The £60 per month challenge

homersimpson_3

my friend completed store cupboard challenge and at beginning of aug just bought enough stuff for 1 week. some time later someone started another challenge- basically live on £60 for whole month for 1 person. my friend now wants to do this and wants to know what spending if anything she can ignore-it seems to include food, cleaning materials, lunches for work and toiletries (e.g. toothpaste, shampoo).
1) Are 2 tops, shoes, some gardening things and hand cream included or can she ignore this?
2) If she buys cleaning materials which will last months and months should she divide cost by number of months?
3) What about postage stamps, magazines and newspapers?
4) if she uses vouchers should she deduct amount of vouchers because otherwise money available will be over £60 (i.e. £60 cash plus amount of vouchers)?
5) should she work out cost of things already in fridge/freezer and deduct this? (assuming you can)
6) what about top up shopping?

jessicamb

Hi Homersimpson

I think the challenge should include whatever you want it to.

I am including everything bought at the supermarket, any lunches bought at work/takeaways (because I should have used food from supermarket), any alcohol to drink at home.

I have not included a music book I bought and Im not going to include a night out I have planned next week.

I'm on the breadline this month anyway so I'm not going to be buying any new clothes but I guess I wouldnt include these.

Freezer food is effectively free in this house and usage is actively encouraged

I think you can have any vouchers as additional spend but I dont normally have any

Top up shopping is definitely included and I would personally include newspapers etc.