Live on £4,000 for a year - 2009, Part 3

Frugaldom

Live on £4,000 for a Year - 2009 Challenge
Part 3, July - September 2009

Part 1 - January to March 2009
Part 2 - April to June 2009
Part 3 - July to September 2009
Part 4 - October to December 2009

Part 1 - January to March 2008
Part 2 - April to June 2008
Part 3 - July to September 2008
Part 4 - October to December 2008


====================================
Please read the MSE forum rules and help us to keep this challenge on track, thank you.
If you have any questions about this challenge, feel free to PM me.
The following is taken from the official MSE forum rules section:

KEEPING THREADS ON-TOPIC

Please try not to take threads off-topic. This can be confusing for new users and makes it especially difficult for people ... Where requests from Board Guides for threads to be brought back on track have not been followed off-topic posts may be removed. We encourage community, but not thread derailment.

Please bear in mind the main purpose of the site is to save money. The forum team has therefore been instructed to prioritise its time on the MoneySaving forums.

KEEPING TOPICS RELEVANT TO THE BOARD

There are two boards provided for off-topic chat and discussion. The MoneySavers Arms has been set up for fun, more lighter-hearted chat (although do still remember this is a family forum – keep it clean please). Discussion Time is for discussion of current issues (read Martin’s description).

If you post a topic that does not relate to the board it’s posted on it will be moved to a more relevant MoneySaving board or to Discussion Time/The MoneySavers Arms.
===================================

This challenge is about paying for needs so we can afford to pay debts and save for wants. It runs from 1st January to 31st December 2009. The links will give you an idea of how the 2008 challenge went.

To help work out your personal budget amount, you can try the following method:

1. Add up entire annual income, all sources
2. Deduct entire year's rent or mortgage payments
3. Deduct the entire year's Council Tax & water
4. Deduct essential annual property insurance and maintenance fees if relevant,
5. Deduct ALL costs associated with work (travel, childcare, lunches)
6. Deduct ALL regular debt repayments
7. Deduct annual essential health-related costs

The amount you have left should be your disposable income to cover the cost of living plus all other extras & savings. The following is my £4,000 budget for 2009. Please note that slight alterations are made according to inflation and price fluctuations, such as energy prices.

Groceries - £1,130.00 (for household of 3 adults)
Toiletries - £50.00
Cleaning - £20.00
Electricity - £1,200.00
Coal & lighters etc - £160.00
Logs - £200.00
Internet - £240.00
Mobiles - £30.00
Telephone - £150.00
TV - £50.00 (split among 3 of us)
Clothing & Footwear - £100.00
Gifts - £450.00
Extras - £20.00
Travel - £100.00
Insurances - £47.50
Misc - £52.50
TOTAL - £4,000.00

The above are all basics plus things I choose to include within my £4,000 budget. Some people may choose not to have TV, telephones or Internet at home, as they are not essential. How you prepare your 2009 budget is up to you. Whatever you include in this challenge, the choice is yours. 2009 will be my 3rd year on a budget of £4,000 and I have no intentions of heading back down the road to debt. Feel free to join us all here on our frugal adventures, where every little really does help.

There have been many different variations introduced by different people according to their individual lifestyles, so I will not be including individual challenge amounts in the 2009 list.

Anyone is welcome to join in at any time as this challenge is mainly about household budgets with regards to the cost of living. Frugality is our watchword. Welcome to Frugaldom.

HANDY LINKS
I am not endorsing or recommending any of the links provided here, I have simply found them to contain helpful information.

£1000 in 100 days - the current challenge thread where we're trying to earn a few pounds extra, hopefully £1000.

