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

Blairweech

Hello!!!

2TR - Was thinking of you, so am glad you have posted although I am sorry to hear your Mum is still recovering. I hope that you are able to find all the help you need with looking after her

You have all been busy!
I have spent the week trying to catch up after spending a few days at OHs due to the snow. So, not much frugalling has happened tbh. I have uploaded everything into spending diary and my spend to date is just over £800 :eek: :doh:£75 of that is on eating out, as I paid for our date night at the start of the month and then it was OHs birthday yesterday, so I had to pay to go out again. And because of the snow, I have been unable to go home and make lunch so had to buy it in the canteen a few times as well. In theory, next month should be super cheap as I am spending two weeks on an all inclusive holiday and should not be spending anything!!!

Speaking of the holiday, I am planning on going out today to buy a hat and a bikini. That is all. Oh, and a magnatax for the car as mine has fallen apart. I really need to tidy/clean my car - it ate my car keys yesterday and I spent an hour looking for them!!!! So will hopefully do that this afternoon, looks quite a nice day outside

Hope you all have a fabulous Sunday

candygirl

Morning all;)
I've got matchsticks on my eyes this morn as had DGD over last night, and not much sleep.She's watching Peppa Pig now so happy days;):rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
Went to my Aunty's 80th last night, and ended up doing karaoke after 3 glasses of wine!!God i'm such a lightweight:o:o
Anyway i'm having a total NS weekend, as not even leaving the house today, i'm too tired:D:D
Looked at my gas and leccy statements online yest and i'm well in credit, so it should more than cover the next bills:j:j:j
Have fabbily frugal days everyone xx:A

chika

Oh my, I want a dehydrator now...

Today is going to be a spend spend spend day. I left my headlights on last night and have wrecked my battery - I really need the car today so I've had to call out a breakdown service who are going to charge me at least £55+vat to sort it out. I feel ill just thinking about paying that! I need to start being much more frugal in order to have a fund to pay for these little unexpected costs. It needs an MOT in the next couple of days which is also going to kill my purse. I might look into0 getting rid of it soon and start getting the bus.

savingfortravel

SM-Great advice for 2TR.
Inter-Think I will start a DFW diary too. Reading Alvin Hall's Your money or your life and the first task is to keep a spending diary for a month. Think I'll do this so the rest of the book makes sense but some of my spending will be in order to save money in the long run if you see what I mean. If, like you I list my DFW achievements as well I'm sure I'll feel really good.

Right off to walk the next part of our county trail. Frugal entertainment. Just wondering whether to stop at pub or take sandwiches with us.

Have a good morning all

sft

babyboysmommy

What does DFW stand for? Thank you

gilligansyle

Morning frugallers

Have been updating spending spreadsheet and am quite happy at the moment, not totally in budget, but I knew this month was going to be difficult because of using more gas etc. On the plus side, used less petrol!
Off to H&B to get drinks for DS for work and have a look in pound shop.

Container veg etc. - question - I have a terraced house with a small yard, and normally manage some salad veg etc. Do things like spuds need really deep pots, is it worth doing in a yard? Anything else that is easy to grow, tips would be appreciated. Have thought about allotment, but not really worth it just for me, as DS will be leaving some time this year.

gilligansyle

babyboysmommy wrote: »

What does DFW stand for? Thank you

Debt Free Wannabee

gilligansyle

savingfortravel wrote: »

Inter-Think I will start a DFW diary too. Reading Alvin Hall's Your money or your life and the first task is to keep a spending diary for a month. Think I'll do this so the rest of the book makes sense but some of my spending will be in order to save money in the long run if you see what I mean. If, like you I list my DFW achievements as well I'm sure I'll feel really good.

I find that having a diary is really useful. It not only helps to keep track of the spending, but makes you realise how far you've come and some of the small achievements along the way.
Agree about the spending to save. I felt guilty about buying craft stuff, but then sold the stuff so felt good about it. This year plan on being more organised earlier. Bit of planning is a good thing.

aeb_2

I spent so long reading, and reading links too that I have no time too post

Lovely day here, blue sky. All the talk of veg, I'm going to plant some seeds, a task we can do together. Salad leaves today but I'm leaving tomatoes till later this year as they always seem to catch up anyway as I don't have anywhere to keep them warm to take real advantage of an early start.

Dehydrator - has anyone tried the fan oven on a very low heat? I did apple rings last year and it worked. I wondered what the difference was?

Edaniels and Meg - sorry to hear your news

2TR - I hope it works out with your mum

scottishlass

flying_fresian wrote: »

Plans for today?

I've been ignoring Ebay and it's Free Listing Day, so I'm going to get out of bed soon (Woo for laptops), make some breakfast then list and list and list! Thankfully I use Turbolister so I can do a run of them and upload at the same time.

* comes out of hiding *

Sorry to butt in but just in case any one else is planning on using Turbo Lister on today's Free Listing day it won't be free...it's in the T&C's that third party listers are not allowed there's more info on the Ebay board but wouldn't want people to be caught out by the extra fees.

* goes back to lurking *