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

rictus123

Got a few pages to catch up on since last night! A NSD today and think there wont be another one for me this month. I so cant wait to get some money in my bank just as a cushion and get rid of my nasty credit card. Only had money on there since the start of this month and cant wait to get rid of it. I think about my £6,000 budget everyday...cant help but think itl be close...but the way iv been spending this month i should manage. £6k out will mean i should have at least £8k in the bank:eek:Which is a lot for me, thats serious money at 18!:j

candygirl

CHINATEA branston beans don't have pickle in them, thank God:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::T:T:T

Intergalactic_Floozie

Hello there frugalteers! Hope everyone has had a good day. I'm quite excited as I'm going to my first fancy dress party since I was about 6! My friend is having a 30th birthday with an animal theme, and I have a zebra print coat that I have never worn so I'm planning on going as a zebra!! Any ideas on accessories etc?

Well, here is today's frugalizations

1. Managed to get a Metro newspaper (perk to having to get an early bus)
2. Two books I had ordered from the library had arrived so I picked them up, and got the 'spending buzz' without actually spending!
3. Then my mum gave me two books when I got to her house that she'd finished with.
4. Had a reduced price lunch today, a tub of chicken & bacon pasta salad from Morrisons that was half price reduced to 65p
5. Re-did my budget and realised I don't have that much 'everyday money' left sooner rather than later.
6. Pretended I didn't read the begging letter that came home from DS2's school asking for parents contributions of £15 towards building funds. (Catholic Voluntary Aided school) although I do feel horribly guilty.
7. Did a 10p survey on One Poll. Balance is now £4.85
8. Am thinking of shopping about to see if anywhere is offering 0% BT for CC that I don't already have.

Not so frugal

1. Had to send DH to Asda to buy some bulbs as the ones I got yesterday were wrong. They were £3 per pack of 3 for £5 so he went for the fiver option.
2. Didn't make any use of the tea-fund at work.
3. Did my budgeting wrong in the first place! Now I'm short of money.
4. No new mystery shopping jobs posted.

mooomin

Intergalactic_Floozie wrote: »

Hello there frugalteers! Hope everyone has had a good day. I'm quite excited as I'm going to my first fancy dress party since I was about 6! My friend is having a 30th birthday with an animal theme, and I have a zebra print coat that I have never worn so I'm planning on going as a zebra!! Any ideas on accessories etc?

Could you backcomb your hair at the front and leave it longer at the back so it looks a bit horses mane-ish? Will try and edit with a link to show you. Otherwise, keep all other clothes black and white!

Pretended I didn't read the begging letter that came home from DS2's school asking for parents contributions of £15 towards building funds. (Catholic Voluntary Aided school) although I do feel horribly guilty.

Hiya Flooze!!

Highlighted the key bit about the begging letter for you!

Hair 1

Hair 2 You can't see it as well in the second one, but she has backcombed hair with long at the back, looks really nifty!

slowlyfading

Evening everyone.

Well, today was a total waste of time! All I did all day was sit at the back of the classroom. I have never been so bored and all I could think about was all of the stuff I could be doing, was I not sat there.

Another thing that's bad today - I've had to take my car to the garage On Sunday one of the back wheel's brakes was locked, which I managed to free by pumping the brake pedal a few times. Now, I don't know anything about cars so just prayed it was because it had been parked on a steep hill all weekend. But, it happened again this morning whilst on the flat in the car park and again this afternoon. So, have taken it to the garage down the road to be looked at tomorrow, and am praying that it is nothing too expensive...!

A silver lining to today is that it is my 11th NSD of the month so far. Though obviously tomorrow is not going to be one!

I've got lots of work to do this evening, even though all I want to do is go to bed and just watch a DVD. Sigh...

Have a good evening everyone

Ches

Went shopping today and among other things I stocked up on some things as Mr S have jars of Nescafe with 50% free so bought 2 @ £4 each. Fairy liquid @ 65p so bought 4 and 1/2 price cheese so bought 2 packs. Spent £36 .53 in total and am quite pleased with that. Tonights tea is stew made from the Christmas turkey carcass and lots of veg with dumplings. Tomorrow I have to pay for a lunch I am having with some friends later in the month. I don't think I will have much cash left this week but should make it to Friday all being well.

babyboysmommy

I completed going through the kitchen. All the items I put on freecycle have already been collected

Used leftover chicken for tonight's meal along with a tin of condensed mushroom soup, milk, sweetcorn & pasta, there is enough for DH to have the same tomorrow night as well so I'm glad he liked it!

The next room to be gone through is our bedroom. I'm hoping to find more things for eBay, a carboot or freecycle. I've adopted the policy that if it's been gathering dust for a while we really don't need it so should sell it or give/throw it away. I'm really quite enjoying having a good clear out

bails

Hi everyone, I'm just logging on to say an official goodbye. We fly out tomorrow and I may get a chance to pop in during the couple of days we're in Nepal, but then we'll be in media blackout in Tibet then China for the best part of a month.

Wishing you all a happy and frugal few months; I'll say Hello when I can xx

sabs10

Hello All

Another NSD today

Kitchen reorganization is now finished, made an inventory of all gadgets & tools that i use on a daily basis. Have no need to stop by the cookware area at Mr A's as i actually have everything i need, plus all cake decorations & candles for birthdays this year. It turns out that i have about 6 unopened packets of candles, i must extra nearer birthdays thinking i didn't have any. Now as everything has a home & is labeled hopefully this kind of buying will stop.

Will see if Dad has some white gloss & emulsion, after clean the walls i can see that they still need a lick of paint. Plan not to go near a DIY store if i can help it.

Next challenge is to now sort out and organize craft itmes and create its own area. I have boxes of stuff everywhere.

sorry for length of post - having a mini lightbulb moment - last year i entered all expenditure onto a spreadsheet. Have just done a comparison to discover that I purchase duplicate items for both the kitchen & craft (i'm sure i do this else where). And had spent almost three times as much in the this time period in 2009 :eek::eek::eek:. Hopefully by organizing and sorting out these areas i'll know what i have & need and get rid of surplus either by ebay or charity shops etc.

Off now to salvage a wardrobe from a neighbour - will put in own shelves to create storage for everything crafty.

TTFN:D

slowlyfading

bails - hope you have an amazing time! you will be missed around here xx