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Approved Food[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - amazing bargains if you don't mind short dates or past sell by – save a fortune whilst saving it from landfill![/FONT]
Bite Card - 20% off food at train stations
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Complete (MSE) cooking collection[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - Loads and loads and loads of recipes[/FONT]
Crafting for Christmas
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Electricity & Gas savings[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - monitor your electricity & gas with the MoneySaving Carbon Club[/FONT]
Flannel Cake making - unusual frugal gifts
Foraging & Preserving - free foods, when, where, what to do with them
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Free crafts ideas[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - how to make papier mache banks etc[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Freecycle[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] (UK) - don't bin it, rehome it.[/FONT]
Gift Baskets & Hampers - an index to the MSE relevant threads
Gifts in a jar - you don't need a canner for these
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Greenfingered money saving[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - Gardening & growing your own food[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Grocery bargains[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - Supermarket price reduction times[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Hunger Site[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - Charity site where every click counts[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]i-Measure[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - log your meter readings and try to reduce your carbon footprint[/FONT]
LETS - Local Exchange Trading Schemes and alternative currencies within communities
Martin's mad moneysaver ads - a surprising new addition to the site - advertising offers!
Martin's current offers & discount codes - updated daily
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Menu Planning[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - hundreds of options and suggestions[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Nutrition and diet info[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif], an excellent thread - thanks to Weezl74[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Old Style indexed collection[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - Indexed collection of links, hints and tips for anything old style, moneysaving and frugal.[/FONT]
Preparing for winter the frugal way
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Recipes part 1[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - thanks to Rosieben on the Grocery Challenge[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Recipes part 2[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - thanks, again, to Rosieben[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Remoska discussion[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - everything you need to know about Remoska ovens[/FONT]
Rural Moneysaving Hunt - official MSE discussion
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Selling on eBid[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - decluttering and recycling for cash with no listing fees[/FONT]
Snowman Soup - always a favourite with frugallers during the festive season
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Soapnuts[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - The frugal, eco-friendly alternative to soap powder or detergents[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Soapnuts thread on MSE[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - discuss, ask questions here[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Spending Diary[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - excellent free resource for recording your spends[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Start a cottage industry[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - the official MSE discussion[/FONT]
Will Power & Billy Can - part 1, part 2, part 3

This post will be updated regularly

Frugaldom

NYK'S CHALLENGER LIST FOR 2009




Please note that there are NO challenger numbers for 2009, any numbers that may appear here are for the purposes of counting how many people we have participating. The list will be kept in alphabetical order to make it quicker for finding names. Feel free to join in at any time.

1. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]*Mari*[/FONT]
2. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]1274[/FONT]
3. 1st Time Mum
4. 2ndTimeRounder
5. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]87p[/FONT]
6. Aeb
7. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Affordmylife[/FONT]
8. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]All_hours[/FONT]
9. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Alli_Baba2[/FONT]
10. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Always_amazed[/FONT]
11. Andan
12. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Andromache[/FONT]
13. AngelatGraceland
14. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Angelofthenorth[/FONT]
15. Angelwings
16. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Angie_baby[/FONT]
17. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Ani*fan[/FONT]
18. Annie021063
19. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Artnoble[/FONT]
20. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Azjh77[/FONT]
21. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Bails[/FONT]
22. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Barefootlinzi[/FONT]
23. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Barole[/FONT]
24. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Bigbullyweedave[/FONT]
25. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]BigEars[/FONT]
26. BigSpender2
27. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Blackfairykitten[/FONT]
28. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Blairweech[/FONT]
29. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Bleufleur[/FONT]
30. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Blissfullydebtfreewannabe[/FONT]
31. BlondeMuppet
32. Blueberrypie
33. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Bluesteel705[/FONT]
34. Bonaventure Babes
35. Boomdocker
36. Boring Beige
37. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Brighton Belle[/FONT]
38. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Broke mum of three[/FONT]
39. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Buffythedebtslayer[/FONT]
40. Bunny too
41. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Candygirl[/FONT]
42. CannyClaire
43. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Carlsberg[/FONT]
44. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]CarolBee[/FONT]
45. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Carolinabirichina[/FONT]
46. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Catzine[/FONT]
47. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Cha97Michelle[/FONT]
48. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Chaddee[/FONT]
49. CharlieDavis
50. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Charlies Angel[/FONT]
51. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Che75[/FONT]
52. Cheerfullness4
53. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Chewits[/FONT]
54. Chika (from 23/02/09)
55. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Chriz1000[/FONT]
56. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Cornishinfens[/FONT]
57. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Cranky40[/FONT]
58. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Cumbrianmum[/FONT]
59. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]CW18[/FONT]
60. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]DdraigGoch[/FONT]
61. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Debrag[/FONT]
62. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]DFW844[/FONT]
63. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Djenks[/FONT]
64. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]DJJoJoJuice[/FONT]
65. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]DND[/FONT]
66. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Don't want to be in debt[/FONT]
67. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Doom_and_Gloom[/FONT]
68. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]EagerLearner[/FONT]
69. Eilo1007
70. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Elantan[/FONT]
71. Enjoyfinancialchallenges
72. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Ephemera[/FONT]
73. Esthomizzy
74. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Fairywings[/FONT]
75. Fallen Angel Shelley
76. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Findingmyfeet[/FONT]
77. Fireangel
78. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Fizzel81[/FONT]
79. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Flowerofthewest[/FONT]
80. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]FrankieM[/FONT]
81. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Freyaluck[/FONT]
82. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Frugal Fox[/FONT]
83. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Frugalmum[/FONT]
84. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Funbrum[/FONT]
85. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Funkyfunkymonkey[/FONT]
86. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Gem2509[/FONT]
87. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]GemGems[/FONT]
88. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Georgiasmum[/FONT]
89. Gillst
90. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]GlendaM[/FONT]
91. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Grandma247[/FONT]
92. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Grunnie[/FONT]
93. Guesty6
94. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Hansolo81[/FONT]
95. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Hardup Hester[/FONT]
96. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Headofsteam[/FONT]
97. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]HH62[/FONT]
98. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Hopeless_Spendthrift[/FONT]
99. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Hypno06[/FONT]
100. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]IGiveUp[/FONT]
101. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]IhateDebt[/FONT]
102. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Ilovetea[/FONT]
103. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Impomdasp[/FONT]
104. In Search of Me
105. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]InTheRed[/FONT]
106. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Jamiedodger[/FONT]
107. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Jammiejen[/FONT]
108. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Janey51[/FONT]
109. January20
110. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Jay1[/FONT]
111. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]JennyBee[/FONT]
112. JennyShrew
113. JTB2412
114. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Juliejay[/FONT]
115. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Jumble-Bee[/FONT]
116. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Junglegirl[/FONT]
117. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]JustKeepSwimming[/FONT]
118. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kayharcombe[/FONT]
119. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kayleighj[/FONT]
120. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kbarty[/FONT]
121. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Keren29[/FONT]
122. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kerron7[/FONT]
123. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kiki[/FONT]
124. KittieJ
125. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kittikins[/FONT]
126. KiwiGirl
127. Kizzie01
128. Ladymoon
129. LadyRoughneck
130. Lalaladybird
131. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Laurabelle[/FONT]
132. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Lexxi[/FONT]
133. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Lilac_Lady[/FONT]
134. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Liloandstitch[/FONT]
135. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LilyBee[/FONT]
136. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LingoJingo[/FONT]
137. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Little_Miss_Moneysaver[/FONT]
138. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LittleMissClimsy[/FONT]
139. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Liuhut[/FONT]
140. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Lmac[/FONT]
141. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LoadedIWish[/FONT]
142. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Loadedlaura[/FONT]
143. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LollopyBear[/FONT]
144. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Looby-Loo[/FONT]
145. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Deleted_User[/FONT]
146. Loveday69
147. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LyndaSharp[/FONT]
148. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Lysasparkles[/FONT]
149. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Macwah97[/FONT]
150. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Mah_Jong[/FONT]
151. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Mama67[/FONT]
152. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Marru[/FONT]
153. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Masomnia[/FONT]
154. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Maverickangel[/FONT]
155. Mbaz
156. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]McSaver[/FONT]
157. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Micron[/FONT]
158. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Milliemonster[/FONT]
159. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Mini_huny_money[/FONT]
160. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Miss Empty Piggy[/FONT]
161. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Miss_Pink[/FONT]
162. Miss R
163. Missal
164. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]MK Wotsit[/FONT]
165. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Mollymop5[/FONT]
166. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]MrDT[/FONT]
167. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]MSHAWX[/FONT]
168. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Mumzyof2[/FONT]
169. Naomim
170. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Nate123[/FONT]
171. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]NEGirl[/FONT]
172. Nickynoo08
173. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Nicola1982[/FONT]
174. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Nimbo[/FONT]
175. Nodebtdiva
176. Nonstepfordwife
177. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Notanothergreyhair[/FONT]
178. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Nykmedia[/FONT]
179. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]OldMcDonald[/FONT]
180. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Oliveoyl[/FONT]
181. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]OptimisticPair[/FONT]
182. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Paul Varjak[/FONT]
183. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Paulgonnabedebtfree[/FONT]
184. Pauper1
185. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Penny2myname[/FONT]
186. Penny54
187. PetitePeche
188. Pip's Mum
189. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Pollydaydream[/FONT]
190. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Princess Leia[/FONT]
191. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Protogenia[/FONT]
192. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Prudent[/FONT]
193. Purple_Sparkles
194. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Purplevamp[/FONT]
195. Puss14
196. Queen_B
197. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Rachyp[/FONT]
198. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Rafiki[/FONT]
199. Ram_murdock
200. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Raychee[/FONT]
201. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]RebekahR[/FONT]
202. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Redglass[/FONT]
203. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]RedMel1621[/FONT]
204. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sallyrsm[/FONT]
205. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sam79[/FONT]
206. Sammey90
207. Sarah147
208. SarahB123
209. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sashacat[/FONT]
210. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sassamac[/FONT]
211. Save-a-holic
212. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Saverram[/FONT]
213. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Savingfortravel[/FONT]
214. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Scorpio04[/FONT]
215. Scrooge2008
216. Sewbocushions
217. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Shaz_mum_of_2[/FONT]
218. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Shazrobo[/FONT]
219. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Shell37[/FONT]
220. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Shelovestobuystuff[/FONT]
221. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Shorelines[/FONT]
222. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SiannieLaz[/FONT]
223. Silkbeast
224. Sillylittlejill
225. SixteenthofJune
226. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Skint Lynne[/FONT]
227. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Skint_Chick[/FONT]
228. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Skintwellie[/FONT]
229. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Slackster[/FONT]
230. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Slowlyfading[/FONT]
231. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Smart21[/FONT]
232. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SmlSave[/FONT]
233. Snow White
234. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SophiesMum[/FONT]
235. Sorting Out
236. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sos999[/FONT]
237. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Stefejb[/FONT]
238. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sue09[/FONT]
239. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sukielou75[/FONT]
240. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Summertea[/FONT]
241. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sweetpea03[/FONT]
242. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Taka[/FONT]
243. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The_Cat[/FONT]
244. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]ThriftyLass[/FONT]
245. ThriftyScotsLass
246. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Tigerseye[/FONT]
247. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Tigwell[/FONT]
248. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Tracey04[/FONT]
249. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Trex170104[/FONT]
250. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Truthseeker[/FONT]
251. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Tryingtodobetter[/FONT]
252. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Twinkle_Star[/FONT]
253. Vixstar
254. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Wendyw1947[/FONT]
255. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Wendywitch[/FONT]
256. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Wherediditallgo[/FONT]
257. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Whiskylizzie[/FONT]
258. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Whitetigeress333[/FONT]
259. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Whitevanwoman[/FONT]
260. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Whitewing[/FONT]
261. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Whowants2brich[/FONT]
262. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Wornoutmumoftwo[/FONT]
263. XNatalie81X
264. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Yoshimi2306[/FONT]
265. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Zelie[/FONT]
266. Zoe260373

