Frugal Living 2010 -The Cost of Living Challenge, INTRO

annie123

Got mine down to 12K so far:rolleyes:

After groceries, the 2nd biggest spend per year is my fags:o

But I will have stopped by the summer:D

Hubby came in whilst I was filling in it in and has taken an interest, was amazed to see it written down, brings home the actual cost of living here in London, so might get him onboard yet
He forgets that I no longer earn 50% more than him, infact I now earn 20% of what he earns! But we both like me being at home before 8pm, me, because I'm not tired all the time, and him, because he gets home made healthy lunch and dinners and a smiley wife:D

Right, enough waffle, back to that spreadsheet.......

luxor4t

Just what I've been looking for! please add me:

Luxor4t


Now is a good time re-think my life plans, partly due to health difficulties, and this challenge will definitely help me focus!

knithappens

my budget includes everything, including mortgage, loan cc ( including over payment) etc. I am surprised that even with my salary cut i will get by, and money i make, cash back etc will be put towards paying off debt, as this is a big chunk of my expenditure each month.

Council Tax 76.00
Water 24.00
Gas/Electricity 80.00 ( hoping to reduce this)
MORTGAGE 480.00 ( fix term ends July payment reduced to 402- look for better deal)
Bldgs/Ins 15.00
Phone & B/band 22.00
TV Licence 12.00
Mobile Phone 10.00
L. INS 9.00
CHILDCARE 342.00 (increases to this 01/02/2010)
TAX CREDIT OVERPAYMENT 12.00 (ends July)
LOAN 115.00
Presents - xmad bdays 85.00 - hoping to get most of this cash neutral - any saved cash pay off debt)
Car Insurance 34.00
NUT 20.00
Road Tax 10.00
MOT 8.00
BARCLAYS CC 200.00
Petrol 25.00 ( only working 3 days, walk everywhere else)
CLOTHES/SHOES 20.00
LEISURE 25.00
MY SAVINGS 50.00
Groceries 200.00 ( cook from scratch , meal plan)
kids savings 15.00

TOTALS 1889.00 per month
my total budget for the year is £22401 all figures have been rounded up, and increases have been taken into account. This is for myself , 3 kids, 2 cats

mooomin

pink_numbers wrote: »

Can we please have a "we're not worthy" bowing emoticon for nkymedia? That is absolutely amazing!! Well done!!!!!

We're not worthy

rachelet

Firstly, thanks very much for the spreadsheet CW18. I have now got my husband hooked as well and he is now doing his budget!!

I just just worked out my budget for 2010 and it looks very scary! I live in France with the kids and my husband commutes to the UK to work. We see him every other weekend for a long weekend. Therefore in my budget I have not included the mortgage cost as my husband pays for this and any presents for the kids he pays for. I get child benefit in France and my husband gives me a small allowance each month, so this is what I am going to try and live on next year. This year has been a bit of a disaster and I seem to overspend each month! My budget includes everything else I need to run the house, car and our lives in France.
Council Tax 630.00E
Water 350.00E
Gas/Electricity 746.90E
Logs 320.00E
Home Insurance 363.12E
Phone/Broadband 743.64E
Mobile phone 80.00E
Bank Charges 72.00E
Presents 160.00E
Car insurance 600.00E
School Fees 87.00E
School Meals 903.00E
Service for Car 190.00E
Petrol 1800.00E
Septic Tank Cleaning 275.00E
Kids clubs 225.00E
Food/Cleaning etc 3640.00E
Animal Food 768.00E
Anything else 46.34E

Total 12000.00E

To be honest, I think my food and petrol bills are the main places where I can cut down and save on my budget so that is where I will be concentrating my efforts. The rest of the costs are fixed really as in France we don't have the competition for broadband and phones like in England yet. The same for insurance so my car insurance is high.

This budget is for 1 adult, 3 kids, 1 dog, 4 cats, 1 duck, 3 sheep, 2 goats and 34 chickens. Also includes food for my husband 2 long weekends a month and holidays throughout the year, and another baby which is due in May! I am hoping to grow more veg this year and trade some with the neighbours which I only did a little this year, so this should cut down my food budget. I thought I had better start at a realistic figure and work from that. Next year my budget should be lower!!

Can't wait to start filling in the spreadsheet properly!

kalojac

Can I join too, Can I also have a copy of "The" Spreadsheet if at all possible. I am not back to work until 4th so between now and then I plan to make the year's budget and plan for 2010 and more frugal living. It really pains me when I work through the month's budget and the wastage on it!

I will try to keep up with all the pro's and thank you for the tips I've picked up in the few pages I've read already.

Thanks

KALOJAC

mumoffour77

CW wow your quick:)

Lol.......I will be a lurker for a while! But i will be posting in the 2nd quarter!!

so its
mumoffour77

sparrer

Sparrer
would like to join please, going for every bit of OS/MS I can for 2010

pink_numbers

flying_fresian wrote: »

We're not worthy

Perfect! thank you!

mumtoomany

Thank you for the spreadsheet Cheryl.

It looks a bit daunting but if I get stuck I will just ask one of the children. I knew there must have been a reason to have so many! Ha ha.

Just wondering now if my approved foods order will arrive before the end of the year. I ordered before Christmas (Christmas eve I think). Then I could add it to 2009 spends.

Mumtoomany.