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

thriftylass

nykmedia wrote: »

Thanks guys, but I am still looking for a volunteer to take over the running of this challenge as it's strayed too far from my original, which was about living a simple, minimalist lifestyle. I just don't have the time to keep up with all the posts here. Sorry.

I can see where your coming from. I might not have the exact same goal as you but really like the general idea, but keeping up with the posts is getting a bit much. Would love to keep this thread going but don't really have the time either to volunteer.

candygirl

NYK I was looking at the handy links today, and it's v useful, so don't get rid of it please:D:D:D

NualaBuala

nykmedia wrote: »

Thanks guys, but I am still looking for a volunteer to take over the running of this challenge as it's strayed too far from my original, which was about living a simple, minimalist lifestyle. I just don't have the time to keep up with all the posts here. Sorry.

Well I for one don't expect anything from you - I don't expect you to read my posts and if I really needed to ask you something I'd find a way to get noticed without you having to make the effort to "notice". I think we can all tell how busy you are with life in frugaldom!

I love hearing about your lifestyle, it's so inspiring to me even though I'm far from your level of frugality. So I really hope you continue to share tidbits about what you're up to whenever you have time. I do like your blog but I tend to have MSE open all the time and I like the friendly group that has formed on this thread - and we have you to thank for bringing us like-minded folk together. So three cheers for Nyk - hip hip, hooray! :T:T:T

aeb_2

chika wrote: »

Despite wearing a hat, two jumpers and leggings under my jeans I'm still freezing so me and housemate are going on a electric heater hunt. I refused to buy one for ages because of the cost but worked out that it will only be about 24p an hour to run one. I can't wait to be warm! I can't decide if to get a fan heater or a convector one - I have a very large room with two draughty sash windows and high ceilings - any ideas?

I see you bought a heater, I hope it has a thermostate or it will cost much more to run.

I have some wooden drafty windows - many even have crackes and bits of glass missing. I bought a pack of plastic film from B&Q for about £5 and it did loads. Just tape it on with the double sided tape (included) and blow with the hairdryer (that's the fun bit!) It really does make a difference. When the weather gets warm just pull it all off, the tape didn't leave any marks. **the most dfficult part was ensuring I only used one thickness as it is so thin it is easy to get it double and then it is not quite as clear.

Soapnuts are great for softening baby clothes.

NYK - I often take a look at the first post, lots of info, thanks. I do understand what you mean about the difference between now and trying to be really frugal.

lynzpower

Nothing overly frugal to report here, have bene spending money .not much, but purse strings have been loose. I didnt have one single NSD in Jan, so need to get on board with that as I know it is worth it. I aim to have a NSD tomorrow. We have roast beef left for sandwiches, and Ive jsut made coleslaw so theres plenty of that left. We have crisps, ceral bars, drinks. I dont need to spend tomorrow but MUST ensure I have got some change as I always draw cash out and change it for parking adn end up buying something I dont need :mad:

Have a problem with my freegle account- I hadn't used it for ages, now it wont verify me- I have quite am few things to give away, a broken shelf unit that would be great to make raised beds on, and loads of "Home mags, like elle decoration" that I saved from landfill a few weeks ago at a work clearance and Im sure someone would like them.

I have moved 850 over to my savings account and will live on the rest - cant see why this isnt achievable every month so Im saying Im going to endeavour to live on 7k a year.

That will include
holidays/gifts/ clothing/ food for 2 / pet food/ mobile phone/ gym/ healthcare/ discretionary bits & pieces/ gardening/vets bills/dental etc.

The food budget will be reduced to 140 a month for 2 for a few months, if possible I'll reduce again.

The holidays fund we pay into pays for any car hire we have through the year, holidays. Gifts budget pays for all Xmas gifts, birthday presents and cards. I hope we have some left over this year!

Although Im not 100% set on how much we will live on ( Im challenging, OH isnt, we bank seperately- confusing but will work really well for us this year ( she says)
I know I alone want to save 12k- minimum.

