Frugal Living 2011 - the preparation stage

Kerry_Woman

I still got to finalise my budget for 2011. My local council have not confirmed as yet if they are going to increase the council tax for next year. The council tax has been the same for 3 years. May have to put what they have charged in the past and change my budget when they confirm what they are charging. Am still waiting for the bill for the property maintence for the flat. Am hoping to cut back my budget for next year.

Hoping everyone is keeping warm and safe in the cold weather.

mooomin

I'm trying adventures in frugal cooking today with a plan to make pea and ham soup and have lots of lovely gammon for dinner. Hopefully it goes well as otherwise it's fish fingers for tea

the_cat

Kerry_Woman wrote: »

. My local council have not confirmed as yet if they are going to increase the council tax for next year. .

I haven't allowed for a council tax rise this year. I thought it had been frozen..... did I get that wrong?

mooomin

the_cat wrote: »

I haven't allowed for a council tax rise this year. I thought it had been frozen..... did I get that wrong?

I think it depends where you live doesn't it? I think that in Scotland we've been told ours is staying the same, but I have allowed for an increase just in case as I don't trust the current leadership

Kerry_Woman

the_cat wrote: »

I haven't allowed for a council tax rise this year. I thought it had been frozen..... did I get that wrong?

Sorry for any confusion, I had not heard that it had been frozen. My council tax has been frozen for the last 2 years. Am hoping it does not increase.

cw18

My council tax continues to increase every year, so I've allowed for an increase in line with last years. If it's more than that, then I'll have to claw back the extra from elsewhere.

NualaBuala

Great post EFC ... I've heard others say the same thing about feeling invisible on various threads, but it's always lovely to hear from you when you do post.
I've been doing a LOT of borrowing from Peter to pay Paul this year between my categories but somehow it all seems to have balanced out. Chilblains are no laughing matter so glad you're staying warm. Am dreading my gas bill as I've had the heating all the time but have saved/am saving for it as best I can

Don't worry about waffling Kerfuffle , I love hearing how other people are working the budgets.

Kerry_Woman wrote: »

I still got to finalise my budget for 2011. My local council have not confirmed as yet if they are going to increase the council tax for next year. The council tax has been the same for 3 years. May have to put what they have charged in the past and change my budget when they confirm what they are charging. Am still waiting for the bill for the property maintence for the flat. Am hoping to cut back my budget for next year.

Hoping everyone is keeping warm and safe in the cold weather.

Hope the CT and property maintenance don't go up too much KW. I'm waiting to find out some costs before I finalise my budget too.

Hope everyone is surviving the cold unless you are lucky enough to be somewhere warm right now!

Kerfuffle

BinkyTheHorse wrote: »

* snip - I make my own stock powder by drying out an assortment of veggies and pounding them to a powder and I use this if I'm making something like cottage pie. snip*QUOTE]

Hi Binky t'horse, drying out your own veggies to make your own stock powder sounds fantastic. I'm intrigued - do you have a dehydrating machine, how do you dry them? I have a pestle and mortar I'd like to put to good use!:D

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

* snip - I dont post very often because I feel a bit invisible but watch and learn a lot so thanks guys for that.

I've just seen the time and I think its time I slept. Goodnight and good luck to all for 2011. Have a happy but frugal Christmas.

Hi EFC, Please don't feel invisable, I'm sure you've got a wealth of knowledge that we'd all like to tap into,and I'm sure you'll say something that you take for granted but which will be complete news to some of us, especially me, (case in point - grinding your own dried veggies :rotfl:).

And I for one am happy to hear about the weather in the UK, the price increases and cost of heating, and basically everything about how everybody is coping and what they're doing to keep in budget.

Please pop on again, even if it's only to wish us another happy but frugal Christmas.:)

Toodles

Kerfuffle

cw18 wrote: »

Yes, there should be a new thread from 1st Jan. But don't worry about missing it, as a link will be posted in this thread

Thanks Cheryl, I knew you'd have it covered.:)

NualaBuala wrote: »

Great post EFC ... I've heard others say the same thing about feeling invisible on various threads, but it's always lovely to hear from you when you do post.

I've been doing a LOT of borrowing from Peter to pay Paul this year between my categories but somehow it all seems to have balanced out. Chilblains are no laughing matter so glad you're staying warm. Am dreading my gas bill as I've had the heating all the time but have saved/am saving for it as best I can

Don't worry about waffling Kerfuffle , I love hearing how other people are working the budgets.

Hope everyone is surviving the cold unless you are lucky enough to be somewhere warm right now!

Hi Nuala, congratulations on balancing out your catagories, I don't suppose it matters how we get there just so long as we're in budget is the main thing.

And thanks to you I now have permission to waffle away :rotfl:(just so long as it's on topic of course )

Have a good day everybody, keep safe and keep warm.

Toodles

NualaBuala

Kerfuffle wrote: »

...
And thanks to you I now have permission to waffle away :rotfl:(just so long as it's on topic of course )

....
Toodles

:rotfl:
I look forward to hearing more!

Flying Fresian ... do you still have a diary thread? I seem to remember following you for a while (not in a stalkerish way I swear) but then I had to cut back as I was spending waaaay too much time on MSE!