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

cw18

More than happy to send a copy of the spreadsheet to anyone who asks - active members and lurkers alike - but please remember to let me have an email address to send it to

At the moment I can only say with certainty that it runs on Excel 97 onwards (let me know if you're on 2007), but someone is currently trying it out on some free software that claims to be compatible - so there may be an option for others to run it once we know the result of that

jfdi

Joined this challenge pre-Christmas & just looking in to it now - all these budgets & stuff peeps have set! Wasn't my personal reasoning for joining (more use it up & stop wasting money etc!) - but will see if I can get the budget done too!

Even if it's a feeble first attempt I'll be well chuffed!

HAPPY NEW YEAR all!

Alison

stitching_witch

I think our biggest problem lies in lack of income rather than especially high bills - or I didn't think they were high until today.;)

DH has been off work (very poorly) for 19 months and receives minimum ESA and I was made redundant in September and receive JSA. Everything was on track until I lost my job. We have a working son living at home so our Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are reduced.

My "task list" for January includes making an appointment with the CAB for help, but all advice from here would be gratefully received.

mooomin

cw18 wrote: »

At the moment I can only say with certainty that it runs on Excel 97 onwards (let me know if you're on 2007), but someone is currently trying it out on some free software that claims to be compatible - so there may be an option for others to run it once we know the result of that

I'm using it on OpenOffice at the moment and it seems to be working ok so far. I've had a NSD as nothings open, but I've been adding in the bills I know are coming out on Monday and taken my Quidco payment off my spends. That all seems to have worked fine.

mags50_2

cw18 wrote: »

More than happy to send a copy of the spreadsheet to anyone who asks - active members and lurkers alike - but please remember to let me have an email address to send it to

At the moment I can only say with certainty that it runs on Excel 97 onwards (let me know if you're on 2007), but someone is currently trying it out on some free software that claims to be compatible - so there may be an option for others to run it once we know the result of that

ooooh that will be me Cheryl lol

i'm still fiddling a bout with it...it looks ok up to now :T....will let you know as soon as poss...

happy new year all

mags50_2

flying_fresian wrote: »

I'm using it on OpenOffice at the moment and it seems to be working ok so far. I've had a NSD as nothings open, but I've been adding in the bills I know are coming out on Monday and taken my Quidco payment off my spends. That all seems to have worked fine.

oh you've beaten me too it Fresian!

I think it's fine on Open Office too as that's what I'm using for it, just wanted to be sure though

I think we can safely say it will work don't you?

cw18

Sounds good - but (if you don't mind) one of you may have to help people get Open Office set up if they don't currently have that or Excel on their machines and need assistance to do so

I'm a little worried about putting Open Office onto my laptop in case it corrupts my version of Excel (especially as I can't currently find my disks to re-install it!)

whitewing

Happy New Year, everyone. I missed commenting on the old thread before it got locked. Not that I have anything to report as such. I lost track of actual amounts ages ago. However, we have achieved a lot this year.

Blairweech, DH went for his passport interview on the Thurs in the week before Xmas and got the passport on the Mon before Xmas. Most impressive.

DH has 6 free learn to swim lessons booked in starting next weekend.

DH starts his History OU course in Feb. Baby due 2nd week in March.

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in the week before Xmas. This is actually good because so far I am keeping it well under control by diet alone. And we're spending less on food due to smaller portions. I feel better.

We are having a major declutter. It started off as clearing our hall yesterday, and we are now charity-shopping or recycling loads of stuff from the whole house. All is feeling fresh and new and in control. Plus we've found books and CDs and DVDs and stuff that we haven't used yet so lots to look forward to.

Have also found some good stuff to pad out family presents with this year, so well worth the effort.

I think I am more excited about this being a new decade than a new year as I feel that I can plan more flexibly over 10 years than over 12 months! In 2009 we didn't overpay as much as I had planned on the mortgage. Part of me is disappointed but the money was used for other stuff on the list so it was still controlled of a fashion. Now, I think we're saying it's okay if we aim to pay off the mortgage this decade, and continue with the rest of our master list.

I'm not setting a budget this year but I will be assessing the spend of the pennies to make sure it is money well spent.

My biggest achievement in 2009 is that I am no longer worried about meeting scheduled mortgage repayments. I know if things go pear-shaped we can still cope! Pyschologically that is a real boost and that has taken a while to understand (even though looking back it has always been the case).

Good luck everyone.

debtmess

pink_numbers wrote: »

May I be nosey and ask what you are going to write in them?

I'm always curious of how other people keep track!

Thanks

its to keep myself on track probably not the best way for most or anyone else, im going to use it a bit like a diary, writeing in what i spend, using it to keep a track of what ive saved in various pots (£2 coins and 50ps) direct debits and for keeping track on any ebay sales and buying that i will do

ive got a smaller one to pop into my handbag for out and about but also plan to keep any recipt i get untill ive logged it

there is various ways i could use spreadsheets etc i guess but to be honest a clue how to use spreadsheets and what not so this seems the best way for me to keep track

Glad

Here is a list of the contents of my fridge and store cupboards
I'm hoping I can get some inspiration to use a lot of it up this month and save on my shopping bills

FRIDGE
pickled onions
branston pickle
creamed coconut
lingonberries
black olives
green curry paste
tom yum paste
red curry paste
pesto
easy chilli
honey
fish sauce
teryaki marinade
mint sauce
fish stock
butter
mustard
cheddar cheese
double gloucester
xmas pudding
tomato sauce
brown sauce
carrots
tomatos
eggs
mayonnaise
squirty cream
BBQ sauce
sweet onion relish
garlic puree
wholegrain mustard
lemongrass
tikka massala paste
horseradish
dijon mustard
vodka
white wine
red bull
cider
WKD blue
Baileys

STORE CUPBOARDS
3 tins spaghetti
golden sugar
pot noodle
custard powder
puy lentils
5 tins chopped tomatos
lasagne sheets
popcorn
plain flour
SR flour
brown soft sugar
salt
cornflour
icing sugar
groundnut oil
pasta twists
brandy
3 tins tuna
3 tins baked beans
tin hotdogs
lamb, fish, beef, chicken and veg stock
butterbeans
noodles
couscous
golden syrup
almonds
rissoto rice
worcestershire sauce
red lentils
caster sugar
cashew nuts
balsamic vinegar
plum tomatos
coconut milk
rice
cocoa powder
potatoes
plus assortment of herbs and spices
red wine
port
sherry