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

Frugaldom

Live on £4,000 for a Year - 2009 Challenge
Part 4, October - December 2009

Intro - Introduction to the Cost of Living / Frugal Living Challenge 2010

Part 1 - January - March 2010

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 off debts and save for wants. It runs from 1st January to 31st December 2009. The links will give you an idea of how previous challenges have gone.

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 (car, 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. The following is for a household of 3 adults.

Food - £1,200.00 (for household of 3 adults)
Toiletries - £50.00
Cleaning - £20.00
Electricity - £1,200.00 (we have no central heating, only electric storage heaters)
Coal - £160.00
Logs - £200.00
Internet - £240.00
Mobiles - £30.00
Telephone - £150.00
Clothing & Footwear - £100.00
Gifts - £400.00
Extras - £50.00
Travel - £100.00
Insurance - £47.50
Misc - £52.50
TOTAL - £4,000.00

The above are things I choose to include within my £4,000 budget. Some people choose to have TV, telephones and/or Internet at home, even although these are not essential. How you prepare your budget is up to you. Whatever you include in this challenge, the choice is yours. 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 budgets in the challenger 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.

NB: 2010 challenge will start with a new challenger list to avoid too many names being included who are no longer participating.

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. Ansoff
20. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Artnoble[/FONT]
21. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Azjh77[/FONT]
22. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Bails[/FONT]
23. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Barefootlinzi[/FONT]
24. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Barole[/FONT]
25. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Bigbullyweedave[/FONT]
26. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]BigEars[/FONT]
27. BigSpender2
28. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Blackfairykitten[/FONT]
29. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Blairweech[/FONT]
30. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Bleufleur[/FONT]
31. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Blissfullydebtfreewannabe[/FONT]
32. BlondeMuppet
33. Blueberrypie
34. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Bluesteel705[/FONT]
35. Bonaventure Babes
36. Boomdocker
37. Boring Beige
38. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Brighton Belle[/FONT]
39. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Broke mum of three[/FONT]
40. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Buffythedebtslayer[/FONT]
41. Bunny too
42. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Candygirl[/FONT]
43. CannyClaire
44. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Carlsberg[/FONT]
45. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]CarolBee[/FONT]
46. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Carolinabirichina[/FONT]
47. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Catzine[/FONT]
48. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Cha97Michelle[/FONT]
49. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Chaddee[/FONT]
50. CharlieDavis
51. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Charlies Angel[/FONT]
52. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Che75[/FONT]
53. Cheerfullness4
54. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Chewits[/FONT]
55. Chika (from 23/02/09)
56. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Chriz1000[/FONT]
57. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Cornishinfens[/FONT]
58. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Cranky40[/FONT]
59. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Cumbrianmum[/FONT]
60. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]CW18[/FONT]
61. Darnit
62. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]DdraigGoch[/FONT]
63. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Debrag[/FONT]
64. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]DFW844[/FONT]
65. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Djenks[/FONT]
66. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]DJJoJoJuice[/FONT]
67. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]DND[/FONT]
68. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Don't want to be in debt[/FONT]
69. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Doom_and_Gloom[/FONT]
70. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]EagerLearner[/FONT]
71. EDaniels1983
72. Eilo1007
73. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Elantan[/FONT]
74. Enjoyfinancialchallenges
75. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Ephemera[/FONT]
76. Esthomizzy
77. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Fairywings[/FONT]
78. Fallen Angel Shelley
79. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Findingmyfeet[/FONT]
80. Fireangel
81. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Fizzel81[/FONT]
82. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Flowerofthewest[/FONT]
83. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]FrankieM[/FONT]
84. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Freyaluck[/FONT]
85. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Frugal Fox[/FONT]
86. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Frugalmum[/FONT]
87. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Funbrum[/FONT]
88. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Funkyfunkymonkey[/FONT]
89. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Gem2509[/FONT]
90. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]GemGems[/FONT]
91. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Georgiasmum[/FONT]
92. Gillst
93. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]GlendaM[/FONT]
94. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Grandma247[/FONT]
95. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Grunnie[/FONT]
96. Guesty6
97. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Hansolo81[/FONT]
98. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Hardup Hester[/FONT]
99. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Headofsteam[/FONT]
100. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]HH62[/FONT]
101. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Hopeless_Spendthrift[/FONT]
102. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Hypno06[/FONT]
103. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]IGiveUp[/FONT]
104. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]IhateDebt[/FONT]
105. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Ilovetea[/FONT]
106. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Impomdasp[/FONT]
107. In Search of Me
108. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]InTheRed[/FONT]
109. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Jamiedodger[/FONT]
110. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Jammiejen[/FONT]
111. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Janey51[/FONT]
112. January20
113. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Jay1[/FONT]
114. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]JennyBee[/FONT]
115. JennyShrew
116. JTB2412
117. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Juliejay[/FONT]
118. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Jumble-Bee[/FONT]
119. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Junglegirl[/FONT]
120. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]JustKeepSwimming[/FONT]
121. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kayharcombe[/FONT]
122. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kayleighj[/FONT]
123. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kbarty[/FONT]
124. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Keren29[/FONT]
125. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kerron7[/FONT]
126. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kiki[/FONT]
127. KittieJ
128. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kittikins[/FONT]
129. KiwiGirl
130. Kizzie01
131. Ladymoon
132. LadyRoughneck
133. Lalaladybird
134. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Laurabelle[/FONT]
135. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Lexxi[/FONT]
136. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Lilac_Lady[/FONT]
137. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Liloandstitch[/FONT]
138. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LilyBee[/FONT]
139. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LingoJingo[/FONT]
140. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Little_Miss_Moneysaver[/FONT]
141. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LittleMissClimsy[/FONT]
142. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Liuhut[/FONT]
143. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Lmac[/FONT]
144. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LoadedIWish[/FONT]
145. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Loadedlaura[/FONT]
146. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LollopyBear[/FONT]
147. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Looby-Loo[/FONT]
148. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Deleted_User[/FONT]
149. Loveday69
150. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LyndaSharp[/FONT]
151. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Lysasparkles[/FONT]
152. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Macwah97[/FONT]
153. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Mah_Jong[/FONT]
154. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Mama67[/FONT]
155. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Marru[/FONT]
156. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Masomnia[/FONT]
157. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Maverickangel[/FONT]
158. Mbaz
159. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]McSaver[/FONT]
160. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Micron[/FONT]
161. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Milliemonster[/FONT]
162. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Mini_huny_money[/FONT]
163. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Miss Empty Piggy[/FONT]
164. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Miss_Pink[/FONT]
165. Miss R
166. Missal
167. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]MK Wotsit[/FONT]
168. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Mollymop5[/FONT]
169. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]MrDT[/FONT]
170. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]MSHAWX[/FONT]
171. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Mumzyof2[/FONT]
172. Naomim
173. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Nate123[/FONT]
174. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]NEGirl[/FONT]
175. Nickynoo08
176. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Nicola1982[/FONT]
177. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Nimbo[/FONT]
178. Nodebtdiva
179. Nonstepfordwife
180. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Notanothergreyhair[/FONT]
181. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Nykmedia[/FONT] - £4,000
182. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]OldMcDonald[/FONT]
183. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Oliveoyl[/FONT]
184. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]OptimisticPair[/FONT]
185. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Paul Varjak[/FONT]
186. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Paulgonnabedebtfree[/FONT]
187. Pauper1
188. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Penny2myname[/FONT]
189. Penny54
190. PetitePeche
191. Pip's Mum
192. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Pollydaydream[/FONT]
193. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Princess Leia[/FONT]
194. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Protogenia[/FONT]
195. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Prudent[/FONT]
196. Purple_Sparkles
197. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Purplevamp[/FONT]
198. Puss14
199. Queen_B
200. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Rachyp[/FONT]
201. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Rafiki[/FONT]
202. Ram_murdock
203. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Raychee[/FONT]
204. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]RebekahR[/FONT]
205. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Redglass[/FONT]
206. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]RedMel1621[/FONT]
207. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sallyrsm[/FONT]
208. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sam79[/FONT]
209. Sammey90
210. Sarah147
211. SarahB123
212. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sashacat[/FONT]
213. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sassamac[/FONT]
214. Save-a-holic
215. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Saverram[/FONT]
216. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Savingfortravel[/FONT]
217. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Scorpio04[/FONT]
218. Scrooge2008
219. Sewbocushions
220. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Shaz_mum_of_2[/FONT]
221. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Shazrobo[/FONT]
222. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Shell37[/FONT]
223. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Shelovestobuystuff[/FONT]
224. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Shorelines[/FONT]
225. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SiannieLaz[/FONT]
226. Silkbeast
227. Sillylittlejill
228. SixteenthofJune
229. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Skint Lynne[/FONT]
230. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Skint_Chick[/FONT]
231. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Skintwellie[/FONT]
232. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Slackster[/FONT]
233. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Slowlyfading[/FONT]
234. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Smart21[/FONT]
235. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SmlSave[/FONT]
236. Snow White
237. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SophiesMum[/FONT]
238. Sorting Out
239. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sos999[/FONT]
240. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Stefejb[/FONT]
241. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sue09[/FONT]
242. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sukielou75[/FONT]
243. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Summertea[/FONT]
244. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sweetpea03[/FONT]
245. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Taka[/FONT]
246. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The_Cat[/FONT]
247. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]ThriftyLass[/FONT]
248. ThriftyScotsLass
249. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Tigerseye[/FONT]
250. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Tigwell[/FONT]
251. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Tracey04[/FONT]
252. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Trex170104[/FONT]
253. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Truthseeker[/FONT]
254. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Tryingtodobetter[/FONT]
255. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Twinkle_Star[/FONT]
256. Vixstar
257. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Wendyw1947[/FONT]
258. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Wendywitch[/FONT]
259. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Wherediditallgo[/FONT]
260. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Whiskylizzie[/FONT]
261. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Whitetigeress333[/FONT]
262. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Whitevanwoman[/FONT]
263. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Whitewing[/FONT]
264. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Whowants2brich[/FONT]
265. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Wornoutmumoftwo[/FONT]
266. XNatalie81X
267. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Yoshimi2306[/FONT]
268. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Zelie[/FONT]
269. Zoe260373

If you would like to take part in our frugal living challenge, please PM me your username so I can update the challenger list.

