Frugal Living 2010 -The Cost of Living Challenge, INTRO

NualaBuala

bails wrote: »

Hi everyone, just popping in to wish you all the best of luck for the challenge in 2010. I'll pop in when I can from over here and then be properly on board from May when we're back. I know in the meantime all the newbies will receive fantastic support from all the lovely people who make this thread so special and who I'm proud to call my friends.

Now, let the frugal games begin! xx

What a lovely message, thanks from one of the newbies! Every time I read your signature I feel a mixture of jealousy, admiration and inspiration - wow! Some day I hope to visit some of those countries but first things first! I guess you will be travelling for the next few months? Hope you have a wonderful time.

Trex, congratulations! I could not find a big congrats smilie but no doubt someone who is good at that kind of thing will. What a fantastic incentive to be frugal!

I am staying in tonight so that's a good frugal start to 2010. Mind you it was going to be a cheap night in my friend's house anyway but am still trying to get rid of a cold so I'm happier to stay home all snuggled up with hot drinks.

the_cat

Happy New Year everyone!

Have just got back from my last shopping of 2009. Braved the hoards of bargain hunters at supermarket and added a last few whoopsies to my (huge) hoard.
Seriously had a job to get it all into the 2 freezers and have a huge cupboard stash too, so should spend very little on food in Jan.

Will have a frugal new year by walking to parents house and eating/drinking there and planning my first NSD for tomorrow.

Good luck to us all for the challenge ahead!

Frugaldom

Good afternoon - less than 7 hours to go! :j

More names added to the challenger list, welcome on board the good ship Frugalpop!

CONGRATULATIONS TREX! I promise I'll try not to think of lard or dinosaurs this year, and will try to remind myself T Rex is of the musical variety. Hope everything goes well for you and the next frugalteeny TRex.

Rozeepozee we had the great fortune to have an Ald! store built in the town nearest to us and it was opened in time for us to make the most of last winter's bargains. These included fruit trees - several varieties of cherry, apple, plum and pear. They were selling for around £3.79 each! :T
I've now been led to believe that the offer gets repeated, so am hoping to get the opportunity to buy a couple more this winter. I think I have enough space for a dozen trees in total, and plan on concentrating on the fruit growing more than the veg this year, as the hens and ducks demolish everything within reach. Veg growing will be done on a 'micro' system with a few raised & covered beds, pots and containers that will be creature-proofed plus the makeshift greenhouse. Garlic has already been planted into tubs, but it'll be a long time before that's ready. I just used shop bought bargain stuff, split it up and pushed the cloves flat side first into the soil, about 2cms below surface.

My plastic tub full of salad leaves (that WERE coming along nicely) got infiltrated by feathered marauders recently - the ducks worked out how to get the plastic lid off it! :mad: There are a few plants left but I'll sow some more as soon as the ice melts.

Buffythedebtslayer

savingfortravel wrote: »

Just want to say welcome to all our new frugallers, particularly Buffy..I sympathize with you about how your job is making you feel.. I am on a similiar mission to leave my teaching position (love teaching its the politics I can't stand) hence my 40 2 go challenge in my sig..this shows the no. of months I have to work before i can leave. This number will come down as time progresses and push me on (to rise above all the cr*p).

I'll be taking a special interest in your quest.

sft

In my moments of sheer desperation the bare minimum is another 12 months. to be debt free and have a vague saving fund. If I want my house then it is more like 24 - 30. Given that we go back on Monday and I have already made myself ill worrying about it at the moment I am focusing on the 12 months figure. If supply wasn't so useless I'd do that in a heartbeat would even be a cover superviser if I could find a job. Anything would be better then this.

knithappens wrote: »

teacher here too, so totally understand, will be teaching 3 days per week but even dont want to do this but needs must, cant wait to be more debt free then hopfully a change of direction

It worries me for the profession as a whole that so many feel the same. nearly every teacher I meet is either miserable, stressed out or literally terrified of losing their job.

Any how the challenge is nearly upon us. I am off out to dinner with my friends, I am supplying the !!!! tails...............!! so I will see you tomorrow bleary eyed and oh so tired

Take care all, thanks for the welcome and Happy New Year

xxxxxx

MoneyQueen

Hi,

Can you add MoneyQueen please

I will work out a budget and will post later

Thanks

MQ

Fishcake_Random

Wow lots of people popping in at the last minute lol.
I'm also one of the people who cannot wait for this year to end, it has been a year of survival where as next year is a year of living. Plus baby is due end-ish of march.
I'd love to be more self sufficent next year, my knitting has really come on lately so I plan to make a lot more of things for ourselves and my baking and cooking are definately improving. I'm not sure we'd ever afford a house of our own but a council place with a garden would be a massive step up as I'd love a little veggie patch, I don't even have windowsills here lol
x x x xx

ajp233

Please add me to the list of participants too.

I'm a 38 yr old male living on my own and want 2010 to be the year I start to tackle debts. I've run up a lot of debt in my past which I'm still paying off, but am also on a fairly good salary.

At the moment my plan is to live off £50 a week, after all unavoidable monthly bills (electric, gas, mortgage, water, council tax, loans etc) have been taken into account. If I have say £15 left at the end of one week, then I will only need to top up £35 to give me my weekly spending money. By doing this I'm sure I can save up money and pay off my debts at a greater rate.

I'm also aiming for January to be a freezer/store cupboard month so the amount of shopping I need to do is minimal.

It's been great reading everyones stories...Happy 2010 to all!

MushyPeas

Hi ajp233, welcome to MSE - a great place to start for your first post!

Happy 2010 to everyone

Kerry_Woman

Finally sorted out a budget for 2010.

Mortgage £2,056.56
Home contents £193.56
Life Insurance £72.00
Bills £600.00
Christmas £240.00
Savings £480.00
Council Tax £1,326.22
Standard Life Pension £507.12
T Mobile £180.00
Orange Broadband £143.88
Toiltieries £150.00
Property Maintence £523.44
Courses/Conferences £1,500.00
Books for study £120.00
Misc/Presents £1,000.00
Fares £1,766.40
Social/Theatre £250.00
Total £11,109.18

Some may be high, but am hoping not to be spending that much. As my Mum lives with me in my flat, I am not including her outgoings, which are small compared to mine. She pays for the food. We will be looking at what I buy and we will both look at what we really need in. For the food, I will keep a separate record to see how things are going. This is certainly an eye opener to me, as to what my yearly outgoings are. There are some other challenges I am on, so these should help me along. I am not including any mortage overpayments that I make.

Wishing everyone a great 2010.

Twinkles08

PLEASE JOIN US! You don't even need to declare your budget, as long as you know how much you have to cover the cost of pursuing a debt free lifestyle then you're sorted. Bust those debts, increase those savings, aim beyond your wildest dreams and see where the adventure takes you.


I've quoted this,'cos it's really inspired me.I've been wondering whether to join or not for a few days but as we have just moved house and are due another baby shortly I'm completely clueless as to our budget for this coming year.I've decided that's not going to put me off,so I guess I'm in! Twinkles08
I would like to bash down the debt and build up some emergency savings.As all credit cards are frozen we currently have nothing to fall back on which scares me a lot.Happy new year all!!