120[/FONT][FONT=&quot] (£120)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
as best I can tell this will be my renewal cost in January 2009
MOT : £50[/FONT][FONT=&quot] (nil)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
last MOT cost £45, so I’ve allowed a bit extra on this
Servicing : £125[/FONT][FONT=&quot] (nil)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] cost of last service in July was £117.50, so I’ve allowed a bit extra on this
Petrol : £500[/FONT][FONT=&quot] (£67.74)[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
based on £1 per litre, doing 4,000 miles a year at 8 miles/litre. (Hoping to make a saving of around £60-£70 on this over the year, based on current figures being 90p/litre for 3,500 miles at 8.5 miles/litre)

Total for this section : £1139.50
Total so far : £7481.72

Anything else : £418.28 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](£95.93)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] this has to cover car parking fees, bus fares (often cheaper to use the bus than pay for petrol and parking), dental costs (minimum of £33 for two check-ups), prescriptions, optician, clothes and shoes for me and DS (though he’ll probably buy most for college from his EMA -- as he’s good and sees that as what it’s intended for, along with his bus fares, stationery and “eats” when at college), and any postage costs related to anything in my budget (eg. posting presents), and any house or car repairs and extra vet bills [/FONT][FONT=&quot]:eek:[/FONT][FONT=&quot]

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]So my overall total / budget is £8,000 [/FONT][FONT=&quot](£1799.89)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

purplevamp

bails - glad you're feeling better :A

natalie - well done with the weight loss and giving up smoking. I've never smoked and can't understand why anyone would want to (sorry, hope I don't sound preachy )


Well, first day of the month and 2nd quarter and what do you???... B&J Ice cream was half price in C0-0P :T . I only had to take DS2 to school today as DD has slapped cheek, she's fine in herself but because she's got the rash still she wasn't allowed, she's not even contagious anymore :rolleyes:. I'm hoping this month's money will be a lot less than March. Bus fare for 2 weeks will be a lot less, what with school holiday and jury service paying for my travel (I'll have to claim that back though). It was my work colleagues 60th birthday today and we had a little party at lunch :j . I made cakes and ate loads of food.

On that note I'm off to work out a meal plan for the next few weeks.

Savvy_sewing

I am not actually one of your numbers but I do subscribe. Really is shaking me to realise how much we spend and how much we waste!. I had my first NSD in a very long time, gaining £1.03 by finding money while out walking.!
Can I ask a question? What is meant by offsetting costs? I am confused. IS this earning extra funds above and beyond your normal income?

glendam

Not really posted much over the last quarter but am still following the thread and more importantly still trying.
I have filled in my spending diary every day and now have a clearer idea of were my money is going. Pleased as I have managed to cut down the grocery budget but still horrified by my eating out spend. I will work on that again this month. Hopefully by the 3rd quarter I will have got that to an acceptable level.
Thanks for all the encouragement and good ideas.
Glenda

Skint_Lynne

My first new day and I am back on track. I have my new diary ready to go and have spent 2.99 today.

I am really tired so off to bed. Will check in tomorrow. xx

sophiesmum_2

Mooloo wrote: »

I am not actually one of your numbers but I do subscribe. Really is shaking me to realise how much we spend and how much we waste!. I had my first NSD in a very long time, gaining £1.03 by finding money while out walking.!
Can I ask a question? What is meant by offsetting costs? I am confused. IS this earning extra funds above and beyond your normal income?

That's the general idea Mooloo. Some of us are offsetting the costs of things like gifts and expenditure on garden items etc by creating extra income from cashback sites, ebaying etc. In that way we get to buy the extra stuff but it doesn't impact on our budgets.