Frugaldom

Living on a budget = living within our means.
If you only have £50 per week then that's all you can spend without incurring debt. The 4k challenge allows for approximately £76 per week. Many of us supplement our incomes and cut our costs in various ways such as:
housesharing
getting a lodger
shopping via cashback sites,
buying reduced items in stores,
batch cooking,
making the most of charity shops,
joining Freecycle or other similar waste awareness and recycling associations,
becoming active members of trading & exchange groups such as LETS,
growing our own fruit & veg,
preserving & winemaking
card & gift making
order splitting for better discounts,
landsharing,
free scratchcards,
matched betting,
free online bingo,
eBid and eBay trading
etc, etc, etc...

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

£1000 in 100 days - our 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 (ideal for regular travellers)
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Complete (MSE) cooking collection[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] - Loads and loads and loads of recipes[/FONT]
Crafting for Christmas - homemade presents
[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 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]
Leftovers - don't bin them, get creative, make another meal.
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]
Weezl74's 50p per day eating healthily thread
Will Power & Billy Can - part 1, part 2, part 3

This post will be updated regularly

Frugaldom

Welcome to part 4!

The final quarter of our challenge runs from 1st October to 31st December 2009. I'd like to take the opportunity to welcome all our new challengers who are carrying out trial runs for the final stage in preparation for joining us here in the 2010 challenge. I'm not sure how many hundreds of pages we could fill with all our posts starting from 2007 but it amounts to a great deal of helpful information, that's for sure! I've been living the frugal life for several years now and it never ceases to amaze me the number of new 'tricks' I am still learning from fellow frugalites.

Keep up the good work, budget for your needs, shift those debts, build up those savings and you'll soon be reaping the rewards.

STILL LOVING THIS CHALLENGE THANKS TO YOU GUYS!

whitewing

Good luck everyone in the run up to Christmas and New Year!

slowlyfading

Yay, new thread :j :j

I think today is going to be a NSD, but I won't declare it just yet

Savvy_sewing

Oh dear, I have blown all reconition of the budget for me. Today I spent £200!! Eek. After DS lost his mobile phone last week, its been difficult sorting him out. Then with the mad woman from "kingsheath", and her death threats, I have bought myself a new phone (Could have just got a sim card, but the back of phone has been long gone, the battery hardly lasts a day, and some other bits are falling off of it, so I got a new phone too), and two new sims for the twins, so that we can all remain on a family pack, where we can all be intouch. I dont want the afore mentioned person sending malicious mail to the twins either. She told twin1 she would "burn her in her own house", meaning me. Not a nice thing to send, and not something that someone with learning difficulties can put aside easily.
DS also needed some new boots for going on the Bike, (he only had a pair of trainers). And £13.66 of that went in the 99p shop, buying the washingup liquid, shampoo, soap and the things that DS needed, so he is less smelly!!

So if I dont manage this frugal life this time round I will be introuble.
I still havent managed to work out what is going to be coming in, or not. DS hasnt got his EMA or expenses through, and my petrol is still about £60 a week!. So I have a problem.
Back to the drawing board. Back to basics, and I have got to stop procrastinating, and buying on impulse again!. And in June/July I was doing so well. (Well I thought I was).
This is my last chance to practise if I want to join in properly next year.!
My motivational skills need to be dragged back. So I am off to re read the beginning of the links etc. To inspire me again, and hope that I wont be so naughty with my spending, and can drag myself back in line!.

slowlyfading

Mooloo, you can do this just think about what you really need, and see if you can do without. Easier said than done, I know. Chin up xx


Today is NSD no 21 for me - that's 8 more than I had as my aim for september. SO pleased with this! :j :j :j

sophiesmum_2

well done sf:D I'm on 3 out of 3 so far this week

Nyk - I have the chartered Instiute of environmental health food hygiene thingy and we are expected to sit it every third year to keep up with changes in legislation. When I worked in the restaurant we did it every 12 months.

ilovetea

Hi. Will admit I completely lost track last month.I had money left over and my bank balance is better than usual (mainly because of the tips and ideas on MSE)so something must be right.
Reckon I have £750 left,to last until January.
November might be hard as I'm going down south for my DDs graduation and to the Good Food Show. Tickets for the train and the show are already bought,but have a sneeky feeling I might need/want to buy something.Seems a shame not to after going all that way:o.
Trying to get some room in the freezer.It's full of bits and pieces that seem to fall out,so need using before I have broken toes:eek:.
Off to watch Bill Grainger doing things with leftovers,

ilovetea x

Vixstar

Yay new thread!!