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

Ches

Weather has been so bad here today I was grateful I didn't need to go out. Got all the h....work done and some more cards made. Had HM leek and potato soup and HM plum crumble from the freezer for tea tonight. A nsd day for me.

Just realised this thread encompasses several other long running threads on MSE. flylady, grocery challenge, store cupboard challenge etc. How brilliant is that. :beer:

Savvy_sewing

I have spent all evening trying to sort out the new Budget. ITs very scarey indeed.
Going on NYk, original idea, I have tried to cut the coming year to the bone
I have my housing benefit paid to me, and then I have to pay my landlord,so I have decided to add that as an income, and take out as an expense.
So my budget sounds much better then the 4669.60 that I will get for ESA.
Proosed income:- ESA 4669.60
Housing Benefit 6760.00
Ask DS for lodgings 1560.00 (£30 a week?)
Total£12989.60

Expenditure:-
Water Rates £660.00
Electric £1040.00 (including old debt)
Gas 390.00 (Old house debt)
Logs 165.00
Mobiles 204.00 (included cost for 5 peoples connection)
Rent 6000.00
BT/internet 576.00 (Seems high,? Have to check that one)
TV Lic 146.16
Car Maint 120.00 (DS mechanic apprentice!!!)
Petrol 1043.57 (No bus service and no shops in village)
Road Tax 120.00
Clothing 60.00
Groceries 1080.00
Gifts 120.00
CarInsurance 217.00
Contents ins 78.72
Toiletries 60.00

Misc/emergency funds/contingencies etc etc £909.15
Total Expenses £12989.60:rolleyes::o

This is scarey figures to me. It means I can only go out of the village twice a week, and go to see BF once a fortnight!!! unless family help with the cost of the fuel.!!!

Kerfuffle

Hi Mooloo,

I've been doing my calculations too in preparation for the new year, so very well done to you, it's not an easy task is it?

I'd be inclined to increase DS lodgings to 35.00 per week, ie 5.00 per day, then if he goes away on holiday or is short of cash himself it's easily calculated, plus if you don't ask you don't get.

If you feel bad asking for so much you could always take it from him, save it, and then give him something back as a surprise just before xmas next year.

cw18

Kerfuffle wrote: »

Hi Mooloo,

I've been doing my calculations too in preparation for the new year, so very well done to you, it's not an easy task is it?

I'd be inclined to increase DS lodgings to 35.00 per week, ie 5.00 per day, then if he goes away on holiday or is short of cash himself it's easily calculated, plus if you don't ask you don't get.

If you feel bad asking for so much you could always take it from him, save it, and then give him something back as a surprise just before xmas next year.

When DS (hopefully) starts Uni next September I'm looking at £25 or £30 a week (being a student he'll have Council Tax exemption still, otherwise it would definitely been £30), but only plan to 'refund' £2.50/day (£17/week - or £3/day if I charge the £30) if he's away.

This will reflect the fact that certain things like insurance, TV licence, phone line rental, broadband connection, standing charges (water only) etc still have to be paid, so is more of a 'real life' scenario (if you get what I mean). I still have to pay all of those (plus Council Tax) if I'm away, so I don't see why he shouldn't

XSpender

Good Morning

I am going to join you all properly in the new year if I can ever decide on my budget:rolleyes: but is it OK if I join you in December for a trial run? Not the best month expenditure wise but it will allow me to test drive my spreadsheets. I say spreadsheets but it will be a paper version as our lap top gave up the ghost months ago and hasn't been replaced as I have my work one and DH has a blackberry with internet access. I don't want to keep my financial info on my work laptop though hence the paper spreadsheets.

I have managed a couple of things this morning: breadmaker is on, DH had the last two staleish bits of HM bread with egg for breakfast and the heating is off. If it gets cold I will stick a jumper on but the heating is staying off as long as possible today. The timer on our heater has a mind of it's own but I am scared to get it serviced (been here 3.5 years and its never been done) in case they condemn the heating as this happened to my neighbour last year and the houses are all 15 years old with the same system.:eek:

DH had his head shaved for Ch1ldren in Need on Friday so that has saved the price of a couple of haircuts!:D

I am expecting a frugalteeny in May and am struggling on how much to include in my budget for disposale nappies and formula although I really want to b/feed. I understand all babies will be different but any suggestions?

