FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE part 3, July - Dec 2010

Puddleglum

Weeelll, I have just had to shell out £259.09 to get my car through it's MOT. I only budgeted £108 for both cars this year as they both had fairly major work done to get them through last year, so a Russian space rocket has just blasted a hole through that budget!

I knew that it needed 4 new tyres in advance as I was driving on slicks, in F1 terms. Also required was a new number plate for the rear, a new wiper and something else. We bust the car maintenance budget earlier this year when the suspension bust on a pothole on the other car.

Oh well, back to the calculator!

slowlyfading

puddleglum - I hate it that cars are so expensive!

Frugaldom

Hi guys, sorry to have been absent for so long but, here in the sticks, we've had major broadband problems that have been taking out the entire area, including the post offices in the local villages! And with no dial up option available, it's like being cut off completely.

Cheryl, have PM'd you and thanked you for your exceptionally well written responses to pink_numbers' queries. All I can see that really stands out is the cost of car insurance, which sounds really expensive. HS managed to get his for about £100 after cashback this year again.

Spending plans going well and I now have half a tonne of coal in stock - at £10.50 per bag, there was no point in risking waiting for the winter increases.

JayneC - did your £1200 include the radiators, back boiler, hot water tank and pipework? I would think that the basic costs of lining the chimney and having the basics fitted would be pretty much the same most places, so I'd allow up to £500 for that. We did a great deal of the work ourselves, like the labouring parts, replastering, hearthwork etc. I know that when we priced up for a hot water system WITHOUT radiators/central heating system, it was around the £4000 mark but there are also grants available some places to help with the costs if it's for woodburning. (None available to us, of course!) Our little stove (£89.99 + delivery from eBay) cost over £500 by the time we'd bought everything else and had it fitted.

I now have £1,272.95 left to last me to the end of the year but we've built a second log store, both are now full, and have enough coal in to last through to next Spring. The biggest item still to be paid is the TV licence and then Christmas shopping. Electricity has been brought under control by the logburner and I should be able to recoup the first £50 towards the stove by the end of this year. With luck, it will pay for itself in savings next year, which is great, in my book.

Freezer is chocabloc full, garden is still producing veg, just picked another bucket of apples and the winter veg are all growing nicely. Loads of new projects in the pipeline, as I have been given the opportunity to help on a woodland/forest, which will mean free wood & kindling, a horse to play with and an orchard & willow plantation to cultivate. All of that PLUS the potential for a group of us to keep pigs! It's Frugaldom on a much, much larger scale, so don't forget where we are if any of you fancy a working self sufficiency holiday in the southwest of Scotland next year - no accommodation provided, bring a tent and a portaloo. :rotfl:Think Iron Age settlement and the potential to build a huge roundhouse!

NualaBuala

Well done Frugaldom, you are going from strength to strength! :T

I was wondering about something - I think you said you rent the place you live but you have put a lot of time, effort and money into making long-term improvements (like the orchard, stove). Do you have security of tenure? Cos I wouldn't have dared do that. l'd be afraid of the rent sky-rocketing, or the landlord deciding he doesn't want to let the property anymore and having to leave all the improvements behind.

JayneC

Frugaldom wrote: »

JayneC - did your £1200 include the radiators, back boiler, hot water tank and pipework? I would think that the basic costs of lining the chimney and having the basics fitted would be pretty much the same most places, so I'd allow up to £500 for that. We did a great deal of the work ourselves, like the labouring parts, replastering, hearthwork etc. I know that when we priced up for a hot water system WITHOUT radiators/central heating system, it was around the £4000 mark but there are also grants available some places to help with the costs if it's for woodburning. (None available to us, of course!) Our little stove (£89.99 + delivery from eBay) cost over £500 by the time we'd bought everything else and had it fitted.

No it was just the stove:( Although I think it has the boiler included. Was hoping to be able to use the radiators we already have, but know we'll need a hot water tank (have a combi boiler at the moment). A local shop is a stockist so I'm going to get them to come and tell me exactly what I need and what it will cost to fit. I keep contemplating just paying with my credit card but really really want to get that paid off. Must be strong!! So may have to wait till next year now...

top_drawer_2

hello everyone,

Sorry I've been missing in action for awhile, I've had a bit of a bad time with feeling quite down in the dumps with things. I have well and truly fallen off the wagon and spent loads which I simply dont have to spend. I have kept all the receipts for things I have bought and no item is simply just for the sake of it, its things I have wanted and denied myself because I couldnt afford it. I'm sick of applying for jobs which I am not getting any response from and I am beginning to hate my current job as its just so boring and there's no objective as such.