Frugaldom

We are now 50% of the way through the £4,000 challenge. If your budget was the £4,000 and you started with that amount of cash 'up front', then you should have around £2,000 remaining to pay for the next 6 months.

Living on a strict budget means frugal living. Frugal living can include sharing, buying secondhand, trading, swapping, exchanging, making, cooking from scratch, bargain hunting, only buying what is really essential, home baking, veggie growing, hen keeping, old style housekeeping and, even, a degree of self-sufficiency may be the ultimate goal. Whatever reason you have chosen to live on a strict budget, the end result should leave you feeling satisfied, debt free and with money saved for a rainy day. Some of us have already achieved some of our goals, but then we set ourselves some more and challenge ourselves to succeed in attaining those, as well.

With or without current debts, we all wannabe debt free FOREVER.

sophiesmum_2

Good evening frunchkins it's turned 12:00am so officially in 3rd quarter of this year's challenge.making my first post:D

General aims to continue with on the challenge:

• stockpile/storecupboard for food, toiletries, gifts
• batch cooking, menu planning,
• preserving (jams, marmalades, curds, chutneys, dehydrating etc)
• growing own fruit and veggies
• reducing, reusing,recycling as much as possible
• energy efficiency
• stockpile paper logs for supplementing winter fuel
• monitoring spending
• neutralising extra spending
• making use of points,vouchers,cashback etc to offset costs of gifts etc
• swap plants, produce etc with frugal neighbour

Have been slacking in the increasing income department so have challenged myself to earn £350 for an item I would like for the cottage. Just had my e mail from quidco to say £20.64 is on it's way to my account so I am off the starting block, I think there is still a little matched betting cash lurking in some of OH's accounts too so will find time to have a trawl around those and see what I can dig up:D

JAMIEDODGER

Morning! Still haven't fixed laptop so am coping with mobile to access web instead. Have everything in place for starting challenge as of today.

Npower have increased my electric direct debit so I have had to redo figures but hopefully I can make this balance by spending slightly less on food.

Until laptop is fixed I will only be updating figures once in a while, but will check in when I can. Good luck everyone!

savingfortravel

Finally able to sort out our current money situation last night. :T
Hopefully able to set some kind of budget for rest of year.

Keep up the good work everyone!

sft

cw18

Morning everyone - and happy part 3 Here's to us all having successes over the next 3 months, 6 months and longer :T


Having re-read my 'accounts' post from yesterday, I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed that I can retain most of the underspend to date as an underspend. However, I think this mainly hinges on four things.....

