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

hermum

Hi, I see that most people have added tv licence to their expenditure. As I assume everyone has internet, check out this link from tv licensing
http://www.tv-l.co.uk/faqs/FAQ103/
I've always had a license but probably only watched a couple of hours a week, I'm now watching through the computer & after they're shown "live" so around £145 pa saved.

Erme

hermum wrote: »

Hi, I see that most people have added tv licence to their expenditure. As I assume everyone has internet, check out this link from tv licensing
http://www.tv-l.co.uk/faqs/FAQ103/
I've always had a license but probably only watched a couple of hours a week, I'm now watching through the computer & after they're shown "live" so around £145 pa saved.

I haven't had a tv since last July. I just binned it. Got my refund and got a DAB radio. Sorted. I don't miss it. I watched x factor online a few days later after it was shown - that helped. Now I don't really want to watch much. I have facebook etc. I have a life not a tv. . Also net is cheaper

Regards laundry - soap nuts are the cheapest but they don't get EVERYTHING out so am going to supplement with ecover I have in the house (in a milk tub) when I need to till it's used and then like get some cheap bio laundry liquid/vanish for extra stain removal. It may not be 'eco friendly' but I'll only need to use it once a month and it'll last. (may only need one bottle a year - here's praying).

Umm...got stressed and sick yesterday so blew £3 on books from charity shop . Still have the sewing machine dilemma. Liked whoever made stuff out of duvets and curtains - yep that's what I think I'll do .

Tis all my snooze....so only 2 NSD's this week . Starting this FL thing in Feb (well end of Jan) so working out my budget on 4k/52 x 4 (which is my major payment plan) and going from there. So long as I can save I don't have to be 'perfect' this year. I just want to be enabled to get 6k of debt paid off in full by end of 1st quarter next. That's all. Hence I'm on here.....and to prove to my eejit friends it's possible to live off £64 a week plus CT and rent (basic JSA per singleton) which M on Sabbath said it was only possible to 'exist' on £100 not live and I'm like...not according to my figures. (and mine currently include cigs which are £20 a wk...dv aiming to give up spring/summer). I'm not going ultra and trying the 2k singleton budget just yet...if I can quit the cigs though might lower it next year.

Hugs

E

homegrown_life

good morning all.

I had a very frugal day yesterday and made my own deodorant! I used the recipe here. So far so good and yesterday after a walk to the library (which going from the cold outside to the very warm inside normally doesn't help these situations ) it was holding up well. We'll see longer term though.

I've not had to pay water this month (and next) so taking the opportunity to stock up on things like beans and dried goods. Also been bulk buying spices since I found a local asian supermarket. Obviously will come off the whole grocery total, but might be spending a bit more than normal this month. I need to also decide whether to turn the outside freezer on and actually use it and if so I need to fill it as best as I can.

Going to do some baking today, probably Shaz's coconut cake. Might get some bread baked too.

Hope everyone has a great day

hermum

Hi, can someone message me re a spreadsheet they use please, just spent ages doing one & then wiped it. Numpty that I am. I didn't start last month but need to sort out something & keep a check on where my £91.80 a week incap goes. £60 a week on gas last month could be why it was a difficult month. I have loads of stuff to ebay, do most people on this challenge use extra income to pay off debts?
Any help to a newbie much appreciated

Karmacat

hermum wrote: »

Hi, I see that most people have added tv licence to their expenditure. As I assume everyone has internet, check out this link from tv licensing
http://www.tv-l.co.uk/faqs/FAQ103/
I've always had a license but probably only watched a couple of hours a week, I'm now watching through the computer & after they're shown "live" so around £145 pa saved.

That is very *very* interesting.... its something I'm starting to do anyway, as I watched Total Wipeout that way the other day.....

homegrown_life

Karmacat wrote: »

That is very *very* interesting.... its something I'm starting to do anyway, as I watched Total Wipeout that way the other day.....

agreed - my hubby might take a bit of persuasion, but you never know! Thanks Hermum.

BigMummaF

I thought the thread had been locked yesterday as all the buttons had disappeared, then realised I had to 'log in'. It's been an absolute age since I had to do it & I was flummuxed as to what my password could be so had to reset It got me to thinking tho, with everything being controlled by PIN &/or password, how does everyone remember which is which
Tis the same on the phone when they ask your security question & you rifle the noggin for which company had what favourite dried herb, & the hint you gave them to remind you, means less than the rules of a Japanese game show :eek: You're told to have different passwords so that doesn't help; you're told not to write them down so that doesn't help...but what does?

Pippilongstocking

Morning Peeps - NSD yesterday and still waiting for quidco payment to arrive. Snow day today - deep joy.

Re spreadsheets - I've just been converted to the joys of online spreadsheets - access anywhere - saves instantly - www.editgrid.com - free to use and you can import your own sheets and save them on here so you can access them anywhere - just ignore if no use.

candygirl

Just spent £13 in ALDI on fruit, bread, cheese, eggs etc:D:DLeeks 39p, massive bag of potatoes 69p, pears 59p, so making soup, and pear with natural yogurt for Boo:D:D
Have got her today whilst DD is at college, and she is poorly with a cough and rattley chest:(:(
Got her Peppa Pig mirror from ebay, such a bargain at £5.70 inc delivery, they are £14 on Amazon:eek::eek:It's meant to be for her bday at end of March, but she can have it when she wakes up to cheer her up;)
Have fabby frugal days everyone xx:A

lyndasharp

Karmacat wrote: »

That is very *very* interesting.... its something I'm starting to do anyway, as I watched Total Wipeout that way the other day.....

We've now been almost a year without a TV, and haven't missed it at all

Expensive two days for me, as I wrenched my neck/shoulder last Thursday and finally decided I couldn't put up with the pain. Spent about £6 on painkillers, and another £6 on bus fares. It is definitely easing off now, which is a relief. I think the tree is coming down today too, he said it'd be done if it wasn't raining and it seems OK at the moment. Got the price down to £155 from £170, so that's good.

I tried getting a good deal on renewing my O2 contract, but as the retentions thread on the forum suggested, their deals really aren't very good at the moment. I've had to go SIM only at £15 a month, which is the same as I'd been paying anyway, but with less minutes. I will have to keep a close eye on my useage, as when I'm away for a week or so with work, calling home gets through the minutes quite quickly. I don't want to change networks, as their coverage is good and so is the customer service Plus my Dad is making use of their cheap broadband connection.