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

taka

JayneC wrote: »

Flying_Fresian - Thanks for the tips, think I might splash out on a diary. I have one for work but it can get a bit messy/confusing if I put my personal stuff in too.

Going to have to go to bed in a mo, falling asleep (and flippin freezin!)

You could try a pocketmod? I set up a combination of diary/to do list/shopping list and list my spends that way. Its small enough I can have it in my jeans pocket everyday so no excuses not to fill it! :rolleyes:

mooomin

JayneC wrote: »

Flying_Fresian - Thanks for the tips, think I might splash out on a diary. I have one for work but it can get a bit messy/confusing if I put my personal stuff in too.

Going to have to go to bed in a mo, falling asleep (and flippin freezin!)

You can get decent ones from pounds shops/Bookworld, I got a fancy one from WH Smith as I wanted to spend a voucher I had on something I would use! I went for Page A Day as I could then have lists, inventories and budget stuff without running out of space!

taka wrote: »

flying_fresian - you should hopefully have a text!

I do! Reply on it's way shortly Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow (If we make it from opposite ends of town in the snow!!) I might even show you The Frugal Tome as it doesn't leave my bag at the moment :rotfl:

xnatalie81x

i am being sucked in by sale tv - has any1 ever bought sheer cover make-up??

mooomin

xnatalie81x wrote: »

i am being sucked in by sale tv - has any1 ever bought sheer cover make-up??

Step away from the shopping channels

No good can come of this....

boredofbeingathome

Just finished reading the thread. I would like to join in after shocking myself by filling in the projected yearly expenses. They come to £9540 without the mortgage- i am certainly looking at ways to knock this down even further by frugal ways.

I have also used the link for the online spending diary- hopefully i can satisfy my spending urges by filling in spreadsheets and de motivating myself.

Thanks for a great thread.
Bobx

aeb_2

Evening all, a quick five mins on here but it's moving too quickly to keep up. I spend my evenings feeding the babies and feeding myself but worth it if I get a little longer sleep through the night. I don't have a tumble dryer, even today with the snow I put the nappies out and they nearly dried/froze but then were dry when I hung then inside. Next lot in.

I don't have proper central heating. I have a wood burning stove in the kitchen which heats rads in my bedroom, bathroom and small living room. It has a flat top which heats the kettle and hotpot. I feed it logs but it is eating them fast. I might have to buy some. I have some wood but it's too new to use this winter so I am undecided whether to buy a load or use the new wood - never done this before so not sure how it will burn. My DS1, 2 and DD1 all put themselves together in one bed with the three duvets all piled on top (to the best of their ability) and thought it was great fun! The babies are in with me all in one cot with the side down pushed up by my bed so I can grab them in turn in the night before they wake each other.

Pasta for tea using up bits of veg and cheese. I ate the biggest pile I ever saw!

So glad I don't have to go out in the snow, DS1 school is closed.

I was going to comment on three post and I can only remember one, scrambled baby brains, SFT - I have wide feet and I buy Hotters or Padders shoes. Padders have a factory shop in Kettering (£20 - £30) and Hotters have them in the sale on the website 1/2 price. They last as well as Clarkes. I even wear my old pairs in the garden as I prefer shoes to trainers which I hate when they get dirty and soggy - even old shoes will polish up great. My DH was a bit obsessed with keeping all shoes clean and polished (looking round I feel a bit guilty now)

Take care in the snow everyone

BigMummaF

Don't remember where I first heard it, but one good tip I've used is to put a pair of old socks OVER your shoes as it gives a better grip in these icy conditions. HTH.

aeb_2

BigMummaF wrote: »

Don't remember where I first heard it, but one good tip I've used is to put a pair of old socks OVER your shoes as it gives a better grip in these icy conditions. HTH.

That sounds like a thing looby-loo would do :rotfl: (sorry looby!)

DdraigGoch

but putting the ashes from your fire over your path works well - just remember to have a very good mat on the inside of the front door [ask me why.... *rolls eyes at [ex]cream carpet..*

Ansoff

Wow this thread is so busy. I havent read all the posts. I lurk like others and seldom posts myself. I have decided to use this year as a trial run and do as other have and have a weekly budget. I am saving £1.50 a day for christmas as this is our expensive time of the year. Did £1 a day last year but it was not quite enough, but wow did it make a difference. So I will take out £100 a week to cover food, petrol and other expenses and anything left will go in the piggy to be emtied every quarter.

Lets hope I can really keep focused.