Frugal Living 2010 -The Cost of Living Challenge, INTRO

Iheart2poundcoins

nikki20022008 wrote: »

My yearly budget is as follows

diesel £480.00 food £1,560.00 hair £346.67 nails £376.13 clothes £600.00 presents £520.00 misc £117.20 total £4,000.00
Have I done this right any advice would be good

I dont think you can do it wrong :beer: good luck :j

skintbint_2

hi folks glad to see everyone is still staying positive, especially at this time of year, have not been doing very much myself though (at anything!) made a christmas wreath out of rosemary and odd pieces of ribbon and it looks really effective. really fancied something sweet for supper last night so thought i'd make some rock buns unfortunately didnt have self raising flour so thought i'd use baking powder and plain flour unfortunately no instructions on how to use the BP as they ripped off so just guessed - bad idea they tasted awful killed my tastebuds though and didnt need anything sweet after that!! must make sure have SR flour in future.
Have my menu planner done for next week, went through the cupboards to see what was stashed at the back including 8 tins of tuna!!. Am really looking forward to January to start this in earnest as i am finding it difficult and keep thinking "but next month i'll have this, wont have to pay that " etc. Hubbys work took them all aside and told them things will be tough for the first six months of next year so am really uptight about that but at least here i'll get support and advise if i need it.
Have a good weekend everybody and keep your hands in your pockets!
am away to update my Grocery Challenge spends

ceridwen

weezl74 wrote: »

I wanted to add my huge agreement to this, and to say that if you are a tax payer with NI and a pension, It's more like £1 saved is £1.60 earnt! Plus earning the extra penny often costs travel and rewarding yourself with treats

Very true Weezl - one of my own personal reasons for trying to be frugal is in order to spend as little time as possible at w**k:eek:. I certainly absorbed that point big time in a book I read recently (Alvin Hall I think??) about always taking into account the amount of time one spends earning that bit of money you've just spent and thinking what else one could do with that time instead.

Personally - I would round up and say a £1 saved means £2 less one needs to earn - taking into account not having enough time because of w**k to be able to do everything moneysaving possible and the £s a week that get spent to "drown sorrows" after a day at w**k and whatever the latest shenanigans are that ones employer has got up to.

trex170104

Hiya Nyk
I am still working out my budget but will get it up on here asap.
I was just wondering are you going to be starting a new £1000 in 100 days challenge for 2010?
Also FREE LISTING ON EBAY TODAY AND TOMORROW

XSpender

I am not having the most successful trial run this month:rolleyes: My 'anything else' budget has taken a hammering and is about 300% of budget:eek: Note to self: Never take DH shopping when he has a few days off.

Writing down the amount I have spent and on what has been enlightning.

Good news is all Christmas shopping is now done and only meat and fresh bits to get for Christmas dinner. Still have loads of food in from Mr M shop last Saturday.

I get paid again on the 18th but do not want to touch this money until at least my 'proper' pay day on the 27th. Must keep out of the shops!

XS

Hardup_Hester

Hi
I've just done a freezer & cupboard audit, also been to Tesco & spent £57, but had a £50 gift voucher so actual cash was less than £8. I have enough food to last till Christmas & am just about to do my meal plan. Hubby has managed to get another job, only temporary, but better than nothing, downside is the fares, £56 a week, ouch, need to re-jig the budget to allow for this.
Hester

JayneC

OK I've done a budget. I've not included my fixed non negotiable outgoings, my car costs (I'm an essential car user for work) and contact lens costs.

I've included every other ougoing I can think of plus some for contingency, so should really be able to keep to it. This is for household of me, OH, grown up daugher and grandson, teenage daughter and 11 year old son plus 1 cat.
Daughter buys all her and grandson's personal stuff, clothing, nappies, etc - so that's not included. But I provide food, toiletries and obviously they use utilities(she does contribute financially!)

Budget:
Power - £1200
phones and internet - £420
food - £3000
insurance(life and household) - £750
clothing(me) - £100
kids(clothing/school/leisure) - £2080
leisure activities - £700
holidays - £1000
gifts/xmas - £805
misc - £250
contingency - £500

£10805.00

Not really a snappy title - 'live on £10805 challenge' - but at least I know it's realistic for me!

Looking forward to seeing if I can actually do it now x

Iheart2poundcoins

Hi gang, in my quest to make my own baby food I had a little shopping spree and have decided that if I went 30 odd years without a sweet potato then my daughter can too - 79p for 1 !! I think unless she absolutely loves it she can stick to 'old fashioned' food.
have also started a website in anticipation, is anyone else going to do one?
I just added the link in my home page as didnt want the mods to delete my signature.
ps - 20 days to christmas!!!

Kiwisaver_2

That's a great idea IHTPC, you blog page looks lovely, I might give it a go even if it is jus fro my own records and for therapy. Will give me something else to think about other than money.

Iheart2poundcoins

Thanks kiwisaver ! It fills in an evening making plans and messing on! and makes quite a cheap nights entertainment (god I am sad hee hee).