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

I_want_a_baby

Nuala Buala - Don't know if anyone else has posted as I haven't read to the end but the way to make an open fire is to Scrunch individual sheets of newspaper and cram them into bottom of grate, add kindling (small bits of wood twigs etc), then add a log and a few bits of coal - works every time. Make sure you add enough kindling so that it catches enough to start burning the log! xxx

mama67

NualaBuala wrote: »

Hugs Natalie, moving is so hard at the best of times I think and even harder when money is an issue. Like Lynne says, I hope it will turn out to be for the best.

I will be moving in the not-too-distant future and have a tab on my spreadsheet to list companies/organisations etc I will need to notify of my change of address. I just add them as I think of them as I don't trust my memory!

My whole life is on my spreadsheet now and it is always open: It has a tab each for:

• my meal plans (such as they are)
• planned spending (with a section where I put the date and the item so I can think it over before buying, also a shopping list column)
• overall budget plan for the year
• balances of what I owe in total, what's in all of my accounts and my purse. (I even have a graph of my loan - I find it very satisfying to have a visual reminder of the outstanding amount getting smaller, I'm so sad! )
• spending diary linked to a yearly spending sheet showing amount spent/amount left for each category
• change of address
• my declutter list (with where I will list it e.g. freecycle/ebay and how much I get for it)
• store cupboard/freezer list (needs to be updated)
• homemade gift/craft project ideas
• to-do list
• tax stuff

No doubt more will get added in time! I back it up on Google from time to time just in case.

When we moved house I took out a full years redirection but then as each letter came with the redirection wrote to the relevant companies etc giving new details.

It meant that the important ones didn't get forgotten but the junk mail didn't get the new address.

Happymrsh

Well I had to spend today because I got my Tax Credits, which while we are being frugal and trying to get out of debt and into credit, is being used to pay what we can. I managed to pay £238 off various catalogues and so that has brought that total down slightly which i feel good about.

No other spends here although i may pop to our fairly local Mr S later when DH is home as we need some bread and there maybe some meat for the freezer reduced.

Have made a nice minced beef wellington for dinner when DH gets home which i am really looking forward too.

Just wondering how close you all live to a Big Supermarket?

Our closest is now a Mr S which has only been open a month or 2 and that is 5 miles away and not very big. Other than that we have to go at least 20 miles for a Mr T, Mr A or any big shops like M&S etc.

Hope you've all had a good, Frugal, day

Lily_The_Legend

Hi peeps,

I haven't looked at this thread much since I signed up last year, so just thought I'd give an update and I will try to keep up with everyone's messages from now on as there's quite a few to read since the start of January!

I think I'm going to come in on budget this month. Since being back at work on January 4 I've made all my own lunches. Before Christmas I was buying a lot of them. So I'm saving money, plus they're a lot tastier. :T

I'm also cooking more meals at home - we'd got into a habit before Christmas of having lots of takeaways and buying pizzas from the supermarkets.

I really want to lose weight this year and by being more frugal and cooking more I have lost four pounds in two weeks! :A

I've also been saying no to a lot more things. There are quite a few birthdays coming up, and I just can't afford to go to all the meals out, so have said no to a couple of people and said we can have a lunchtime drink in the pub instead as they are work colleagues.

A big chunk of my £160 spending money for the month went on renewing my passport, so have not had as much cash as I usually do for the month, but I'm really enjoying not spending! :rotfl:

Hope everyone else is getting on well. :T

xxx

SmlSave

Hi everyone :hello:

I feel really bad for not posting seeing how much everyone has! I will do better.

It looks like I'll have to rejig my budget as we've just decided to get double glazing which is likely to be circa £3000:eek: Oh well...it needs to be done.

HOMEGROWN VEG - For anyone interested in a simple and FREE planting planner, here's a .pdf file of the planting veg plannerfrom RHS that you can print and laminate for future use. I'll also add the link into HANDY LINKS on post 1.

Thanks for the planner Nyk! I was just think I need to get my garden plan sorted )

Just wondering how close you all live to a Big Supermarket?

I'm very close Happymrsh, in walking distance.

Have a good time Bails!

And love and hugs to everyone :grinheart

Lily_The_Legend

Happymrsh wrote: »

Just wondering how close you all live to a Big Supermarket?

We live about a mile from Mr M and Mr S, (they are in different directions) so if we're feeling energetic and don't need to buy much we walk to Mr M. :T

SmlSave

I haven't looked at this thread much since I signed up last year, so just thought I'd give an update and I will try to keep up with everyone's messages from now on as there's quite a few to read since the start of January

Hi Lily I'm glad I'm not the only one - phew

Fishcake_Random

Happy - I have an Aldi on my doorstep and a flashy new mega tesco about 2 minutes walk away. I'm pretty spoilt.
x x x x

pagangirl

[FONT=&quot]Sooooooooooo many posts !

Have just found out I am entitled to full JSA[/FONT].

Updated Budget
Outgoings so far are yearly - only me in household

Private Pension £192
TV Licence £142.60
Council Tax £755.56, hoping to get CT benefit off this
Dogs Trust Sponsor Dog £52.08
Insurance £74.04
Landline/Broadband £360
Water Rates £174 have water meter
Pay as you go mobile £36
Rent £3166.28 hoping to get Housing Benefit off this
Gas/Electric dual fuel £280 - with E-On-Age Concern

Total for basics £5232.56 excluding shopping/bus/train fares/clothing/leisure etc.

Incoming so far JSA £64.30 pwk = £3343.60
shortfall of £1888.96 - oops!

Will update again when news from council - details of any Housing & Council Tax Benefits - apparently will take another 10-14 days, hopefully sooner, rather than later, as housing association are getting jumpy as no rent, but have kept them up to date with what is happening - i.e. nothing ATM !!!!

Got adventurous on Sunday, had some pears in fridge needed using up, found recipe for Pear & Chocolate Crumble - yum mmmmmm (Getting back into home cooking mode) !

So far in January have had 9 NSD and suprised meself today, had to go out and only spent the large amount of 44p (on mushrooms).No spends in any of the charity shops.

Have new mindset thanks to folks on here - not how much have I got in my purse to spend - but how much can I get for it. - Thank you fellow frugallers for all hints & tips.
Also to Aril (sorry if wrong person) who posted about a book called Rubbish Ideas - borrowed it out of the library this morning and finished it already - brilliant read - recommend it to anyone.
Also thanks to Malc from Eon - will let you know what readings are, just need to check my spreadsheet.

Hope everyone is happy & frugalling well.

Going back to play catch up with all posts missed.

Intergalactic_Floozie

Happymrsh wrote: »

Just wondering how close you all live to a Big Supermarket?

Our closest is now a Mr S which has only been open a month or 2 and that is 5 miles away and not very big. Other than that we have to go at least 20 miles for a Mr T, Mr A or any big shops like M&S etc.

Hope you've all had a good, Frugal, day

I live 0.9 miles away from Morrisons (which is 15 minutes walk, or 5 minutes in the car)

1.0 miles away is a Lidl that I use occasionally as I walk past every day to go to school.

1.5 miles away from Tesco (wouldn't walk as it's uphill) and the traffic is bad most days so I try and avoid going.

2.0 miles away is town with Tesco, Aldi, Farmfoods & Netto (not that I have ever been to Netto) plus the fruit & Veg market and freezer shops.

3.5 miles away from Asda (rarely go) as town with the markets is cheaper.