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

DdraigGoch

Warney27 - how about registering for imeasure.org [link on first page I believe] It really helps. Back on the Electricity Fairy idea, how about getting someone else to be "responsible" for entering up the figures, might make them realise that the off switch is there for a reason? *fingers crossed smiley!*

Frugaldom

DdraigGoch wrote: »

Well pointed out, XNatalie. Nyk often did these calculations, if I remember correctly:

Weekly pay x 52 = annual income
Annual income / 365 [or 366 in a leap year] = daily income
Daily income x 7 = weekly income

I find that Daily Income is a good "frightener" [for myself or others], Weekly Income [less outgoings] is useful for planing properly and Monthly Income handy for allocating big expenditures such as Rates, Fuel etc

HTH


LOL, crossposting alert! *Waves to Nyk*

I always work out daily so I'm not caught short and I never spend or save anything from the actual budget as I know not spending it this week or month means it's not due to be spent until a later date. It's only what#s left over the entire annual amount needed that gets saved, so I know for sure it isn't needed elsewhere.

I'm getting jealous of hearing about all these fabulous Branston beans offers! Not living near an A$da or Mr T store means we never have access to these offers, or the greatly reduced whoopises, for that matter! But I do make the most of any offers from anyone else living near one when they are coming our direction and having the nes Ald! store in nearby town has helped enormously, even if I did slightly overspend last year piling in the bargains.

knithappens

fishcake i love the elephant may have to knit one for lil bit, just shown my 13 year old it she wants one too lol. arghhh i have so many projects on the go

lynzpower

Im in a frugal dilemma. I hope the more frugal amongst you can direct us as to what to do.

We dont have central heating. We have the option of getting the gas turned on. The place we live is a very draughty maisionette ( partly secondary glazed)
The positive of this is that we have no gas bill. Electricity is included in our v low rent.
Our place is quite big, about the same size as your average 3 bed semi.

Its cold. Very cold.Weve covered the windows and are pretty much living in our bedroom where we have 3 oil filled radiators.Of course we are wearing lots of layers.
Ive been on comparisons sites and it looks like it would be about 1200 for the year, although in the spring Id be tempted to shut the gas down again.

Does this sound a lot to you? Can anyone think of anything that I mgiht have missed tips-wise in keeping warm. We have made draught excluders ( pointless, dont seem to do anything)

larmy16

savingfortravel wrote: »

Welcome Butterfly-
Wow, found your post very inspiring and do hope you join us as you'll fit right in.
Just felt inspired to make own cards this year too. Starting to realise that you don't have to go to expensive craft shops for bits/bots for cards..just kept your mind and eyes open.

Thanks
sft

I don't know if you have a cat or know someone who does. Felix make some food in foil trays. I used to cut the squares out at the bottom (after washing of course!!) and then you can draw on them with a pen which makes an indentation (hope this is making sense) a little picture with patterns etc, or someone's name and happy birthday, whatever. You then fold over the edges neatly and stick to a plain card.

It can look really effective. I sold some once at a craft fair. HTH. x

cw18

lynzpower wrote: »

Our place is quite big, about the same size as your average 3 bed semi.

Its cold. Very cold.Weve covered the windows and are pretty much living in our bedroom where we have 3 oil filled radiators.Of course we are wearing lots of layers.
Ive been on comparisons sites and it looks like it would be about 1200 for the year, although in the spring Id be tempted to shut the gas down again.

Sounds VERY high to me.

I'm in a 4 bed detached, though I accept it's well insulated (only 8 years old). I use gas for central heating, hot water and my hob (rarely a day this doesn't get used - even during the summer for soup or omelette etc). Over the past 12 months my TOTAL fuel bills (g&e combined) were just inder £655, and my calculations suggest that the gas part of that was just under £265.

lyndasharp

I'm in a 3 bed semi, and our gas bill is similar to CW's - around £250 for the year. That's heating, hob, and hot water.

Ooh, that was odd, it posted my message when I hadn't finished.

Anyway, I was planning to say that I can't have a read through everything as my tea is nearly ready. Will have a look later. hope everyone has had a good day. I bought two lovely woolly jumpers in a charity shop, though at £11.48 in total I'm sure charity shops are getting more expensive! Found a discounted teddy in Asda to use as a prezzie for the littlest bridesmaid for only £3, but it was quite large to walk home with - worth the funny looks though. H2B paid for the shopping this time, so that bit doesn't come from my budget!

mooomin

Evening all,

I woke up with a cold this morning, and feel really tired and lethargic so I've not done as many things I wanted to do today. What I did manage though was to go to the supermarket, as my kind Friend With Car offered to take me today.

We went to Morrisons and I got some really good buys on fruit and veg - we shared the Two Bags of Clementines For £3 offer, tatties were 30p a bag, as were carrots. Tomorrow I'm making tattie soup I got three boxes of biscuits for the cats as these were half price (and only 3 per customer!) and everything I bought that wasn't on my list was either half price or reduced (with the exception of tissues, which were just essential)

Total spend was £36.46 on groceries today and I won't have to buy anything else all week if I meal plan. Which I need to do. SOON.

In other frugal news, I met a lovely MSE person today (who I have met up with before) She used her Live Card to get me two tickets to the opening night at Sound of Music at our local theatre for half price. She even gave me a voucher for a free programme!

My Sainsburys home insurance has tracked on Quidco so that will be £100 earned in a few months and I posted some parcels today for Amazon sales (This won't be taken off my spends for this challenge as it's covered by the amount paid by the seller)

Only other piece of news is that I just spied that Mr Fresian has left a 5p lying around. I think I'm going to "rescue" this and put it in the safe haven of my sealed tin.

flippin36

Frugal things done today

Library -
Mean with Money - Hunter Davis
What not to spend - Alvin Hall
The New Spend less Revolution - Rebecca Ash

Will let you know if I learn anything new!

I managed to find OH birthday presents for the huge sum of £2! (Favourite shower gels on offer in Superdrug!)

Have been offered a table for my sewing machine on Freecycle, so I need to pick that up tomorrow (if the roads are clear) and get it set up. My sister has shown me how to make the most beautiful patchwork make-up bags/pencil cases. I thought if I get practicing I could make them for presents. I've also learnt how to make sock monkey's which the kids friends seem to love (costs me less than £1 to make). Does anyone else sew gifts?

I have told people who normally buy me gifts to buy me seeds and gardening things as I want to grow my own vegetables. I have already been offered some things!

Going food shopping tomorrow (first time this year) so I have done a cupboard sort out, planned meals and done a list (though my daughter has added CD player to it when I wasn't looking Lol!) My budget is £30 as we still have quite a lot left from Christmas.

Have a nice evening all.

lingojingo

lynzpower wrote: »

I
Our place is quite big, about the same size as your average 3 bed semi. .....
Ive been on comparisons sites and it looks like it would be about 1200 for the year, .....
Does this sound a lot to you?

Yes!

I'm in a 3 bed end of terrace, over 100 yrs old, draughty in places, very very high ceilings with floor to ceiling windows, use gas for central heating, hot water and hob, and my total for the year for dual fuel was £699. 50