I was offered a flat on friday but after a lot of Umming and Ahhhing and worrying about money I have refused it as I simply cant see it as being viable until I at least have a sniff of a decent paid job. I dont know what to do with myself at the moment as I seem to need things to keep me busy. I have bought some curtains, I havent been able to afford any so have just had sheets up ;( and some thermal lining today for the room I have now as Im worried about how cold it will be soon.

I hope everyone else is well, I read most days.

Jen

Erme

Sorry am at a therapeutic frugal cafe having had my first doom and gloom episode in a week (praise god for homemade isotonic drinks) and like just noticed FL's post about a self sufficiency holiday next year...Put my name down FL...Have tent they'll just be me and I should be off the cigs by then....So long as I can get mucky I'll be happy (just discovered the joys of gardening at the student veg garden:))

Yay eating is going so much better since starting on AD's a week ago....and am finishing with dietician soon ...I eat everything though have yet to eat an entire small veg box in 2 weeks...:o

And I told you all about the Butterflyelite pressure cooker I got from the charity shop for £5 the other day..

How is the courier service for AP frugal?I have a full on pm tomorrow and was hoping they would be good.... The boys sounded really nice on the phone......

Anyhow.....have to go...will read posts later...

E

Erme

top_drawer wrote: »

hello everyone,

Sorry I've been missing in action for awhile, I've had a bit of a bad time with feeling quite down in the dumps with things. I have well and truly fallen off the wagon and spent loads which I simply dont have to spend. I have kept all the receipts for things I have bought and no item is simply just for the sake of it, its things I have wanted and denied myself because I couldnt afford it. I'm sick of applying for jobs which I am not getting any response from and I am beginning to hate my current job as its just so boring and there's no objective as such.

I was offered a flat on friday but after a lot of Umming and Ahhhing and worrying about money I have refused it as I simply cant see it as being viable until I at least have a sniff of a decent paid job. I dont know what to do with myself at the moment as I seem to need things to keep me busy. I have bought some curtains, I havent been able to afford any so have just had sheets up ;( and some thermal lining today for the room I have now as Im worried about how cold it will be soon.

I hope everyone else is well, I read most days.

Jen

Jen I understand completely about curtain...my first pair I made years ago I just glued together calico and patchwork fabric with the iron on hemming stuff and pinned up with drawing pins then got some cord for tie backs and put that up with the stick on hooks...did the job...I was happy ....

Anyhow now found out I can't use the ENI here and I need to go...and it's cold here..just had to put storage heater up...

Blessings

E

Frugaldom

Nuala, we haven't really spent anything on the house itself other than fitting the stove and a lick of paint. The landlords renewed the roof. I opted to have the stove installed at my own expense, seeing it as equivalent to a £10 per week rent increase for 12 months or £5 per week for 24. It also equates to what I hope will average at least £5 to £10 per week savings on heating through the winter, as I won't need to rely on electric heaters. In the event of us having to move, landlords will reimburse our costs as part of the property improvements during the tenancy. We have good landlords this time, despite their always being busy on the farm and their being slow to arrange repairs. It's taken me almost 2 years to realise that they prefer we keep them informed, arrange the repairs ourselves, get an agreement on costs, get the work done and then let them settle the bills - as long as they're essential repair bills, obviously. With luck, we'll be here long enough for the stove to pay for itself in savings. Garden costs would have been the same anywhere we'd gone, short of paying extra rent to get a place with outbuildings.

NualaBuala

Frugaldom wrote: »

Nuala, we haven't really spent anything on the house itself other than fitting the stove and a lick of paint. The landlords renewed the roof. I opted to have the stove installed at my own expense, seeing it as equivalent to a £10 per week rent increase for 12 months or £5 per week for 24. It also equates to what I hope will average at least £5 to £10 per week savings on heating through the winter, as I won't need to rely on electric heaters. In the event of us having to move, landlords will reimburse our costs as part of the property improvements during the tenancy. We have good landlords this time, despite their always being busy on the farm and their being slow to arrange repairs. It's taken me almost 2 years to realise that they prefer we keep them informed, arrange the repairs ourselves, get an agreement on costs, get the work done and then let them settle the bills - as long as they're essential repair bills, obviously. With luck, we'll be here long enough for the stove to pay for itself in savings. Garden costs would have been the same anywhere we'd gone, short of paying extra rent to get a place with outbuildings.

Sounds like you have a good landlord all things considered and by golly have they landed the jackpot with you as a tenant! Your stove sounds wonderful - especially that you did so much work yourself, that's the best bit. You will feel very smug this winter with low energy bills and a warm house.

Hugs Jen, hang on in there. Sounds like you're doing well Erme!

Not much to report here - have spent quite a bit today but I think I'm still within budget. It included some half price chocolates for misc Christmas pressies. Last year my loved ones and I cancelled pressies but I like to have a couple of "emergency" gifts put by. And I can always eat them if they're not needed!

Hope you're all doing well ... big hugs to anyone who isn't. xxx