1. How much work the car needs at service/MOT time, which I'll know by the end of this month.

2. How much my car insurance goes up by! I really do need to figure out a more precise estimate of expected mileage in the next couple of weeks, as I shaved a lot off the premium last year by changing from an 'unlimited' to 'fixed' policy. However, I'm not sure I'm as confident I can stick to the same fixed mileage for next year Again, I'll know this by the end of July as my renewal date is 1st August.

3. How much I spend on DS's birthday - when I set my present budget I forgot that this year (actually this month) is his 18th :eek: He's muttered about driving lessons a couple of times, but my Dad paid for these for DD (not that she passed a test) and would have for elder DS had the army not done so instead. So I don't yet know whether I'll have to find the money for these or whether I'm going to have to sort something else out for him (must phone my Dad this week and ask!). If I end up paying, then I'll have to keep it out of the challenge - which I can afford to do this year, due to my budget being less than my income.

4. What my buildings and contents insurance comes in at this year - and being due early December, this could catch me out at the last minute. When I called them last year to take DH off the policy they tried increasing my premium by over 10% :eek: When I queried how come it put the price up, they said it was actually 'cos DS was over 16 - and they'd failed to flag it to the system for my renewal quote at the end of 2007 or 2008 :mad: I had quite a heated conversation with them - pointing out he was still a student, and still a dependant child for whom I received Child Benefit, at which they relented. However, especially with him turning 18 this month, I can see there being a larger increase than I've allowed for which I will have to try fighting again !!! Unfortunately I can't get the contents cover I need with any other company (or not without paying at least twice as much)

whitewing

Hello. I'm here.

May pop out later to buy a pregnancy test.

Frugaldom

Heatwave is continuing here but it has been so humid overnight that last night's watering is still evident both in the greenhouse and out in the garden, so that's saved me an hour this morning already. :j

CW18 - I got my DS his driving lessons for his 17th and I was able to get a decent discount via B$M, plus they accept Te$co Deal$ as payment - worth thinking about if you save them. At that point (just over 3 years ago) it cost about £100 for 6 lessons and we supplemented his driving hours by letting him practice on the old airfield near us. When I was learning to drive, we used the farmyard and driveway or Dad took me to what used to be the show ground. Most others used the huge industrial estate a few miles from where I grew up.) They reckon 40 hours of good driving experience is enough to pass a test, so get him the 'L' plates ASAP and encourage him to save to buy his own car. Just my take on things, you never know where you might end up living and a car may be the only mode of transport available.

SM, I need to add another general aim to your list - becoming a member of the local LETS group.

On a completely different note, it's 1st July, summer is upon us and the summer sales have begun! Anyone else get the email about the boxset sale at HM\/? I almost went straight there, only stopping to log in via cashback and have now got DGD's birthday, part of DS's & DGS's Christmas, plus Christmas pressie for one of my niece's. I also indulged myself in a £2.99 gift for me! :rotfl:So, that was 3 individual films and 5 box sets for a grand total of £30.93 and there was FREE DELIVERY! :j:T

Edited in: WHITEWING - Good luck!

whitewing

Lol, don't get too excited. My 'symptoms' are that my period may be late (but I'm not too good at writing it on the calendar, and I never remember when I had it), and that the front and back of my knees have been killing me over the past few days (only Peppermint Cooling Gel works on it) and that I have been exceptionally tired and exceptionally grumpy.

On our way home last night I wanted to buy a test in our local supermarket. But DH followed me in so I ended up buying red wine, paracetemol and sanitary items instead! Safe to say, he has no idea. (I want to announce it properly if I am, as it's the only one he'll be getting, lol). But I was so grumpy about my unnecessary spends last night - all £6.01 of it.

Had a much better sleep last night so am happier and less headachey today.

shaz_mum_of__2

whitewing wrote: »

Lol, don't get too excited. My 'symptoms' are that my period may be late (but I'm not too good at writing it on the calendar, and I never remember when I had it), and that the front and back of my knees have been killing me over the past few days (only Peppermint Cooling Gel works on it) and that I have been exceptionally tired and exceptionally grumpy.

On our way home last night I wanted to buy a test in our local supermarket. But DH followed me in so I ended up buying red wine, paracetemol and sanitary items instead! Safe to say, he has no idea. (I want to announce it properly if I am, as it's the only one he'll be getting, lol). But I was so grumpy about my unnecessary spends last night - all £6.01 of it.

Had a much better sleep last night so am happier and less headachey today.

Hope it's good news Whitewing