FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE 2010, part 1. (Living on £4,000 a year)

mrs_moneyspinner

wow aeb you could write a book - I am NOT joking - maybe a column in something like country living? I am completely in awe and inspired by your positive attitude... what great kids you must have and what a great lifestyle you are giving them despite the hardships. Well done and good luck for 2010.

KazLA

cw18 wrote: »

That would be me

There is actually a link in Nyk' list of useful links (at the start of the thread) for downloading it, but I've had a couple of people have problems if they need the version for older copies of Excel/Open Office. So more than happy to send it out directly if needed, but please be sure to let me have your email address so I can do so

Thank you - I've clicked the link and can see the spreadsheet. To get it onto my pc, I presume I click File - Download As - Excel, but where does it put it??

[Deleted User]

ceebeeby wrote: »

Hi all, i'm tagging this thread to keep an eye on it, to help me on my way to costing less in life!!! I'm not sure how frugal I could possibly be so would like to watch and learn for a bit!

Tx

It's such a good idea just 'watch and learn' and soak up some ideas. You can begin to gradually make small changes and find yourself thinking differently than you did before. I recently changed from buying coffee at work, to bringing my own instant (and fairly traded) coffee and using the free hot water from the vending machine. That only saves me £5 per month. But over the year that's £60. A few more of those tiny habits and I've saved hundreds a year without any real effort.:j

mumtoomany

Hi all,

Just popped back on to say I too was crying through your story AEB, I am inspired. If only I lived a little closer (greater Manchester here) I could come round and babysit for you.

Mumtoomany.

Kittikins

Warney - have you checked whether you could get more for each DVD/CD on Amaz*n? I've sold 99.99% of my collection on Amazon, and got far more for them than on Mu$ic magpie - I only put things on MM that I can only get pennies for on Amaz*n and it only takes a few moments to have both pages open on your computer and change between the two screens to double check...

kalojac

What an inspiring story, well done to you. With 6 kids you must have the patience of a saint! Good luck this year and hopefully more of your dreams will start to come true!

aeb wrote: »

The bits in green are my dream come true, except to change 'swim school' to B&B. Let me explain.

We saved up. DH took early retirement and I left my job. We bought our dream house on the edge of a largish village in the South West. Although a bit run down it is structurally sound, sits in a bit more than an acre, has an annexe, a huge roof space, about six double bedrooms (depending how they are used) and a swimming pool complex to die for (wave machine, steam room, sauna, hot tub, etc)

We had just unpacked and settled in when DH suddenly passed away and I was left with three pre school children. The saving grace was that we had no mortgage but because moving had cost more than we thought and we were impatient to get the B&B going we took out a £12,000 loan. The first in our lives as we had no saving left.

I though I was feeling rubbish because of all this but then found I was expecting - big shock! - even bigger shock to find it was three! All went really well so here I am living in my dream house with 6 under 6 and loving it! Things could be better of course if DH was here but life must go on etc etc...

I tried to do a bit before the babies were born but then I thought well I have to be sensible as there is nobody else for them. They have only one uncle in NZ and my mum who couldn't cope with 6. Friends have been really good. An ex neighbour, a real Jack of all trades, came with his family. They went out for days whilst we did load of semi structural stuff such as putting in wires and pipes for plumbing and stud walls for en-suites. I then found a really good plasterer. So although I have no skirting, architrave, windows, floorboards (holes), sanitary fittings or light fittings/switches in most rooms everything is ready for when I'm able to move on with out too much disruption, just needs connecting up.

But, hey, on the bright side I have my bedroom and bathroom and a carpet that nearly fits which are warmed from the wood burner in the kitchen below. DS1&2 and DD1 sleep in together. There room is nice as we brought the furniture with us. The kitchen units DH and I bought from ebay for £75 and although not quite fitted to professional standards I did my best with real nails and no nails and they do the job. We brought down a huge pine table which we literally live around.

Outside we have a hen house although only 3 hens until I can cope with more. I've a big veg garden which I planted but then I couldn't harvest so the little aeb's did their best and can't wait for next year to begin.

The pool is full of water but for the time being it is my dream. Far too costly and dangerous. It is double locked!! It has to be kept full of water to prevent damage I am told. Someone suggested keeping fish in it to catch and eat - hmmm?

So that is part of my story, don't wait for your dream or it may be too late.

cw18

KazLA wrote: »

Thank you - I've clicked the link and can see the spreadsheet. To get it onto my pc, I presume I click File - Download As - Excel, but where does it put it??

That I don't know - I assumed you'd get to chose the location on your computer

Never tried downloading from Google myself - didn't even know I could upload to there until Nyk mentioned it to me recently :rolleyes2

kalojac

Still working on the budget but with all the snow, being back to work this week and the kids off school because of the weather haven't really looked at it - excuses/excuses!

I am however still really looking at our life and the way we live and trying harder to live a much more frugal lifestyle. I have been living on lots more whoopsies etc and love my new spreadsheet, but must admit to not listing everything bought but listing the shop and the total spend instead. I think to get the best out of the spreadsheet though I should list every item individually.

Question????
What are everyone else's experiences with the spreadsheet, do you list every item, or every receipt total instead?

cw18

I log every single item, but there's no reason you can't change over part way through the year (even part way through a month) - the spreadsheet will still hold up just fine

If you're making major changes with your lifestyle/outlook on spending, then it may be worth you staying as you're doing for a while - I find if I try doing too much too soon I get demotivated

kalojac

Thank you, you are probably right. I have subscribed to a lot of challenges for the New Year and perhaps keeping things as simple as possible for all the challenges to begin with is the best idea, so that I do not sicken myself.

cw18 wrote: »

I log every single item, but there's no reason you can't change over part way through the year (even part way through a month) - the spreadsheet will still hold up just fine

If you're making major changes with your lifestyle/outlook on spending, then it may be worth you staying as you're doing for a while - I find if I try doing too much too soon I get demotivated