Sorry for the long post:o

XS

Savvy_sewing

I shall show him the budget, and ask him what he thinks about it. He still requires lifts, then he will have to cover the costs. If he wants to negotiate and discuss things with me, then we can work on things, when we find out what the "wages" are, and if I am expected to transport him or not!.
There are going to be times when he goes away, apparantly a week or two at a time on courses in Bristol,which the company pay for. So dividing it into a daily cost may be the best way forward.

Now I am going to see if my joints will let me give the kitchen a bit of ablitz,cannot see the work surfaces for gadgets!.

bails

nykmedia wrote: »

becoming a SAHM seems like it is what you really, really want and, as a slightly anti-feminist, I salute you! Well done. :T:beer: (No offense meant to any feminists out there. )

Personally, feminism is about having equal choices so we can do whatever we choose to. Congratulations jtb on taking a big decision that will give you the life you want :T

PS - Don't you just LOVE this website? :money: I think Martin must be one of my all time heroes for making it such a fabulous place for bringing so many like-minded people together and allowing us to do all of this for FREE! :T

Oh Martin, how I love thee Great day you had Nyk :T The firewood info has been stored away for future use hopefully, thanks for that.

Kittikins wrote: »

SFT - you can always redeem your MS ways by bathing with Mr SFT

Such a perfect frugal spirit Kittikins

Welcome to the gang Xspender, and congratulations on the impending Frugalmite! I know nothing of the costs yet but I''m sure there'll be lots of helpful peeps along soon.

All good here, just preparing for the interview tomorrow. It's going to be very scary, I know this, but I REALLY want this job so will do the best I can. There are 4 of us being interviewed, although the others aren't til 2nd/3rd December so I will have to wait a while to find out. TBH, not being available til April when the start date is January is a huge disadvantage in this type of school environment but you never know...

Still jealous of all your frugal goings on, can't wait til I can make my own plans next year (and of course am enjoying being here immensely ).

mama67

Mooloo wrote: »

I shall show him the budget, and ask him what he thinks about it. He still requires lifts, then he will have to cover the costs. If he wants to negotiate and discuss things with me, then we can work on things, when we find out what the "wages" are, and if I am expected to transport him or not!.
There are going to be times when he goes away, apparantly a week or two at a time on courses in Bristol,which the company pay for. So dividing it into a daily cost may be the best way forward.

Now I am going to see if my joints will let me give the kitchen a bit of ablitz,cannot see the work surfaces for gadgets!.

My DS1(14) has a part-time football refereeing job which he can claim a petrol allowance for, so any of that we get as obviously one of us has to drive him there.
He has also off his own back decided that if he asks us specifically for a lift anywhere that he will pay us the same as his return bus fare would have been (rural buses only run once daily) especially at nighttime.

Obviously this does not cover all our costs but then at 14 we don't expect him to, as that is part of a parents responsibilty to make sure their children travel safely to and from destinations.

He and his friends are very good at sorting out lift shares within their circle so one set of parents isn't doing all the running around.

FrankieM

Morning,
I've just back from town. Spent £80 in Tesco's today. Not too bad considering all my other weeks this month have come under.
Picked up advent calenders in Lidl, only 89p each but had to buy some hammerite for my campervan, though it was Wickes finest, so probably cheaper than the real thing.
I'm hoping the rest of the week will be full of no spend days. At least I can't think of anything else that I need to buy.
I'm looking at going away the weekend 5/6 December. Up to Moray Firth. I'm wanting to see the Northern Lights and apparently thats a good spot. I've found a cottage and it's an 8 hr drive but I'm hoping to do some budget fiddling to make it possible. Being frugal in most areas isn't so bad if it means I can organise some nice stuf with the savings!
Welcome to all the newbies. Hope you all have a good day.

Savvy_sewing

Just got back from the coffee morning. (tea in my case). Helped peel a few potatoes for the lunch session, but I cannot really justify paying £3.50 for a lunch, when I will be eating again tonight. So I only put in my £1 for the cup of tea and a slice of cake. THere is a hobby class on later this afternoon, at 2pm.Not sure if I would have to pay for that? I know the art class in the evening is £5.So it all starts to mount up. Won't be able to afford it in the new budget, so am trying not to spend from now. Although I will have a few things to buy in before I am on the lower income.
Waiting to hear from DS, when I need to collect him. Presuming he will be coming home tonight.