Anything frugal I can do to ensure I beat that is what its all about for me This money will be saved towards downshifting, having a small mortgage so that we can be at home more, doing the things we want to do - that is a more minimal lifestyle

Hope everyone else is donig well xx

cha97michelle

Hello

Haven't been on the computer as much the past few days. I'm still trying to be frugal which is probably just as well as life is quite expensive. I have just been updating my spreadsheet and we have spent more than has come in this month, so i need to really step it up a gear i think.

I've ended up having to get a new battery for my car, but thinking about it, it definitely needs it and i can't afford for it not to be reliable. Otherwise it might as well go altogether and that is a no-no or i would be really isolated.

I'm still doing my bit in terms of trying to keep the house running cheaply. Grocery budget is about £195 for the month. I'm going to work on it being less if i can. We haven't gone out/eaten out/had takeaway in the last month so entertainment costs are virtually non-existent. I wish it was all a little easier, and i'm hoping it will do as the year progresses and i can grown some stuff and the house bills are a bit lower.

We've got a possibly expensive February too. My mum is going to be 50, we have our week away at centre parcs, my Dad and my BIL have birthdays, it is V day and i will have been with DH 10 years, and the other car needs MOT and possibly new tyres. Just need to keep plodding on.

Best news today is the Dr did my prescription review, and i can now start coming off the Antidepressants i've been on since last June. It has been at least £7.20 per prescription (usually a month) so i paid for my last prescription today. I hope.

DH is happy as i am keeping myself busy by cooking. Todays efforts were homemade pizza, and homemade chocolate eclairs. My food doesn't always look the best, but they were pretty tasty. The Dr did comment i was a bit overweight, so perhaps i need to do a bit less of the cooking, but it helps the low budget seem a bit more satisfactory when there is something that would be a luxury if you bought it.

Cheaper tomorrow as i have got out a freezer meal of cowboy hash for DH and the kids tomorrow, and i will have a liver and bacon casserole from the freezer. I am going to try and not spend anything else now this month.

Skint_Lynne

Hi everyone,

I've not got much to update, but still trying to be careful and frugal. I can't believe that it is nearing the end of January. So far, I have had 13 NSD's, which is unheard of for me. It's getting to the point that I am planning to spend on a particular day so that I don't spoil my days, even if I just need to spend a very small amount of money. I suppose that this would lead to less of a waste of time and fuel, therefore, more money is spent I guess.

I know that everyone has different reasons for challenging themselves with frugal living. I was in lots of debt when I was young (20-30), then I got myself out of it. I then bought a business and that brought me some more debt, but it was managable.

I have watched friends and some of my family having very extreme difficulties with money for various reasons (some just lack of cash and some due to personal problems spiralling out of control).

I really do not want that for myself. This year, I will be 40. By the time I reach 50, I want a really healthy savings pot, and perhaps my mortgage will be paid off.

My bad habit was eating out. As I can cook and really enjoy it, I have started to eat at home much more, unless DH is away and then I sometimes go to my mum's, although I sometimes take the dinner along with me.

I don't post everyday anymore but I always read. The information and virtual friendship are very important to me and this helps keep me on track.

Well, there you go. That's me for all of you that don't 'know' me very well yet. Just before I go, here's some things that I didn't do before I was 'converted'.

stockpile, batch cook, home made presents, quidco savings, save up, think before I spend, buy things with cash, not waste energy, eat leftovers.......................the list goes on. All of these things add up to extra pennies in your purse.

My short post has turned into a novel.:rotfl:

Speak later all. xx

chika

Thank you Aeb - I'll investigate the film tomorrow. My housemates's room had the big orginaly bay feature windown and it is as cold as outside in there. He will be glad. Yes it does have a thermostat so hopefully the bills won't rise too much.

Nyk - thank you for this thread. My frugal achievements are quite modest compared to some but its thanks to you and the others on this thread that I have paid my rent, got the car through it's MOT and bought tax and still have cash left over from my January student loan. It may not sound like much but for me its a massive achievement and I'm grateful. If there is anything I can do to help with the running or organisation of the thread then please do let me know.

xnatalie81x

i got an email from mse to say happy b'day - cheered me up!!!!!!!!!

glendam

http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/

Dont suppose there is anything on here that most of you dont know but it did give me some ideas.

Glenda