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

pink_numbers

cw18 wrote: »

As I have a category for vets bills, I include it all as it crops up.

I'm waaaaaay overspent at the moment (spend of £129.70 from an annual budget of £180), but only another emergency/unplanned spend will push me over budget at year end.

Thanks cw18 I do have vet category also, and I save up for it each month, I just didn't expect a £500 bill!! Although I had the money in savings, so no skin off my nose, it would really really screw up my total spend

do I bite the bullet and throw it into the total? :eek:

candygirl

A good prog on ch 4 tonight at 8 called "My Dream Farm", about a London couple who move to Cornwall to be self sufficient, on a small holding:D:D

ceridwen

BigMummaF wrote: »

So how many people do you think it would need?
I'll make a list of various catagories & then we can all have a think to see is some need to be smaller/ combined/ better defined...& also who might like to volunteer for the job
1. Blogs, links to & for.
2. Gardening A --Container; B--Garden
3. Allotments.
4. Recipes.
5. Home Preserving.
6. Debt Repayment.
7. Mortgage/ Rent, Utilities.
8. Poultry-keeping.
9. Pensions & Personal Banking [savings accounts etc.]
10. Insurances; House, Pet, Motor, Travel, Health.
11. Useful Hobbies; knitting, sewing, crafting, etc.
12. Green Living.
13. Motoring.
14. Family:- baby, school-age, older, elderly.

That's it for me just now & I need to serve up dinner anyways I'm looking forward to your thoughts but my weird & wunnerfullee smellin creation awaits

Maybe a category for cleaning and cosmetic recipes?

Maybe a category for "alternative" type shopping - eg LETS, co-ops, etc.

pink_numbers

candygirl wrote: »

A good prog on ch 4 tonight at 8 called "My Dream Farm", about a London couple who move to Cornwall to be self sufficient, on a small holding:D:D

wooo thank you! I shall watch it on 4onDemand later

knithappens

slowlyfading wrote: »

Evening everyone.

Today has been a strange day. We had an interactive white board session at a school about 45 mins away this afternoon, but we were just sat watching someone else demonstrate how to use a whiteboard so it seemed a bit pointless.

But, in good news, I passed my Maths Key Skills Test today! Which means I've passed all 3, first time! :j :j :j So chuffed about that - didn't enjoy doing the maths one though, so I'm glad I'm not having to do it again.

Today is also another NSD so this takes me up to 18 for January. I hope I can continue this trend for the next few months as it'll make an impact on my savings for moving out in the summer

Nyk - your garden looks lovely!
pagangirl - well done on today its little steps that add up!
candygirl - have fun doing the washing! :rotfl:

My year 7 form about 5 years ago taught me how to make powerpoints as i had a clueless session like you, i still dont fully know how to use a white board, but getting there slowly

and congrats on passing the tests

Twinkles08

Evening everyone!Hope you are all well.I'm a happy munchkin as hubby has fd the entire series of 'the good life' for me.I used to watch the repeats on tv when I was 7 at my nan and grandads house.Happy memories!I find it v inspiring and thought provoking,plus everytime I watch an episode I get a good giggle and a boost too!
OH thinks I've flipped my lid as I'm raving about window sill and pot growing veg,determined to grow something even though I'm not v green fingered.My great idea of the day was cutting up a butterkist popcorn box and turning it into a container for my column sachets/cheese sauce etc.They fit perfectly and are all neat and tidy now!:jI like the look of your garden nyk and your animals look pleased as punch!lol
As we near the last few days of the 1st month,it looks like we will be 50-60 pounds over the total budget for the month.That's not too bad for a first attempt is it?I'm a bit disappointed but then I do have high standards and expections.Will try even harder nxt month.:p Hugs to all x

knithappens

ceridwen wrote: »

Maybe a category for cleaning and cosmetic recipes?

Maybe a category for "alternative" type shopping - eg LETS, co-ops, etc.

lso recipes baking

NualaBuala

candygirl wrote: »

A good prog on ch 4 tonight at 8 called "My Dream Farm", about a London couple who move to Cornwall to be self sufficient, on a small holding:D:D

I watched that last week, really enjoyed it!

Twinkles08 wrote: »

hubby has fd the entire series of 'the good life' for me.I used to watch the repeats on tv when I was 7 at my nan and grandads house.Happy memories!I find it v inspiring and thought provoking,plus everytime I watch an episode I get a good giggle and a boost too!

Twinkles, I can identify with that - always enjoyed the repeats and I actually think they contributed to my being a wannabe frugalite. Well done on finding another use for your popcorn box!

Nyk, I love the photos of your poultry doing the gardening for you. What a busy day you have. It sounds really hard but wonderful all the same.


I've had another cheap day, just snacked for breakfast and lunch but did have a portion of lasagne from the freezer for dinner.

Very happy as I got some free sachets of yeast in the post with a recipe booklet. I've never baked with yeast before, have always been too scared of it so now I have the perfect excuse to give it a whirl. I don't have a breadmaker but I know there are lots of Old Stylers who make their bread by hand so I will have a go.

I also got a lovely box of Belgian chocs from a wonderful neighbour. They will be a nice treat for when my appetite is back to normal (ie greedy).

Hope you're all having a good evening.

lynzpower

pink_numbers wrote: »

Hi everyone, just doing my spreadsheet and I am starting to feel really bogged down by it again.

Do you ladies have anything that you don't count towards the total amount spent? I was trying to keep this month's vet bills out of the total, but that means I will end up with two running totals of how much I've spent this year, and it's a headache...

How do you solve such issues?

Very unfrugal but I have an Iphone - it has a free spendometer app on it.
You can set your own categories, set it weekly, or monthly & it gives running totals.
I use this for daily spending record keeping. (I have the bank accounts and a chart on ther wall to map monthly spending although I will be looking at that again: )


I have categories:
*food home
*entertainment
*travel
*work lunches
*toiletries
*home items
im going to start a seperate one for gardening

Just helps me total as I go. I havent set an overall budget aside from food home which was 160, but now reduced to 140pcm. The others are "as little as possible"

jtb2412

nykmedia wrote: »

Hi guys, just been doing more updating online, if anyone has a 'Frugal Living' associated blog and wants to be included in my list, please PM me your links. I have already included:

Ifonlyitwaseasier
JTB2412
Knithappens
Lynzpower
Mama67
NYKMedia
Pink_Numbers
Shaz_Mum_of_2
Sophiesmum

Only blogs directly associated with this challenge belonging to challengers need apply.

Ohhh blimey :eek: ! I'd better get my finger out and update my blog . Mind you, I do have a bit of spare time on my hands now so should be able to keep it up-to-date

Will catch up with everyone in a bit but DH came home early today so took the opportunity to use the car and went to our local 'cheap' food shop. Stocked up on some goodies and storecupboard things and spent just over £20. I have a Mr T delivery due soon (had a £10 e-voucher) so bought more storecupboard essentials. Still need to do more but have run cupboards down in the run up to xmas so they do need restocking.

Still plodding along nicely and enjoying filling in the spreadsheet :rotfl:.