FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE 2010, part 2, April - June.

cw18

Frugaldom wrote: »

CW - I wouldn't count the extra travel that your new relationship involves if it's within your real means. It's more of an investment in your own happiness and that shouldn't be thought of in financial terms unless it has a negative impact, in which case the relationship is on a rocky road from the start, IMO. Make the most of it, frugalise wherever else you can and let the romance blossom and flourish knowing that your finances aren't suffering adversely.

I'll have to count it all in next year, as I drop about £260/week ( :eek: ) from September, when I lose CB, CTC, WTC, WPA and DS's dependants pension. But for this year I've set my challenge budget based on 'known' annual income, with extra hours at work being over and above requirements to "live". Have to admit this is another reason I'm seriously considering moving next year, as the cost of visiting my parents, DD and GDs (never mind OH) could be the real 'make or break' with balancing the books.

The only way finances would really suffer with any relationship would be if we 'set up home' together, as I'd then lose my widows pension as well (which equates to just over £3k/year). But that's not likely to become an issue, as my OH doesn't want that kind of "full-time" relationship any more than I do - we both value our own space, and neither of us wants to have to account for every moment of our time to someone else It's not a bridge that I'd refuse to cross if the opportunity arose with the right person, but there would have to be very serious discussions first (rather than just jumping in at a whim) as I've never been financially dependant on anyone and think I would find that very hard to come to terms with

xnatalie81x

April - 1081.22/1125 (on target for live on 13,500 - have increased form 12,500 due to addition to the family due Novemeber 2010, for the year and save the rest)

Am now 11 weeks pregnant. Swim school going fab although i am not getting paid this 6 week term (24th april-29th may) but totally expected as started jan 2010 and was shocked to pay self for first 12 weeks (2 terms) - hoping june will be better and get paid but realistically will be september. It is the nature of the business - i need to get the kiddies through to the more advanced classes so i can take in more young ones as i have teachers in intermediate and advanced with 1 or 2 children. Like i say, will take time

Hope everyone is well. I do lurk but not so much time to post at the moment. Trying to stay on target and nicely settled in new house with my own veg plot at the bottom of garden! Will get photos soon so you can all see but we have LOTS of veggies growing this year! Hoping to save some of my allocated grocery budget in june/july/aug/sept ready for the winter months.

For the mums out there: tesco have huggies little swimmers nappuies for £2.52 (half price) and there is a voucher for £1.50 off on the huggies website so cost £1.02 for lots of swim nappies - swimming for under 16 FREE so just cost for the grown up - swimming is a nice cheap day out and take a nice picnic. Babies don't need fancy costumes, just their swim nappy is enough!

Winchelsea

Many congratulations rozeepozee !!

It'll be hard for a while, but hang in there!

I speak as the mother of twin girls (who are now 46!), and I remember thinking, will I always be spending all this time feeding? - but, I think it's easier in the long run once things settle down - and moneysaving (despite the appetite)!!

The girls sound gorgeous!

top_drawer_2

hi again, Please could someone give me some help with my budget, also can you tell me how to screenshot and to link columms in a spreadsheet?

Thanks

Jen

cw18

Screenshots - I use some free software. With my spreadsheet open (and showing on my screen what I want to share), I press <Ctrl>K, which activates the software. Then hold your left mouse key while selecting the area you want share. When you let go of the mouse key it pops up a new window containing the captured part of your screen. Save this off to your computer, then upload to a hosting site (I use PhotoBucket). From there you can get the url of the screenshot to add into the pop-up window when you add an image into your message on here (using the icon)


Not sure what you mean by linking columns?


What help do you need with your budget?



I'm off to work very soon (got to be washed, changed and out in the next 25 mins), but should be home around 5:30. If you need help getting your spreadsheet working, then I'm more than happy to assist after then (though best done via email. You may already have my email addy, but if not just PM me and I'll send it to you)

NualaBuala

Hi Jen :wave:

I'm not an Excel guru ... you need Cheryl for that lol!

But for multiplying things you use an asterisk *.instead of x
So say you wanted to work out 10 x 10, you'd type =10*10
You have to type the equals sign first to tell Excel it's got to do a sum.
For division you use /.

I'm sure somebody will be along with some advice soon.

Good luck!

Thanks to all of you for your good wishes :T. Am off for a potter in the garden, back later.

Winchelsea

Have been to S**nsb*ry this afternoon to get a few bits of food, and, to do our (sort of) monthly stock-up of wine. We always have a glass of red each day for our health. ( A likely story, you may think, but after I had a small stroke a few years ago my consultant told me it was the thing to do. A couple of weeks later I met him doing his own shopping, pushing his trolley laden with various reds!)

Well, today I bought six bottles, as I know you get 5% off if you buy 6. When I got home I checked my receipt, and, guess what, - THEY TOOK 25% OFF!!! Didn't notice it flagged up anywhere in the store, but I do go around with my eyes shut sometimes.

May go back for another 6!

cake21

Hi everyone and congratulations on new babies and other good news

For the four months ending April, I've spent £2302 compared to a budget of £1964, total £338 overspend. Highlights and lowlights:

1. Household maintenance £173 overspend, and more roof costs to come. Need to work out where to claw this back, really hope this year isn't typical! :eek: Also have a few hundred of dental costs expected.
2. Gifts £145 underspend, but most family birthdays and Christmas to come. Forgot to include Mothers' day in my budget though
3. Cashback £125 so far excl. insurance renewal
4. 'Entertainment excl. sport' £105 underspend. Really happy with this :jas used to spend ridiculous amounts on magazines / dvds / books.
5. Insurance £76 overspend. Paid annual premium at 11% less than budget, plus hopefully £30 cashback to come, so very happy with that.
6. Food £27 overspend. Overspending and overeating - my nephew asked if I was expecting a baby last weekend (I'm not!!) so back on track for May!
7. Sport £25 overspend. Should balance out over the summer with more free fun options for exercise.
8. Gas £21 underspend and £6 in credit according to 1 May bill based on meter readings Won't get too excited until after the next cold bit though.
9. Course fees £20 overspend. Budget was supposed to be for annual course fees paid in September, oops Will probably transfer some of the entertainment budget to cover.
10. Other £314 overspend - £302 due to missed flight back in Feb, keeping an eye on anything else in there but happy with that so far.

Overall I'm happy with how my first year is going, debt repayments are above budget (not included above) and I'm already looking forward to setting next year's budget :rotfl: Thanks for the thread :T

mooomin

*sneaks back in*

Hi everyone,

I kind of fell off the Frugal Wagon of late, but would very much like to come back please. I am lucky enough to get an annual bonus from work (which isn't included in my budget) and spent all of that, plus spent the 27 hours of overtime money I had last month (within a week of getting it ) so it's time to come back to Frunchkinland.

The picture below shows the spends I have made this year so far and it looks ok, but doesn't include the splurges noted above, mainly because I didn't keep track.



I'm under budget for the year to date, but only because I am in the middle of moving bank account and three direct debits went walkies last month. Double payments for them this month which should show exactly where I stand. The "Anything Else" budget is dire, so I'm going to have to make some savings to balance it out.

So, I'm back for a while hopefully and looking forward to frugalling on.

candygirl

Hi all:j
Had a fab night out on Fri with Mr Meerkat, and went out on his boat yesterday on the canal.It is lovely and fully refitted by him, so I might have bagged a handy man at last:eek::eek:Have hardly spent anything this weekend, despite me offering to buy rounds etc, so yippeeee:j:j:j